This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
There is a safety standard requiring head restraints to prevent or reduce whiplash injuries yet there is apparently no standard that requires the seat back holding such head restraint to remain standing upright during an accident where such head restraint would be needed. I was rear ended on an expressway. The other vehicle was traveling significantly faster than I was. The impact was severe enough that the interior shelving in my van buckled due to the shock to its load. The driver's seat back recliner stripped completely, allowing the seat back to collapse. In fact, the only thing that stopped the seat from collapsing all the way was the cargo loaded between the seat and the shelves. Instead of a whiplash injury, I received a lower back injury from my back being snapped back at the bottom of the seat. What good is a head restraint if the seat back doesn't hold it up" furthermore, in the search to find a used seat to avoid having to dismantle the seat to replace the stripped recliner, I discovered that all similar Dodge vans in the junk yards with the deluxe high back seats are similarly stripped. I searched junkyards despite the police officer who came to the accident scene saying that seats collapsing during rear end accidents was common. Is this another instance of the federal government having its head up its a** like with the Firestone tires"
Outside seat back bracket of driver seat failed in rear end collision resulting in driver being moved into back seat. Seat back bracket failed above the recliner ratchet adjsuter. Truck moving 5mph, rearended by vehicle approx at 30mph or faster (excessive speed, 283' skid marks, dry pavement, 96 Honda Accord)
The metal plate inside the seat closest to the driver's door that allows the back of the seat to pivot forward protrudes through the seat fabric exposing a sharp point that has ripped 6 pairs of my pants on the left rear pocket (and cut into a leather wallet) when sitting down in the seat. The reason I had so many pairs of pants ripped is that it took several months for me to realize exactly "what" was causing the rips. Had it not been for having my wallet in my left pocket I would have surely sustained a laceration on my left buttock. I currently have about 12 layers of duct tape covering the hole that the point protrudes through. Would like to have the manufacturer replace the seat and $300 worth of pants.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Rochester, NY, USA