Our client was driving a 1997 Dodge Intrepid in Florida when it was involved in an offset frontal collision.  Despite the head-on crash, the airbags failed to deploy.  This caused the driver to suffer multiple, severe blunt force trauma injuries.  These injuries, resulting from the air bag not deploying, included traumatic brain injury (TBI), chest injuries and internal injuries.  Tragically, these injuries resulted in a wrongful death.

Dodge Airbag Failed to Deploy

Our investigation revealed that the front airbag crash sensors used by Chrysler in this 1997 Dodge Intrepid were enclosed inside a plastic shell, instead of a steel casing.  This caused the crash sensor to be severely damaged early during the crash, before it could send the deployment signal to the airbag.  Also, the vehicle’s structure was designed in such a way that that many crashes outside the vehicle’s frame rails (such as when two cars collide head-on but don’t perfectly overlap) would not trigger those sensors.

Chrysler is recalling 4,336 model year 2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Commander and Jeep Wrangler vehicles. Wiring may be reversed on the steering column control module driver airbag squib connector. (The squib is the component within the air bag inflator that begins the deployment process.) The driver’s airbag may not deploy as intended. In the event of a crash, the driver’s airbag will not deploy and will not be able to properly protect an occupant, increasing the risk of injuries.

On February 25, 2009 a defective Steering Column Control Module (SCCM) was found at a Chrysler instrument panel supplier. Analysis determined that wiring was reversed on the driver air bag squib connector. Investigation determined that the SCCM supplier manufacturing process locates the driver air bag squib wires into a fixture by hand and a vision system checks for correct wire color and position prior to soldering. It was also determined that if the fixture is in program mode, the squib wires can be soldered even if not correctly positioned.

The affected vehicles all utilize multi-stage driver airbags, and reversed squib wires may result in improper driver air bag deployment performance as the inflator stages fire in reverse order. This condition is not detectable by vehicle on-board diagnostics, and no malfunction indicator lamp will illuminate. The component was supplied by TRW Automotive Electronics Group. The recall is expected to begin during May 2009. 09V-118.

This recall illustrates two main problems with airbag recalls.  First, the quality control can sometimes be lacking, and allows defective components to slip through the production system and into unsuspecting consumers’ hands.  Second, the airbag warning lamp does not detect all defects, including this one.  This means you may not know that you have a defective airbag until it’s too late and you’re involved in a crash where you needed your airbag.