Feb 7, 2005 11:00 pm US/Central
Sudden Impact: Airbags Deploy For No Reason
CHICAGO (CBS 2) ―
Imagine driving down the highway and your airbag deploys, even though you were not in an accident.
CBS 2 Investigators uncovered allegations of airbags deploying for no apparent reason, and some drivers complain that the sudden impact of their airbags caused broken bones, bruises and the loss of an eye.
Investigative reporter Dave Savini has the exclusive story that involves a half million cars and has already led to a federal investigation.
In less than a second there's an explosion. Powdery smoke fills your car. Your seatbelt tightens. Your airbag just deployed. That's what you want to happen in a crash.
But CBS 2 has found drivers across the country complaining about airbags deploying for no reason.
"I was really scared. I mean I don't know what happened," said Eric Chan.
After passing through a tollbooth, Eric Chan and Betty Wong-Chan of West Dundee say the passenger side airbags in their 2002 Volkswagen GTI suddenly deployed.
"I did not hit a car, I did not hit a pole, I did not hit anything," Eric Chan said.
The Chans are part of a growing group of Volkswagen owners claiming airbags are going off for unexplained reasons even causing injuries.
"They are not taking it seriously enough. It's about public safety," said Betty Wong-Chan.
"We heard this loud bang like a shotgun and immediately the car filled with smoke," said Connie Derewal.
In Pennsylvania, Derewal, her husband and daughter were on the highway when she says both driver and side airbags deployed in their 2002 Volkswagen Jetta.
"I kept saying no the airbags didn't just go off by themselves something must have hit us. And my husband said no nothing hit us," Derewel said.
CBS 2 has found 117 similar complaints filed with NHTSA, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Nineteen people say they were injured.
Complaints involve 2001 through 2003 Volkswagen Golfs, GTIs and Jettas.
"I think they need to basically recall the cars and repair and replace this faulty system," Eric Chan said.
"We don't know of any spontaneous combustions," said Volkswagen's spokesman Tony Fouladpour.
Fouladpour says there is no defect with the airbags.
"There's case after case of people claiming the same thing Mr. Chan is claiming," said CBS 2's Dave Savini.
"There isn't case after case, I think that's an exaggeration," Fouladpour said.
But we found driver complaints about airbags deploying on highways, going down driveways, hitting potholes, rocks and curbs, even when cars are parked.
Injuries range from bruises, burns and strained muscles to broken bones. One person even lost an eye.
"I would say to those people that have those abrasions and they're minor abrasions," Fouladpour said.
"One guy lost an eye," Savini said.
"I'd have to look into that I'm not sure about that," Fouladpour said.
He says the airbags work properly and the 117 complaints represent a fraction of the cars manufactured.
"And is it absolutely 100% perfect? No, it's not. But is it going to save lives? Absolutely," Fouladpour said.
He says the only mistake Volkswagen made was a customer service one for refusing to pay for some airbag repairs.
"When that rare occurrence happens and it wasn't the intention of the airbag than yes we need to reimburse those people absolutely," Fouladpour said.
"They came back and said to me that there is crash data stored on the computer in the car and they're not going to fix it for me," Chan said.
In the complaints we obtained, drivers say they weren't in any accidents. There were no dents or damage to their cars.
But each car has a black box a computer that stores crash data. Drivers complain black boxes are erroneously reporting crashes that never occurred, leaving them with thousands of dollars in air bag repairs.
"The airbag sensors and the airbag control module should have a higher tolerance for these type of events," said Michael Brooks with the Center for Auto Safety.
Brooks, a lawyer for the Center for Auto Safety, who also owns a Jetta, says this is more than just a customer service problem; it's a public safety issue.
The watchdog group asked NHTSA last July to launch an investigation.
"I would say its well over the threshold that we've seen on airbag recalls in the past," Brooks said.
"I guarantee right now we know of no defect to that system. There is no defect to that system," Fouladpour said.
"There is no question in my mind that people's lives are going to be saved. if these cars are recalled and properly repaired," Derewal said.
The Derewals hope to get back the money they spent on repairs.
A Volkswagen spokesperson says it will now take care of the Chan's $3,000 repair bill.
NHTSA has launched a preliminary investigation into Volkswagen's side airbags inadvertently deploying.
If you have this problem or concerns, you can contact the NHTSA, the Center for Auto Safety and Volkswagen for further information.
Of course, we also would like to hear from you. You can email or call us at 312-202-2222.
Some drivers complain they filed insurance claims to pay for the repairs and their premiums increased.
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