NHTSA Complaint #10227624 — 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS

ON 3/1/08 I WAS INVOLVED IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT WHEREBY I BROADSIDED A PUBLIC BUS AT AN APPROXIMATE ANGLE OF 45 DEGREES. THE WHOLE FRONT OF THE CAR FROM THE CENTER TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE WAS COMPLETELY SMASHED AND NEITHER THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG OR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. AS A RESULT I, THE DRIVER, INCURRED WHIP LASH INJURIES AND THE FRONT PASSENGER HIT THE FRONT WINDSHIELD AND CRACKED IT AS THE SEATBELT ON THAT SIDE DID NOT WORK EITHER. TOYOTA WAS CONTACTED AND THEIR CLAIM IS THAT THE FRONT SEAT BELT FUNCTIONED PROPERLY BUT THEY COULD NOT EXPLAIN HOW THE FRONT PASSENGER WAS NOT RESTRAINED FROM HITTING THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. AS TO THE AIRBAGS, THEY CLAIM THAT, DESPITE KNOWING THE CAR WAS DOING BETWEEN 40-45 MPH UPON IMPACT, THAT DUE TO THE ANGLE OF THE COLLISION THE AIRBAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY. COULD YOU PLEASE TELL ME IF THIS IS TRUE. DOES THE LAW ALLOW FOR RESTRAINT SYSTEMS NOT TO DEPLOY IN SUCH ACCIDENTS OR ARE THEY JUST STONE WALLING US? ANY INFO YOU CAN PROVIDE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU. JOHN E. REARDON *TR