NHTSA Complaint #11092605 — 2008 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500

WINTER DRIVING ON HIGHWAY FAIRLY CLEAR ROAD AND WHILE DRIVING AT SPEED THE SERVICE AIRBAG SYSTEM MESSAGE AND AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON THE DASH. CLEARING SYSTEM DID NOT CLEAR CODE OR LIGHTS. KEY CYCLES DID NOT CLEAR THE PROBLEM. WE REPLACED THE FRONT IMPACT SENSOR AND THE SYSTEM CLEAR AUTOMATICALLY. THE SENSOR WAS NOT CORRODED OR DAMAGED YET FAILED DURING WINTER YUCK WHILE DRIVING. CLOSE INSPECTION SHOWED A CRACK AROUND THE MOUNTING HOLE POSSIBLY DUE TO WATER FREEZING IN THE BOLT HOLE AS THE PLASTIC CASE HAS A VERY THIN PORTION AND SHOWS A CRACK. THE BOLT MOUNTING HOLE HAS A METAL SPACER TO KEEP FROM CRUSHING THE SENSOR CASE DURING MOUNTING. THESE SENSORS ARE FAILING FOR NO REASON AND GM NEEDS TO FIX THIS REOCCURRING ISSUE AS THE SENSORS ARE NOT CHEAP AND COULD CAUSE THE AIRBAG SYSTEM TO FAIL AT A CRITICAL TIME OR POSSIBLY SET OFF THE AIRBAG FOR NO REASON MAKING IT A VERY COSTLY REPAIR NOT TO MENTION A POSSIBLE UNCALLED FOR ACCIDENT. AT $200 GM SHOULD REPLACE THESE SENSORS UNDER WARRANTY. AFTERMARKET SENSORS ARE AVAILABLE AND COST HALF OF GM.