I WAS DRIVING OUT OF A TOLL BOOTH AND WAS ACCELERATING. A TRACTOR TRAILER BEGAN COMING CLOSER TO ME. I MOVED OVER TO AVOID IMPACT WITH THE TRUCK. IN THE PROCESS MY FRONT AND REAR DRIVERS SIDE WHEELS RUBBED AGAINST A CURB CAUSING THE SIDE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE OTHER THAN A TWO INCH SCRAPE ON THE RIMS. THE EMPLOYEES IN THE BODY SHOP AND SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE AIRBAGS SHOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED DUE TO THE WHEELS RUBBING CURB. THE WOMAN AT VOLVO STATED THAT THE CAR "DETECTED IMMINENT DAMAGE" WHICH CAUSED THE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY. I WAS DECELERATING AT THE TIME OF THE DEPLOYMENT, HAD I BEEN ACCELERATING TO PASS THE TRUCK I WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. THE INVESTIGATOR FROM VOLVO STATED THAT THEY MOVED THE SENSORS TO THE WHEEL WELLS AND THE ARE MORE SENSITIVE. I THINK THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN AS THE VEHICLE, UPON DETECTING IMMINENT DANGER ALMOST KILLED ME. *TR
2008
SEATS
FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT HEADREST ENGAGED VISOR IN STOWED POSITION WHEN SEAT PUSHED FORWARD TO ENTER REAR SEAT. THIS CAUSED THE MIRROR INSIDE THE VISOR TO SHATTER. WE DID NOT REALIZE THIS HAD OCCURRED UNTIL AFTER MY WIFE WAS DRIVING, LOWERED THE VISOR, AND GLASS SHARDS FELL ON HER LAP. THANKFULLY THEY DID NOT FALL IN HER FACE/EYES. THIS DID NOT CAUSE A WRECK, BUT WE'RE CONCERNED THAT THIS COULD CAUSE FUTURE ACCIDENTS. WE CONTACTED VOLVO USA, AND THEY ACKNOWLEDGED PRIOR REPORTS OF SIMILAR INCIDENTS, BUT STATED THAT THE DAMAGE WAS NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY, AND ESSENTIALLY THEY TOOK NO RESPONSIBILITY. THIS IS UNFORTUNATE, AS I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A CRITICAL DESIGN FLAW THAT COULD CAUSE A FATAL ACCIDENT. I NOTIFIED VOLVO USA THAT I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO FILE THIS CLAIM WITH NHTSA, IN AN EFFORT TO ALERT OTHER DRIVERS OF POTENTIAL RISKS. *TR