NHTSA Complaint #11612838 — 1999 CHEVROLET SILVERADO

The contact owned a 1999 Chevrolet Silverado. The contact stated that while driving at 55 MPH, he dozed off as the vehicle drifted off to the right shoulder of the highway. The contact regained alertness once the vehicle drove over the highway's rumble strip. As the contact attempted to regain control of the vehicle; the vehicle crashed into a tree. The contact's face smashed into the steering wheel as both the driver's seat belt shoulder strap and the driver's air bag failed to operate as needed. Moments after smashing his head into the steering, the contact stated that the air bag deployed with a delay which caused severe cuts to the contact's face. The contact was taken to the hospital by ambulance where he was treated for multiple severe injuries. Due to the air bag failure, the contact suffered a severe laceration that started from the right corner of the contact's mouth and extended to the contact's left earlobe. The contact suffered another laceration that started from the center of his bottom lip and curved down to the left side of his chin. In addition, the contact suffered a right orbital socket fracture, two vertebrae fractures in the neck, a torn right shoulder, multiple torn tendons in the right arm and five broken teeth. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed from the scene to an independent tow yard where it was destroyed. The dealer nor the manufacturer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.