2003 GMC Sierra Air Bags & Restraints Problems

UNKNOWN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE FACE, KNEE, AND BACK THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. IN ADDITION, THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED HIP AND SHOULDER INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 177,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT NOTICED BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE REAR SEAT BELT LATCH FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LINE NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 144,917.

DEAR NHTSA, I WAS INVOLVED IN A THREE CAR MVA ON 2 FEB ON I-95 SOUTHBOUND NEAR MILE MARKER 131.2. I WAS TRAVELING IN THE SLOW LANE DURING THE EVENING TRAFFIC COMMUTE WHEN MY VEHICLE WAS STRUCK FROM BEHIND FROM AN INFINITY SUV WHICH COLLIDED AND IMPACTED WITH THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE AND PUSHED MY VEHICLE GMC 2003 SIERRA EXT CAB INTO A LATE MODEL FORD FUSION. THE IMPACT AND FORCE FROM THE SUV BEHIND ME CAUSED REAR AND FRONTAL DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE AND IS EST TO COST OVER $8900.00 FOR REPAIRS. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND AFTER SEEING THE PHOTOS OF MY FULL SIZE PICK-UP TRUCK IT SEEMS THAT THEIR MUST HAVE BEEN SOME SORT OF MALFUNCTION THAT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY ON IMPACT. MY WHOLE FRONT BUMPER IS COMPLETELY DAMAGED AND THE FRAME HOLDING THE BUMPER IN PLACE APPEARS TO BE BENT. THE REAR BUMPER TO IS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND PRESSED UNDER THE BED OF THE TRUCK AND THEIR IS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE BED ITSELF HAVING BEEN BENT UPWARD AS IF IT LOOKS LIKE AN UPSIDE DOWN LETTER "V" AND THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BED ALSO IS FLARED OUTWARD WHERE IT ABSORBED THE IMPACT. THE BED OF THE TRUCK ALSO IMPACTED INTO THE RIGHTSIDE OF MY CAB AND ALSO LEFT SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE. THE IMPACT WAS SO VIOLENT THAT THE INSIDE WIRE CONNECTION TO THE REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER HAD ACTUALLY SEPARATED FROM THE WINDOW WHERE IT WAS SPOT SOLDERED. I RECEIVED SEVERE WHIP LASH, UPPER AND LOWER MUSCLE STRAIN, 2 BROKEN RIBS AND A SEVERE HEAD INJURY FROM MY HEAD STRIKING THE STEERING WHEEL. HAD THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT THE HEAD INJURY OR OTHER INJURIES SUSTAINED WOULD HAVE BEEN MITIGATED SUBSTANTIALLY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE SEAT BELT SYSTEM ALSO FAILED TO PROPERLY SECURE HER IN THE VEHICLE. THE IMPACT EJECTED HER FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MAJOR INJURIES, SUCH AS A PUNCTURED KIDNEY AND LUNGS, BROKEN RIBS, MULTIPLE CONTUSIONS TO THE HEAD, A BROKEN LEFT HAND, AND A BROKEN RIGHT FINGER. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. SHE IS IN THE PROCESS OF FILING ARBITRATION AGAINST THE MANUFACTURER. THE VIN AND POWERTRAIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 45,000.

I WAS HEADING NORTH BOUND ON I-45 NEAR NORTH AVENUE IN MILWAUKEE, WI WHEN IT BEGAN TO RAIN SLIGHTLY. IT WAS APPROXIMATELY 3:28 AM. I SLOWED DOWN TO 50 THE SPEED LIMIT WAS 55 AND THE I TURNED ON MY FOG LIGHTS TO HELP ME SEE BETTER BY THE TIME I GOT TO CAPITAL DRIVE IT WAS A COMPLETE DOWNPOUR. RAINING VERY HARD. I WAS IN THE VERY INSIDE LANE IE: "THE FASTLANE" I WAS APPROACHING THE HAMPTON AVENUE EXIT AND THERE WAS A SEMI ON MY RIGHT HIS REAR TANDOM AXLES WHERE JUST TO THE RIGHT OF MY PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE AND HE WAS COMING OVER TO MY LANE. I HIT THE BREAKS AND WAS STEERING TO THE RIGHT TO GO TOWARDS THE MIDDLE LANE. MY BRAKES LOCKED UP AND THE ABS BRAKES NEVER TURNED ON. THIS IS A 2003 GMC 2500 HD CREW CAB ALL THE WEIGHT IS IN THE FRONT AN THE CAB. WHEN I HIT THE BRAKES I WAS HEADING FOR THE RIGHT LANE AND THE TRUCK TURNED 90DEG TO THE LEFT AND HIT THE CONCRETE DIVIDER WALL. AT FULL 50 MPH SPEED AND THE PASSENGER REAR CAME AROUND AND HIT THE WALL AS WELL. THE AIR BAG NEVER DEPLOYED. I HIT THE WALL WITH SO MUCH FORCE THAT THE BED OF THE TRUCK EMBEDDED IN THE REAR OF THE CAB. MIND YOU THIS WAS A 3/4 TON TRUCK IT TAKES A LOT OF FORCE TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN. I FEEL THAT IF MY ABS BREAKS HAVE PULSATED 10 TIMES PER SECOND PER WHEEL I WOULD HAVE CAME TO A CONTROLLED STOP ON THE RIGHT SHOULDER OF THE ROAD WITH THE TRAJECTORY I WAS HEADING. THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. GOOD THING I WAS WEARING MY SEAT BELT. THE TIME OF THE CRASH WAS. 3:45 AM. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC SIERRA. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP SIGN,THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE HEAD ON. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE FRONT END WAS COMPLETELY DAMAGED AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE AIR BAGS NOT DEPLOYING, THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A BROKEN NECK AND HEAD FRACTURES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE INJURIES ULTIMATELY LED TO THE CONTACT'S DEATH. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENTIRE FRONT END NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 38,000. UPDATED 11/09/15*LJ UPDATED 4/4/18*JB *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP SIGN AT 3 MPH, THE VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH THE FRONT LEFT DOOR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE OTHER VEHICLE RAN THE STOP SIGN. BOTH THE FRONT AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS WEARING THE SEAT BELT, BUT FRACTURED A BONE IN THE NECK AND INCURRED BRUISING TO THE BODY. THE CONTACT WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE SERVICE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. UPDATED 10/31/2006 - *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS HIT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR QUARTER PANEL BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK, IT FLIPPED UPSIDE DOWN. THE CONTACT WAS BUCKLED IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT. HOWEVER, THE SEAT BELT DID NOT RETRACT AND HOLD THE CONTACT IN THE SEAT AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT'S HEAD HIT THE PASSENGER DOOR WINDOW AT SUCH FORCE THE WINDOW SHATTERED AND BROKE. THE CONTACT'S HEAD WAS LYING OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE ON THE ASPHALT. AFTER THE INITIAL IMPACT, THE CONTACT RELEASED THE SEAT BELT AND CLIMBED OUT OF THE VEHICLE. INJURIES TO THE HEAD AND NECK WERE SUSTAINED. THE POLICE FILED A REPORT AT THE SCENE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY DID AN ASSESSMENT OF THE VEHICLE AND DEEMED IT TOTALED. UPDATED 03/03/06.

