NHTSA Complaint #10648160 — 2009 GMC ACADIA

MY SON WAS DRIVING DOWN A RESIDENTIAL STREET WHICH HAS A RIGHT TURN/MERGE OVER A CANAL. UPON REACHING THE RIGHT TURN THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND HE WAS UNABLE TO NAVIGATE THE TURN. THE ACADIA DROVE FORWARD INTO A LARGE PIPE WHICH CROSSES OVER THE CANAL. THE FRONT OF THE ACADIA WAS CRASHED INCLUDING THE FRONT BUMPER, RADIATOR, HEAD LAMPS, ENGINE, DRIVER SIDE FRONT PANEL, PASSENGER SIDE PANEL, AND THE FRAME. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED DURING THIS CRASH. THERE IS A RECALL ON THE SIDE AIRBAGS AT THIS TIME BUT NOT THE FRONT AIRBAGS. THERE IS NO RECALL ON THE POWER STEERING ON THIS GM MODEL. I HAVE HAD EXPERIENCED THE POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY FAIL WHEN TURNING BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT. MY DAUGHTER ALSO EXPERIENCED POWER STEERING FAILURE ONE WEEK PRIOR TO MY SON'S ACCIDENT. I WAS IN THE VEHICLE WITH HER. THIS POWER STEERING FAILURE IS NOT EXCLUSIVE TO MY GMC ACADIA 2009. CONSUMER REPORTS AS WELL AS THE ACADIA FORUM ALSO HAS MENTIONED THIS POWER STEERING FAILURE IN OTHER GMC ACADIAS. THE AIRBAGS NOT DEPLOYING DURING THIS INCIDENT IS ALSO VERY CONCERNING. THIS AIR BAG FAILURE COULD HAVE CAUSED MAJOR INJURY GIVEN ANOTHER SCENARIO. *TR