NHTSA Complaint #10173786 — 2001 HONDA CIVIC

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING 2001 HONDA CIVIC LX SEDAN EQUIPPED WITH SIDE AIRBAG OPTIONAL. WHILE SHE WAS 3RD IN LINE OF CARS STOPPED AT RED LIGHT, ANOTHER CAR PROCEEDED TO LEFT TURN FROM INTERSECTING ROAD AT SPEED, LOST CONTROL, AND CRASHED INTO HER DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. THAT DRIVER THEN PROCEEDED TO LEAVE THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT...HIT AND RUN. DAMAGE TO HER CAR EXTENDED FROM JUST FORWARD OF THE DRIVER'S DOOR, THE ENTIRE DRIVER'S DOOR, AND PARTLY ONTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR DOOR. THE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. DAMAGE TO THE CAR WAS EXTENSIVE AND THE CAR HAS BEEN TOTALED BY STATE FARM. IMPACT WAS STRONG ENOUGH TO SHATTER THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW, FRACTURE THE WINDSHIELD, AND PUSH THE CAR SIDEWAYS INTO THE CURB ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE, DAMAGING BOTH THE FRONT AND REAR TIRES ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE DUE TO CURB IMPACT. MY COMPLAINT IS WHY DIDN'T THE SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOY? *NM