2001 MITSUBISHI RVR — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

I HAD A 2001 MITSUBISHI DIAMANTE LS. MY CAR WAS TOTALED IN AN ACCIDENT. MY CAR HIT AN EMBANKMENT AND A TREE DUE TO ANOTHER DRIVER. THE IMPACT OF THE HIT WAS VERY POWERFUL. IT PUSHED THE TRANSMISSION OUT OF PLACE. I COULDN'T RETRIEVE MY KEYS FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH, NOR PUT THE CAR IN PARK BECAUSE OF THE TRANSMISSION. THE POLICE OFFICER AND I WAS TOTALLY SHOCKED THAT NEITHER ONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THIS WAS A VERY EMOTIONAL AND BAD EXPERIENCE. MY SON COULD HAVE LOST HIS LIFE BECAUSE OF NON-FUNCTIONAL AIR BAGS AND ALSO HIS FRIEND'S LIFE. AIR BAGS ARE FOR SAFETY. WHAT'S THE POINT OF HAVING THEM IN YOUR VEHICLE IF THEY'RE NOT GOING TO WORK? IF MY SON AND HIS FRIEND WASN'T WEARING THEIR SEAT BELTS THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. DOES IT ACTUALLY HAVE TO BE A DEATH BEFORE ANYONE WILL LISTEN TO YOUR COMPLAINT OR EVEN BE CONCERNED ABOUT IT? I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP FIRST, THEY REFERRED ME TO THE MITSUBISHI MANUFACTURER. I INFORMED MY INSURANCE COMPANY ABOUT THE AIR BAGS NOT DEPLOYING AND THEY WERE SHOCKED. THEY COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT NEITHER ONE OF THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURERS REPRESENTATIVELY AND ALL THEY SAID WAS, I'LL SEND YOU A BOOK ON AIR BAGS. THEY SAID ITS NORMAL FOR AIR BAGS NOT TO DEPLOY SOMETIMES. MY SON RECEIVED A LOT OF MINOR INJURIES SUCH AS: BRUISES, A DEEP CUT ON THE INSIDE OF HIS LIP, A LARGE KNOT ON HIS LEFT ELBOW, LARGE KNOT ON HIS LEFT LEG JUST BELOW HIS KNEE, A KNOT ON HIS FOREHEAD AND A VERY STIFF BODY FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS. MY SON WAS VERY SHAKEN UP ABOUT THE AIR BAGS NOT DEPLOYING. THAT'S THE REASON I'M FILING A COMPLAINT AGAINST THE MANUFACTURER. THEY RESPONDED TO ME LIKE IT WASN'T IMPORTANT. MY SON'S SAFETY IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME. I COULD NEVER REPLACE HIS LIFE. AIR BAGS ARE DESIGNED FOR SAFETY NOT DEFAULT. I'M VERY DISSATISFIED. HOW MANY MORE VEHICLES ARE UNSAFE REGARDING AIR BAGS. *JB