NHTSA complaint: 1992 TOYOTA CAMRY — AIR BAGS
ON THE AFTERNOON OF OCTOBER 25, 2011, I DECIDED TO RUN THE ENGINE OF MY TEENAGE DAUGHTER?S 1992 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CAR HAD BEEN STORED IN A COVERED AREA, AND NOT DRIVEN, SINCE AUGUST 15, 2011. BECAUSE THE BATTERY WAS CONNECTED, I FELT I SHOULD RUN THE ENGINE FOR A SHORT PERIOD. I UNLOCKED AND OPENED THE DRIVER DOOR AND SAT ON THE EDGE OF THE DRIVER SEAT WITH THE DOOR OPEN. MY INTENTION WAS TO START THE PARKED CAR AND LET IT RUN FOR A SHORT PERIOD (SEVERAL MINUTES) IN ORDER TO CHECK AND CHARGE THE BATTERY. IN ORDER TO PLACE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, I PLACED MY LEFT ARM ACROSS THE TOP OF THE STEERING WHEEL, AND LEANING ACROSS THE FRONT OF THE STEERING WHEEL, INSERTED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. UPON TURNING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION (1/4 TURN-THE ENGINE DID NOT TURN OVER), THE DRIVER AIR BAG EXPLODED AND THE CAR FILLED WITH BLACK SMOKE. THE IMPACT OF THE BAG HIT ME IN THE STERNUM, ACROSS THE CHEST AND LEFT CLAVICLE WITH THE FORCE OF THE BAG EXPANSION HITTING ME IN THE SOFT TISSUE OF MY NECK, THROAT AND UNDER MY JAW. I WAS THROWN BACK AGAINST THE SEAT AND MY GLASSES WERE THROWN INTO THE BACK SEAT OF THE CAR. THE FORCE OF THE IMPACT BROKE THE BUTTONS ON THE FRONT OF MY POLO SHIRT AND CAUSED THE NECKLACE I WAS WEARING TO CUT MY THROAT. I SUFFERED CHEMICAL BURNS ON MY FACE AND CHEST FROM THE SODIUM AZIDE. I HAVE A PERMANENT SCAR ON MY NECK. INITIALLY MY HEARING AND SWALLOWING WERE ADVERSELY AFFECTED. THE IMPACT HAD A BLAST AND ?STUNNING? EFFECT. I HAVE HAD CORRESPONDENCE WITH
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation