NHTSA Complaint #10328629 — 2007 GMC ACADIA

ON 4/20/201, I WAS DRIVING MY 2007 GMC ACADIA ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET AT OR NEAR THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT OF 35 MPH WHEN THE SIDE/CURTAIN AIRBAGS SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE. THE ONLY SOUND I HEARD WAS THE DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAGS. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. ONSTAR CAME ONLINE AND NOTIFIED THE LOCAL POLICE. WHEN THE POLICE ARRIVED, THE POLICE INVESTIGATED THE SCENE, INCLUDING SURVEYING THE ROAD BEHIND ME TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY POTHOLES OR DEBRIS. NOTHING WAS FOUND IN THE ROAD. AN INCIDENT REPORT WAS FILED BUT NO ACCIDENT REPORT WAS FILLED OUT. AAA WAS CALLED AND SHOWED UP WITH A FLATBED TRUCK AND TOWED MY CAR TO THE DEALER. WHEN THE CAR WAS OFFLOADED FROM OF THE TOW TRUCK, THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL WAS DAMAGED. THIS DAMAGE DID NOT OCCUR AT THE SCENE OF THE SPONTANEOUS DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAGS. GM HAS DENIED TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE MALFUNCTION OF THE VEHICLE. GM CLAIMS OPERATOR ERROR AND THAT THE AIRBAGS PERFORMED PROPERLY. THEIR CLAIM IS BASED UPON THE DAMAGE TO THE WHEEL AND THEY CLAIM THAT THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE TIPPED BEYOND THE 48 DEGREE THRESHOLD FOR THE FIRING OF THE AIRBAGS. THESE CLAIMS BY GM ARE FALSE. I WAS TRAVELING ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, I DID NOT HIT ANYTHING AND THE CAR DID NOT, AT ANYTIME, TIP ANYWHERE NEAR 48 DEGREES. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST PROBLEM I HAVE HAD WITH THIS VEHICLE AND I AM NOW SCARED TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE AGAIN. *TR UPDATED IVOQ 08/12/10*JB