NHTSA Complaint #11559072 — 2020 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE

Due to a death in the family, we were traveling back from a funeral. We were miles away from another freeway change when a deer came from the ditch and darted in front of my vehicle. With no time to react, I braced for impact. Going at a high rate of speed, I was bracing for airbags. At the time of collision all the safety features engaged. The seatbelts locked in place, hazard lights turned on, and my vehicle was slowing, but my airbags did not deploy. They did however release a white powder substance. I was safely able to get my vehicle off to the side of the road and evaluate the situation. My husband was moaning and grunting in the passenger seat. My three children are scared, frightened and worried. As we were attempting to unbuckle and exit the vehicle to assess the damage, we were unable to free ourselves. As the seatbelts locked, and had no wiggle room to disengage the latch. We had to move the seats back, to allow room to unbuckle. With the impact we received and the size of the deer struck. The insurance has deemed the vehicle a total loss. After many questions, and multiple attempts to get answers. All I have is the airbags should have deployed, with the evidence through the car with the white powder at airbag locations. As I thank to not be as injured as we could have been. Having my whole family walk away with minor bruises and many aches. My heart is broken, I am shattered and unable to process the incident. Having put so much faith in a vehicle to protect myself and others who I love. I feel jaded, lied too, and unable to trust car safety. My heart is unable to let this go and have others being in danger with no airbag protection in an accident.