NHTSA Complaint #10132543 — 2002 VOLKSWAGEN GTI

SPONTANEOUS AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT 8-10-05 I WAS DRIVING ALONE DOWN A BOULEVARD AT 35 MPH WHEN I HEARD A LOUD NOISE LIKE A GUNSHOT FROM MY RIGHT SIDE. THE SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS HAD DEPLOYED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE LEAVING ME WITH AN EAR ACHE, AS WELL AS INTERIOR FULL OF SMOKE AND DEBRIS. WORST OF ALL, THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. I COASTED ABOUT 200 FEET THEN TURNED ONTO A SIDE STREET. I'M FORTUNATE THAT I DID NOT COME INTO CONTACT WITH ANY OTHER VEHICLES OR PEDESTRIANS. I DID NOT HIT A POTHOLE, RUT, CURB OR ANYTHING ELSE. I WAS DRIVING DOWN A WELL-TRAVELED SMOOTH ROAD IN DENVER (SOUTH BROADWAY). THE AIRBAGS JUST DEPLOYED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. AFTER GATHERING MY WITS AND AIRING OUT THE CAR, I RESTARTED IT AND DROVE DIRECTLY TO MY LOCAL VW SERVICE FACILITY. THE NEXT DAY, MY SERVICE ADVISOR SAID THE MECHANIC SAW EVIDENCE OF AN IMPACT ON THE SIDE OF THE FRAME. I EXPLAINED THAT THE CAR WAS ON SMOOTH PAVEMENT WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I ALSO MENTIONED THAT 18 MONTHS AGO I HAD HIT A SQUARE-EDGED RUT IN THE ROAD THAT CAUSED SOME RIM DAMAGE TO THE FRONT-RIGHT WHEEL AND ALSO CAUSED A TIRE IMPACT SEPARATION (BUBBLE). PERHAPS THIS IS THE IMPACT MARK THAT THE MECHANIC DETECTED. I GAVE THIS STATEMENT TO VWOA AT MY ADVISOR'S REQUEST. I EXPLAINED THAT THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AS THE CAR IS LESS THAN 4 YEARS OLD AND UNDER 50,000 MILES. MY LOCAL SERVICE ADVISOR CALLED ME BACK TO SAY THAT A SUPERVISOR WILL DETERMINE HOW TO PROCEED WITH REPAIRS. EVIDENTLY, THIS IS NOT AUTOMATICALLY A WARRANTY ITEM. VWOA NEEDS TO STEP UP AND FULLY INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER AND TAKE PREVENTIVE ACTIONS IMMEDIATELY. THERE ARE SEVERAL VW OWNERS IN MY IMMEDIATE FAMILY. WE ARE ALL VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE AIRBAG SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLE EVEN AFTER REPAIRS ARE COMPLETED. *NM