Complaint 1823753

Complaint Summary

AIR BAGS

Owner Narrative

The contact owns a 2014 GMC Sierra. The contact stated that while driving at 42 MPH, she was involved in a three-vehicle accident after a vehicle involved in another accident ricocheted and hit her vehicle. The driver's side air bag exploded but did not deploy. Black smoke was released from the steering wheel and the air bag fell on the contact's left leg. The driver seat belt retractor fell apart during the accident which sliced the top part of the contact's ear; in addition, the failure sent a part of the contact's earing into her ear canal. The driver of the vehicle that was originally hit in the accident died the next day in the hospital; another passenger in that same vehicle was critically injured. The contact was treated days later at a hospital for a severe burn to the left leg due to the airbag. Her leg remained infected despite the treatment received at the hospital. The contact's ear was not treated. A police report was filed. The contact's vehicle was initially towed to an independent mechanic and then to a friend's home. The contact's insurance had yet to make a decision on the repair for the vehicle. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V245000(Seat Belts) and 17V437000(Air Bags, Seat Belts) which she linked to her failure. The dealer nor the manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was 93,622.

Owner-submitted narrative on file with NHTSA. Complaint narratives are self-reported and have not been verified.