Four problems related to air bag have been reported for the 1996 Buick Regal. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
On July 17, 2019 at 8:40am, I got into my car in my driveway. I turned the key in the ignition and the airbag exploded. (the car was not started. ) the airbag sounded like a shotgun being fired and a powder like substance immediately filled the car. The airbag itself hit me in the abdominal area. I found the door handle, opened the door, and rolled out of the car onto the ground. At this time, I yelled for my son. My son picked me up off the ground and called an ambulance due to me being in a severe amount of pain and in shock. I was taken to the hospital via ambulance and observed for the remainder of the day. I had several follow-up appointments that continue to this day. Insurance came to look at car, filled out paperwork, and said they were going to total the vehicle. The car has not been moved since this incident.
The contact owns a 1996 Buick Regal. The contact stated that as the vehicle was started, the air bags deployed erroneously. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for inspection or repair. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure and current mileage was 55,035.
When turning steering wheel, in any direction,there's a "rubbing" noise from within steering column. Mechanic diagnosed the clockspring was rubbing against some internal wires and if the wires short the air bag may deploy without warning. Ph.
The air bag deployed when I started the car. Other than the shock of what happened , I only sustained a scratch on my face as a result of the deployment. The dealer want to charge $800 to repair the air bag which seems unfair due to the apparent defect of the air bag system. I reported this incident after seeing action # ea99-026 with a suject of " inadvertent air bag deployment" in your monthly defect investigation report thinking this incident may be related? thanks.