Help - had a tyre blow and the airbags deployed

[louise_a]

I was driving back from golf at Formby Ladies today and I had a blow out, but all the side airbags deployed, is there anyone in the motor trade who knows what the score is, Surely they shouldn't deploy if there is no impact, do have any clam on the manufacturer, the car is 5 and a bit years old.

Also how do I go about getting tem fixed, I believe that I cannot drive the car until they get fixed.

I know nothing about cars so I am at a loss.

 

[DanFST]

Sadly i'm 99% certain you will have to go through insurance. It may be worth taking it to a dealers, and kicking up a fuss, but it's incredibly unfortunate and unlucky.

 

[Blue in Munich]

Not a lot of information to go on, but the airbag is designed to deploy if the sensor detects what it considers to be an impact. If you did indeed have a blowout, as opposed to a puncture, then that may, depending on the precise circumstances, have created enough of a signal to the sensor to cause it to deploy the bag. If so, it has done what it is designed to do, so I don't see where any claim against a manufacturer would come from.

I'm not aware of any legislation that prevents you driving a car once the bag has deployed, provided that the loose material does not affect your view or your ability to use the controls, but I personally wouldn't want to be driving one with the dust that comes out of them still in the car. Take it to a garage or a dealer to find out about getting them replaced, preferably a main dealer or a knowledgable independent for the make of car as they will have the greatest knowledge about whether there have been issues with the brand.

 

[Foxholer]

Not a lot of information to go on, but the airbag is designed to deploy if the sensor detects what it considers to be an impact. If you did indeed have a blowout, as opposed to a puncture, then that may, depending on the precise circumstances, have created enough of a signal to the sensor to cause it to deploy the bag. If so, it has done what it is designed to do, so I don't see where any claim against a manufacturer would come from.

I'm not aware of any legislation that prevents you driving a car once the bag has deployed, provided that the loose material does not affect your view or your ability to use the controls, but I personally wouldn't want to be driving one with the dust that comes out of them still in the car. Take it to a garage or a dealer to find out about getting them replaced, preferably a main dealer or a knowledgable independent for the make of car as they will have the greatest knowledge about whether there have been issues with the brand.

Seems pretty much spot on to me!

However, your safety in a collision is now seriously compromised, so you should get them replaced asap! From what little I know of the systems involved, it's likely to be an insurance job - because of the expense.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Are you ok though as no one seems to have asked? I agree that they should be replaced and that unfortunately unless you can find a good garage or dealer with a decent price, the cost to do it without claiming could be prohibitive

 

[bladeplayer]

I would say that the air bags should not deply from a blow out and if they did it is a design fault by the manufacturer , if you hit a pothole or kerb to cause the blow out i would say yes this is natural , if there are no signs of impact damage on the roadwheel or suspension etc i would most definatley be contacting the main dealer to see what the story is , and if their answer wasnt satisfactory id be getting an independent engineer to do a report on it .

Airbags , seatbelts and passenger protection normally carry more warranty than mechanical parts . if i was sure i didnt hit anything i would be questioning this ..
You are looking at an expensive repair here, airbags , impact sensors , probably seat covers and maybe even the airbag control unit .. i would also say your car is not in a safe or roadworthy condition now the air bags have been deployed .. we would recommend you didnt drive it if you were a customer of ours

What make of car is it Lou ?

 

[MegaSteve]

Hello Louise... Quite a shock when this happened I suspect...

Currently vehicle would fail its MOT so technically shouldn't be driven....

From AA web-site...

"The vehicle will fail the test if any airbag fitted as original equipment is obviously missing or defective.

A seatbelt pre-tensioner fitted as original equipment but missing or that has obviously deployed will be a reason for failure."

 

[6inchcup]

my friends daughter hit a kerb side on in a torrential rain storm and the airbags,side curtain ones and the ones in the seats deployed,the insurance wrote the car off even though it was only 4 years old,no damage to the outside but the interior destroyed.

 

[PhilTheFragger]

Think that from an insurance viewpoint, if you had an accident whilst driving NOW, they could argue that your injuries are your fault as the airbags were known not to be working, also any passengers wouldnt be covered and may even nullify your cover.

so I wouldnt drive it until its fixed

 

[louise_a]

thanks for the replies, I rang the insurance this morning and they are telling me that as there was not collision I am not covered!!

