# 1999 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE — AIR BAGS
> NHTSA complaint `383575` · 2002-11-25 · Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 1
- **Fire:** No
- **Crash:** Yes
- **Police report:** Yes
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** VOLKSWAGEN
- **Model:** NEW BEETLE
- **Year:** 1999
- **Manufacturer:** Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
- **Component:** AIR BAGS
- **Speed:** 20 mph
## Narrative
WHILE DRIVING ON AN ICY ROAD AT 20 MPH MY CAR SKIDDED OF THE ROAD AND HIT A TREE HEAD ON. THE CAR WILL BE MOST LIKELY TOTALED, AND I RECEIVED INJURIES TO MY LEG, BACK, SHOULDER AND NECK.  ALTHOUGH MY CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH BOTH FRONT AND SIDE AIR BAGS, NOT ONE OF THEM DEPLOYED. I MENTIONED THE CAR RECEIVED MASSIVE DAMAGE, YET THE AIR BAG SYSTEM DID NOTHING TO LESSEN MY INJURIES BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T WORK AS I HOPED.  I PURCHASED MY VW BEETLE WITH THE SAFETY FEATURES IN MIND, BUT I NOW HAVE LEARNED THAT NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE NON DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAGS IS COMMON.  I FEEL FORTUNATE THAT MY INJURIES WERE NOT LIFE THREATENING, YET FEEL CHEATED THAT MY VEHILCLE'S SAFETY FEATURES DID NOT WORK WHEN I NEEDED THEM MOST.  DT
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*