| Components - Details | |
|---|---|
| NHTSA Complaint Number: 002295651 | Incident Date: Dec, 18 2002 |
| Consumer's City: HOUSTON | Consumer's State: TX |
| Vehicle Transmission Type: AUTO | Manufacturers Name: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) |
| Model Name: CHRYSLER | Model Year: 2002 |
| Vehicle Involved in a Crash: Yes | Component's Description: Air bags |
| Vehicle Involved in a Fire: No | Persons Injured: 2 |
| Vehicle's VIN#: 1B4HR48N12F | Date added to File: May, 25 2021 |
| Date Complaint Received: Aug, 29 2004 | Complaint Type: IVOQ |
| Incident Reported To Police: Yes | Purchase Date: Feb, 05 2002 |
| Was Original Owner: Yes | Anti-lock Brakes: Yes |
| Number of Cylinders: 8 | Date of Manufacturer: - |
| Was Vehicle Towed: - | Description of the Complaints: Shortly after midnight on 19 december 2002, my step-son, age 35, and i were driving south bound on i-35 near perry, ok in my 2002 dodge durango. i was driving and my son was sitting in the passenger seat, sleeping. he was wearing his seat belt. i changed lanes to pass another vehicle (this is a southbound interstate) and was traveling at 70 mph with the cruise control engaged. as i approached the vehicle in the right lane which i was passing, it suddenly swerved into my lane (left, passing lane). her bumper came in contact with the passenger side of my vehicle on the front quarter panel near the wheel well. (she said later that she felt a slight bump which she didn't relate to another car at that moment). as her car swerved into my lane, i attempted to swerve to the left to avoid her. at the moment that i pulled the steering wheel left, her rear bumper made the contact with my durgango listed above. my airbag immediately deployed, stopping me from braking or controlling the steering. my vehicle then went across the median grass (east bound) towards the northbound traffic. i could not see anything due to the airbag, nor could i steer due to the airbag ,nor could i brake due to the airbag. as the airbag began to deflate my the right side of my durango slammed into a northbound semi trailer truck, spun and rolled once, landing on the side of the road in an upright position. my 35 year old step- son died of head injuries. this airbag should never have deployed. there was no damage to the front end of the vehicle (the grill and engine are still intact, as is the hood), even after the collision with the semi trailer truck and the roll over. my daughter in law has filed suit against me and against chrysler. that does not bring my son back. chrysler needs to be made accountable to all owners who have this airbag. this airbag should never have deployed. chrysler needs to recall any of their vehicles which have this unsafe, unpredictable airbag. *ak |
