Other Engine Info: Sales Code - EAB,EAC,EAE,EAJ,EAK
Plant City: Toluca
Plant Company Name: Toluca Assembly
Plant Country: Mexico
Plant State: Mexico
Seat Belts All: Manual
Series: FF
Steering Location: Left Hand Drive (LHD)
TPMS: Direct
Trim: Lounge
Turbo: No
Vehicle Type: PASSENGER CAR
Model year
COMPONENT
Complaint
2012
AIR BAGS
A VEHICLE IN THE RIGHT LANE MADE A U-TURN, CROSSING THE LEFT LANE CAUSING THE FIAT TO T-BONE THE VEHICLE MAKING THE U-TURN. THE SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN THE FIAT DRIVER AND THE DRIVER CONTACTED THE STEERING WHEEL WITH ENOUGH FORCE TO CAUSE A SIGNIFICANT COMPRESSION INJURY TO THE STERNUM. THE DRIVER WAS TRANSPORTED BY EMS TO A HOSPITAL. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE DRIVEN AND SUFFERED NEARLY $13,000 DAMAGE. EARLIER IN THE DRIVE, THE FIAT 500 DRIVER HAD TO ROCK FORWARD AT AN ON-RAMP TO RELEASE THE SEAT BELT IN ORDER TO VIEW APPROACHING TRAFFIC VIA THE LEFT OUTSIDE MIRROR. APPARENTLY, THE SEAT BELT DOES NOT OR DID NOT REENGAGE AFTER THIS MOVEMENT LEAVING IT FREE AND THE DRIVER UNRESTRAINED. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR