1996 CHEVROLET TAHOE Air Bags Problems

I HAVE A 1996 CHEVY TAHOE WHICH I HAVE BEEN THE ORIGINAL OWNER SINCE NEW. I RECENTLY HAD MAINTENANCE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE AND HAD THE SHOP CHECK THE DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG BECAUSE THE CHECK AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT WAS COMING ON DURING THE OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE. THE REPAIR SHOP INDICATED TO ME THAT THE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BUT THE SENSOR WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE EVEN AFTER A STATES WIDE SEARCH WAS PERFORMED. I CONTACTED GENERAL MOTORS ONLY TO FIND OUT THE PART HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED AND NO REPLACEMENT PART IS AVAILABLE. THE PART NUMBER FROM GM IS #16162465 AND THERE IS NO AFTER MARKET PARTS. IS GENERAL MOTORS STILL RESPONSIBLE FOR A REPLACEMENT PART FOR THIS REQUIRED SAFETY ITEM OR WHAT DO YOU SUGGEST I DO TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM? *TR

Mileage: 144,906

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET TAHOE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT RIGHT AND LEFT FRAME RAILS FOR THE AIR BAG SENSOR WERE SEPARATING AND ROTTING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE PARTS FOR REPAIR WERE NO LONGER MANUFACTURED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 140,000.

Mileage: 140,000

CONSUMER WAS HAVING TROUBLE WITH ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR LIGHTS INADVERTENTLY FAIL AND CEASE WORKING. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE; HOWEVER, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER IS STILL EXPERIENCING UNEXPECTED FAILURE WITH THE LIGHTING SYSTEM. ALSO, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE WHY THE LIGHT WAS ON. FUEL PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE WITHIN THE PAST YEAR.*AK THE BLINKER AND TURN SIGNALS HAVE TO BE REPLACED FREQUENTLY. COOLANT LEAKED INTO THE ENGINE AND IT HAD TO BE REPLACED. AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. STARTER WAS REPLACED. THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK. THE DEALER REPLACED THE IDLER ARM AND DRAG LINK. WATER PUMP LEAKED. POWER STEERING PUMP LEAKED. BRAKE CABLE BROKE. PINION SEAL LEAKED. MASTER CYLINDER LEAKED. *NM

CRASHED 1996 TAHOE GOING ABOUT 45 MPH, NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, CAUSING HEAD INJURY. NOT SURE OF DATE IT WAS FALL OF 2002.*AK

NO SUMMARY. DT

AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY DURING FRONTAL COLLISION AT ABOUT 30 MPH, THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MAJOR WHIPLASH . *MJ

VEHICLE HIT A TREE HEAD-ON AT 40MPH, AND NEITHER DRIVER'S SIDE NOR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.*AK THERE WERE THREE INJURIES. *SLC

VEHICLE HIT A TREE HEAD-ON AT 40MPH, AND NEITHER DRIVER'S SIDE NOR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.*AK THERE WERE THREE INJURIES. *SLC

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT 40 MPH, AND AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, RESULTING IN MINOR INJURIES. *AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 45-50MPH & HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE ON DRIVER'S SIDE. AIRBAG ON THE DRIVR'S SIDE DIDN'T GO OFF. CONSUMER HAD CRACKED RIBS & BRUISES. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. DEALER WILL BE CONTACTED. *AK

WHEN TRAVELING ABOUT 30 MPH VEHICLE HIT A TREE HEAD-ON, AND THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. A GM REP INFORMED OWNER THAT THE AIR BAGS WERE WORKING PROPERLY, AND SHOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED. *AK.ET.

WIRING HARNESS HAS CORROSION IN IT UP NEAR THE FIREWALL. APPEARS THAT THE WIRING HARNESS WAS DEFECTIVE (DAMAGED) DURING THE ASSEMBLY PROCESS. CORROSION ON GROUND SIDE OF AIR BAG ARMING CIRCUIT MEANS THAT IN A COLLISION THE AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY. DEALER SAYS THAT THIS IS NOT A WARRANTY ITEM. CORROSION IN THE AIR BAG ARMING CIRCUIT COULD ALSO CAUSE IT TO DEPLOY WHEN IT SHOULD NOT, LEADING TO AN ACCIDENT. ISN'T THERE UNLIMITED WARRANTY ON SAFETY SYSTEMS AND POLLUTION CONTROL SYSTEMS? *AK

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISIO., UOPN IMPACT, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY RESULTING IN M INOR INJURIES. DEALER AND MANUFACTUER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

ABS BRAKES FAILED, RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL/CRASH. UPON IMPACT,AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

MY SON WAS DRIVING THE TAHOE ABOUT 60 MPH ON A HIGHWAY. A PICKUP TRUNK PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF HIM. THE TAHOE HIT THE PICKUP TRUNK SQUARELY IN THE SIDE. THE AIRBAGS IN THE TAHOE DID NOT DEPLOY. HOWEVER, THE AIRBAGS IN THE PICKUP TRUCK DID DEPLOY. CHEVY SAID THIS IS NORMAL AND REFUSED TO INVESTIGATE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THE TAHOE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AS IT HIT THE PICKUP TRUCK SQUARELY IN THE SIDE AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. WHY WOULD THE PICKUP TRUNK AIRBAGS DEPLO,Y AND NOT THE TAHOE? PARTICULARLY SINCE THE PICKUP WAS ONLY HIT ON THE SIDE AND HAD VERY LITTLE FORWARD MOTION. DAMAGE TO TAHOE WAS RATED AT FD-5 AND TO THE PICKUP AT LD-6 BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. BOTH VEHICLES WERE NOT DRIVEABLE AND HAD TO BE TOWED. MY SON WAS WEARING HIS SEATBELT AND ONLY SUFFERED FROM WHIPLASH. HOWEVER, ONCE THE VEHICLE IS REPAIRED, HOW CAN I EVER TRUST THE AIRBAG SYSTEM AGAIN IF IT IS EVER NEEDED. *AK

WAS DRIVING VEHICLE WHEN STEERING WHEEL RETRACTING ROD CAME LOOSE AND VEHICLE LOST CONTROL. HIT A TREE AFTER LEAVING ROAD. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. NOTICED UNDER HOOD NUT & BOLT WAS LEFT OUT FROM MANUFACTURER. *AK

ESTIMATED SPEED 30 MPH W/DIRECT FRONTAL IMPACT; DRIVERS AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. BUMPER PUSHED BACK IN MIDDLE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK