The Mahindra XUV700 is one of the most technologically advanced and safest cars in the country. It has received a perfect 5-star security rating from GNCAP. However, recently an XUV700 owner shared his near-death experience and highlighted major safety concerns about this SUV. The owner stated that the SUV’s front airbags did not deploy even after it rolled over six times. Luckily he still managed to escape with a few minor injuries.
I am writing to bring to your urgent attention a matter of serious concern regarding the safety features of the XUV 700 AX7 PETROL which we recently purchased from your esteemed company. Automotive Mahindra Showroom is located at Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh on March 20, 2024. pic.twitter.com/DVWKJ00Jq3
— Tejeshwar Reddy (@TejeshwarRedd19) April 30, 2024
The incident of this extremely horrific accident comes courtesy of Tejeshwar Reddy from X (formerly Twitter). The owner narrated his entire story in his tweet addressed to Anand Mahindra. He stated that his XUV700 AX7 was involved in a serious accident while crossing NH44 near Dhone, Andhra Pradesh in the early morning of April 25, 2024.
He stated that the front airbags of his SUV did not deploy even though the vehicle rolled over six times. He said this put Kiran and the passengers with him at significant risk. Kiran stated that he was in shock and disbelief after discovering the malfunction of the vehicle’s safety features.
Was the driver wearing a seatbelt?
Kiran highlighted in his tweet that despite properly fastening the seat belts, the front airbags did not deploy during the accident and rollover. He added that this was a catastrophic event. Kiran emphasized that this incident raises serious doubts about the effectiveness and reliability of the XUV700’s advertised safety mechanisms.
What happened next?
The owner of the car also mentioned that when Kiran inspected the wreckage of his XUV700 after the accident, he found that only the left side curtain airbags had deployed while the critical front airbags remained unopened.
He stated that this was a glaring oversight on Mahindra’s part. He added to the letter and said that he was calling on Mahindra to urgently and thoroughly investigate and correct possible deficiencies in the safety systems of the petrol model XUV700 AX7.
Do front airbags deploy in a rollover accident?
For those who may not know, front airbags are typically designed to deploy in frontal collisions. Their primary goal is to protect occupants from head and chest injuries. They cushion the impact between the occupants and the vehicle interior.
However, whether or not the front airbags are deployed in a rollover accident depends on the specific design of the vehicle’s safety system. It also depends on the sensors that this vehicle’s security system uses.
Some vehicles are equipped with rollover sensors that can detect the angle and roll speed of the vehicle. This then triggers the deployment of airbags when certain threshold values are reached. However, these sensors are often integrated into the vehicle’s stability control system.
They help determine whether a rollover is imminent and activate the appropriate safety measures. This includes deployment of the front and head airbags to provide additional protection for the occupants.
The final decision to deploy front airbags in a rollover accident is influenced by a combination of factors. This includes the vehicle design, the capabilities of the safety system and the specific circumstances of the accident. It is therefore difficult to say whether the front airbags should have been deployed or not in this case.
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