 

[Blue in Munich]

Hello Louise... Quite a shock when this happened I suspect...

Currently vehicle would fail its MOT so technically shouldn't be driven....

From AA web-site...

"The vehicle will fail the test if any airbag fitted as original equipment is obviously missing or defective.

A seatbelt pre-tensioner fitted as original equipment but missing or that has obviously deployed will be a reason for failure."

Every day's a school day, never knew that, thank you. Here's the relevant section of the MoT Tester's Manual

http://www.motuk.co.uk/manual_540.htm

 

[bladeplayer]

thanks for the replies, I rang the insurance this morning and they are telling me that as there was not collision I am not covered!!

Must admit to be shocked at that answer Louise , must be a strange policy

 

[Blue in Munich]

Must admit to be shocked at that answer Louise , must be a strange policy

I don't think so, they will see it as a mechanical failure & will no more pay for it than they would for my anti-roll bar bushes and links that had to be recently replaced.

 

[bladeplayer]

Would they not come under servicable items , well they do over here anyhow , if you drove into a flood and wrecked your engine or turbo went faulty and sucked up the oil and blew the engine would they not be covered ? all mechanical failure

doyou have fully comp policy Louise ?

id still be talking to the manufacturer if there was no impact..

 

[Oddsocks]

I'm sure each airbag is around £1000-1500 to replace. Depending on how many have deployed the car could be a total loss...

 

[Blue in Munich]

Would they not come under servicable items , well they do over here anyhow , if you drove into a flood and wrecked your engine or turbo went faulty and sucked up the oil and blew the engine would they not be covered ? all mechanical failure

doyou have fully comp policy Louise ?

id still be talking to the manufacturer if there was no impact..

No they wouldn't.

https://www.sainsburys-insurancequotes.co.uk/motor/sainsburys-motor-premium-policy-document.pdf

Page 19, bullet points 1, 3 & 4;

What is not covered


• Loss or damage caused by wear and
tear or loss of value;
• Any part of a repair or replacement
which improves your car beyond its
condition before the loss or damage
took place;
• Any mechanical, electrical or computer
failure, breakdown or breakage;
• Damage to tyres caused by braking,
punctures, cuts or bursts;

Between those two I don't think there's much chance and that is a standard policy in these parts. Of the scenarios you quote the only one you might succeed with is the flood, but there have been plenty of reports of refusals to pay where it should have been patently obvious that the road was flooded and any careful & competent driver would never attempt to negotiate it. I'm very surprised that it is different over there.

 

[louise_a]

WHat I dont get is if I had not brought the car safely to a stop but rather hit something I would be covered
6 airbags were deployed, all but the front ones

 

[Blue in Munich]

Louise, what actually happened & what car is it?

 

[bladeplayer]

No they wouldn't.

https://www.sainsburys-insurancequotes.co.uk/motor/sainsburys-motor-premium-policy-document.pdf

Page 19, bullet points 1, 3 & 4;

What is not covered


• Loss or damage caused by wear and
tear or loss of value;
• Any part of a repair or replacement
which improves your car beyond its
condition before the loss or damage
took place;
• Any mechanical, electrical or computer
failure, breakdown or breakage;
• Damage to tyres caused by braking,
punctures, cuts or bursts;

Between those two I don't think there's much chance and that is a standard policy in these parts. Of the scenarios you quote the only one you might succeed with is the flood, but there have been plenty of reports of refusals to pay where it should have been patently obvious that the road was flooded and any careful & competent driver would never attempt to negotiate it. I'm very surprised that it is different over there.

Crikey sounds like its a 3rd party fire & theft policy that , i dealt a good bit with insurance claims / warranty claims over the years and the small print is a killer .

 

[6inchcup]

Crikey sounds like its a 3rd party fire & theft policy that , i dealt a good bit with insurance claims / warranty claims over the years and the small print is a killer .

looking at the list of things not insured the one relating to the tyres states damage to the tyres NOT the tyre bursting has caused other damage,a good solicitor would run a horse and cart through that .