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 70 MPH, AND WAS UNABLE ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. IT CRASHED INTO DITCH. BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. CONSUMER HAD AFTER MARKET PRODUCT FOOSE WHEEL. WHILE DRIVING PASSENGER'S SIDE WHEEL SHEARED OFF. THIS CAUSED THE ACCIDENT. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *AK

2003 GMC SIERRA 2500HD CREW CAB CLOTH SPLIT BENCH: THE SHOULDER HARNESS SEATBELTS ON ALL THREE PASSENGER SEATS WILL LOCK UP DURING NORMAL CRUISE (NO SUDDEN STOPS OR YANKS ON THE BELTS), AND WILL CONTINUE TO GET TIGHTER AND TIGHTER UNTIL THE OCCUPANT MUST UNBUCKLE THE SEATBELT AND LET IT COMPLETELY RETRACT BEFORE IT CAN BE RE-BUCKLED. THIS WILL OCCUR ON NEARLY EVERY TRIP IN THE VEHICLE, AND HAS OCCURRED SINCE IT WAS NEW. THIS IS MORE THAN AN ANNOYANCE, IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD SINCE THE PASSENGERS MUST UNBUCKLE THEIR SEAT BELTS IN A MOVING VEHICLE. THE DEALER (JIM WALDRON GMC, DAVISON MI) CLAIMS IT IS SIMPLY A DESIGN FLAW AND THEY CAN DO NOTHING TO CORRECT IT. THEY SAY THAT "EVERYONE" WITH A 2003 SIERRA IS COMPLAINING ABOUT IT. THIS PROBLEM NEVER OCCURS ON THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT. I AM SERIOUSLY CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF MY PASSENGERS IN THIS VEHICLE THAT IS DESIGNED TO CARRY MANY PASSENGERS.*AK

I OWN A 2003 GMC SIERRA CREW CAB TRUCK. THE REAR SEATBELTS LOCK UP AND RESTRAIN MY ADULT PASSENGERS TO THE POINT OF DISCOMFORT. WHEN THE PASSENGERS TRY TO PULL OUT AND RELEASE THE LOCKING MECHANISM, THE SEATBELT RATCHETS EVEN TIGHTER ALLOWING NO MOVEMENT WHATSOEVER. THE SEATBELTS LOCK UP WHILE DRIVING AROUND TOWN AND MORE SO ON THE HIGHWAY DURING ROADTRIPS. THE RESULT IS THAT MY ADULT PASSENGERS REFUSE TO WEAR THESE BELTS. I HAVE HAD THESE BELTS REPLACED ONCE ALREADY. I TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT SEVERAL DEALERSHIPS, AND INQUIRED ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH GM'S BELTS, BUT AS OF NOW ALL THE DEALERSHIPS ARE DOING IS REPLACING THE BELTS FOR CUSTOMERS, YET THE PROBLEM PERSIST. IT IS MY OPINION THAT THESE BELTS WERE DESIGNED FOR CAR SEATS NOT ADULT PASSENGERS.*AK

2003 GMC SIERRA 2500HD CREW CAB CLOTH SPLIT BENCH: THE SHOULDER HARNESS SEATBELTS ON ALL THREE PASSENGER SEATS WILL LOCK UP DURING NORMAL CRUISE (NO SUDDEN STOPS OR YANKS ON THE BELTS), AND WILL CONTINUE TO GET TIGHTER AND TIGHTER UNTIL THE OCCUPANT MUST UNBUCKLE THE SEATBELT AND LET IT COMPLETELY RETRACT BEFORE IT CAN BE RE-BUCKLED. *TR

THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING A 35 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION. *NLM

NON DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAG IN GMC SIERRA EXTENDED CAB P/U TRUCK 1500C SERIES 2003 YR. *TR

THE PASSENGER SEAT DOES NOT ALLOW CONSUMER TO RIDE WITH THE AIRBAG ON. YOU HAVE TO BE 120LBS OR OVER BEFORE THE AIRBAG WORK PROPERLY. PH