NHTSA Complaint #10487226 — 2012 CHEVROLET VOLT

DRIVER HAD RETURNED HOME, STOPPED CAR, DEPRESSED GEAR SHIFTER BUTTON TO PUT GEAR IN PARK, AND WAS ELECTROCUTED FROM THE POINT OF GEAR SHIFTER. THE VEHICLE WAS ALREADY SLATED TO BE "REPURCHASED" BY GM DUE TO OTHER ONGOING MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION ISSUES. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DRIVER FOR USE WHILE THE NEW VEHICLE WAS BEING BUILT BY GM FOR DELIVERY TO THE DRIVER. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR ADDITIONAL MALFUNCTIONING REPAIRS, THE LAST TIME BEFORE INCIDENT (INCLUDING A MALFUNCTION WITH THE MAIN BATTERY COMPONENT THE DEALER DETERMINED) THE DEALER'S MECHANIC REPORTED FINDING A "STIFFNESS" OR MALFUNCTION WITH THE GEAR SHIFTER. THE DEALER ORDERED AND REPLACED A PART TO THE GEAR SHIFTER. THE DRIVER DROVE THE VEHICLE WITHOUT INCIDENT FOR ABOUT THREE WEEKS BEFORE THE ELECTROCUTION OCCURRED. GM WAS INFORMED OF THE INCIDENT IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS. GM INSTRUCTED DRIVER TO CALL 911 TO HAVE "FIRST RESPONDERS" DISCONNECT THE POWER IN VEHICLE. FIRE DEPT REFUSED TO CUT POWER CABLES IN VEHICLE, FOR LACK OF KNOWLEDGE OF THE SYSTEMS, AND FEAR OF THEIR SAFETY, SINCE THE DRIVER WAS NO LONGER IN DANGER INSIDE OF VEHICLE. LUCKILY, WHEN INCIDENT OCCURRED, DRIVER WAS ABLE TO QUICKLY REMOVE THEIR POINT OF CONTACT FROM GEAR SHIFTER BEFORE THE HAND AND ARM MUSCLES HAD INVOLUNTARILY CONTRACTED IN PLACE PERMANENTLY CLOSING THE CONTACT AND RESULTING IN FURTHER ELECTROCUTION. DRIVER SUSTAINED SIGNIFICANT ELECTRICAL SHOCK INJURY TO HAND/ARM INCLUDING PAIN, SHOCK, SORENESS, NUMBNESS, AND TINGLING SENSATION. SINCE INCIDENT, GM IS ONLY WILLING TO TRANSFER DRIVER TO THEIR PRODUCT ALLOCATION DEPARTMENT WHICH ACTS IN A LEGAL CAPACITY AND ACCEPTS CLAIM REPORTS FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION. DRIVER'S IMMEDIATE CONCERN IS NOT TO SUE GM BUT TO INSURE ALL REASONABLE EFFORTS ARE MADE TO INFORM OTHER VOLT DEALERS OF INCIDENT AND HOPEFULLY PREVENT OTHER DRIVERS FROM BEING ELECTROCUTED. *TR.....UPDATED 01/30/13 *BF UPDATED 2/4/2013 *JS