NHTSA complaint #11663892

Owner complaint summary

The driver side air bag in the roof of the car deployed when the engine was not on, and no one was in the vehicle. The car was parked in the driveway of the insured's residence when the air bag deployed. No visible damage to the exterior of the vehicle indicating a collision. The vehicle has been inspected by the local Dodge dealership (Mac Haik, Georgetown, TX), with no known cause of the air bag failure identified. Damage has been estimated at $6,700 to replace interior parts including the air bag and multiple sensors. Weather was noted by the owner of the vehicle as a potential cause, although research suggests that air bags SHOULD NOT deploy if the car engine is not running, when parked, and no one is in the vehicle regardless of weather conditions. Statements found that a cause could be airbag control module failure, wiring issues, sensor misinterpretation, which should lead to an investigation into the quality and workmanship of parts installed in the vehicle, with no liability for the owner. At no point was there any warning or indication of air bag or sensor failures/malfunctions.