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Pontiac G6 Air Bags Safety Report | Aug 18, 2011



Reported on Aug 18, 2011


THE DRIVER INFORMATION SYSTEM BEGAN INDICATING THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG SYSTEM. I HAD ASKED THE LOCAL CHEVY DEALER TO INVESTIGATE THIS PREVIOUSLY WHEN THE CAR WAS IN THE SHOP FOR OTHER MAINTENANCE AND WAS TOLD THAT IT APPEARED TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR'S COMPUTER AND THAT IF I SHUT THE CAR OFF AND TURNED IT BACK ON AND THE MESSAGE CLEARED, IT WAS OKAY. THE TECH EXPLAINED THAT THE CAR'S COMPUTER RUNS A CHECK EVERY TIME THE CAR STARTS AND THAT SOMETHING WAS A LITTLE BUGGY BUT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. IN AUGUST 2011, THE MESSAGE BEGAN APPEARING CONSTANTLY SO I BROUGHT IT BACK IN. SUDDENLY THERE WAS A PROBLEM. THE FRONT AIRBAG SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SINCE THIS INVOLVED TAKING OUT THE SEAT TO DO THE REPAIR, IT WOULD BE COSTLY. I ASKED IF THE CAR COULD BE DRIVEN SAFELY WITH NO ONE IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SINCE USUALLY I AM THE ONLY ONE IN THE CAR WHEN THE CAR IS DRIVEN. THE TECH EXPLAINED THAT IF THE CAR DETECTS A PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAG SYSTEM (EVEN IF NO ONE IS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT) IT WILL SHUT OFF THE ENTIRE AIRBAG SYSTEM, SO THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG WOULD ALSO BE TURNED OFF. I PAID APPROXIMATELY $1000 TO HAVE THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SENSOR REPLACED. APPROXIMATELY TWO MONTHS LATER, WHEN THE POWER STEERING IN THE CAR BEGAN TO FAIL, I STARTED INVESTIGATING RECALLS AND FOUND THAT GM HAS KNOWN ABOUT THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR FAILURE SINCE 2006 (WHICH IS THE MODEL YEAR OF MY CAR). I'M NOT SURE HOW I WAS SOLD A CAR WITH A KNOWN POSSIBLE DEFECT, HOW I WAS NOT NOTIFIED THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT, OR WHY I WAS THE ONE WHO PAID FOR THE REPAIR, BUT I'M QUITE UPSET ABOUT IT. ALTHOUGH I NEVER HAD AN ACCIDENT, IT MAKES ME WONDER HOW LONG I HAD BEEN DRIVING AROUND WITH NO FRONT AIRBAG PROTECTION. *TR
Make: Pontiac
Model: G6
Manufactured by: GENERAL MOTORS LLC
Year: 2006
Was a crash reported? N
Was an injury reported?
Was a death reported?
Was a fire reported? N
Location: INDIANAPOLIS IN
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN): 1G2ZH558264
Mileage: 121000 miles.
Speed: 0 MPH
Number of cylinders: 6
Vehicle type:
Vehicle fuel: GAS
Was a police report filed? N
Tire size:
Dealer name and location:
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