NHTSA Complaint #10228859 — 2000 PONTIAC GRAND AM

ON 5/15/08 @ 4:30 P.M., OUR DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING OUR 2000 PONTIAC GRAND AM, ON I-40 WEST IN DURHAM CTY, NC. TRAVELING APPROX. 70 MILES PER HR, SHE REMEMBERS ONLY A SUDDEN PULL TO THE LEFT ON THE STEERING WHEEL. LOSING CONTROL, SHE SWERVED 150 FT. BEFORE CRASHING INTO THE CONCRETE WALL BARRIER. CONTINUING ANOTHER 50 FT. THE CAR FLIPPED UPSIDE DOWN ON THE LEFT SHOULDER. NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE INVOLVED. A WITNESS TRAVELING BEHIND OUR CAR REPORTED THAT THE CAR JUST STARTED TO "FISHTAIL". THE TIRES WERE INSPECTED BY THE OFFICER AT THE CRASH, AND LATER BY MY HUSBAND AND THE INSURANCE EXAMINER, AND WERE FOUND TO BE INTACT, FULLY INFLATED AND WITHOUT EXCESSIVE WEAR. A SEARCH ON THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION WEBSITE BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION A RECALL IN CERTAIN MODELS OF THE 2000 GRAND AM INVOLVING THE REAR SUSPENSION TRAIL ARM TO THE LEFT REAR KNUCKLE BOLT. UPON REPORTING THIS INFORMATION TO STATE FARM INSURANCE, THE ADJUSTER INCLUDED THIS COMPONENT IN HIS FINDINGS. HE REPORTED THAT NOTHING "APPEARED" OUT OF PLACE. A SINGLE SNAPSHOT OF THE REAR SUSPENSION WAS SUBMITTED IN SUPPORT OF HIS FINDINGS. MR. JOHN GARCIGA, A STATE FARM ADJUSTER, ADVISED US THAT THE SNAPSHOT WAS OF POOR QUALITY AND THE CAR WAS NOT LIFTED FOR THE INVESTIGATION, BUT FOR THE PURPOSE OF THEIR REPORTING, NO FURTHER EXAMINATION WAS WARRANTED. HE ENCOURAGED US TO REPORT THIS INCIDENT TO THE NHTSA. WE FEEL OUR DAUGHTER WAS EXTREMELY LUCKY TO HAVE SURVIVED THIS CRASH. HER INJURIES INCLUDED A BROKEN NOSE, AND BUMPS AND BRUISES. FORTUNATELY NO OTHER PASSENGERS WERE IN HER CAR. IT IS OUR FEELING THAT ADDITIONAL INVESTIGATION MAY BE WARRANTED IN AN EFFORT TO RULE OUT ANY KNOWN OR POSSIBLE DEFECTS SO THAT OTHERS MAY BE ADVISED OF A POSSIBLE HAZARD. *TR