Steering Wheel Designed To Pop Off During Accident? - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

showstopper · 10-16-2012, 01:02 PM

We recently had a customer's car come into the shop that was rear ended and the steering wheel popped off. My question is do you think it is designed to do this?

Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using Tapatalk 2

jordan 572 · 10-16-2012, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by showstopper

We recently had a customer's car come into the shop that was rear ended and the steering wheel popped off. My question is do you think it is designed to do this?

Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using Tapatalk 2

RollaMo · 10-16-2012, 01:13 PM

Wow, I wouldn't think it should do that.
They are meant to collapse somewhat if involved in a head on collision.
But I didn't think they were supposed to come lose like that. Might be wrong though.

robsls3 · 10-16-2012, 01:16 PM

Holly hell all my years as a mechinc I never once seen that.

Carriccp · 10-16-2012, 01:22 PM

They are designed to collapse (engineer for steering column for Lexus & Toyota here) but I've never seen one actually fall off unless the column broke. May be different for the Camaro though.

Edit: Doesn't even look like the airbag has been deployed.

RollaMo · 10-16-2012, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carriccp

Edit: Doesn't even look like the airbag has been deployed.

Airbag is not designed or supposed to deploy in a rear end collision.

RSloth · 10-16-2012, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RollaMo

Airbag is not designed or supposed to deploy in a rear end collision.

Then why would the steering wheel come off?

Im willing to bet it's a faulty part or factory mistake or something..
They may have a lawsuit..

babytiger · 10-16-2012, 01:39 PM

wait for it.................... wait for it...................... (there has to be a punchline coming)

Lanzz · 10-16-2012, 01:45 PM

Given that the steering column is intended to properly position the air bag, I do not think that the column is designed to break off. Wow, will be interesting to understand what happened here...

Carriccp · 10-16-2012, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RollaMo

Airbag is not designed or supposed to deploy in a rear end collision.

It should have came out to prevent the driver from hitting the steering wheel/dash with enough force to break off the steering column.

Looks to me like the steering wheel flat out fell off without any impact to it.

RollaMo · 10-16-2012, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DataWave

Then why would the steering wheel come off?

Im willing to bet it's a faulty part or factory mistake or something..
They may have a lawsuit..

Well, as I stated I don't think it is supposed to come off like that.

But just based on a picture, we don't have enough information to even guess as to why it happened.
For all we know, someone has done previous work on the car and didn't get it back together correctly.
Of course, that is just speculation too.

One thing is for sure, whatever shop this is in needs to contact GM and get an investigation going as to the cause.
If the car has never been worked on in that area, I am sure GM would be very interested in seeing this.

RollaMo · 10-16-2012, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carriccp

It should have came out to prevent the driver from hitting the steering wheel/dash with enough force to break off the steering column.

Looks to me like the steering wheel flat out fell off without any impact to it.

Keep in mind that during a rear end collision, everything (including passengers) is forced backwards.
Nothing will be thrown into the dash.
Main reason cars have head rests these days. In the 60's people were getting "whiplash" when rear ended.

I agree, it looks like the steering wheel just fell out.
But it was more than just the wheel itself, it was the whole assembly that came lose.
During a rear end collision, if the driver held tight to the wheel, it would be like him pulling on it as hard as he could.
But I don't think it should have come lose. But I am not an engineer either.

motorhead · 10-16-2012, 02:04 PM

There is no way they would design that to detach like that. That could cause way more harm to the people inside the car than anything one could have thought of for a reason to have it come off. That is a major defect.

showstopper · 10-16-2012, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RollaMo

Keep in mind that during a rear end collision, everything (including passengers) is forced backwards.
Nothing will be thrown into the dash.
Main reason cars have head rests these days. In the 60's people were getting "whiplash" when rear ended.

I agree, it looks like the steering wheel just fell out.
But it was more than just the wheel itself, it was the whole assembly that came lose.
During a rear end collision, if the driver held tight to the wheel, it would be like him pulling on it as hard as he could.
But I don't think it should have come lose. But I am not an engineer either.

I agree. I think he was just hanging on for dear life and literally pulled it out of the column.

Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using Tapatalk 2

10-16-2012, 01:02 PM	#1
showstopper Drives: 2010 RS/SS Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: USA Posts: 3,442	Steering Wheel Designed To Pop Off During Accident? We recently had a customer's car come into the shop that was rear ended and the steering wheel popped off. My question is do you think it is designed to do this? Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using Tapatalk 2

10-16-2012, 01:13 PM	#3
RollaMo Drives: 2017 2SS Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Rolla, MO Posts: 1,106	Wow, I wouldn't think it should do that. They are meant to collapse somewhat if involved in a head on collision. But I didn't think they were supposed to come lose like that. Might be wrong though. __________________ 1996 Corvette - LT4 2017 Camaro 2SS 2019 GMC Sierra 2500 HD 2015 Harley Davidson Ultra Limited

10-16-2012, 02:04 PM	#13
motorhead Drives: Love the one you're with Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Downtown Charlie Brown Posts: 11,850	There is no way they would design that to detach like that. That could cause way more harm to the people inside the car than anything one could have thought of for a reason to have it come off. That is a major defect. Last edited by motorhead; 10-16-2012 at 03:17 PM.

10-16-2012, 01:16 PM	#4
robsls3 Account Suspended Drives: 2010 camaro 1SS Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Oaklawn, IL Posts: 862 View My Garage	Holly hell all my years as a mechinc I never once seen that.

10-16-2012, 01:22 PM	#5
Carriccp Drives: Sold Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Indiana Posts: 358	They are designed to collapse (engineer for steering column for Lexus & Toyota here) but I've never seen one actually fall off unless the column broke. May be different for the Camaro though. Edit: Doesn't even look like the airbag has been deployed.

10-16-2012, 01:39 PM	#8
babytiger it's hers... Drives: 2011 Camaro 2SS/RS Convertible Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: katy, tx Posts: 1,202	wait for it.................... wait for it...................... (there has to be a punchline coming)

10-16-2012, 01:45 PM	#9
Lanzz Drives: 2019 MB E450, 2019 Miata RF Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 56	Given that the steering column is intended to properly position the air bag, I do not think that the column is designed to break off. Wow, will be interesting to understand what happened here...