Toyota Highlander airbag does not deploy in a serious accident
It seems that more media attention might be focused on Toyota in the next coming weeks after this latest crash:
From Gasgoo:
A Toyota Highlander had a road accident in Beijing on Saturday, which led to a collapse of 30 metres of the guardrail and serious damage of the car. The vehicle’s airbag didn’t pop out, but fortunately, the driver and one passenger didn’t get hurt, and both crept out of the damaged car window, local media reported .At about four pm., 8th May on a Beijing suburban highway, a Toyota Highlander turned on its side when it was trying to make room for another car, which accelerated to overtake Highlander on the next lane. Highlander’s driver instinctively took the brake to the left but unexpectedly, the car crashed into the guardrail. The driver felt that the car was tilted heavily to the right side and then overturned.The crashed Toyota Highlander was distorted beyond recognition, the front bumper was off, the left and right front wheels were burst and the front door on the right side was knocked a big hole.Despite this, what surprised the driver and the on-site spectators was that no air bag did not deploy in such a serious accident. People all think this is abnormal and doubt whether this has something to do with Toyota’s car quality and whether it is a technological problem.The driver has already made a statement that he has saved some relevant evidence and there is a possiblity that he may discuss the issue with Toyota Motor’s China company.
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30 metres of guardrail may have been largely a side swipe and it doesn’t sound like the kind of collision that would activate the impact sensors that deploy the airbag. T-boning the guardrail of course will. Inspection of the unibody’s front crossmembers will tell the tale.
“the car crashed into the guardrail. The driver felt that the car was tilted heavily to the right side and then overturned.The crashed Toyota Highlander was distorted beyond recognition, the front bumper was off, the left and right front wheels were burst and the front door on the right side was knocked a big hole.”
If this is not serious enough for the airbags to deploy, then I don’t know what is. The people could’ve been killed. A big hole knocked on the front door and no airbag?!
Toyota shouldn’t be making cars. I am disappointed beyond words.
This shows that Toyota’s are built like tanks and can provide enough protection for its occupants without the need for the airbag to deploy……. that or the driver and his passenger were very very lucky… Any links to pictures? Was this on CCTV?
Toyotas are built like tanks? …….
The passenger(s) could’ve been dead if there was a sharp piece of metal that poked through the door.
So the side intrusion bars did their job protecting the occupants and they walked away.
It’s a modern car so has most of the safety features built in. If it was a 20 year old Hilux they may not have been so lucky.
The airbags not opening is a bit of a problem though but without the full story how are we to know that it was Toyota’s fault? All we know is there was an accident… more background info on the cars service history would give a much clearer picture than just the aftermath. Also, was the driver drunk? What speed was he doing? Was he himself driving like an idiot?
Why must everything be blamed on the car?
Even if the driver was drunk, the vehicle should still protect its passengers, including the driver (also note, not just the driver).
The driver and passenger both crept out the window…. just another accident within the thousands that happen each day.
Yes. Only bad press about it because of the previous Toyota issues. It is too bad t happens but I am sure it happens more than we hear about on other brand cars too.
I’ve heard similar incidents with BMW and Mercedes, but it doesn’t matter. This is a horrifying issue, and the results could’ve been much worse. No matter if I will be lucky enough to be able to walk away from a serious crash or not, I would still want the airbags to deploy (at least). Toyota should take responsibility.
BYD should have taken some responsibility on the F0 I drove that the breaks had serious issues. They sent the guy home with the car and said to come back in a week. It shouldn’t have been on the road at all. Every car company pulls the same crap. It is all about money to them.
If what you’re saying is true, then yes, BYD should. But BYD has had far less negative news, especially involving safety, than Toyota recently. But nevertheless, BYD should take responsibility.
Our 2008 Toyota Highlander Sport was involved in an accident. A guy cut in front of my wife as she was driving straight through an intersection. The guy was cited for not yielding to the right of way, etc. My wife was travelling at approximately 35 – 40 mph. The impact point on our vehicle was on the front bumper directly in front of the driver.
Our concern is that no airbags deployed. We have a photograph showing the bar (what looks to be the real bumper) attached to the frame has damage where it connects to the frame in front of the drivers’ side and the metal bar that goes up vertically from there (that has the airbag sensor on it) also shows damage. The bar that crosses above the sensor is damaged, too. Basically, there’s damage all around the sensor… and yet nothing deployed. I asked the gentleman in charge of the collision center accomplishing the repair work what his thoughts were and he replied by saying that he feels the airbag should have deployed.
Skipping ahead…
We were supposed to pick it up yesterday, but when it was over at the local Toyota dealership to get the “check airbag” light extinguished, the Toyota service department said they could not reset the sensor through normal reset practices and an investigation would have to be done to determine the issue. Nothing further would be done without money being given to them.
Our insurance company ordered that the vehicle go back to the repair facility and an independent inspector look at the system so we can get a fair assessment and possibly get the SRS codes.
My wife and I have been waffling on what to do about this whole situation and finally decided to seek representation.
I understand the force factor involved with the 14 mph and a brick wall vs. 35 – 40 mph against another vehicle, but feel it would take little to prove it was equal or greater force.
Thoughts, opinions, and suggestions?