2003 TOYOTA AVALON. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AIR BAG MALFUNCTION DURING VEHICLE ACCIDENT. *SMD ON NOVEMBER 16, 2013 WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH IN THE 4TH LANE, ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE CONSUMER'S LANE 100 YARDS AWAY FROM HIM, SUDDENLY STOPPED. TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT, SO THE CONSUMER SWITCHED TO THE 3RD LANE LEFT OF HIM. WHEN HE GOT WITHIN SIX CAR LENGTHS OF THE STOPPED VEHICLE IN THE RIGHT LANE, HE WAS SUDDENLY SIDE SWIPED BY AN AUTOMOBILE WANTING TO MOVE INTO HIS LANE. THE CONTACT TO HIS VEHICLE CAUSED THE FRONTAL AIR BAG TO DEPLOY IN AN ALARMING AND STRANGE WAY. THE DRIVER AIR BAG BARELY MADE ITSELF OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN, THEN SLOWLY CONTINUED TO INFLATE AND BLOCKED HIS VISION. IN A PANIC MODE TO GET THE PARTIALLY FILLED AIR BAG OUT OF HIS FACE, THE CONSUMER APPARENTLY TURNED THE STEERING LIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT, WHICH CAUSED THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL TO HIT AND THEN SKIDDED OFF THE BACK DRIVER SIDE WHEEL OF THE VEHICLE THAT ORIGINALLY STOPPED 100 YARDS IN FRONT OF HIM. THE CONSUMER STATED THE AIR BAG SHOULD HAVE NEVER DEPLOYED; ESPECIALLY IN THE MANNER IN WHICH THEY DID. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAS RECEIVED FIVE LETTERS REGARDING THE AIR BAG. HE WAS INFORMED BY TOYOTA, THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO WITHOUT PERMISSION FROM HEADQUARTERS. UPDATED 08/04/16.*JB UPDATED 02/16/17.*JB