2018 Jeep Compass

I was hit from behind on the interstate 2 weeks ago. My Jeep Compass was stopped in heavy traffic on the interstate. A large white pickup truck hit my car first going at least 80 mph. He did not see that traffic was stopped. This caused my jeep to roll and come to a stop on the passenger side on the ground and the driver side in the air. My airbags did deploy, but not on impact. They deployed after the jeep came to a stop on it's side. After impact and after rolling. The airbags were not useful after the jeep stopped moving. This needs to be addressed. I was hurt and did go to the ER. I did not have any passengers, thankfully, they may not have survived that. My seatbelt held me in well, it was hard to get out of it and I have many bruises from the seatbelt. My only issue was the timing of the airbags. They were very late to deploy. Thought you should know. If this happens to others in an accident, many people will be hurt. The vehicle was only inspected by the insurance company to determine the repair costs and then declared a total loss. I am not sure if anyone else inspected the vehicle. There were no warning lights prior to the accident. I tried to upload photos, but it would not work. I do have photos and a police report from this accident.

Drivers side impact at approximately 40mph and side, floor and overhead airbags failed to deploy causing serious injury. Vehicle was parked at a stop sign when full impact occurred. There was 2 children in the rear seats and only a driver in the vehicle. There was none in the front passenger seat and only the airbag in the steering column deployed and the passenger seat airbag deployed. Airbags did not protect the children nor the driver in this impact.

*Quick synopsis: FCA/Stellantis Falsely fixing Airbag Recall and not wanting to fix the issue* I am writing in hopes that I can help shed some light on an ongoing issue with a major automotive manufacturer that jeopardizes the safety of millions of American citizens. I am a current customer of Stellantis Automobile Company better known as the Former Fiat Chrysler Automotive (FCA). I experienced a common yet serious issue that is being hidden from many who are still in danger of a life threatening Airbag failure. The company seems to have issue with falsifying shop notes on the recall T73: Passenger Air bag module recall. (I experienced this with a Jeep) The databases in which the company uses stated that my recall had been “inspected” and crossed off as if completed. This was not done correctly. The recall specifically states for a replacement (documentation of proof available). I was passed around and no one could fix the problem due to the “status” being in the system. Multiple dealership shops could not fix the issue (even the place of purchase). I tried to go higher in the chain of command in the company but due to the size of this corporation, I spent weeks trying to find a resolution with no answer. (I finally had to alert the Michigan Attorney General’s office of the incident) This finally got the attention that was needed to get their Stellantis Special Investigation unit(which is their legal department per say) to respond but still took weeks of bouncing back and forth to get someone to change the system and order the part needed. During this time, I attempted to gain legal counsel on the issue but unfortunately money talks and mine was not enough to warrant any interest. After upwards of 3 months of red tape and passing of blame I finally received a replacement. My story may be an exception to the rule, but I would like to make this public as many drivers may not be aware that their vehicles are affected by this issue and are in danger.

The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Compass. The contact stated that while driving at 20 MPH in the snow, the vehicle slid on black ice and hit a curb at a low rate of speed. The contact stated that the front driver, front driver knee, and front passenger airbags deployed upon impact. The police arrived at the scene and the contact was given a ticket for speeding due to the airbags deploying; the contact maintained that she was driving at a low rate of speed. The contact was uncertain if a police report was filed. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to her home. After the accident, the contact sought medical attention for injuries to her chest and neck. The manufacturer nor the dealer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired and remained in the possession of the contact. The failure mileage was approximately 37,000.

