NHTSA Complaint #10129670 — 2002 DODGE VAN

PRIOR TO 50,000 MILES THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON IN THE VEHICLE. DURING A RECALL I PAID $75.00 TO RUN A DIO TO FIND THE PROBLEM. THE RESULT WAS "S10 DIO TIME FOUND THE PASS SIDE AIR BAG BAD, PARTS AND LABOR $1034.00". THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT! THE AIRBAGS SHOULD BE IN WORKING ORDER UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE AIRBAGS DEPLOY. THE AIRBAG IS A NON-MOVING PART, HOW DOES IT GO BAD? THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, NOT A MECHANICAL FAILURE. DODGE HAS A RECALL FOR AN AIRBAG PROBLEM IN 1996 TO 2000 YEAR CARAVANS. CUSTOMER AFFAIRS AT DAIMLER-CHRYSLER HAS TOLD ME THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE DID COME WITH A 100,000 MILE WARRANTY WHEN PURCHASED NEW BY ME.