BOSTON -- What if an air bag goes off in a car for no reason at all? That's what one local man said happened to him.

NewsCenter 5's Susan Wornick reported that Ben Taddeo said the carmaker has left him, literally, holding the bag.

"It was just a loud bang, a loud pop," Taddeo said.

Taddeo had a terrifying experience recently while driving along Route 140.

"I thought it was a gunshot at first. I didn't really know," Taddeo said.

Taddeo quickly realized his passenger-side air bags had deployed for no apparent reason.

"I'm assuming it's defective. I don't know why he didn't go off the road. So, I immediately went to Volkswagen," said Taddeo's mother, Karen.

But Volkswagen wouldn't help, insisting Taddeo must have hit something. The car's computer indicated an impact, and they had pictures showing undercarriage damage. But when the Taddeos turned to their insurance company, adjusters couldn't find any damage, saying, "The only damages to your vehicle were due to your air bags deploying for no reason. This is clearly a defective part."

"I've called Volkswagen weekly, daily, a lot and they keep saying, 'Nope. Sorry. Not our problem. Your problem,'" Karen Taddeo said.

Team 5 Investigates has discovered Volkswagen has heard complaints like the Taddeos' many times before. NewsCenter 5 reviewed federal safety records and found hundreds of similar stories and a full investigation into several Volkswagen models dating back five years.

Records show that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration received 499 complaints about 2001 to 2003 Jettas, Golfs and GTIs and determined that Volkswagen's "crash-sensing system ... may recognize certain non-crash impacts ... as deployable events."

NHTSA opened an investigation in 2004 after 100 minor injuries were reported. But despite acknowledging that the side air bags could deploy even when there's no crash, NHTSA didn't see it as a safety issue and closed the investigation without issuing a recall.

As for Volkswagen's position on the Taddeos' 2004 Jetta, the company told NewsCenter 5 that the family should file a claim with its insurance carrier and there's no across-the-board serious problem.

But the Taddeos disagree.

"You know, I could have been on the highway doing 75 mph, and it could have been my side of the car. I could have spun out. Anything could have happened," Taddeo said.

Volkswagen is not the only car company with side air bag complaints. Team 5 found other complaints involving BMWs, Saturns and Cadillacs. There have been nearly 20 recalls on side air bags since 1998.

Research Your Car

Federal Investigation: Airbags For 2001-2003 Volkswagen Jettas, Golfs, GTIs

*Enter NHTSA Action Number PE04081

Federal Airbag Safety Information

Susan Wornick Column

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