NHTSA Complaint #763542 — 2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA

I HAD A CLIENT, WHO IS AN 11 YEAR OLD BOY WITH AUTISM, IN THE LEFT REAR SEAT OF MY CAR. WE WERE SEVERAL FEET FROM A STOP SIGN WHILE TRAVELING ON A BUMPY ROAD. IN THE PROCESS OF SLOWING DOWN TO COME TO THE STOP SIGN, I HEARD A VERY LOUD POPPING SOUND TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR. THE VEHICLE WAS ALMOST STOPPED BECAUSE OF THE STOP SIGN. THE VEHICLE TURNED OFF AND THE BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED. WHEN I LOOKED TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR, THE AIR BAGS ALONG THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR WERE DEFLATING. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR TO SEE IF SOMETHING FELL ON THE CAR TO CAUSE THE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CLIENT SITTING ON THAT SIDE WAS OKAY. THERE WAS NOTHING THAT HIT THE CAR. THE CLIENT WAS SCARED BUT PHYSICALLY OKAY. THE CAR STARTED RIGHT BACK UP SO I TUCKED THE AIRBAGS IN AND DROVE TO THE CLIENT'S HOME. MY CONTACT WITH VOLKSWAGEN HAS BEEN VERY UNSUCCESSFUL. THEY ARE CLAIMING PROPER DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAGS DUE TO LATERAL MOVEMENT OF THE CAR. THEY ARE SHOWING WEAR ON THE OUTSIDE OF FRONT RIGHT AND REAR LEFT TIRES AS EVIDENCE OF PROPER DEPLOYMENT DUE TO LATERAL SKID. MY CONTENTION IS THAT THERE WAS NO LATERAL SKID ,AND THAT THE TRIGGERS MISFIRED OR ARE DANGEROUSLY TOO SENSITIVE.*AK