NHTSA Complaint #10781171 — 2000 SAAB 9-3

I WAS RETURNING FROM THREE DAYS OF AIR TRAVEL AND REACHED MY CAR WHICH WAS PARKED IN A SECURE CORPORATE AIRPORT PARKING LOT WITH NO OTHER CARS AROUND IT. I PLACED MY LUGGAGE IN THE TRUNK, ENTERED THE CAR AND PUT ON MY SEAT BELT. I STARTED THE CAR; IT STARTED NORMALLY WITH NO WARNINGS OR ANYTHING ABNORMAL. I PLACED THE CAR IN REVERSE, ROLLED APPROXIMATELY THREE FEET, AND THE SEAT-BACK SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED EXPLOSIVELY. IT SHATTERED THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW, STRUCK ME VERY HARD ON THE LEFT SHOULDER AND UPPER ARM, AND SHOVED ME VIOLENTLY TOWARD THE CENTER OF THE CAR. I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED THE CAR AND TRIED TO RECOVER MY SENSES. I THOUGHT INITIALLY THAT I HAD BEEN SHOT OR SHOT AT WITH A GUN. THE EXPLOSION WAS VERY LOUD, AND LEFT RINGING IN MY LEFT EAR. I SHUT THE CAR OFF, GOT OUT AND CHECKED THE DAMAGE BOTH TO MY CAR AND MYSELF. MY UPPER ARM WAS SEVERELY BRUISED; INITIALLY THAT WAS THE ONLY PAIN THAT I FELT. THERE WAS GLASS EVERYWHERE, BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE CAR. I NOTIFIED THE LOCAL SECURITY BOTH TO RECORD THE EVENT AND HOPEFULLY CLEAN UP THE GLASS. I TOOK SEVERAL PICTURES WITH MY PHONE, THEN DROVE HOME AFTERWARD WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE NEXT MORNING I HAD NECK, BACK, AND SHOULDER PAIN. I NOTIFIED AND FILED A CLAIM WITH MY INSURANCE AGENCY, CALLED MY DEALERSHIP, AS WELL AS UPDATING MY FAMILY OF THE OCCURRENCE AND WENT TO THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE FOR CHECK-OUT. HAD THIS EVENT OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING, AND ESPECIALLY IN TRAFFIC AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, I AM CONFIDENT THIS EVENT WOULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE GIVEN THE VIOLENCE OF THE DEPLOYMENT. I AM VERY THANKFUL THAT THIS EVENT OCCURRED IN A PARKING LOT AND NOT IN TRAFFIC, AND THAT I WAS NOT SERIOUSLY INJURED. THIS WAS A COMPLETELY UNCOMMANDED AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT, AND I WOULD LIKE TO PREVENT A SERIOUS ACCIDENT FROM OCCURRING IF THIS HAPPENS TO SOMEONE ELSE.