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1999 BMW 528I — STEERING

crash2 injured · 229629 · 2000-08-14

Vehicle

Make
BMW
Model
528I
Year
1999
Manufacturer
BMW of North America, LLC
Component
STEERING
Speed
20 mph

Severity

Deaths
0
Injured
2
Fire
No
Crash
Yes
Police report
Yes
Medical attention
No
Vehicle towed
No

Narrative

MY CAR WAS HIT (BROAD-SIDED AT A PERPENDICULAR ANGLE) BY A 16 YO IN AN 1989 CAMARO. MY BMW VEHICLE SUSTAINED MAJOR STRUCTURAL DAMAGE, INCLUDING BENDING OF THE CAR-FRAME, BLOW-OUT OF THE DRIVER'S WINDOW (THAT LANDED ON THE PASSENGER, LACERATING HIS LEG), AND SEPARATION AND RUPTURE OF THE BODY SIDE DOOR PANEL ASSEMBLY AND DOOR SHELL. I SUSTAINED BLUNT LEFT SHOULDER INJURIES AND BRUISING FROM IMPACTING THE PILLAR, AND ALSO BACK/LEG INJURIES. DESPITE THE SEVERITY OF THE IMPACT (THAT MADE BOTH LEFT-SIDE DOORS INOPERABLE), NEITHER THE SIDE NOR THE HEAD RESTRAINT AIRBAG SYSTEMS DEPLOYED, AND THE EMERGENCY CENTRAL UNLOCKING SYSTEM DID NOT ACTIVATE. I HAVE CONTACTED BMW AMERICA, WHO AFTER WEEKS OF UNHELPFUL SUGGESTIONS, HAD THE CAR INSPECTED. THE ENGINEERS' REPORT (WHICH TO DATE, HAS NOT BEEN SHARED WITH ME DESPITE MY REPEATED REQUESTS), STATES THAT THE IMPACT "WAS NOT SEVERE ENOUGH TO ACTIVATE THE DEPLOYMENT" OF THE AIRBAGS. HAVE THERE BEEN ANY OTHER SUCH INSTANCES OF FAILURE REPORTED TO NHTSA? IN THE BMW ADVERTISEMENT OF THE PASSIVE REASTRAINT SYSTEM, THE SIDE (AND HEAD) AIRBAGS ARE CLEARLY CLAIMED TO BE DEPLOYED DURING SIDE IMPACTS OF LESSER SEVERITY THAN THE ONE I EXPERIENCED. ALL BMW AND MERCEDES SALES PEOPLE AND MECHANICS WHO HAVE SEEN THE DAMAGE TO THE CAR WERE OF THE OPINION THAT THE BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. I HAVE DOCUMENTED THE DAMAGE WITH PHOTOS. CAN YOU PLEASE ADVISE? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

Source

Authoritative
NHTSA ODI Flat-File Downloads
ODI Number
727810
Machine
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