NHTSA — Air Bags Problems

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
5 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
6 / 0
Average Mileage:
14,387 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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.

2001 Pontiac Sunfire seat belts / air bags problems

seat belts / air bags problem

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2001 Pontiac Sunfire Owner Comments

problem #6

Jun 052014

Sunfire

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2001 Pontiac Sunfire. While driving 25 mph, the ignition switched off independently and caused the steering wheel to lock without warning. The failure caused a four vehicle crash. The air bags failed to deploy and the vehicle was destroyed. It was unknown if any injuries were sustained or if a police report was filed. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The failure mileage was unknown. The VIN was unavailable.

- Winston, MA, USA

problem #5

Jun 282005

Sunfire 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 26,320 miles
2001 Pontiac - airbag deployment causes total wreck June 28, 2005, ca. 1130 - on a right-angle turn at less than 5 mph into a narrow lane in a parking area at conroe regional medical center, conroe, tx, at about 1130 June 28, the left rear wheel of my 2001 Pontiac Sunfire went up onto a 3-to-4-inch-high concrete median. When I attempted to steer off the median, the resulting slight drop caused my airbags to deploy. This deployment caused bruises on both forearms, bruised my lower right ribcage and forced both hands back off the wheel, preventing me from steering the car. Furthermore, the deployment forced my legs away from the foot controls. The deploying airbag knocked my spectacles up onto my forehead, the left temple causing a small cut and bending the spectacles so they could not be worn and had to be repaired later. As a result of this airbag deployment I was totally unable to control direction or speed. The car lunged at about a 30-degree angle to the right for a distance of about 12 feet and smashed into a pillar, causing the vehicle to sustain severe damage to the front end, smashing the bumper and the radiator and cracking the right part of the windshield. Personnel from the hospital, the conroe police department, and the local ems were on the scene immediately. The conroe police assigned a case number 05064218 to the accident. I am appalled to think that this same accident which destroyed my vehicle and hurt me within a few feet at extremely low speed might have happened at a bump in the road at highway speed. Had the airbags not deployed there would not have been an accident, as I would have been able to operate my vehicle properly. This experience has been very costly in terms of vehicle replacement and personal pain. Obviously, more thought has to be given to the subject of airbags and safety. A one-size-fits-all mentality does not work.

- Spring, TX, USA

problem #4

Mar 222005

Sunfire

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
While driving at approximately 30 mph driver hit a bump in the road. Inadvertently the air bags deployed, breaking the windshield, and causing damage to the dashboard. Owner drove the vehicle to residence.

- Spiro, OK, USA

problem #3

Aug 302004

Sunfire 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Airbags did not deploy in a front-end collision. The vehicle was totaled. Police officers and emtS were surprised and questioned weather bags were defective. Driver received small scrape to forehead which could have been prevented had airbags worked. Driver and three passengers were wearing seatbelts, so only minor bruises were sustained.

- Maple Grove, MN, USA

problem #2

Jan 142003

Sunfire

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Had a frontal collision, my entire front end was effected by the hit neither air bag deployed nor did my seat belt keep me against the seat.

- Liberty, TX, USA

problem #1

Sep 022002

Sunfire

  • miles
While driving vehicle was involved in a frontal collision and neither air bag deployed. Feel free to add additional information. Dealer has been notified. Nlm

- Sydney/Nova Scotia, CD, USA

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