2018 Chevrolet Silverado 2500

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 2500. The contact stated that while the vehicle was turned off and parked in the driveway, the contact heard a loud explosion. Upon inspection, it was discovered that the rear passenger’s side side-curtain air bag erroneously deployed. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The contact stated that during the failure, shrapnel and shards of metal pierced the roof and caused multiple holes in the roof of the vehicle. The local dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 72,500.

The contact's wife owns a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 2500. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at 45 MPH, she crashed into another vehicle in an intersection. The air bags did not deploy upon impact. The contact was taken to the hospital by ambulance and was treated for pain on both sides of his ribs. The contact's wife did not sustain any injuries. The whereabouts of the other driver were unknown. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it remained in their possession. The dealer nor the manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be respired. The failure mileage was approximately 44,000. The VIN was not available. The consumer stated the vehicle was totaled.

THERE IS NO PASSENGER SEAT BELT WARNING AUDIO OR VISUAL. THE DEALER SAID THAT THIS VEHICLE DOESN'T HAVE A SENSOR TO TELL IF SOMEONE IS IN THE SEAT OR NOT. BUT THEY "ASSURED" ME THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAGS STILL WOULD WORK. EVEN THOUGH IT HAS BEEN SHOWN THAT AIR BAGS BY THEM SELVES ARE NOT AS EFFECTIVE. I READ THAT CHEVROLET OFFERED TO INSTALL AN ON OFF SWITCH FOR THE AIR BAGS, THE WRONG THING TO DO IN MY OPINION. THE SEAT BELT WARNING SYSTEM SHOULD BE A REQUIREMENT NOT AN OPTION.

WHEN EVER THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. PASSENGER SEAT DOES NOT HAVE THE REMINDER OR WARNING SYSTEM TO ALERT THE OCCUPANT TO BUCKLE UP SHOULD THEY FORGET. MY DEALER STATES THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SYSTEM IS ACTIVE FULL TIME HOWEVER IT IS ONLY MARGINALLY EFFECTIVE SHOULD THE PASSENGER FAIL TO SECURE THEIR SEAT BELT. ADDITIONALLY, THERE IS NO DASH INDICATOR SHOWING THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT BUCLKE/NO-BUCKLE STATUS AS SHOWN ON PAGE 86 OF THE 2018 SILVERADO OWNERS MANUAL WHICH DISCUSSES THE PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM AND AIRBAG STATUS INDICATOR WHICH IS NOT PRESENT IN THIS LINE OF VEHICLES. PAGE 145 OF THE 2018 SILVERADO OWNERS MANUAL STATES THERE "MAY" BE A REMINDER LIGHT NEAR THE AIRBAG STATUS INDICATOR WHICH IS NOT INSTALLED ON THIS LINE OF VEHICLES. VIEWING SIMILAR VEHICLES, THIS CONDITION IS PRESENT IN A MINIMUM OF MODEL YEARS 2017 THROUGH 2020 CHEVROLET AND GMC 2500/3500 HD CREW CAB VEHICLES. CONTACTED GENERAL MOTORS CUSTOMER SERVICE ON 4/10/2018 & 4/24/2018 FILED GM CASE [XXX]. GM REP CALLED BACK 4/30/2018 AND THEIR SOLUTION WAS TO HAVE MY DEALERSHIP INSTALL AN AIRBAG ON/OFF SWITCH TO DISABLE THE AIRBAG. NOT A SUITABLE RESOLUTION TO THIS SAFETY ISSUE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TT