NHTSA Complaint #10302150 — 2006 PONTIAC SOLSTICE

MY WIFE SUGGESTED TO ME THAT THE ACCIDENT MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY A MALFUNCTION TO THE CAR. I DIDN'T REALLY CONSIDER THAT A POSSIBILITY. HOWEVER, SHE HAS NEVER BEEN ABLE TO EXPLAIN THE ACCIDENT BEYOND SAYING "ALL OF A SUDDEN I LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR". WHILE I WAS LOOKING FOR THE CAR TITLE, WHICH I'VE STILL NOT FOUND BY THE WAY, I DISCOVERED A RECALL NOTICE FROM EARLY 2008. I REVIEWED THE DOCUMENT AND DISCOVERED THE 3RD CONDITION WHICH MAY OCCUR SOUNDS LIKE A POSSIBLE CAUSE OF THIS ACCIDENT. I'M NOT SURE OF THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION AT THIS POINT. I'M NOT A MECHANICAL EXPERT BUT IT SEEMS TO ME WE COULD EASILY DISCOVER IF THE DIFFERENTIAL IS JAMMED. IF SO, I SUSPECT THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT WAS NOT MY WIFE. IF NOT, I DON'T KNOW IF THESE THINGS CAN JAM AND RELEASE OR NOT. OF COURSE, IF THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE SO THAT SOMEONE ELSE ISN'T PLACED IN JEOPARDY LIKE MY WIFE MAY HAVE BEEN. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO WORK TO GET THE TICKET AGAINST HER DISMISSED AND REMOVE THIS FROM OUR RECORDS AS AN "AT FAULT" ACCIDENT. PERHAPS TRAVELERS COULD FIND SOME RELIEF IF THE CAR REALLY MALFUNCTIONED. WE HAD THE RECALL REPAIR WORK COMPLETED BY THE DEALER WHEN WE RECEIVED THE RECALL IN 2008. WHEN MY WIFE TOOK THE CAR IN TO THE DEALER FOR AN OIL CHANGE ON DECEMBER 3, 2009 SHE ASKED THAT THEY ALSO EXAMINE A NOISE SHE WAS HEARING. THE DEALERS NOTES ON THE SERVICE TICKET INDICATE THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WHICH IS THE SAME AS THE RECALL IN 2008. THE DEALER KEPT THE CAR OVERNIGHT AND ORDERED PARTS. THE PARTS DID NOT ARRIVE SO THEY LET MY WIFE DRIVE OFF - KNOWING A POSSIBLE SERIOUS PROBLEM MIGHT EXIST. *TR