NHTSA complaint: 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA — AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA NORTH IN THE LEFT LANE OF A 2 LANE ROAD APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION (I WAS ALONE IN THE CAR). AN SUV WAS HEADING SOUTH AND WAS STOPPED IN THE TURN LANE TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. AS I WAS ENTERING THE INTERSECTION (GREEN LIGHT) THE SUV TURNED IN FRONT OF MY CAR. THE DISTANCE WAS TOO SHORT TO STOP. I HIT THEIR RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BY THE TIRE HEAD ON. I WAS DRIVING APPROX. 30 MPH. THE DAMAGE TO MY CAR WAS TO THE CENTER FRONT END. THE FRONT END WAS PUSHED IN AND THE HOOD BUCKLED. UPON IMPACT, MY PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED BUT MY DRIVER SIDE DIDN'T. I HAD A SMALL PURSE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE POLICE, TOW DRIVER, MECHANIC AND AUTO ASSESSOR ALL SAID THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS HAPPEN WITH THE AIRBAGS. MY CAR WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS. THE DAMAGE WAS TOO EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR. I WAS LUCKILY TO NOT BE INJURED. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT IF THE IMPACT WAS MORE SEVERE, I HAD NO PROTECTION AND COULD HAVE BEEN INJURED. I HAVE PHOTOS OF THE ACCIDENT AND WHAT WAS ON THE PASSENGER SEAT AS WELL AS A STATEMENT FROM THE AUTO REPAIR MECHANIC SAYING THAT HE HAS NEVER SEEN THIS SITUATION WHERE THE WRONG AIRBAG DEPLOYED. *TR
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation