NHTSA complaint: 2008 DODGE CARAVAN — AIR BAGS
WE RECEIVED A "RECALL" NOTICE FOR AIR BAG MODULE POSSIBLE MALFUNCTION. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER WHO INFORMED US THAT THE REPAIR PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE AND ON BACK-ORDER. ONE MONTH LATER OUR VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I CONTACTED CHRYSLER, WHO SENT AN INSPECTOR SERVICE TO EXAMINE THE VEHICLE. ALL DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FENDER. I RECEIVED A "FORM LETTER" STATING THAT UPON INSPECTION, THE VEHICLE WAS ALREADY DISASSEMBLED AND NO MANUFACTURING FLAW WAS FOUND. WE RECEIVED NOTICE A FEW DAYS LATER THAT THE PART WAS NOW IN AND AVAILABLE FOR REPAIR. THE LETTER APOLOGIZED FOR ANY INJURIES AND HOPED THAT THE DRIVER WAS WELL ON THE WAY TO RECOVERY. NO INJURIES OCCURRED. THE LETTER WAS FROM THE OFFICE OF "GENERAL COUNSEL" MY GOAL WAS SIMPLY TO MAKE THEM AWARE OF HOW INCREDIBLY STUPID IT IS TO SEND OUT A RECALL NOTICE AND NOT HAVE THE PART AVAILABLE FOR THE NEXT 45 DAYS. THEY SEEMED UNCONCERNED THAT THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY SERIOUS FLAW IN THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT SYSTEM. *TT
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation