NHTSA complaint: 2012 FORD MUSTANG — AIR BAGS
VEHICLE TURNED RIGHT FROM A STOP, ONTO A TEXAS STATE HIGHWAY. SHIFTING MANUALLY FROM FIRST GEAR TO SECOND GEAR, THE VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL (APPARENTLY DUE TO LOSS OF TRACTION BECAUSE THERE WAS A COATING OF FINE SAND ON THE TIRES). THE VEHICLE CROSSED 3 LANES OF TRAFFIC, AND IN DOING SO, WENT INTO A ROLL-OVER, REPORTS STATING THE VEHICLE ROLLED 4 TIMES, AND STRIKING A UTILITY POLL THAT STOPPED THE ROLL. THE UTILITY POLL WAS STRUCK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, BY THE WINDSHIELD PILLAR, CAUSING TERRIFIC DAMAGE AND CAVE IN. THE UTILITY POLL WAS BROKEN, ALMOST SNAPPED IN HALF (THE UTILITY POLE WAS REPLACED). WHILE THERE WAS NO PASSENGER OTHER THAN THE DRIVER, THE ONLY AIRBAG IN THE CAR THAT DEPLOYED WAS THE DRIVER SIDE CURTAIN. THE SEVERITY OF THE CRASH WOULD INDICATE THAT ALL OF THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED, TO SHIELD THE DRIVER AND POTENTIAL PASSENGERS. DRIVER ALSO WENT INTO THE WINDSHIELD, THE STEERING WHEEL BAG NOT DEPLOYING. POTENTIAL BACK SEAT RIDERS SHOULD BE PROTECTED IN SUCH A DEVASTATING CRASH AS WELL. PHOTO EVIDENCE WOULD INDICATE ALL BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER HAD NOT DISENGAGED PASSENGER BAGS (DRIVER/OWNER DOESN'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO DISENGAGE PASSENGER BAGS). ON ONE OCCASION A FEW WEEKS BEFORE THE CRASH, AN INFO LIGHT MESSAGE CAME ON FOR A FEW SECONDS WHILE OPERATING THE CAR, STATING THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS WERE OFF. I COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHY. I HAD NOT TURNED THEM OFF. I STOPPED THE CAR AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. AFTER RESTARTING THE CAR THE MESSAGE HA
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation