NHTSA Complaint #10356266 — 2007 TOYOTA CAMRY

I BOUGHT A 2007 CAMRY HYBRID FROM AUTOLAND (SPRINGFIELD, NJ) IN 2007, VIN [XXX]. RECENTLY I WAS IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT (AUGUST 25, 2010) IN WHICH I HIT A CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT SPEED OF THE IMPACT BUT I WOULD ESTIMATE IT WAS 25-35 MPH. THE RESULTING IMPACT RESULTED IN A TOTAL WRECK OF THE CAR (PHOTOS AVAILABLE). HOWEVER, THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY DESPITE THE FORCE OF THE IMPACT BEING SUBSTANTIAL ENOUGH TO TOTAL THE CAR. I WAS INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT, WITH INJURIES WHICH INCLUDE A CUT ON THE FOREHEAD FROM HITTING THE WINDSHIELD AND NECK SORENESS. THE CAR WAS RECENTLY SERVICED BY TOYOTA, SO TEH THE AIRBAG SYSTEM SHOULD HAVE OPERATED PROPERLY. RECORDS AVAILABLE FROM THE DEALER. I WAS THE ONLY PERSON IN MY CAR. NO ONE ELSE WAS INJURED. MY INSURANCE COMPANY SUGGESTED I CONTACT TOYOTA, I HAD A VERY HARD TIME REACHING THEM AND THEY DO NOT HAVE A EMAIL OR WEB BASED WAY OF FILING THESE ISSUES. WHEN I FINALLY SPOLE TO A REPRESENTATIVE, THEY CLAIMED THAT THE ARIBAG FUNCTIONED AS DESIGNED. APPARENTLY THE RATE OF DECELERATION IS FACTORED INTO DECISION TO DEPLOY. I WAS BREAKING FOR ABOUT ONE SECOND WHEN I HIT AND DESPITE MY VELOCITY AT IMPACT ( 25 TO 35 MP) , THE FACT THAT I WAS SLOWING DOWN WAS A DECISION FACTOR NOT TO DEPLOY. I AM AN ENGINEER AND QUITE FRANKLY I AM SURPRISED WITH THIS CRITERION FOR DEPLOYMENT. THE PERSON ON THE PHONE AT TOYOTA COULD NOT ELABORATE FURTHER. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR