NHTSA Complaint #10405472 — 2006 VOLKSWAGEN GTI

I LOST CONTROL ON A VERY SHARP TURN BY A STEEP DROP-OFF IN THE NORTH CAROLINA MOUNTAINS. WHEN FIRST LEAVING THE ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 35-40 MPH, THE FRONT LEFT CORNER OF THE CAR HIT A TREE A FEW FEET OFF THE PAVEMENT. AFTER ROLLING OFF A STEEP EMBANKMENT, APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET, THE FRONT GRILL AND BUMPER MADE FULL CONTACT WITH THE GROUND AND SMALL TREES, STOPPING THE CAR FROM ITS PLUNGE. THE FRONT AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, YET THE IMPACT WAS ENOUGH TO CRUNCH THE HOOD (PICTURES AVAILABLE). MY WIFE WAS TREATED AND RELEASED FROM THE LOCAL HOSPITAL WITH A GASH ON HER HEAD. MOST SURPRISING WAS WHEN THE REAR DRIVER-SIDE PART OF THE VEHICLE LATERALLY SLAMMED INTO A TREE, NO SIDE/CURTAIN AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE IMPACT WAS JUST BEHIND THE BACK EDGE OF THE DRIVER DOOR AND SMASHED IN THE FRAME FROM THE ROOF TO THE TOP CENTER OF THE WHEEL WELL, DEEPEST AT THE TOP OF THE CAR FRAME. THERE WAS ALSO A SMALLER IMPACT IN THE SAME AREA ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CAR. MY HEAD SLAMMED INTO THE TOP INSIDE PART OF THE DOOR/ROOF WHERE AN AIRBAG SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED, AND I AM STILL FEELING THE BRUISING AND STIFFNESS TODAY. THE AIRBAGS IN THE CAR WERE A KEY SELLING POINT; THEY FAILED. I UNDERSTAND THERE MUST BE A CERTAIN FORCE TO CAUSE DEPLOYMENT, BUT THIS FORCE SHOULD HAVE BEEN MET FROM THE SIDE IMPACT AND FROM ONE OF THE TWO IMPACTS AT THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. IT CERTAINLY FAILED MY WIFE AND ME AT A CRITICAL TIME. A CLAIMS ADJUSTER IS STILL EVALUATING MY VEHICLE (ESTIMATED TO BE TOTALED). WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF FRONT AND SIDE AIRBAGS IF THE SENSOR WOULD NOT DEPLOY THEM IN AN ACCIDENT GIVEN THIS SPEED AND THE SIDE/FRONT COLLISIONS WITH ENOUGH FORCE LIKELY TO TOTAL THE CAR VW OF AMERICA, AFTER CONSULTING WITH AN ENGINEER, SAID ALL FOUR WHEELS MUST BE ON THE GROUND FOR THE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY. BECAUSE THE PASSENGER TIRES WEREN'T ON GROUND, THAT'S WHY THEY SAID AIRBAGS WERE PROGRAMMED NOT TO DEPLOY. *TR