# 2004 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500 — AIR BAGS
> NHTSA complaint `778199` · 2010-03-31 · General Motors, LLC
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 1
- **Fire:** No
- **Crash:** Yes
- **Police report:** Yes
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** CHEVROLET
- **Model:** AVALANCHE 1500
- **Year:** 2004
- **Manufacturer:** General Motors, LLC
- **Component:** AIR BAGS
- **Miles at failure:** 138,000
- **Speed:** 55 mph
## Narrative
I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ON 02/22/2010. A VERY LARGE ICE CHEST FLEW OUT OF A VEHICLE SEVERAL CARS AHEAD OF ME ON THE HIGHWAY. TRAFFIC WAS GOING AROUND 55 - 60 MPH. THE FIRST CAR SLAMMED ON THEIR BRAKES, TRYING TO AVOID THE ICE CHEST. THE CAR BEHIND CRASHED INTO THEM AND SO ON. I WAS THE LAST VEHICLE IN THE COLLISION. I STOOD ON MY BRAKES AND MADE EVERY EFFORT TO STOP BEFORE CRASHING INTO THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME. I CRASHED INTO THE BACK OF THE   FORD F-250, INFLICTING MINIMAL DAMAGE TO THEIR TAILGATE. THE FRONT OF MY AVALANCHE WAS CRUSHED. IT WAS A FULL FRONT CRASH - WITH A LITTLE MORE DAMAGE TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE THAN THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE FRONT TIRE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WAS CUT IN THE CRASH. THE PASSENGER SIDE A/C VENT WAS JAMMED BY THE ACCIDENT. I HAD INJURY TO MY C-SPINE, KNEES, ARMS, CHEST, ETC. THE AIR BAG SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. I WAS WEARING MY SEAT BELT, SO I DIDN'T HIT THE WINDSHIELD. BUT HAD THAT FAILED, I WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE SERIOUSLY INJURED. THE AVALANCHE IS IN THE BODY SHOP NOW. THERE IS NO WARNING LIGHT, CODE OR OTHER INDICATION OF A PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAGS. AT THIS POINT, I HAVE NO FAITH IN MY AIR BAGS IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. I'D RATHER NOT WAIT FOR A FATAL ACCIDENT TO PROVE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM. *TR
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*