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1991 MERCEDES BENZ 190E — AIR BAGS

1 injured · 233198 · 2000-08-23

Vehicle

Make
MERCEDES BENZ
Model
190E
Year
1991
Manufacturer
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Component
AIR BAGS

Severity

Deaths
0
Injured
1
Fire
No
Crash
No
Police report
Yes
Medical attention
No
Vehicle towed
No

Narrative

WHILE TRANSPORTING FOUR CHILDREN TO SCHOOL, I HEARD A LONG BANGING NOISE UNDERNEATH THE CAR. THE CAR TRAVELED ABOUT 6 FEET AND STOPPED. AFTER THE CAR STOPPED, THE DRIVERSIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED CAUSING SEVERE BRUSING, ABRASIONS, AND BURNS TO MY LEFT ARM. CLIFFORD BLAKEMORE, SERVICE MANAGER AT LONG OF CHATTANOOGA CONFIRMED THAT THE AIRBAG COULD DEPLOY UNDER THE CONDITIONS DESCRIBED AND AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD STOPPED. HE STATED THAT THE FLEXDISK WHICH CONNECTS THE DRIVE SHAFT TO THE TRANSMISSION PROBABLY CAME LOOSE AND RESULTED IN THE DRIVE SHAFT HITTING THE TRANSMISSION TUNNEL. THIS WOULD HAVE EXPLAINED THE LOUD, BANGING NOISE. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED FROM ANOTHER SOURCE THAT THE CONTROL UNIT FOR THE AIRBAG RESIDES ON TOP OF THE TRANSMISSION TUNNEL. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE AIRBAG COULD HAVE DEPLOYED WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION RESULTING IN MUCH MORE SEVERE INJURIES OR EVEN FATALITIES. I QUESTION WHETHER THE AIRBAG COULD ACCIDDENTLY BE DEPLOYED BY THE CAR STRIKING AN OBJECT ON THE ROAD OR HITTING A POTHOLE AND BELIEVE THE DESIGN OF THE AIRBAG CONTROL UNIT POSES A SERIOUS THREAT.

Source

Authoritative
NHTSA ODI Flat-File Downloads
ODI Number
728762
Machine
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