NHTSA Complaint #10585224 — 2005 MAZDA MAZDA6

THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG RUPTURED. I WAS DRIVING DOWN A1A IN HALLANDALE BEACH, FL. THREE LANES OF TRAFFIC HAD JUST MERGED TO TWO AND TRAFFIC WAS FLOWING PERFECT GOING 25 MPH. THE CAR THAT WAS TWO IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED DEAD FOR NO REASON CAUSING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME TO STOP. I HIT MY BRAKES BUT COULDN'T STOP IN TIME AND REAR ENDED THE OTHER CAR. THERE WAS A LOUD EXPLOSION AND THE NEXT THING I REMEMBER I WAS SITTING IN MY CAR STARING AT THE CENTER OF MY STEERING CONSOLE. THE AIRBAG WAS NO WHERE TO BE SEEN. THE AIRBAG HAS COMPLETELY DISLODGED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. AFTER SEARCHING FOR IT I FOUND IT BETWEEN THE DRIVERS DOOR AND THE SEAT. IT HAS CAUSED CUTS AND BURNS ON BOTH OF MY ARMS AS WELL AS THE LEFT SIDE OF MY FACE. THE EMT'S TOLD ME I WAS LUCKY I HAD LARGE GLASSES ON AS THEY PROBABLY KEPT ME FROM GETTING HIT IN THE EYE. I ALSO AM SUFFERING FROM HEARING PROBLEMS SINCE THE EXPLOSION OF THE AIRBAG. MY RIGHT HEAR HAS PARTIAL HEARING WITH MODERATE RINGING AND PAIN, MY LEFT EAR SOUNDS LIKE I'M SITTING IN A FIELD OF CRICKETS. IT MAKES HORRIBLE CRACKING AND SHRILL WHISTLING SOUNDS. I AM GOING TO SEE MY EAR DOCTOR TOMORROW. THE REST OF ME IS SORE BUT OK. I THINK THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT AS THERE WAS DEFINITELY TOO MUCH PRESSURE IN THE AIRBAG. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE STEERING COLUMN SHOWING HOW THE AIRBAG WAS GONE EXCEPT A SMALL PIECE OF YOU NEED THEM. I AM GOING TO SEE MY CAR LATER TODAY AND AM HOPING TO GET THE AIRBAG TO KEEP IN CASE YOU NEED IT. ALSO, THE CAR IS REGISTERED IN MY HUSBAND'S NAME [XXX] JUST FOR YOU FYI. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *JS