I can't believe what just happened, I was cleaning out my car this afternoon. It was sitting running in my driveway and I was sitting in the passenger seat with the door open and my legs outside the vehicle when the passenger side airbag suddenly deployed.

It hit me full in the side of the head and shoulder knocking my out of the vehicle onto the ground beside the car stunned and dazed.

The windshield is also smashed and the rearview mirror is busted off.

I can't imagine what triggered it to go off sitting still.

Needless to say I am shocked, disturbed, and not very happy right now. As well I have quite a stiff neck and a slight head ache thanks to the wallop I took.

Has anyone else ever heard of such a thing happening

This is going to be a interesting insurance claim. I wonder what the chances are of them repairing it versus writing it off?

 

I don't know if the insurance company will do anything. I have often wondered if I should drive my car into something if something like that ever happened to me. I would definately report it to someone like Volvo, Attorney General's office, etc. I would also recommend you go to the hospital to get your spine checked out. Could have a fractured neck that could get worse if you don't get it treated properly. You have whiplash and that could get worse.

Really sorry to hear that happened. Maybe the dealer will look the car over to see if there is some kind of problems with the wires or something that may trigger a recall to help others.

 

I would be very shocked if this turned out to be a SRS component/system/design failure; these things are designed to be extremely fail safe (for obvious reasons).

Most likely someone did some aftermkt installs/repairs that compromised the SRS wiring and that led to this mishap; that would be my guess...

 

There was a recall of some S70 models for this exact problem. Most affected vehicles were '98s but since the recall didn't come out until September of '99, there are probably some '99s that were affected. Volvo determined that the passenger airbag assembly in these vehicles wasn't adequately grounded, and so they added an extra ground strap. The deployments were caused by electrostatic discharge into the airbag module... exactly the sort of thing that occurs when you're sitting partway in the car and partway outside... this is why they tell you not to get back in your car at gas stations. Your legs were grounded outside, there was a static charge built up in the airbag, and when you touched something that was electrically connected to the airbag, you completed the circuit. Since your car is a '99, it would be interesting to find out if the additional ground wire was present, and if not, why. Was the car ever in an accident before, and had the airbags replaced? if so, did the shop that did the work maybe "forget" the strap? Or did Volvo's fix not fix the issue 100%? The ground strap is a wire with ring terminals on both ends. It should be attached to a specific body ground point- there's other ground connections there- and the other end goes where the bolt closest to the passenger door on the airbag unit is. The official fix replaces the bolt with a stud, to which you attach a nut securing the airbag, and then the ring terminal from the strap goes on next, followed by another nut. Look yourself, or have an independent mechanic look, and see if the ground strap is present. Keep in mind, it's possible that production changes made that ground unnecessary, but for now, since that was the fix for the recall, I'm assuming that that was also added to production. Anyhow, here's the dealer letter that was sent out to all dealers after the recall was issued:

September 1999
TO: ALL VOLVO RETAILERS - US & CANADA
RE: RECALL CAMPAIGN 96

Volvo Cars of North America, Inc. and Volvo Cars of Canada Limited have announced a Recall Campaign affecting certain model year 1998 70 Series sedans, wagons and coupes. Some of the passenger-side front airbag Systems may be insufficiently grounded. Under certain conditions, where static electricity is created, the passenger-side front airbag may inadvertently deploy. In all vehicles affected by this recall, an additional ground wire will be installed on the passenger-side front airbag system.

Approximately 122,660 vehicles in the US and 13,913 vehicles in Canada are affected.

OWNER NOTIFICATION

A notification letter will be sent to the owners of all potentially affected vehicles during the week of September 27, 1999.

RETAILER RESPONSIBILITIES

Retailers are asked to perform this campaign on eligible vehicles regardless of miles/kilometers or vehicle age. All work performed under this Recall Campaign is free of charge to the owner.

In the event that a customer does not have a notification letter, the owner is not to be refused this important campaign work. Your regional representative will follow up to ensure that this campaign is proceeding smoothly.

A complete description of the campaign requirements and claim submission procedures will be sent under separate cover to your Service Manager. A "Retailer Vehicle Campaign List" will be sent under separate cover identifying the specific vehicles, retailed by your facility, that are eligible for this campaign. It is the retailer's responsibility to review the details provided in the materials listed below with all involved personnel.
^ Service Manager Bulletin

^ Service Bulletin

^ Parts Bulletin

^ Owner Notification Letter

Your cooperation in completing this important campaign is greatly appreciated.


