NHTSA complaint: 2018 VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS — AIR BAGS
MY WIFE SLID INTO A CURB DURING A LEFT-HAND TURN INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD DUE TO ICE. SHE DAMAGED THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL AND A COUPLE MECHANICS, SCRATCHING THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL AS WELL. THERE IS NO DAMAGE TO ANY OTHER PART OF THE EXTERIOR; HOWEVER, THIS CURB IMPACT SET OFF ALL OF THE INTERIOR SIDE AIRBAGS, INCLUDING ONE SEAT AIRBAG. MY WIFE RECEIVED MINOR PAIN FROM AIRBAG IMPACT BUT THANKFULLY MY CHILDREN WERE NOT IN THE CAR BECAUSE A SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED DIRECTLY INSIDE MY CHILD'S HEAD RESTRAINT. IN THE WORDS OF THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER, AND THE SERVICE TECHNICIANS AT MULTIPLE DEALERS AND BODY SHOPS, THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN AIRBAGS DEPLOY LIKE THIS DUE TO AN IMPACT WITH A CURB, WITH SO LITTLE DAMAGE AS WELL. TOTAL COST TO REPAIR AROUND $10K, RESALE VALUE DROPPED 20% ACCORDING TO DEALER QUOTE, AS AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT IS ON CARFAX. IT HAS BEEN THREE MONTHS AND VW HAS YET TO MANUFACTURE THE SEAT BELTS AND SEAT COVER FOR REPLACEMENT. WE HAVE BEEN WITHOUT THE CAR ALL THIS TIME AND IT COULD BE SEVERAL MORE MONTHS BEFORE WE EVEN GET A TRUE TIMELINE...ALL DUE TO AN IMPACT WITH A CURB. TO MAKE THINGS MORE INTERESTING, THERE IS ANOTHER ATLAS WHO ALSO SLID INTO A CURB DUE TO ICE DURING THE SAME STORM, ONLY DAMAGE TO WHEELS, AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, AND THEY ARE STILL WITHOUT THEIR CAR AS WELL, THREE MONTHS LATER. VW SUPPORT REFUSES TO RELEASE REPORT THAT DICTATES THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED PROPERLY, STATING IT'S NORMAL AND THEREFORE OUR FAULT. CONSIDERING THE OBVIOUS AND THE TESTIMONIES OF AUTO BODY SPECIALIST
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation