NHTSA complaint: 1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX — AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
I WAS STOPPED IN TRAFFIC WHEN STRUCK FROM BEHIND BY A CAR TRAVELING WELL IN EXCESS OF THE 35 MPH LIMIT WHO NEVER TOUCHED HIS BRAKES. UPON IMPACT I WAS DRIVEN INTO A TRUCK STOPPED ABOUT 7 FEET IN FRONT OF ME. MY CAR WAS DECLARED TOTALED BY HIS INSURANCE COMPANY WITH MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE FRONT AND REAR. NEITHER OF MY AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. I SUSTAINED A LEFT SHOULDER/ARM AND LEFT SIDE NECK INJURY WHICH I STARTED TREATMENT ON THE NEXT DAY. TREATMENT HAS HOPEFULLY COMPLETED AS OF SURGERY ON 7/16/2001 TO REMOVE DICS, REPAIR VERTEBRAE, AND PLACE A TITAINUM PLATE IN MY NECK EXCEPT OF COURSE 6-8 WEEKS OF RECOVERY FROM THE SURGERY. IN ADDITION TO MEDICAL COST, I , DUE TO THIS ACCIDENT HAVE BEEN NOT ALLOWED TO WORK FOR ALL BUT ABOUT 6 WEEKS IN THE 7 MONTHS SINCE THE ACCIDENT AND OF COURSE THE 6-8 WEEKS LEFT. I FEEL HAD THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED I WOULD HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY OF THE INJURIES I SUFFERED. WHEN THIS FAILURE WAS ADDRESSED TO THE PONTIAC DEALER IT WAS STATED THAT EVIDENTLY THE IMPACT WAS NOT ENOUGH; THAT I DOUBT BASED ON TEST I HAVE SEEN AND THE DAMAGE TO MY CAR.*AK
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation