NHTSA complaint: 2002 CHEVROLET G VAN — AIR BAGS
THE VEHICLE IS A 2002 CHEVY MODEL FG 15 WITH 63,500 MILES ON IT. IT IS A COMPANY DELIVERY VAN FOR A RESTAURANT THAT MY FAMILY OWNS. WE WERE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHEN THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED. THE AIR BAG CAUGHT MY LEFT LEG WHICH WAS CROSSED OVER MY RIGHT LEG AT THE TIME. I HAD TO SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION FOR A DAMAGED LEG AND KNEE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO GATES CHEVY WORLD IN SOUTH BEND INDIANA. THE VIN NUMBER WAS CHECKED AND FOUND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER IN ANY TYPE OF ACCIDENT. GATES PULLED THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT OUT AND THE UNDERLAY ON THE FLOOR AND FOUND THAT THE CONTROL BOX HAD DETERIORATED AND MAY HAVE SET THE AIR BAG OFF. THEY SAID THEY WERE GOING TO CALL FOR A TECHNICIAN FROM GM BUT NEVER DID. THEY SAID THIS HAD HAPPENED TO ONE OTHER VAN IN THE AREA. THEY FELT IT WASN'T THEIR FAULT THAT OWNERS ARE SUPPOSE TO TAKE OUT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, TAKE OUT THE FACTORY INSTALLED UNDERLAY AND ROUTINELY DRY OUT ALL OF THE CHEVY COMPONENTS BY (HAIR DRYER OR DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN THE AIR )???? I DIDN'T READ THAT IN THE OWNERS MANUAL. THE VEHICLE IS IN OUTSTANDING CONDITION AND HAS BEEN WELL TAKEN CARE OF. I CHECKED MY OTHER CAR MANUALS AND HAVE NOT READ WHERE WE ARE SUPPOSE TO BE AIRING VEHICLES OUT. THE VEHICLE IS A COMPANY WORK VEHICLE THAT WE HAVE LOST THE SERVICE OF FOR OVER 4 MONTHS. I STILL HAVE MEDICAL BILLS AND FUTURE MEDICAL BILLS FROM MY ANKLE. I HAVE FILED AN ASSISTANCE CLAIM # 71-527802216 WITH CHEVROLET. THE INITIAL PERSON, P
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation