NHTSA Complaint #10396733 — 2008 TOYOTA COROLLA

MY DAUGHTER HAD A FRONTAL COLLISION WHILE DRIVING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. OUR 2008 TOYOTA COROLLA S STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE ON ITS FRONT LEFT FENDER. OUR 2008 COROLLA SUSTAINED MAJOR FRONTAL DAMAGES, INCLUDING THE DISINTEGRATION OF THE BUMPER, DAMAGE TO THE HOOD, BOTH FENDERS, RADIATOR, ETC. THE FRONT STABILIZER BAR WAS RIPPED OFF THE CHASSIS. DURING THE IMPACT, THE SEAT BELTS LOCKED, HOWEVER, THE FRONT AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED!! THE CAR WAS TAKEN BACK TO EAST COAST TOYOTA, RT. 17, WOOD-RIDGE, NJ WHERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED ON FEB. 22, 2011 AS A "CERTIFIED USED VEHICLE." WE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE FAULTY AIR BAGS & THAT THEY DID NOT DEPLOY IN A FRONTAL CRASH OF 30 MPH. THE GM OF THE DEALERSHIP & GM OF THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR INSPECTION & TO HAVE A TOYOTA CORP. REP. LOOK AT THE CAR TO DETERMINE WHY THE FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DEALERSHIP ATTEMPTED TO TELL US THAT THE AIRBAGS SHOULD ONLY DEPLOY DURING A FRONT IMPACT, BUT THE CAR DID IN FACT SUSTAIN HEAVY DAMAGES DO TO THE IMPACT BUT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE IMPACT WAS SO GREAT THAT THE STEEL STABILIZER BAR WAS COMPLETELY RIPPED OFF. THAT ALONE SHOULD HAVE TRIGGERED THE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY NOT DRIVABLE DUE TO THE NUMEROUS DAMAGE SUSTAINED TO THE FRONT END, MOTOR, RADIATOR & OTHER PARTS. WE ARE WAITING TO HEAR FROM THE DEALER, MY INSURANCE ADJUSTER & TOYOTA TO FIND OUT WHY THIS IMPORTANT SAFETY FEATURE DID NOT WORK AS IT WAS DESIGNED TO. *TR