NHTSA complaint: 2012 CHEVROLET SONIC — STRUCTURE:BODY
ALL TEN (10) AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY WHEN MY CAR WAS STRUCK BY A DRIVER ATTEMPTING TO PASS ME ON THE LEFT AS I WAS TURNING LEFT. THAT DRIVER WAS SPEEDING, CROSSED THE DOUBLE-YELLOW LINE TO PASS, DID NOT HAVE INSURANCE NOR A DRIVER'S LICENSE. MY DRIVER'S DOOR TOOK THE INITIAL IMPACT STRIKE AND WAS DEEPLY CREASED AS THE OTHER CAR CONTINUED FORWARD INTO MINE, THEN THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL WAS STRUCK; THE WHEEL AND A ROD CONNECTED FLEW OFF, MY FENDER WAS OBLITERATED, ENGINE COMPONENTS WERE SMASHED, AND MY CAR SPUN AROUND AT LEAST 200 DEGREES. THE OTHER DRIVER WAS GOING SO FAST, IT CONTINUED FORWARD MORE THAN 150 FEET BEFORE THE DRIVER COULD GET HIS VEHICLE TO STOP AFTER STRIKING MY CAR. THE INSURANCE COMPANY DEEMED MY CAR A TOTAL LOSS. DURING THE ACCIDENT, MY HEAD VIOLENTLY STRUCK THE DOOR FRAME AND I WAS KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS. IT IS A MIRACLE FROM GOD THAT I WASN'T KILLED! MY HUSBAND IS LIVID TO THINK I COULD HAVE DIED... AND TO THINK THAT THE 10 AIRBAGS WERE A BIG SELLING POINT FOR US WHEN PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. WE THOUGHT WE WERE GETTING A SAFE VEHICLE. WE FEEL LIED TO AND ABUSED AS THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS--SO SAYS AN ATTORNEY--SINCE I WAS NOT SERIOUSLY INJURED NOR KILLED. AFTER MY INSURANCE COMPANY PAYS, I'LL STILL OWE ABOUT $4000 ON MY NEW-ISH CHEVY SONIC, AND I AM STILL REQUIRED TO PAY THE BALANCE TO ALLY (HOLDING THE LOAN FOR THIS GM CAR) FOR A PRODUCT THAT DIDN'T PERFORM AS IT SHOULD HAVE TO KEEP ME SAFE. HOW IS THIS NOT A CRIME? ISN'T THIS ROBBERY? GM SH
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation