NHTSA Complaint #10410154 — 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS

DAUGHTER AND SON-IN-LAW WERE DRIVING MY 2005 TOYOTA PRIUS. A JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE HIT THEM HEAD ON GOING 32-35 MPH. MY S-N-L WAS DRIVING SLOWING DOWN TO A STOP SIGN AND SAW THE JEEP COMING AT THEM ON THEIR SIDE OF THE ROAD SO HE WAS BRAKING HOPING THE JEEP WOULD EITHER STOP OR SWERVE AROUND THEM. THE DRIVER OF THE JEEP DIDN'T EVEN BRAKE. HIT THEM HEAD ON MORE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE PUSHING THEM BACK ABOUT 10-15 FT. THE JEEPS AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE AIRBAGS ON MY PRIUS DIDN'T. THE DAMAGE TO THE JEEP WAS A SCREWED UP BUMPER AND A BENT LICENSE PLATE. THE DAMAGE TO MY TOYOTA PRIUS WAS TOTALED. ENGINE FLATTENED AND PUSHED IN OVER A FOOT ALMOST UNDER THE DASHBOARD OF CAR. PASSENGER DOOR COULDN'T OPEN UNTIL FIREFIGHTERS PRIED IT OPEN. CALLED TOYOTA, FILED A CLAIM ON DEFECTIVE AIRBAG. MY RESPONSE WAS THEY WEREN'T GOING FAST ENOUGH(ONLY OVER 30 MPH) FOR THE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY, THEY WEREN'T HIT HARD ENOUGH AND THE DASHBOARD MUST NOT HAVE LOOSENED FROM THE CAR OR ELSE AIRBAGS WOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. MY DAUGHTER TOOK THE BLUNT OF IT. BODY FLEW FORWARD (SHE HAD A SEATBELT ON) HAND HIT DASHBOARD, KNEES HIT GLOVE COMPARTMENT SO HARD THAT IT POPPED OPEN. HOW BAD DOES AN ACCIDENT HAVE TO BE FOR AIRBAGS TO GO OFF. WE PAY FOR SAFETY. THE DRIVER THAT CAUSED THIS WAS DRUNK, WIFE DRUNK AND THEY HAD A 3 YR OLD IN THE CAR AT 10:45 IN THE MORNING. THEY HAD NO INJURIES, THEIR AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. FORGOT TO MENTION DAUGHTERS SISTER-IN-LAW IN SEAT BEHIND HER, WHIPLASH, BRUISES ON LEGS AND BACK IS TWEAKED, BUT THEY WEREN'T HIT HARD ENOUGH. TOYOTA USE TO BE GREAT ON SAFETY AND NOW THEY ARE REALLY BAD AND WON'T FESS UP TO ERRORS. SEARCH TOYOTA AIRBAG DEFECTS AND SEE ALL THE OTHERS THAT HAVE HAD PROBLEMS. SOMEONE WILL HAVE TO DIE PROBABLY HUNDREDS BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE. *TR