NHTSA complaint: 1998 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE — AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
OUR 1998 GRAND CHEROKEE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON CRASH INTO A TELEPHONE POLE ON 11/15/98. THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT A SPEED OF 35-40 MPH. THE DAMAGE WAS EXTENSIVE, RESULTING IN THE CAR BEING TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. BOTH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. CHRYSLER WAS CONTACTED CONCERNING THE CRASH, AND WOULD APPEAR TO HAVE CONDUCTED AN INVESTIGATION. THE ONLY CONTACT RECEIVED WAS A SHORT LETTER STATING THAT THE VEHICLE'S AIR BAGS FUNCTIONED PROPERLY AND THAT THE "..THRESHOLD FOR AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT WAS NOT MET." CHRYSLER WOULD NOT PROVIDE CLARIFICATION AS TO EXACTLY WHAT THE THRESHOLD FOR AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT IS. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT POLICE OFFICERS, INSURANCE ADJUSTER, AND A MR. PERRY MOORE RESEARCHER FOR THE USDOT, ALL INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND WERE COMPLETELY AMAZED THAT THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. PICTURES CAN BE PROVIDED AT YOUR REQUEST. *AK
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation