This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
On Monday, May 3, 2010, I was driving my 2003 Chrysler Town and country mini-van and made a right turn into a parking space as the passenger side airbag abruptly exploded out of my dashboard. No impact prompted the malfunction of the airbag. Whatever caused the passenger side bag to explode did not activate the driver's side air bag. The incident was investigated by our insurance company and the authorized dealership for Chrysler to confirm that no impact had occurred. The seatbelts were not affected in anyway. According to service center at the dealership the following is what caused the malfunction: Detailed repair quote dated 5/13/2010. Air bag control module, R&R 01/03 side performed diag test -- found dtcs in the system for active passenger squib 2 circuit open-checked wiring -- no visible wiring problem seen -- also found passenger squib 1 circuit shorted together - - needs wiring harness-module-instrument pad and airbag pn the passenger side. We have not had an independent expert investigate the above finding to confirm its accuracy. We have been diligent in our request for assistance from the Chrysler case representative. The representative from the Chrysler investigations department informed us on May 13 that Chrysler did not feel the malfunction was due to a manufacturing defect and therefore we would not receive any compensation. We have not been offered compensation from the authorized dealer either. The owner's manual does not have any instructions for the vehicle owner to have the air bag, air bag sensor module, squib wiring, clock spring wiring, or any other related items checked and maintained on a regular basis. We feel the authorized dealer had the opportunity for firsthand knowledge of the condition of these items from our regular maintenance visits, and should have been diligent in assessing them given previous manufacturer recalls for the same issues on other model years.
My front air bags deployed while driving the vehicle at 30mph under normal conditions and were not triggered due to impact of the front bumper. Additionally, the air bags only partially inflated and would not have provided full protection had there been a frontal impact. I am concerned that the manufacturer has not been able to tell me why this occurred nor have they expressed much interest in understanding why it occurred. Fortunately, there were no injuries as a result of this incident.
I came to a stop - 3 other cars in front of me. I was driving a 2003 Town & Country van. Was hit in the rear by a pick up truck going around 40-45 miles per hour. When he hit my drivers seat went back and broke. I was then thrown forward thru my seat belt and uptowards the windshield. He he me again (car jerked and I went back) seat broke - air bag never deployed. Have severe neck problems - torn disk in lower back - pain all down the right side of my body constantly - never sleep - seen doctors waiting for injections. If that doesn't work next step is surgery. Why did my seat break - if it didn't I probably wouldn't have such medical problems. If my child was sitting behind me, they would have been crushed, paralized, killed. Seats should withstand crashes. Airbags should also have been deployed. Close to $10,000 in rear and front damages. Something should have worked.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Glen Carbon, IL, USA