NHTSA complaint: 1999 TOYOTA AVALON — AIR BAGS
THE AVALON WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND WAS STRUCK ON THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE POINT OF IMPACT WAS ONLY A FEW INCHES AWAY FROM ONE OF THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. THE CAR SPUN OFF THE ROAD ONTO THE GRASS VERGE BUT FORTUNATELY THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO GET IT BACK UNDER CONTROL. I HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA MANY TIMES OVER THE WEEKS SINCE THE ACCIDENT, ASKING IF THIS WAS NORMAL OR WAS THERE AN AIRBAG FAILURE. TOYOTA HAVE BEEN DODGING THE QUESTION AND "REFERRING ME TO THE APPROPRIATE DEPARTMENT". THEY SAID THEY WOULD 'INSPECT IT', DURING A TWO WEEK STAY AT THEIR DEALERSHIP BUT THEY DIDN'T. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE AIRBAGS, PARTICULARLY THE SIDE ONES DID NOT DEPLOY. IS THERE A FAULT IN THE SYSTEM, OR IF THEY ARE NOT DESIGNED TO OPERATE UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES , THEN WHY FIT THEM? *NM
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation