NHTSA Complaint #10158841 — 2000 AUDI S4

I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE TO WORK IN LONG ISLAND CITY, NEW YORK AND WHEN I WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WAITING FOR THE LIGHT TO TURN GREEN. THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON WITH A BEEP/CHIME TO LET ME KNOW IT WAS ON AND ABOUT 2 SECONDS LATER MY DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED FROM THE SIDE OF THE SEAT. THERE WAS NO COLLISION INVOLVED. I HAD TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT TO CUTS ON MY ARM AND SHOULDER. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED HOME AND HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN SINCE THEN. THE MANUFACTURER OF THE CAR HAS NOT RETURNED ANY OF MY CALLS, THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY, AND MY INSURANCE COMPANY SAID IT IS A DEFECT SO THEY DO NOT COVER THE REPAIR. SINCE THEN I HAD THE CAR LOOKED AT BY A PRIVATE LICENSED MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT DUE TO THE DESIGN. THE AIRBAG HARNESS RUNS IN THE SEAT AND THROUGH WEAR OF GETTING IN AND OUT OF THE VEHICLE THE HARNESS WORE AWAY AND SHORTED IT' S SELF OUT AND CAUSED IT TO DEPLOY. WITH NO WARNING THIS HAPPENED AND NOW AS A STUDENT AND FULL TIME EMPLOYEE (MY SCHOOL IS 17 MILES AND MY JOB IS 45 MILES AWAY) I REALLY NEED THIS FIXED ASAP. *JB