NHTSA Complaint #10957000 — 2004 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500

THE LOSS OF STEERING CAUSED MY 2004 SILVERADO 1500 TO VEER TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY WHILE GOING STRAIGHT. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED VEERING TO THE LEFT, DESPITE ME TRYING TO GAIN CONTROL OF IT. THE VEHICLE LEFT THE HIGHWAY AND ENTERED A SANDY FIELD. I APPLIED BRAKES WITH ALL OF MY FOOT FORCE, BUT THE TRUCK SEEMED NOT TO SLOW UP ANY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOW HEADED TOWARDS A WOODED AREA. THE TRUCK SUDDENLY CAME TO A SUDDEN HALT WHEN IT IMPACTED WITH A BIG PINE TREE. THE AIRBAGS EXPLODED AGAINST MY ARMS AS I USED THEM TO SHIELD MY FACE. I SUDDENLY NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I GRABBED MY PURSE AND HURRIEDLY VACATED THE VEHICLE. I CALLED 911 AFTER GETTING FAR ENOUGH FROM THE SMOKING TRUCK. I SUFFERED BACK AND NECK PAIN. I HAD DIZZY SPELLS, BECAUSE MY HEAD FELT LIKE A HUMONGOUS BASKETBALL. I AM FORTUNATE THAT I DID NOT LOOSE MY LIFE. I WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF A RECALL OF A STEERING COMPONENT. I AM FOR CERTAIN THAT THIS ACCIDENT WAS DUE TO A MALFUNCTION OF A STEERING COMPONENT ON MY 2004 SILVERADO 1500. I RECEIVED NO LETTER OR PHONE CALL MAKING ME AWARE OF THE RECALL. THIS NEGLIGENCE ALMOST GOT ME KILLED. THE VEHICLE IMPACT INTO THE PINE TREE CAUSED A TOTAL LOSS OF MY SILVERADO. I WILL BE CONTACTING MY INSURANCE COMPANY TO MAKE THEM AWARE OF THIS INFORMATION. ALL THESE YEARS I HAVE BEEN BEWILDERED ABOUT WHY MY SILVERADO VEERED OFF THE ROAD FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I DESCRIBED THE INCIDENT LIKE A TWIGHTLIGHT MOMENT (A WEIRD UNEXPLAINED HAPPENING).