The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) recently dismissed a complaint against Mercedes Benz India regarding the non-deployment of airbags during a car accident. It was filed by Mohd. Hyder Khan, seeking compensation from the car manufacturer. He claimed that the airbags in his Mercedes Benz E280 CDI failed to deploy during a collision, leading to injuries.
The case was heard by a Coram of President Subhash Chandra and Member Dr. Sadhna Shanker, who concluded that the complainant lacked sufficient evidence to prove any manufacturing defect in the vehicle. The NCDRC referred to the vehicle’s owner’s manual, which clearly states that the seatbelt must be fastened for the airbags to deploy during an accident. Evidence submitted by the car’s dealer, Mahavir Motors, confirmed that these were not fastened at the time of the crash.
Further, the NCDRC observed that the police report cited rash and negligent driving by the complainant, as the reason for the accident. This further weakened Khan’s claim that the airbag failure was due to a defect in the vehicle.
The court upheld the Andhra Pradesh State Consumer Commission’s earlier decision of dismissing the complaint and ruling that the airbags were not deployed because the seatbelt was not worn. It further emphasized that the State Commission’s decision was well-reasoned and detailed, and the appeal lacked merit.
Background of the Case
At first, Mohd. Hyder Khan filed his complaint with the Andhra Pradesh State Consumer Commission. It stated that he had suffered injuries to his head, neck, and face in the crash because the airbags in his E280 CDI didn’t deploy. He claimed that the non-deployment was due to a manufacturing defect and also mentioned issues with the sedan’s steering wheel and wipers. When the State Commission rejected his claim, Khan appealed to the NCDRC.
He argued that the State Commission was wrong to conclude that the airbags failed because he wasn’t wearing a seatbelt. He further insisted that the airbags should have deployed, regardless of whether or not the seatbelt was fastened. Clearly this is not how airbags function- and we know it!
Mercedes Benz’s Defense
In its defense, Mercedes Benz India maintained that the State Commission had rightfully dismissed the complaint. It emphasized that there was no manufacturing defect in the vehicle or deficiency in service from their end. According to Mercedes Benz India, the airbags did not deploy because the seatbelt was not worn, which is clearly outlined as a primary restraint mechanism in the car’s owner’s manual. This means that for the airbags to function as intended during an accident, the seatbelt must be fastened.
In cars like Mercedes Benz, the seatbelts and their pre-tensioners work in harmony with airbags and minimize the damage that their deployment (airbags are deployed through controlled mild explosions) might cause to the occupant.
NCDRC’s Ruling
After considering the arguments from both sides, the NCDRC ruled in favour of MB India, stating that Khan had failed to produce sufficient evidence to support his claim of a manufacturing defect. The Commission also accepted the dealer’s affidavit, which confirmed that the seatbelt was not fastened at the time of the accident. It finally dismissed the appeal reinforcing the earlier decision by the Andhra Pradesh State Consumer Commission that no compensation was due.
This incident is proof that seat belts are critical in ensuring safety. Before you start counting the airbags on a car and try to rank them based on the same, ensure wearing seatbelts when driving. Not doing so will lend the airbags useless in the event of a crash.
