NHTSA Complaint #10026158 — 2001 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER

VEHICLE'S REAR END "KICKED OUT" COUNTER CLOCKWISE ON STEEP DOWNHILL GRADES. THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A SPIN OUT ACCIDENT WHERE THE REAR END SPUN OUT CLOCKWISE ON A STEEP DOWNHILL GRADE OF SNOW. THE CONSUMER FOUND THE SEAT BELT WAS NOT DESIGNED FOR SMALL FRAMED PEOPLE APPROXIMATELY 5 FEET 2 INCHES OF HEIGHT. THE SEAT BELT HAD COME OFF THE CENTER/STERNUM AND SLIPPED UNDER HER ARM PIT, AND DID NOT LOCK DOWN ON THE LAP. THE SEAT BELT CUT INTO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE NECK AND DURING THE ACCIDENT THE BELT SLIPPED OFF THE CONSUMER'S CHEST TO HER ARM PIT. THE DEALER SUGGESTED THE CONSUMER USE A CLIP. *SCC *JB