NHTSA Complaint #10592035 — 2006 CHEVROLET COBALT

ON MAY 28, 2006, MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING SOLO IN A RENTED 2006 CHEVROLET COBALT ON AN UNDIVIDED HIGHWAY LEADING FROM THE NORTH RIM OF THE GRAND CANYON. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE EXCELLENT: IT WAS 9 AM ON A SUNDAY MORNING WITH VERY LITTLE TRAFFIC, ON A STRAIGHT, DRY ROAD WITH OPEN COUNTRY ON EITHER SIDE. WITNESSES TO HIS ACCIDENT REPORT THAT AFTER HE PASSED A CAMPER AT A NORMAL SPEED FOR THAT HIGHWAY AND BEGAN TO PULL BACK IN FRONT OF IT, HIS CAR ABRUPTLY VEERED OFF THE LANE AND ONTO THE RIGHT SHOULDER, WHERE HE LOST CONTROL. THE CAR FISHTAILED, SKIDDED BACK ONTO THE HIGHWAY, AND ROLLED OVER SEVERAL TIMES. OTHER DRIVERS STOPPED IMMEDIATELY TO HELP, BUT MY HUSBAND WAS UNRESPONSIVE AND DIED A WEEK LATER WITHOUT REGAINING CONSCIOUSNESS. ALL WHO SAW THE ACCIDENT WERE AT A LOSS TO EXPLAIN HOW OR WHY IT OCCURRED. MY HUSBAND WAS AN EXPERIENCED AND VERY CAREFUL DRIVER, IN GOOD HEALTH AND ALERT THAT MORNING. THE RECENT NEWS ABOUT FAULTY IGNITION SWITCHES IN COBALTS OF THAT ERA FINALLY PROVIDES A PLAUSIBLE EXPLANATION. HE HAD LONG LEGS AND COULD EASILY HAVE BUMPED THE STEERING COLUMN OR IGNITION KEYS DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF A CAR THAT WAS UNFAMILIAR TO HIM. IT'S FAR TOO LATE TO EXAMINE THE CAR, BUT I HOPE THIS ACCOUNT CONTRIBUTES CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE THAT THERE WERE MORE DEATHS CAUSED BY THOSE FAULTY SWITCHES THAN WILL EVER BE PROVEN-- OR REDRESSED. *TR