Few side air bags in 2002 model-year vehicles are designed to meet a voluntary
industry standard intended to prevent a replay of deadly problems with steering-wheel
and dashboard air bags, automakers have told regulators according to a report
in USA Today.
The report says that the side air bags some automakers have been installing
since 1996 are not safe for children who are against the bags when they deploy.
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Citing government data, the newspaper report says that more than half of side
air bags in 13 1999-2001 vehicles tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA) exceeded at least one maximum injury level for children
in the new standard.
The NHTSA wouldn’t say which models failed.
Automakers have been rapidly installing side air bags in new cars – as standard
equipment or an option – for the past few years. Ford Motor, for example, offers
side air bags in 80% of its 2002 vehicles.
USA Today says that every automaker has agreed to meet the standard when new
models are introduced or older ones redesigned. But the pace varies greatly.
Side air bags in every 2002 Toyota model except the Corolla meet the standard,
and the Corolla will in January. But no Mercedes-Benz or Chrysler vehicles’
side air bags have been tested to the standard.
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