Side/window Air Bag problems of the 2002 Chevrolet Malibu

The contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the front driver side air bag deployed while exiting the highway and traveling less than 20 mph. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer, who scheduled an inspector to diagnose the failure. The contact indicated that the inspector could not confirm if there was a defect with the air bags. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 143,000.

The contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Malibu LS. The contact stated that while driving about 25 mph her daughter was involved in an accident. There was damage to the drivers front and passenger side. None of the air bags deployed at the time of the crash. Now the contacts driver side air bag compartment is cracked and the air bag seemed as if it would deploy. The vehicle had not been taken to an authorized dealership but the manufacturer sent an investigator to inspect the vehicle; the manufacturer offered no further assistance at the time of the complaint. The current mileage is approximately 90,094. Updated 10/14/jb.

My grandson was critically inured while front seat passenger in 2002 chevy Malibu, this vehicle cannot sustain impact of 30 mph or less to front passenger side without causing fatal if not critical injuries to passenger. No side airbag, no protection whatsoever. Rated with three stars. . . . . . Ridiculous. My grandson lost one lung and part of his bronchial tube because there is no safety measurements on this vehicle to protect front passenger.

Auto was rented from avis at the airport in orlando. While proceeding north on route 436 from the airport and slowing for a traffic light at hanging moss dr. , the passenger side air bag prematurely deployed after the driver heard a brief sound like a "hsst". The deployment startled my wife, the driver and was immediately followed by the deployment of the driver side airbag, obscuring her vision. Before she could brake to a stop she impacted an old pickup truck in front of her who was also slowing for the traffic light. Damage was sustained by the Malibu but no significant damage was sustained by the pickup truck. My wife called for the police after both the pickup and she moved the vehicles to the side of the road to avoid impeding traffic. The driver of the pickup proceeded to leave the scene while my wife waited for over 2 hours for the police to arrive. A report was filed with the police and with avis about the premature deployment of the airbags but with no "other vehicle present" the police could do nothing but file a report on the incident. My wife was not cited. Avis ignored the premature deployment issue and charged our insurance company the $2,600. For repairs as if a collision caused the problem. My wife sustained a minor burn mark on her arm from the driver's side air bag.