NHTSA Complaint #11364098 — 2004 VOLVO S60

MY SON WAS IN A SIDE IMPACT COLLISION ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF HIS 2004 VOLVO S60. HE WAS IN A RURAL AREA AND EITHER DIDN'T SEE THE ONCOMING CAR OR MISSED HIS STOP SIGN AND THE ONCOMING DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO STOP. THE OTHER DRIVER IS UNINJURED BUT MY SON IN SEVERELY INJURED WITH A GRADE 3 DAI HEAD INJURY. HE WAS WEARING HIS SEAT BELT. THE SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED BUT NOT THE ONE IN THE STEERING WHEEL. IN AN EMAIL VOLVO TOLD ME THIS IS HOW THE AIRBAGS ARE DESIGNED AND THAT THE DRIVER AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY ON SIDE IMPACT. IF THAT IS CORRECT INFORMATION, THIS NEEDS TO CHANGE. THE ONLY SIGNIFICANT INJURY MY SON HAS IS WHERE HIS HEAD HIT THE STEERING WHEEL, IF THAT AIRBAG HAD DEPLOYED HIS INJURIES WOULD HAVE POTENTIALLY BEEN MUCH LESS. THE AIRBAGS ARE ALREADY THERE, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY CAN'T JUST DEPLOY ON ANY SIGNIFICANT IMPACT. I WILL INCLUDE PICTURES.