NHTSA Complaint #10711929 — 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH IN VERY LIGHT RAIN WHEN THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN ABNORMAL CLICKING NOISE FOUR TIMES SUCCESSIVELY. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE THEN SEEMED TO DROP TO THE GROUND CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO SEIZE, THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT TO FLASH AND THE BRAKES TO BECOME INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE AIR BAG ERRONEOUSLY DEPLOYED AND KNOCKED HER UNCONSCIOUS. THE VEHICLE THEN TRAVELED OFF THE ROADWAY, INTO A WOODY AREA AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE CONTACT WAS AWOKEN BY THE SCREAMS OF HER SMALL CHILDREN, WHO WERE SITTING IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. TWO CHILD PASSENGERS WERE INJURED AND SUFFERED LACERATIONS TO THE FACE, CONTUSIONS OF THE SHOULDERS, FACE, HEAD INJURIES AND A CONCUSSION. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A SPRAINED NECK, FRACTURED SPINE, AND A CONCUSSION, CLOTTING IN THE SKULL, A CHEST WALL CONTUSION AND LACERATIONS TO THE LEGS. ALL THREE PASSENGERS REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT AND ALL PASSENGERS WERE ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE WITHOUT FURTHER INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED FROM THE SCENE. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND THE MOTOR HAD BOTH FALLEN OUT OF THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE CRASH AND WERE STILL IN THE ROADWAY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF A RECALL ON THE IGNITION SWITCH ONE WEEK AFTER THE CRASH OCCURRED (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V355000 - ELECTRICAL) . THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 186,000.