NHTSA Complaint #11667374 — 2022 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER

Two weeks before the accident, a warning message appeared on my car’s dashboard stating: “FORWARD COLLISION SYSTEM REDUCED.” Naturally, I was concerned. I immediately contacted the dealership, but they failed to return my call. I followed up a few days later, and they told me to bring the car in the next day. When I went in, I explained my serious concerns. They told me they would need to keep the vehicle for 3 to 4 days just to diagnose the issue and that no courtesy car would be provided during that time. I made it clear that I rely on my car for work and had no alternative. I even pointed out that the dashboard warning was a diagnosis in itself. I asked to speak with a manager and repeated everything. He simply echoed what the advisor had said—and I was sent away with the vehicle, unresolved and still potentially unsafe. On May 8th, 2025, around 5 PM, on a clear day, I missed a stop sign and collided with another car. I firmly believe the forward collision system malfunctioned and that this accident could have been prevented had the system worked properly—or if the dealership had properly advised me not to drive the vehicle after such a critical warning. In my view, the dealership was completely negligent, and the manufacturer was aware of a defect in the system and failed to act. I also contacted the finance company, Santander Consumer USA, to alert them in case other customers have the same vehicle with the same risk. They showed no concern. It’s important to add that I did not choose this car myself. Santander limited me to specific dealerships and pre-approved vehicles. I had no freedom to select a car I truly wanted—perhaps because the available options were already considered poor choices. I believe a recall is necessary. I lost my vehicle due to this negligence, and I want to prevent this from happening to someone else. PS: I also had another message on 02/15/2025 that said: ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED, and apparently the dealership took care of it.