Tl* the contact owns a 2002 saturn ls. The contact stated that while waiting at a traffic light, another vehicle crashed into the rear of the contact's vehicle and the air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained unknown injuries. The vehicle was inoperable. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 40,000.
Saturn LS no deployment problems
13 of the 1,458 owner complaints about the Saturn LS describe airbags did not deploy in a crash, most of them for the 2001 model year.
- owner complaints
- 13
- worst model year
- 2001
- typical mileage
- 72,000
Is there a fix? There are 3 recalls for this area of the car. See below
By model year
- 20023
- 20017
- 20003
Often reported together
What owners say
My daughter [xxx] was the passenger and [xxx] was driver. The kids went for drive and were found the next early morning around 6am. The car was so burned and destroyed the kids could not be identified, and all who were there questioned the straight tire tracks without any correction or over correction in the steering of tire tracks, no braking in the county road tracks, and with fracture and damage of the skull area we later were told that the air bags never deployed! The tracks were approx 150 yrds long and went at an angle of perfection gradually pointing towards a ravine that would end both of the kids lives. We sent a forensic specialist to look at car 2 months later and was told to save our money on full report because the specialist said the car was so destroyed he couldn't make heads or tails as to a case against gm. With new evidence on gm there is no doubt to anyone at crash site as to what happened! The ignition switch testimonials we have seen and read by survivors spell out what happened in the 01car saturn that day that claimed my daughter [xxx] life. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
My brother suffered a closed head injury due to an auto accident while driving a saturn where the air bag did not deploy. He was air lifted from our area to a head trauma center in minnesota. He has suffered residual effects from this accident and will so for the remainder of his lifetime. We would like him to be contacted regarding the class action suit that are being filed against gm for their failure to notify auto owners of this defect caused by the faulty ignition switch, that they had recalled. Please contact us with any information.
2002 saturn l200 hit on drivers side front and rear by a large 4 door truck and side air bags did not deploy . Driver hit head on driver window , 2 passengers hurt necks .
Air bag light on won't go off was in wreck and air bag did not deploy only lit up on dash
My saturn lw300 had many problems while I owned it. On tuesday I had a significant accident which resulted in the total loss of my car. The impact was significant enough to total the car but the air bags did not inflate. The insurance adjuster told me the light went on but they malfunctioned. Luckily I was not injured nor was my three year old son.
Dt*: the contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the entire right front wheel assembly detached, causing the contact to have to guide the vehicle down the right guardrail with the brake depressed to keep the vehicle under control. Also, the air bags failed to deploy. The vehicle was taken to a private repair shop, where the mechanic determined that the entire transaxle assembly had been smoothly sheared off. There were no repairs made immediately. There was a police report filed, and the manufacturer was also informed.*ak updated 10/25/2006 -
2000 saturn ls air bag failed to deploy during an accident. *ts
Dt*: the contact stated while stopped in traffic, the vehicle was hit from behind by another vehicle. Upon impact the driver's seatbelt did not hold causing the occupant to hit the steering wheel. The dash board came forward onto the occupant and the airbag did not deploy. The occupant sustained head, back, neck and right hip injuries and a police report was filed. The vehicle was taken to an independent repair shop, which repaired the vehicle body damages. Although the vehicle was not taken to the dealership for inspection, no other repairs were made.
Dt: 2001 saturn l300 series. The consumer's wife was involved in a head on collision while traveling 25-28 MPH, and the air bags did not deploy. He has contacted saturn and they were sending a booklet on the air bag system. The vehicle was totaled. The front end was bent. A police report was taken. The consumer's wife sustained chest, abdomen, and knee injuries, and was taken by ambulance to a hospital.
Related recalls
Air bags: frontal
- What is wrong
- On certain passenger, sport utility vehicles and mini vans, some of these vehicles have a passenger air bag that was manufactured without a check valve pin. An air bag without the check valve pin could produce increased pressure at the onset of the air bag deployment and reduced pressure afterward.
- Risk
- This could increase the severity of injury to a person who was not properly restrained and who was close to the passenger air bag at the time of deployment. It could also reduce the ab8ility of the air bag to protect a restrained front seat passenger.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the passenger air bag. Owner notification began december 16, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact chevrolet at 1‑800‑222‑1020, pontiac at 1‑800‑762‑2737, oldsmobile at 1‑800‑442‑6537, or saturn at 1‑800‑553‑6000, prompt #3.
Recall number 02V329000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: passenger, sport utility vehicles and minivans. The passenger air bag inflator modules were built without the correct amount of generant, which produces the gas that fills the air bag. Some were built with a double load of generant and some were built without generant.
- Risk
- In the event of a crash that would trigger a passenger air bag deployment, a double load of generant can cause the inflator module to explode. If the air bag module explodes, metal and plastic debris could cause severe injury to vehicle occupant. A module with no generant would not inflate the air bag, and the occupants could receive more severe injuries.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the passenger air bag module. Telephone calls were made to owners on january 29, 2001. Follow up owner mailing began on april 17, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact chevrolet at 1‑800‑222‑1020, pontiac at 1‑800‑762‑2737, or saturn at 1‑800‑553‑6000.
Recall number 01V026000 · Recall details
Air bags: side/window
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with a side impact air bag system. The air bag system has a lower side impact safing sensor threshold than specified. Because of this reduced threshold, there could be an inadvertent deployment of the side head curtain air bag with severe slamming of the door.
- Risk
- This could cause injury to an occupant.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the inflatable restraint sensing and diagnostic module assembly.
Recall number 00V235000 · Recall details
Questions about the Saturn LS no deployment
Which Saturn LS years have airbags did not deploy in a crash problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2001 (7 complaints), 2000 (3 complaints) and 2002 (3 complaints).
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