Chrysler Repair: Airbag light on in 99 van, daimler chyrsler, highway traffic safety

Question
I HAVE A 1999 PLYMOTH VOAGER. THE AIR BAG LIGHT
JUST CAME ON TODAY WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN. IT WENT OFF WHILE I WAS AT THE NEXT STOP LIGHT, THEN CAME ON AGAIN WHEN I ACCELERATED AND IS STAYING ON EVEN AFTER I TURN OFF/ RESTART THE ENGINE.  ANY IDEAS?  THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN IN ANT PREVIOUS ACCIDENTS.

Answer
Hi Greg,
The chances are good that what has happened is that one of the wires that causes the airbag to be deployed in the event of a crash has broken (just at the time when you were turning the steering wheel) and the light is telling you that the system is therefore not going to work if needed. The wire is part of flexible connection between the steering column and the steering wheel where the driver's airbag is located, and that part is called the "clockspring" because that is what it looks like. In the latter '90's Chrysler vans had an abnormally high rate of clockspring failure so there was a manufacturer's recall to install a replacemnt clockspring.
I would suggest that you either go to a Chrysler dealer and ask them to check the VIN of your van against the recall list to see if it is covered under that recall, or call Daimler-Chyrsler Corp. in Detroit, or contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in Washington, DC which will also have that record. So see if that might not be the explanation and get it fixed for free.
Roland