NHTSA Complaint #10071341 — 1996 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX

SATURDAY MARCH 8, 2003, I WAS ON MY WAY HOME FROM SHOPPING WITH MY 4-YEAR-OLD SON WHEN THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG OF MY 1996 PONTIAC GRAND AM EXPLODED IN MY FACE. THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE BAG FORCED MY ARM BACK INTO MY FACE SNAPPING MY HEAD BACK AND COMPLETELY DISORIENTING ME. ONCE I REGAINED MY BEARINGS I REALIZED I WAS NORTHBOUND IN THE SOUTHBOUND LANES OF WINSTON CHURCHILL BLVD. IN MISSISSAUGA. THE NEXT MORNING I WENT TO THE HOSPITAL TO HAVE MY ARM AND NECK LOOKED AT. FORTUNATELY MY ARM WASN'T BROKEN. IT WAS HOWEVER SEVERELY BRUISED AND STILL NON FUNCTIONAL. MY NECK WAS STILL VERY STIFF AND SORE. I AM CURRENTLY UNDERGOING TREATMENT FOR WHIPLASH AND LIGAMENT DAMAGE TO MY ARM. SINCE THE DATE OF THE ACCIDENT I HAVE FOUND OUT A FEW THINGS REGARDING MY 1996 PONTIAC GRAND AM. 1- THERE IS A SENSOR/MODULE UNDER THE CARPET UNDER THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT THAT WHEN IN CONTACT WITH MOISTURE CAN CORRODE AND CAUSE THE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY. 2- MY FIREWALL HAD BEEN LEAKING WATER UNDER MY CARPET TO THE AREA WHERE THIS SENSOR/MODULE IS LOCATED. MY FIREWALL IS SO RUSTED IT CAN?T BE REPAIRED. 3- GM CONSIDERS THIS A MAINTENANCE ISSUE. I CONTACTED TRANSPORT CANADA TO REPORT THE INCIDENT AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY ARE CURRENTLY INVESTIGATING 1995-1999 PONTIAC GRAND AM'S FOR WATER LEAKING INTO THE CAR THROUGH THE FIREWALL AND POOLING ON THE FLOOR. THIS HAS CAUSED ?MANY? AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY WITHOUT WARNING. I HAVE ALSO READ MANY SIMILAR REPORTS ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE. A LOCAL GM DEALERSHIP HAD MY CAR FOR 17 DAYS WHILE GM INVESTIGATED BUT IN THE END I WAS TOLD THAT THE MODULE/SENSOR WAS TOO CORRODED TO READ THE INFORMATION STORED IN IT. I HAVE REQUESTED THE MODULE/SENSOR BACK. KEN LOCKE FROM GM CONTACTED ME HE SAID GM WAS WILLING TO DO SOMETHING FOR ME. GM WILL REPAIR MY AIRBAG SYSTEM IF I AGREE TO TWO THINGS. 1- I PAY FOR AND REPAIR THE WATER LEAK IN MY CAR (THE IRREPAIRABLE ONE) 2- I SIGN A RELEASE STATING THAT THIS MATTER IS CLOSED AND I HAVE NO FURTHER CLAIMS PERTAINING TO THIS MATTER. .