NHTSA Complaint #10178954 — 2005 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 2500

SWERVED TO AVOID CAR THAT HAD CROSSED OVER, HEAD-ON, INTO LANE. WENT UP ONTO SIDE (GRASSY AREA WHICH WAS WET FROM OVERNIGHT RAIN). HIT TREE HEAD-ON AT APPROX. 20-26 MPH. AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND SEAT BELT MECHANISM FAILED TO WORK. INJURED SHOULDER FROM SEAT BELT & HIT HEAD ON VISOR/WINDSHIELD. CAR WAS FLAT-BEDDED TO AUTO BODY SHOP. AIRBAG SENSORS WERE CRUSHED IN COLLISION & SEAT BELT MECHANISM WAS FULLY INTACT. THERE WAS ABOUT $15,000-20,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. FRAME WAS BENT (BARK OF TREE STUCK IN FRAME). GM WAS NOTIFIED AND WHERE NOT COOPERATIVE. HAD TO PAY OUT-OF-POCKET TO HAVE TRUCK FLAT BEDDED TO A CHEVY DEALER WHERE GM HIRED A 3RD PARTY ENGINEER. TRUCK WAS INSPECTED & INFO WAS DOWNLOADED FROM BLACK BOX. BLACK BOX INFO AND DAMAGE TO CAR DO NOT COINCIDE. WHAT THE BLACK BOX FAILS TO SHOW IS THE INCREASE IN SPEED AFTER VEHICLE HIT WET GRASS. GM SENT BOOKLET STATING THAT AIRBAGS SHOULD DEPLOY BETWEEN 8-14 MPH IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. BBB WAS NOTIFIED BUT BECAUSE I HAVE AUTO INSURANCE, THEY WOULD NOT WORK WITH ME. STATE OF CT REQUIRES ALL VEHICLES BE INSURED. *JB