NHTSA complaint: 2008 VOLVO VNM — AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
THE FOLLOWING COMPLAINT IS REGARDING A 2008 VOLVO TRUCK (MODEL VNM 200, 2 AXLE DAYCAB). I WAS DRIVING THIS MODEL OF TRUCK PULLING TWO TRAILERS AT THE TIME OF MY CRASH. THIS VEHICLE SUSTAINED SIGNIFICANT FRONT-END DAMAGE. HOWEVER, THE AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THIS ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON INTERSTATE 15 NEAR EXIT 36 IN UTAH. I WAS TRAVELING SOUTHBOUND AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WHEN I COLLIDED WITH A BOULDER. THE IMPACT WITH THE BOULDER WAS NEAR THE FRONT RIGHT CORNER OF THE BUMPER, ALSO STRIKING THE RIGHT STEER TIRE AND HITTING VARIOUS OTHER PARTS OF THE RIG. AFTER COLLIDING WITH THE BOULDER I FOUGHT TO KEEP THE VEHICLE STRAIGHT FOR ABOUT 2 TO 4 SECONDS. AFTER THIS, THE TRACTOR BEGAN TO VEER OFF TO THE RIGHT ON ITS OWN, SUBSEQUENTLY CRASHING INTO A STEEP EMBANKMENT. THIS IMPACT WAS WITH THE LEFT FRONT PART OF THE TRUCK. ULTIMATELY THE TRUCK AND FRONT TRAILER ROLLED ONTO THEIR LEFT SIDES COMING TO REST FACING NORTH. THE IMPACT WITH THE EMBANKMENT WAS SO SEVERE THAT THE ENGINE WAS PUSHED BACK AND EVEN THE INTERIOR CENTER CONSOLE WAS PUSHED BACK AGAINST THE GEARSHIFT. THE LIGHT SWITCH POPPED OUT AS WELL AS VARIOUS OTHER INTERIOR PANELS. THE RIGHT EXTERIOR MIRROR SWUNG ALL THE WAY FORWARD FROM THE IMPACT. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS BENT UPWARDS. MY INJURIES ARE CONSISTENT WITH BEING THROWN FORWARD; BROKEN NECK, BROKEN BACK, BROKEN RIBS, LEFT SHOULDER SPRAIN, AND KNEE CONTUSIONS. I SUFFERED THESE INJURIES EVEN THOUGH I WAS WEARING MY SEAT BELT. I HOPE THAT THIS COMPLAINT WILL
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation