NHTSA Complaint #11364354 — 2009 PONTIAC G6

I WAS PARKED IN A MOSTLY VACANT PARKING LOT ABOUT 8PM. I GOT INTO THE VEHICLE AFTER COMING OUT OF THE GROCERY STORE. I PUT KEY INTO IGNITION BUT DID NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK OR MOVE THE CAR. I TURNED ON THE DOME LIGHT TO LOOK FOR SOMETHING ON THE PASSENGER SEAT. AS I WAS LEANING TOWARD PASSENGER DOOR, THE HEAD CURTAIN AND SEAT SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED LITERALLY IN MY FACE. ONLY THE AIR BAGS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. IT WAS VERY LOUD AND SOME POWDERY TYPE SUBSTANCE HAD BEEN DISPENSED INTO THE AIR. IT MADE INTERIOR SURFACES FEEL A BIT SLIPPERY , HAD A STRONG ODOR AND MADE MY EYES BURN. HAVING NEVER EXPERIENCED AIR BAGS DEPLOYING ,IT SEEMED LIKE MY CAR HAD JUST EXPLODED.FOR A MOMENT I COULD NOT SEE OR HEAR. I THEN REMOVED THE KEY AND OPENED DRIVERS DOOR. I SAW SOMETHING DUSTY FLOAT OUT ON THE AIR. I HAD NO IDEA WHAT HAD HAPPENED. AT THAT POINT I LOOKED OVER THE CAR ,SAW THAT THE AIRBAGS HAD DEPLOYED.THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS ANYWHERE NEAR ME NOR WAS THERE ANY EVIDENCE THAT ANYTHING HAD HIT THE CAR. IT WAS QUITE A SHOCK TO HAVE THIS RANDOMLY HAPPEN. I DID NOT KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH IT . AFTER STARTING THE CAR TO SEE HOW IT RAN ,I DROVE IT HOME. I REPORTED IT TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY.AFTER MANY QUESTIONS AND SEVERAL DAYS OF REVIEW I WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT COVERED BECAUSE THERE WAS NO IMPACT AND AIR BAGS INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYING WOULD BE CONSIDERED A MECHANICAL FAILURE.