[pjbiju]

The district consumer forum of Malappuram District in Kerala has rordered Maruti Suzuki to refund the car's cost and the cost of litigation to the complainant for the non-functioning of the airbag at the time of an accident.

According to a report given by the motor vehicle inspector, the car’s airbag was inoperative at the time of the accident. Considering this, the District Consumer Forum decided that the automobile company should compensate the complainant with Rs 4,35,854 and pay a court fee of Rs 20,000.

You can read more details here and here

[svsantosh]

Its about time!!

Not only MSL, others too should sit up and take due notice. This party has been going on too long at the cost of poor consumer lives.

[DriverLess]

Originally Posted by pjbiju

According to a report given by the motor vehicle inspector, the car’s airbag was inoperative at the time of the accident.

More details would have helped. The way it is written, it looks it was inoperative prior to accident? or is this legal way of saying it did not work as expected?

[pjbiju]

Originally Posted by DriverLess

More details would have helped. The way it is written, it looks it was inoperative prior to accident? or is this legal way of saying it did not work as expected?

As per the Malayalam news report, the Motor Vehicle Inspector, gave a report stating that the accident was with frontal crash impact that was severe enough to have the airbags deployed. However, the airbags did not deploy which indicated a manufacturing defect/malfunction. Based on this report, the forum gave the verdict.

I think it sets a good precedence. We have seen cases (here on Team-Bhp) of frontal impact, including the areas, where the airbag sensors are mounted, with the airbags not getting deployed. I think each case should be thoroughly investigated and the cause determined. We have seen so many recalls related to airbags, all over the world. That indicates, that these mechanisms are not foolproof and needs closely monitored quality control processes.