NHTSA Complaint #11299227 — 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONTAL AIR BAG DEPLOYED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BURNS ON THE FOREARM AND TEMPORARY HEARING LOSS DUE TO THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS SOUGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY THE INSURANCE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING WIRING HARNESS DETACHED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND THE MECHANIC DISCONNECTED THE CLOCK SPRING WHICH CAUSED THE HORN AND SEVERAL OTHER ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS ON THE STEERING WHEEL TO BE INOPERABLE. A LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED OR INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE, CASE NUMBER: XXX. THE CONTACT WAS OFFERED A $2500 COMPENSATION FROM THE MANUFACTURER IN REGARDS TO THE ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75000. PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *DL