NHTSA complaint: 2008 SUZUKI SX4 — AIR BAGS
WHEN TRACTION CONTROL KICKS IN, THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE COMES FORWARD CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO FISHTAIL. I LOST CONTROL ON A STRAIGHT ROAD BECAUSE I APPLIED THE BRAKES ON A POWDERED SNOW COVERED ROAD. I DIDN'T SLAM THE BRAKES, I LIGHTLY APPLIED THEM. AFTER GOING OFF THE ROAD, THE CAR ROLLED IN A VIOLENT SPIN. THE NOSE HIT THE GROUND ON THE FRONT RIGHT CORNER AND BLEW THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE THEN SLAMMED INTO A ROCK WALL WHICH BUCKLED THE ROOF TEN INCHES AND PUSHED THE DRIVER'S SIDE PILLAR POST IN ABOUT EIGHT INCHES, AND PUSHED THE DRIVER'S DOOR IN ALMOST TO THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CAR SPUN THEN IT HIT THE GROUND TWO MORE TIMES AND BLEW BOTH OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE TIRES. NOT ONE OF THE EIGHT AIRBAGS WENT OFF. MY TOP SPEED THAT DAY WAS 40 MPH. I WAS DRIVING THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS AND I WENT OFF THE ROAD AND OFF AN EMBANKMENT AND DOWNHILL I WENT. MY MAIN CONCERN ON THAT CAR IS THAT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT GO OFF. THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW ALSO SHATTERED AND I'M STILL PULLING TINY GLASS SLIVERS OUT OF MY LEFT EAR AND MUCH OF IT WAS PULLED OUT OF MY SCALP. I'M NOT SURE IF ANYTHING CAN BE DONE ABOUT SHATTERPROOFING A SIDE WINDOW, BUT IF IT CAN BE DONE, IT SHOULD BE, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE SIDE AIRBAGS AREN'T GOING OFF. THE JACK WAS STOWED IN THE TRUNK IN IT'S PROPER HOLDING POSITION AND THE HOLDER BROKE DURING THE IMPACT AND THE JACK WAS LOOSE IN THE BACK SEAT OF THE CAR WHERE MY KIDS SIT. I WOULD FEEL BETTER IF IT HAD A MORE SECURE HOLDER OR IF IT COULD BE STOWED BETT
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation