NHTSA complaint: 2001 CHEVROLET S10 — AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING AT A SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, A LARGE CHEVROLET VAN SHOT ACROSS THE FRONT OF MY VEHICLE FROM A SIDE ROAD. I STRUCK THE OTHER VEHICLE FULL FORCE BUT MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THIS RESULTED IN ADDITIONAL INJURY TO ME FROM THE SEAT BELT AND SHOULDER STRAP THAT I WAS WEARING. IN ADDITION, MY RIGHT ARM STRUKE SOMETHING DURING THE CRASH, CAUSING INJURY TO IT. THE RESCUE PEOPLE WERE ALSO VERY CONCERNED ABOUT GETTING ME OUT OF THE VEHICLE (THE DRIVER'S DOOR WAS JAMMED) BEFORE ADDITIONAL INJURIES MIGHT BE CAUSED BY THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYING UNEXPECTEDLY. SHORTLY AFTER TAKING OWNWERSHIP, I HAD REPORTED A VIBRATION PROBLEM WITH THE TRUCK TO CHEVY. CHEVY STATED THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM TO THEM WHICH THEY REFERRED TO AS "FRAME SHAKE" AND REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING TO FIX MY TRUCK. I NOW WONDER IF THE "CONTINUOUS VIBRATION" OF THE TRUCK DID NOT CONTRIBUT TO THE AIR BAGS NOT WORKING. EITHER WAY, THE FAILURE OF THE AIR BAGS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN DEATH INSTEAD OF JUST ADDITIONAL INJURIES. CHEVY NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT BOTH PROBLEMS IMMEDIATELY.*AK
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation