Chrysler Dakota's side airbags do not deploy, service action issued, no recall.
02-04-10, 01:17 PM
#1
Lexus Champion
Thread Starter
Chrysler Dakota's side airbags do not deploy, service action issued, no recall.
When the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety conducted its most recent tests for roof strength and side-impact protection on five small pickup trucks, the 2010 Dodge Dakota gave the institute a couple of unwelcome surprises.
Of the trucks tested, all but the Dakota had standard side air bags with head protection. On the Dakota, they are a $640 option that also includes antilock brakes. That was surprise No. 1. The second was that during the test, the Dakota’s side-curtain air bags failed to deploy — is the first time that has happened since side-impact crash testing began in 2003, the institute said.
Consequently, the institute did not give the Dakota a rating.
The institute, a nonprofit group financed by auto insurers, said Chrysler engineers had identified a problem with the computer program that calculated when to deploy the air bags and engineers were working on a remedy.
Of the trucks tested, all but the Dakota had standard side air bags with head protection. On the Dakota, they are a $640 option that also includes antilock brakes. That was surprise No. 1. The second was that during the test, the Dakota’s side-curtain air bags failed to deploy — is the first time that has happened since side-impact crash testing began in 2003, the institute said.
Consequently, the institute did not give the Dakota a rating.
The institute, a nonprofit group financed by auto insurers, said Chrysler engineers had identified a problem with the computer program that calculated when to deploy the air bags and engineers were working on a remedy.
http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2010...ir-bag-choice/
Interesting point:
- NYTimes has no issues with Chrysler doing "service action" instead of recall for 2005-2010 Dakotas where side airbags do not deploy.
- This is new testing result, no media is picking it up as interesting and obviously LaHood is not interested either.
- Sales are still going on, not stopped?
- Should drivers not drive their vehicles?
It is pretty obvious that Toyota is held to completely different standard than Chrysler, GM and Ford.