THE SERVICE AIRBAG SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT KEEPS ILLUMINATING. IT WILL STAY ON FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS AND THEN TURN OFF. I HAVE BROUGHT THE JEEP TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THIS ISSUE 5 TIMES. THEY CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM. THEY HAVE REPLACED THE WIRING HARNESS AND THEN OCCUPANT RESTRAINT CONTROLLER. THE AIRBAG LIGHT STILL COMES ON AND OFF. JEEP HAS DONE NOTHING TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION, THEY HAVE TOLD ME THAT I SIMPLY HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT. I HAVE FILED FOR ARBITRATION AND THEY HAVE CLAIMED THAT IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. ALL TIMES THAT THE AIRBAG LIGHT HAS COME ON, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN MOTION. IT HAS HAPPENED IN THE CITY, IT HAS HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY, IT HAS HAPPENED AT HIGH SPEEDS AND VERY LOW SPEEDS. IT HAPPENS WHEN GOING STRAIGHT, TURNING, IT REALLY HAS NO PREFERENCE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 JEEP COMPASS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SOUTHFIELD CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM (28100 TELEGRAPH RD, SOUTHFIELD, MI 48034, (248) 331-9937) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE AIR BAGS WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $5,000. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,500.

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR-END AND FRONT END COLLISION, THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AT A RED LIGHT WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT. THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME REAR-ENDED THE JEEP COMPASS AT APPROX 50 MPH PUSHING ME INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF THE JEEP COMPASS. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND THE VEHICLE'S SEAT BELTS FAILED TO LOCK CAUSING MYSELF TO HIT THE STEERING WHEEL.

I AM REQUESTING FIAT CHRYSLER AUTO REPAIR ALL AIRBAGS THAT WERE DEPLOYED INCLUDING DASH AND SEAT BELTS. IN ADDITION THEIR WAS AN IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL ON THE PASSENGER AIRBAG MODULE, WHICH IS ONE OF THE AIRBAGS THAT DEPLOYED. FIAT CHRYSLER AUTO HAS FAILED TO TAKE ANY ACCOUNTABILITY. AFTER PURCHASING A 2018 JEEP COMPASS TRAIL HAWK, TRAIL RATED VEHICLE, IN WHICH THREE AIRBAGS HAD BEEN DEPLOYED PRIOR TO PURCHASE, I TOOK THE CAR TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC AND BEING THAT THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENT, HE COULD NOT DETERMINE HOW THREE AIRBAGS COULD HAVE DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE FRAME OR ORIGINAL RADIATOR. AS A RESULT, I CONTACTED THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND ASKED THAT AN INSPECTION BE COMPLETED TO EXAMINE WHY THREE AIRBAGS WERE DEPLOYED ESPECIALLY SINCE THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TAKEN INTO THE DEALERSHIP ON 1/24/2018, FOR A RECALL ON THE PASSENGER AIRBAG MODULE,RECALL T73/NHTSA 17V-732, WHICH JUST HAPPENS TO BE ONE OF THE THREE AIRBAGS LATER DEPLOYED. I DELIVERED THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP ON AUGUST 10, 2018 FOR AN INSPECTION APPOINTMENT, SCHEDULED FOR 8AM THE NEXT MORNING. BILL COMPLETED HIS INSPECTION WITHIN A FEW HOURS AND CALLED ME TO LET ME KNOW THAT THE INFORMATION HAD BEEN FORWARDED TO DETROIT. I RECEIVED A ONE PAGE FACTORY STOCKED LETTER EMAILED FROM FCA TAKING NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DEPLOYMENT OF THREE AIRBAGS AND NO EXPLANATION. THE LETTER WQS NOT EVEN SIGNED BY A HUMAN BEING AND LACKED ANY ACCOUNTABILITY, AND EVEN FAILED TO ADDRESS THE RECALL ON THE PASSENGER AIRBAG MODULE, T73/NHTSA 17V-732, AS A POSSIBLE MALFUNCTION. THE LETTER IS CLEARLY CRAFTED TO AVOID ACCOUNTABILITY. I AM DEMANDING THAT FCA'S EXECUTIVE TEAM IMMEDIATELY LOOK INTO THIS MATTER AND TAKE FULL ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE REPAIR OF THE DAMAGED CAUSE BY THE DEPLOYMENT OF 3 AIRBAGS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 JEEP COMPASS. AFTER RELEASING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. AS A RESULT, THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A UTILITY POLE. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED SEVERE DAMAGE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A LOWER BACK INJURY, WHICH DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER (VATLAND CHRYSLER, 855 SOUTH US 1, VERO BEACH FL 32962, 772-316-1829) WERE BOTH NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 800.