TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE 1996 SUZUKI SIDEKICK SPORT ON AN ICY AFTERNOON HE PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY AT 5 MPH AND HIT THE UTILITY POLE, AND BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG POPPED AND BURST INTO FLAMES IN THE CENTER OF THE BAG. A NEIGHBOR SAW WHAT HAPPENED ,CAME OVER, OPENED THE PASSENG…
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TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE 1996 SUZUKI SIDEKICK SPORT ON AN ICY AFTERNOON HE PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY AT 5 MPH AND HIT THE UTILITY POLE, AND BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG POPPED AND BURST INTO FLAMES IN THE CENTER OF THE BAG. A NEIGHBOR SAW WHAT HAPPENED ,CAME OVER, OPENED THE PASSENGER DOOR, AND BEAT THE FLAMES UNTIL THE FIRE WAS OUT. THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND FORCED THE CONTACT LEFT HAND TO GO THROUGH THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WHICH SHATTER,ED,AND CAUSED CONTUSIONS TO HIS KNUCKLES. THE CONTACT CONTACTED THE POLICE AND THERE WAS REPORT. THE OFFICER COULDN'T UNDERSTAND HOW THE AIRBAGS COULD HAVE DEPLOYED BECAUSE THE UTILITY POLE HAD NO DAMAGE, BUT THE VEHICLE DID RECEIVE A DING. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES AVAILABLE OF THE VEHICLE AND THE UTILITY POLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76000.*AK UPDATED 03/19/07.*JB
NHTSA ODI #10182340
Mileage unknown · Sep 24, 1998
Air Bags
CONSUMER WAS SITTING IN PARKING LOT WITH ENGINE ON, HEARD LOUD HISSING NOISE, SMELLED FOUL ODOR, AND NOTICED THAT PROPELANT OR CHEMICALS OF AIRBAG WAS BEING RELEASED INSIDE VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #828187
Mileage unknown · Jan 14, 1998
Air BagsCrash
WHILE DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY CONSUMER HIT A PATCH OF ICE ,SLID AND HIT THE HIGHWAY SLIDING. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY , HOWEVER DRIVER WAS NOT INJURED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #820653
Mileage unknown · May 20, 1997
Air BagsCrashInjury
PASSIVE RESTRAINTS, AIR BAGS: DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25MPH WHEN VEHICLE CAME TO AN INTERSECTION , OTHER VEHICLE DID NOT STOP AND WAS HIT HEAD-ON. NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. TOOK VEHICLE INTO DEALER FOR REPAIRS, AND HE SAID THAT SOMETIMES IT'S BEST IF AIRBAGS DON'T DEPLOY . DEALER WOULD NOT PERFORM REPAIRS. *AK
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. INSUFFICIENT STRENGTH OF THE MOUNTING BASE ON THE UPPER END OF THE FRONT STRUTS CAN LEAD TO BREAKAGE OF THE MOUNTING BOLTS THAT ATTACH THE UPPER END OF THE FRONT STRUTS TO THE VEHICLE BODY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE STRUT BROKE LOOSE, A DRIVER COULD LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL ADD A REINFORCEMENT, FOR BOTH FRONT STRUTS, BETWEEN THE FRONT STRUT MOUNTING BASE AND THE VEHICLE BODY. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT STRUT MOUNTING BASES, MOUNTING BOLTS AND NUTS, AND STRUT BAR STAYS WILL BE REPLACED.
THE FUEL TANK ON THESE VEHICLES CAN BECOME PUNCTURED BY A FUEL TANK FLANGE ATTACHMENT REINFORCEMENT DURING REAR-END COLLISIONS. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 301, "FUEL TANK INTEGRITY."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: IF AN IGNITION SOURCE WAS PRESENT, FUEL LEAKAGE RESULTING FROM THIS PUNCTURE COULD RESULT IN A POST-CRASH FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL TWO NEW SHIELD GUSSETS BETWEEN THE FUEL TANK AND ATTACHMENT BRACKETS TO PREVENT THE REINFORCEMENT FROM PUNCTURING THE FUEL TANK WALL.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
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No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
1996 Suzuki Sidekick Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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