And here's the owner's letter that was sent out:

September 1999

Dear Volvo Owner:

This notice is sent to you in accordance with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.
The reason for this communication:
Volvo Cars of North America, Inc. has determined that a defect, which relates to motor vehicle safety, exists in the passenger-side front airbag system of certain 1998 70-series sedans, wagons, and coupes. Some of the passenger-side front airbag systems may be insufficiently grounded. Under certain conditions, where static electricity is created, the passenger-side front airbag may inadvertently deploy. In all vehicles affected by this recall, an additional ground wire will be installed in the passenger side to assure sufficient grounding.

How to proceed:
Please call your authorized Volvo Retailer as soon as possible to schedule an appointment. This procedure will be completed at no cost and will take approximately 1 hour. Due to service scheduling, your Volvo Retailer may require your vehicle for a full business day.

Please contact:
Your Volvo Retailer, or Volvo Customer Service at P.O. Box 914, Rockleigh, New Jersey 07647 or phone 1-800-458-1552, 9:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M. Eastern Time, with any questions you may have.

We have advised the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that we are conducting this recall. If you are unable to have this procedure performed without charge and within a reasonable time, you may contact the NHTSA Administrator at 1-800-424-9393. The phone number within the District of Columbia is 202-366-0123. The address is 400 Seventh Street SW, Washington, DC 20590

Federal law requires that any vehicle lessor receiving this recall notice must forward a copy of this notice to the lessee within ten days. Lessor means a person or entity that is the owner, as reflected on the vehicle title, of any five or more leased vehicles.

Your safety and continued satisfaction with Volvo and the Volvo organization are very important to us. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and we appreciate your cooperation in arranging to have this important service completed as quickly as possible.

Please note: According to Insurance Institute for Highway Safety president Brian O'Neill, "It is very important that owners of vehicles in which safety-related problems have been identified that those vehicles be taken back to dealerships as soon as they receive notice of a recall or service campaign. Such notices Should not be ignored or taken lightly. There is no reason to drive around in a vehicle with a safety-related defect."

 

Wow; Thanks for the info Carrots!

Found more info via google (note the campaign id number):

Vehicle Make / Model: Model Year(s): VOLVO / C70 1998
VOLVO / S70 1998
VOLVO / V70 1998
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 99V236000 Summary: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE FRONTAL PASSENGER AIR BAG MAY BE OVERLY SENSITIVE TO CERTAIN ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGE. Consequence: THIS COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE AN INADVERTENT DEPLOYMENT. Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL GROUND WIRE IN THE PASSENGER SIDE TO ASSURE SUFFICIENT GROUNDING. Notes: OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 15, 1999. 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 VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552. ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

 

wow.. sounds scary, any pics to show how it should look if the recall was done properly? i've got a 97 model...

 

Carrots I can't thank you enough for pointing this out. I will be having a discussion with Volvo tomorrow and talking to the local dealer service manager as well regarding this matter.
How much you wanted to bet this 99 does not have the additional ground strap?? Needless to say I am out one car at the moment.
Right about now I wish I had my old simply but reliable and safe 740 still in my driveway.

 

By design, during deployment the airbag bounces off the windshield, and breaking the windshield in the process. Like rspi said the first thing to do is to get checked by a doctor.

Windshield and airbag can be replaced very easily and reset by the dealer. Dealer will most likely pull you the book for service intervals of the SRS.

 

That is crazy! it would be awful if that happened to me. I want to check my car now to see if it has this additional safety ground strap. Where is this located? Mine is an early 98. I had the dealership print off it's warranty/service history from Volvo and it had been in the shop a handful of times for various problems in 99 and 2000. I'd think they would have done it but not sure.

If it was in your driveway somtimes homeowners insurance can compensate you as well. It would include some sort of personal injury protection through Auto or Home insurance I'd imagine should you have some medical bills (hopefully not...)

Interestingly enough I noticed on my car that there is a sticker in door jab with SRS system service interval dates. I've never heard of a SRS system being serviced (I'm guessing it's more of an inspection) but I wonder if they would hold that against you....

