Investigations
BURN INJURIES DUE TO AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT
NHTSA Engineering Analysis EA02017 - closed, opened 2002-08-16.
NHTSA investigation EA02017 is a Engineering Analysis opened on 2002-08-16 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2003-08-15 - NHTSA updates that field whenever an Information Request goes out, a supplement is filed, or a status change is recorded in the public docket.
An Engineering Analysis like EA02017 is the deeper technical phase that follows a PE. NHTSA requests design, warranty, and field-failure data from the manufacturer, conducts its own testing when needed, and determines whether the evidence supports a safety defect finding that would compel a recall.
Investigators summarized the matter as follows: "ALL OF THE CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ALLEGE AN INCIDENT IN WHICH DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER FRONTAL AIR BAG CAUSED SOME TYPE OF BURN INJURY. MOST OF THESE INJURIES ARE DUE TO CONTACT AND/OR ABRASION WITH THE AIR BAG AND ARE OF R..." Investigations are the early-warning layer of the federal auto-safety system, sitting upstream of formal recalls and defect orders. Whether this one closes without action or escalates into an Engineering Analysis, the full history stays in the ODI archive so researchers, litigators, and buyers can pull the paper trail at any time.
Investigation Summary
ALL OF THE CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ALLEGE AN INCIDENT IN WHICH DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER FRONTAL AIR BAG CAUSED SOME TYPE OF BURN INJURY. MOST OF THESE INJURIES ARE DUE TO CONTACT AND/OR ABRASION WITH THE AIR BAG AND ARE OF RELATIVELY MINOR TO MODERATE SEVERITY. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT SOME DRIVERS MAY HAVE SUSTAINED BURN INJURIES TO THE SKIN AS A RESULT OF HOT GASES EXHAUSTING FROM THE VENTS OF THE AIR BAGS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, BUT THE NUMBER OF SUCH INCIDENTS APPEARS TO BE LOW. FURTHER DETAILS OF THE INVESTIGATION ARE CONTAINED IN SUBSEQUENT PAGES OF THIS REPORT. BASED ON THE ABOVE, FURTHER EXPENDITURE OF AGENCY RESOURCES ON THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED. THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST. THE AGENCY MAY TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
About This Investigation Type
An Engineering Analysis (EA) is the in-depth phase following a Preliminary Evaluation. NHTSA engineers conduct testing, collect data from manufacturers, and perform detailed technical analysis to determine whether a safety defect exists. An EA may lead to a voluntary recall by the manufacturer or, in rare cases, a mandatory recall order.
Data from NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Cross-references: NHTSA recall campaign API and NHTSA FARS where fatality records overlap. PlainCars does not rate or recommend vehicles. about how PlainCars sources NHTSA data.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.