MY VEHICLE (A 2002 CHEVY AVALANCHE) WAS INVOLVED IN A TOTAL LOSS COLLISION ON JANUARY 18, 2006. THE COLLISION WAS A FULL FRONTAL CRASH WHICH CAVED IN THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE AVALANCHE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE WAS THROWN OUT OF HIS SEAT BELT DUE TO THE FORCE OF THE IMPACT. THE DRIVER ENDED UP IN THE PASSENGER SEAT OF THE VEHICLE. IT IS MY BELIEF THAT THE AIR BAGS MALFUNCTIONED. THE CRITERIA FOR AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT WERE MET. THERE WAS A DECELERATION RATE FROM APPROX. 55 MPH TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE AIR BAG SENSOR WAS HIT (AS SEEN FROM THE EXAMINATION OF THE VEHICLE UPON ARRIVAL TO THE BODY SHOP). THE COLLISION WAS IN THE MIDDLE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. GENERAL MOTORS DID AN INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER, I WAS NOT PLEASED WITH THEIR CONCLUSION. THEY SAID THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT MALFUNCTION. THEY CLAIMED THAT THE VEHICLE "ABSORBED" THE IMPACT, WHICH CAUSED THE AIR BAGS NOT TO DEPLOY. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE AND IT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED BY SOMEONE OTHER THAN THE MANUFACTURER, WHO, IN MY OPINION, WAS BIASED IN HIS REVIEW OF THE INCIDENT. *NM
2010
VISIBILITY/WIPER
VEHICLE SUFFERS FROM EXCESSIVE FRONT/SIDE WINDOW FOGGING IN BELOW FREEZING TEMPERATURES AND THE MANUAL HVAC CONTROLS WILL NOT PERMIT THE USE OF A/C TO REMOVE THE HUMIDITY FROM THE CABIN. IN SUMMER MONTHS OR TEMPERATURES ABOVE FREEZING, THE A/C WILL ENGAGE WHEN THE FRONT WINDOW DEFROSTER IS ENABLED AND IS EFFECTIVE. WITH THE HVAC SYSTEM IN FULL DEFROST AND NO A/C, THE FOGGING ACTUALLY GETS WORSE AND VISIBILITY DECREASES TO THE POINT WHERE IT IS NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE AND WE HAVE HAD TO PULL OVER AND WIPE THE WINDSHIELD AND SIDE GLASS DOWN. THIS HAS HAPPENED 6 OR SO TIMES SINCE ACQUIRING THE VEHICLE NEW IN 2010. AN ATTEMPT TO HAVE THE DEALER RESOLVE IT WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL. *TR