TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 HONDA ACCORD EX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH APPROACHING A TRAFFIC STOP SIGNAL, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE FOLLOWED BY THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG ABRUPTLY DEPLOYING WITH AN EMITTANCE OF SMOKE. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BRUISES TO THE LEFT ARM AND RIBS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY ADVISED THAT BASED ON THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE THE FAILURE WAS VIEWED AS AN ACCIDENT. ALSO, THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE FAILURE COULD POSSIBLY OCCUR WHENEVER ENCOUNTERING A POTHOLE OR DURING RAPID DECELERATION. THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH THE DEFECT UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 96V217000 (AIR BAGS). HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS WAITING ON A RESPONSE FROM THE MANUFACTURER FOR FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 119,000.