Airbags
 

We all know the airbags in our cars are there to protect us during a crash... but they can also scare the hell out of you when they randomly deploy while driving 35 mph on a smooth country road.

Well, that's what happened to me.. it was violent, something I never want to experience ever again and hope none of you do either.

Most would say "that would never happen".... but it did and an off duty State Highway Patrol seen it happen... he was actually from the Crash Reconstruction unit... after her knew I was ok, he says "That was awesome, sorry.." He said he has never seen it happen in the 20 years he has had in law enforcement.
We were standing next to our Jeep when the secondary bag deployed... 4 minutes later! He was amazed!
Our 07' Jeep Compass is destroyed on the inside.... we had just bought it in January for around 8 grand....it would cost that much if not more to replace the airbags and repair all the damage that was done to the car when the bags deployed.
It can not be driven, nor do I ever want to drive it ever again... I mean, WTF... why would they just deploy....

Now I wait word from Chrysler (Owners of the jeep)

Sorry to hear, but glad you are okay. I have always had mixed feelings about air-bags. A close friend of mine had to have his head stapled due to a large gash, caused by an air-bag, deploying accidentally.

Sorry about your car. :(

I also have a Chrysler. Those cars are piece of junks

I LOVE, LOVE , LOVE air bags!! I didn't used to even care for them until they saved me in a 55mph crash into the side of a vehicle that pulled in front of me. A 55 mph collision should have been fatal.

Thank you God and air bags.

I opened this thread thinking to myself "Please don't be Jeep..." :eek: Glad you are OK!

I was shocked to see all the issues people are having with Jeeps.... there are a few recalls on all Jeeps...Do some research Joe, some airbag related...

I'm well aware the number of electrical issues with Jeeps, but Airbag deployment wasn't one of them. Seen videos of speedometer going crazy when stopped- radio getting loud/turning on at random... changing the climate turns on wipers, all dashboard goes dead while driving, all kinds of weird things- they put too much technology into them these days. Too much to go wrong.

I dedicated 5 hours to researching all known and/or reported issues (two different meanings) on all Jeeps... I was shock as to what I found.
I will post a few links later this evening with all that I found.

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The state police scanned my Jeep's computer.... It did not detect any airbag deployment.

No computer record? But you do have the officer as a witness.
That is just too weird.

Yes, he filled out a very detailed witness report. I wanted to hug him...I mean, what are the chances of him passing along at that very moment.

Update:
Chrysler is paying off what we owe on the jeep as well as giving us back all moneys used for down payment and any payments made on jeep and double bluebook private owner value... and we have a free rental car until we get a new car, up to 6 months.
I am a happy man....

Note: They could not determine why the airbags went off but, knew it was not our fault.

Lots of things can set them off, even a static charge in the controls. They are pretty touchy little IEDs. It's a problem not confined to Chrysler products, since the airbag manufacturers are a separate company and supply many makers with the same thing.

I received a call last Friday saying another inspector would be out to see me at 9am the following Monday...I was sitting on my porch when threee vehicles rolled in my drive way and 7 guys got out and we walking toward me. I was a bit shocked to see that many people approaching me.
Three guys were from the airbag manufacture and three from Chrysler... they really went over the jeep. My neighbors were all outside wondering wth was going on.

This happened to me shortly after I invented my 200mpg Hummer.:eek:

oh crap! this has always been my fear with this bloody things and why i stick with old vehicles. i'd be pissed!

A friend once had his engine just blow up on him in his Chrysler, basically it just went poof and they would not replace it... why? He was missing one oil-change receipt and the business was no longer there so he could not ask for a duplicate receipt.

I suspect the reason why there were so many to investigate is that despite the officers statement they were looking for ANYTHING that could get them out of paying/being held accountable for this OR that they deemed it a very serious issue one or the other. I would sue, just aggravating, inconvenient, and I'd make sure they paid enough to replace that vehicle with one by another manufacturer who has better safety rating for that one particular vehicle - like you said not another one of those!

Then again that one time the cruise-control on was it Prius models? It went psycho and nearly killed a man as it wouldn't shut off so if it's not cruise-control systems trying to kill us it's airbags going off prematurely, lovely :p.

After thinking more about this and you today Eddie I'd dare say hire a lawyer, that many showing up makes one wonder or well me at least! Needless to say it's not what you believe you deserve, it's what the law says you're entitled to.

Just my 2 cents!

They told me the reason they all showed up was to inspect the jeep in front of me, sharing info as they went along.
They were explaining everything they were doing with every test they were running as well as explaining all results.
After they completed their test, they said there was no reason why the airbags deployed. That does not mean they did not see it was manufacture defect and not share it with me. I honestly believe they will do the right thing and figure out what caused the premature airbag deployment and recall if needed.
As for what they are offering and what we want, we will wait and see. We were inconvenienced big time yes but thankfully no one was hurt.
I have a number I hope we will agree upon... I do have an attorney on standby if needed as well as a private crash reconstruction firm ready to hop onboard, they told me to let this all play out as it is for now.

Glad your ok bro.