German Car Zone

There are lot of stories about different cars having crashes where the airbags didn't deploy in a "severe" crash. Usually that's because the crash wasn't quite as severe as the drivers think it was... of course if there is an actual problem with the Q7's airbags that's not at all good.

The Toyota-Lexus trolls on Autospies are having a field day with this.

I'd take the Q7 over any Toyota / Lexus or Japanese SUV any day - except for my beloved 1996 Mitsubishi Pajero 2500 Intercooler Turbo.

And what do they have to say about this:

2007 TOYOTA CAMRY AIR BAGS
Recall Date: 04/03/2006

Summary:
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, DUE TO IMPROPER ASSEMBLY OF THE AIR BAG INFLATOR, WHICH IS USED IN THE SIDE AIR BAG, THE CURTAIN SHIELD AIR BAG, AND THE KNEE AIR BAG ASSEMBLY, SOME INFLATORS WERE PRODUCED WITH AN INSUFFICIENT AMOUNT OF THE HEATING AGENTS NECESSARY FOR PROPER AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. IN THIS CONDITION, THE EXPANSION FORCE OF THE GAS MAY BE INSUFFICIENT TO PROPERLY INFLATE THE AIR BAG WHEN THE SRS SYSTEM IS ACTIVATED DURING A CRASH.

Consequence:
THIS MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE OCCUPANT IN THE INVOLVED SEATING POSITION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.

http://www.internetautoguide.com/aut...969/index.html

and this:

2004 TOYOTA CAMRY AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
Recall Date: 07/13/2004

Summary:
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH CURTAIN SHIELD AIR BAGS (CSA), ONE OR BOTH OF THE CURTAIN AIR BAGS MAY BE TWISTED NEAR THE INFLATOR DUE TO IMPROPER ASSEMBLY.

Consequence:
IF THIS OCCURS, THE CSA MAY NOT DEPLOY RAPIDLY ENOUGH WHEN ACTIVATED IN A SIDE IMPACT COLLISION. THIS MAY RESULT IN FAILURE TO PROVIDE THE INTENDED HEAD PROTECTION, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.

Remedy:
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE CSAS AND REPLACE THE AIR BAG ASSEMBLY IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 6, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

Potential Units Affected: 128316

http://www.internetautoguide.com/aut...mry/index.html

And lots of others which i need several pages to post.

Yannis. We could play dueling recalls all day and it wouldn't reduce the mobid curiosity we all have with regard to these Audi Q7 incidents. We all gawked when the E65 7er was freezing, crashing and just plain acting psycho. I don't see this any differently. This thread isn't even about a recall (yet).

All manufacurers have recalls - lots of em. Just look here:

http://www.mycarstats.com/auto_recalls/auto_recalls.asp


You'll find that both Toyota and BMW have jillions of recalls, but I don't see how this is really a gauge of overall brand quality. Afterall, Honda is rather heavy on the list with a number well into the 400s. But I defy any longtime Honda owners to (aside from the poor folks who bought the Insight) call the brand a lemon factory.

I don't know if I have a real point other than the ovbious observation that this could spell trouble for Audi's reputation, especially since so much hay has been made over the Q7's rollout. I guess that goes without saying.

Hi Osna

This thread started with one incident about a Q7 when the owner claims that it was a defect of the car. That may be the truth but also might be a mistake, i don't understand how someone can tell the reasons and circumstances of the accident from thousand of miles away from his computer screen.
In my opinion this accident is just used as an excuse from many members to bash Audi or else questionable photos of Audi Q7s were the airbags were supposed to have not work, wouldn't have showed up since they are irrelevant to the main incident.
There is a difference between presenting solid facts and distort events.

How would you find it if i started a new thread called "BMW M5 is a dangerous car and should not be street legal" adding below some photos of crashed M5s. How would that sound? Is that a responsible way to present real facts? Well in my opinion this is not a responsible way either.

I don't have a problem with bringing this incident (or any other) to the forum but i have a problem with the way some people misspresent it.

Regards Yannis

This is their standard lame excuse:


At least Toyota admits their mistake. Unlike the German brands. And who still leads JD Power?

I wouldn't care, because it's not my job to defend BMW when / if they screw up.

I don't have a dog in this fight Yannis. I like Audi. I think the Blog which is the object of this thread is interesting because it's written from the point of view of a consumer who is very much like you and I.

Do you think we're out to smear the Q7, or are we just interested in what's a curiously strange accident? I think we GCF'ers are pretty even-handed when it comes to pointing out strange and unusual product defects.