NHTSA Complaint #11386041 — 2015 CHEVROLET EQUINOX

ON DEC 31, 2020 I STRUCK A DEER ON A COUNTY RD GOING APPROX 45MPH. THE IMPACT WAS SO HARD THE DRIVE TRAIN WAS SHOVED INTO THE CAR AND THE RADIATOR EXPLODED AND THE ENTIRE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WAS DESTROYED. NEITHER PASS. NOR DRIVERS SIDE DOORS WOULD OPEN. THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS YET THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE VEHICLE BUT YOU COULD SEE A WHITE POWDERY SMOKE AND IT SMELL AS IF THEY DID AND THE CAR NOW SAYS SERVICE AIRBAGS. ALSO THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT NEVER RETRACTED BACK AND MY DAUGHTER AND I WERE BOTH INJURED AS I WAS SLAMMED INTO THE STEERING WHEEL SUFFERING DAMAGE TO MY CHEST AND FACE AND HER HEAD/ FACE BOUNCED OFF THE DASH DUE TO THE AIR BAGS NOT DEPLOYING AND THE SEATBELTS NOT WORKING. WE ARE LUCKY WE WEREN'T KILLED AS THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE, ENGINE INCLUDED WAS PUSHED TO THE INSIDE OF THE CAR. WE WERE GOING TO LOOK INTO GETTING US ANOTHER EQUINOX AS I HAD JUST HAD THIS ONE FOR ABOUT SEVEN MONTHS BUT I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT BUT AFTER READING ALL THESE REPORTS THAT ARE IDENTICAL TO OURS AS FAR AS SEATBELTS AND AIRBAGS GO AND REALIZING THIS IS A VERY COMMON THING WITH 2015 EQUINOX AND AFTER THIS HAPPENING TO US IT'S OBVIOUS THIS VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE OR AT LEAST NOT SAFE TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT WITH AND IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL BUT YET THAT HASN'T HAPPENED. I HAVE READ HUNDREDS OF REPORTS EXACTLY LIKE THIS ONE. I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED IN CHEVY FOR LETTING THIS CONTINUALLY HAPPEN WITH NO RECALL OR WARNING TO YOUR CUSTOMERS. . A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED ON THIS AND INJURIES DID OCCUR. THE POLICE OFFICER AND THE WRECKER DRIVER SAID THEY'VE NEVER SEEN A DEER DO SO MUCH DAMAGE TO A VEHICLE BEFORE AND THE OFFICER COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY ON US AND SAID THAT WE MOST DEFINITELY NEED TO CHECK INTO IT BECAUSE HE WOULD ASSUME THAT THEY WERE RECALLED BUT HERE WE ARE AND THEY'RE NOT.