Airbags Deployed for no reason!

[markyiparker]

Hi all

So, I bought a used Caravelle from a VW dealership in January 2024. Had a years warranty.

28th April whilst driving approximately 9/10mph after stopping to allow priority oncoming traffic to pass through a small Devon village BOOM!

My curtain airbags deployed on the passenger side next to my 2 year old son in his car seat and out the side of the front passenger seat.

They did not inflate.

Seatbelts locked.

Not touched a single thing electrical nor had any impact anywhere.

Insurance won’t touch it due to not having an accident and they consider it a mechanical failure.

It’s currently back at the VW dealership I bought it from and they have downloaded the data and sent it to VW UK who in turn have sent it to VW Germany. They have confirmed “there hasn’t been an impact”

No sh**!!!!

I am aware of the Takata recall but apparently my Caravelle wasn’t affected despite it coming into the 2005-2018 bracket. Mine is a 2017.

Not sure what’s going to happen but I have contacted a solicitor.

Anyone else experienced this or anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Dellmassive]

Oh Jeeze scary stuff.

The airbag system has many safeguards.

But obviously it's deployed.

Fault with the airbag is assume.

 

[markyiparker]

Oh Jeeze scary stuff.

The airbag system has many safeguards.

But obviously it's deployed.

Fault with the airbag is assume.

No idea at this moment. It’s been with VW since the 30th April and they don’t update us much. We have to keep calling them for an update.

Which is currently not much at the moment.

 

[Sasquatch]

Thank heavens you're still in the 6 month post-purchase window. Any faults that appear in that time are legally held to have been present or developing at the point of sale and it very much falls to the dealer to resolve.

Thank heavens as well that you didn't sheet your pants and have a crash as a consequence.

My guess, and it is very much a guess; by the time all the airbags, damaged trim, pretensioners, looms, control units etc are replaced it'll be a financial write off, and the dealer is going to try and squirm. But don't fold - you hold all the cards under consumer law after less than 6 months.

They've had it a month already. I'd serve them with a letter giving them a further 7 days to undertake to repair, replace, or refund, and to do so expeditiously, else you'll start legal proceedings. Set time milestones and stick to them to show you won't be messed with.

I also hope thst, considering the legal liability sits with them, that they are providing you with a loan vehicle.

Best of luck.

 

[Dellmassive]

2017, so your are well out of warranty.

What are you hoping VW will do? - repair it?

 

[markyiparker]

Thank heavens you're still in the 6 month post-purchase window. Any faults that appear in that time are legally held to have been present or developing at the point of sale and it very much falls to the dealer to resolve.

Thank heavens as well that you didn't sheet your pants and have a crash as a consequence.

My guess, and it is very much a guess; by the time all the airbags, damaged trim, pretensioners, looms, control units etc are replaced it'll be a financial write off, and the dealer is going to try and squirm. But don't fold - you hold all the cards under consumer law aftermless than 6 months.

Best of luck.

Unfortunately it’s 4 months out of warranty! It ran out in January 2025.

All okay thankfully and just thankful it didn’t happen on a motorway trip.

My 2 year old does walk around saying “Daddy’s car boom”

 

[markyiparker]

2017, so your are well out of warranty.

What are you hoping VW will do? - repair it?

It was purchased from VW as a used vehicle just over a year ago and had a year warranty from VW.

Yes it’s out of that years warranty but only just.

 

[Badjamin]

Hey, really sorry to hear about this. Hope the little one is okay! Lots of positive reinforcement required! Sweets and cuddles in the van for an extended time!

Hope they sort you out in full.

 

[Sasquatch]

Sorry, I'm a twot. For some reason I thought it was still 2024! That is slightly worrying.

I'm sorry, ignore me, that does make your situation stickier.

I think it's going to be a financial write off. Bearing in mind the time that has passed some proper legal advice is required- try and find a solicitor that does the first consultation for free, then you can make an informed decision about how to proceed.

 

[markyiparker]

Sorry, I'm a twot. For some reason I thought it was still 2024! That is slightly worrying.

I'm sorry, ignore me, that does make your situation stickier.

I think it's going to be a financial write off. Bearing in mind the time that has passed some proper legal advice is required- try and find a solicitor that does the first consultation for free, then you can make an informed decision about how to proceed.

Yeah, it’s going to be interesting going forward.

However I am hoping VW will want to investigate why they’ve deployed when there is no issue present and they inspect all used vehicles sold via their UK dealerships.

 

[Sasquatch]

"VW" are an importer, they won't care beyond figuring out how not to be held financially liable.

VW the manufafturer might be interested for the reasons you cite. It might be worth contacting Germany directly as its unlikely they even know about your van. It's a bit harder for the import company to brush it under the carpet if the mothership is taking an interest.

If it proves necessary a bit of unwanted attention from the media might help. Forget the Daily Mail, they're laughable, and the likes of Watchdog don't have the clout they once wielded. The Guardian consumer champions approach such things in a mature and constructive manner, and their more affluent readership is the sort more likely to buy that type of vehicle so any publicity arising will be close to target.

Kept your powder dry until you know which way it's going to play out, butnif it comes to it then drop [email protected] a line.

Best of luck.

 

[markyiparker]

T

"VW" are an importer, they won't care beyond figuring out how not to be held financially liable.

VW the manufafturer might be interested for the reasons you cite. It might be worth contacting Germany directly as its unlikely they even know about your van. It's a bit harder for the import company to brush it under the carpet if the mothership is taking an interest.

If it proves necessary a bit of unwanted attention from the media might help. Forget the Daily Mail, they're laughable, and the likes of Watchdog don't have the clout they once wielded. The Guardian consumer champions approach such things in a mature and constructive manner, and their more affluent readership is the sort more likely to buy that type of vehicle so any publicity arising will be close to target.

Kept your powder dry until you know which way it's going to play out, butnif it comes to it then drop [email protected] a line.

Best of luck.

Thank you.

I’ve already considered this in both a positive light and a “totally losing my sh** light”

At the moment I am letting my wife do the polite thing so I don’t sour relationships at the dealer. However I am getting to the end of my rope as transporting the kids around at the moment is a ball ache (they of course haven’t given me another vehicle.

Solicitor on standby and up to date and I have primed stuff for social media all over the place.