NHTSA Complaint #733623 — 1995 SAAB 900

AS I WAS DRIVING THE CAR, A STRANGE ODOR COULD BE SMELLED IN THE CAR. I OPENED THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW TO DETERMINE IF THE ODOR WAS COMING FROM OUTSIDE OR INSIDE THE CAR. AS I REALIZED THE ODOR WAS COMING FROM INSIDE THE CAR, THE BOTTOM TWO OR THREE INCHES OF THE WINDSHIELD BEGAN TO FOG UP. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE MAIN STREET TO PARK THE CAR AND TURN THE ENGINE OFF. JUST AFTER I TURNED THE CORNER, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG EXPLODED. I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED THE CAR, TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, AND GOT OUT OF THE CAR. WHEN THE AIR BAG EXPLODED IT RIPPED APART THE TOP OF THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE DASHBOARD, IT SHATTERED THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD, AND IT FILLED THE CAR WITH FUMES (EVENTHOUGH THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WAS STILL ALL THE WAY DOWN). THE EXPLOSION OCCURED AT APPROXIMATELY 7:30 P.M. ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2000. THE AIRBAG EXPLODED AFTER THE CAR HAD BEEN DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 3/4 OF A MILE. BECAUSE IT WAS FRIDAY EVENING, I HAD THE CAR TOWED HOME. CARTER SAAB WAS CONTACTED ON MONDAY AND THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP ON TUESDAY. THE CAR HAS VERY FEW MILES ON IT AND HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. THERE HAS NEVER BEEN ANY DAMAGE TO THE CAR. ALL SERVICING TO THIS CAR HAS BEEN PERFORMED BY CARTER SAAB, AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP AND REPAIR SHOP. ALL MANUFACTURER'S SERVICE AND WARRANTY WORK WAS PERFORMED BY CARTER. ALL MANUFACTURER'S RECALL WORK WAS PERFORMED BY CARTER. WHEN I STARTED THE CAR THE SRS WARNING LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. BEFORE DRIVING THE CAR, I READ THE SECTION CONCERNING THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THE MANUAL CONTAINS THE INSTRUCTIONS THAT THE DRIVER IS TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE NEAREST DEALER IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE THE AIR BAR MAY NOT ACTIVATE IN CASE OF A COLLISION.