 

Owner's Manual specifies that 2 airbags and 2 seat-belts and their tensioners should be replaced every 10 years, while wiring/connectors should be inspected every 10 years. This work should be performed only by an authorized Volvo dealer.

If this wasn't done in the last 2-3 years (1998 V70), owner is on the hook....

 

Volvo... known for their safety. Mandatory expensive airbags replacements. What a rip off.

I haven't heard of any other manufacturer requiring that. After 10 years your safety system should be assumed useless, unless you need ejected from your vehicle when idling in driveway.

 

I am not sure if you are the original owner. I am not. What I don't like about Volvo is that there is no simple way to update Volvo's database that I am the subsequent owner of a pre-owned Volvo and I should get all new / old open recalls. With others, you go to a website, put in your VIN and address and get settled...

 

Ya it kinda sucks. Volvo is saying it's outside the serial number range of the recall, my insurance company has declared that since there was no outside forces at play they are denying coverage and Volvo wants over $2700 for parts along excluding windshield.
I have not seen that statement about 10 replacement of SRS components. where is that in the manual?
Checking for used parts and maybe a whole parts car as a donor car. Or maybe using my current car as a parts car for a 99 manual T5 if i can find one reasonable.

 

That is in the SRS section.

I had everything deployed about 2 months ago in my 850 (low speed collision). I got all parts -- 2 airbags, both front belt with tensioners, clockspring, SRS Sensor/computer (under the center console), plus a few small parts, like turn signal, hood locking mechanism, glove box with lid, all for $ 200 at a place in Colchester, CT.

Windshield replacement was about $ 200 at Safelite Auto Glass (national chain).

Since your driver's airbag did not deploy, I would think that the rest of your system is good. Did the dealer's estimate include replacement of all? There is also a 30-odd page SRS section in the Service Manual, which you should read. My 98's V90 is the same as 95's 850. I doubt there are major changes for 99.

Replacement of that airbag should be very straight forward.

 

You can get a replacement dash pad and airbag from a salvage yard- there's enough of these cars there now that you should be able to find one. You should probably also replace the airbag control module, as well, as yours will have a code stored in it.

As for the "replace the airbag system every 10 years" nonsense, this is NOT unusual on European cars. VW, Mercedes, and BMW all used to say the same thing. This was from back in the day before it was understood just how long the chemicals used in the airbag systems would last, or whether certain parts might fail with age. Volvo specifically released a technical service bulletin several years ago that says that periodic replacement of airbag systems is no longer necessary because analysis of old parts showed little to no degradation over time, and that you should disregard the replacement advice.

Some words of caution when working with SRS components: Disconnect the battery before doing anything. I know that EVERY repair procedure says to do this, and you don't always have to... but it's as important here as it is when replacing a starter or alternator. DO THIS! Then, carry out the repairs in the following order: disconnect the airbag control module from its wiring harness. Remove the SRS components that you are planning to replace, in your case, the passenger side airbag and the control module. Before handling the replacement airbag unit, make sure to discharge any static electricity by standing firmly on the ground and touching a bare metal surface on the car. Wear safety glasses. Install the airbag unit, then the control module, then reconnect the control module. Before reconnecting the battery, put the key in the ignition and turn it to the on position. Make sure no one is in the car, then connect the battery. Wait a few minutes, then start the car. Make sure the SRS light turns off.

As for what airbag/ module to get, the 1998 S70 is unique (among S70 models) in that it has the older, 850- style pyrotechnic side airbags, which are actuated by a percussion cap mounted near the seat controls. in 1999, they went to electronic side airbags that are connected to, and activated by, the airbag module. As far as I know, the front airbag units themselves are the same. You'll need a module out of a 1999 or 2000 model, and a passenger airbag out of any S70. It's probably best to get the parts both out of a 1999 model car. If any airbags or seat belt pretensioners are deployed on the donor car, then the module will be bad. If you can't get a module, you should be able to get the original module reset by a Volvo specialist independent shop. Dealers won't do this on vehicles they didn't repair, and some independents won't either. If you can't find someone to do this, there's a company called BBA- reman (www.bba-reman.com) that can reset it for you- all you do is send it to them and they do the rest. Incidentally, this company is who I use for repairing ABS modules on my customers' cars- they're quick, inexpensive, and offer a lifetime guarantee.