NHTSA Complaint #10041336 — 1997 DODGE INTREPID STEERING

Complaint Details

ODI Number	10041336
Vehicle	1997 DODGE INTREPID
Component	STEERING
Date of Incident	July 8, 2002
Date Filed	October 6, 2003
Mileage	N/A miles
Crash	Yes
Fire	Yes
Injuries	0
Deaths	2
Vehicle Towed	No
State	SC

Consumer Description

MY 18 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS KILLED IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT INVOLVING A DODGE INTREPID. WE ARE INVESTIGATING TO SEE IF THERE WAS A STEERING FAILURE. SHE WOULD HAVE LIVED HAD HER SEAT BELT NOT FAILED. HER SEAT WAS RECLINED AND AS A RESULT SHE SLID UNDER THE SEAT BELT CAUSING HER INJURIES. WHY IS THERE NO WARNING THAT THIS FAILURE CAN OCCUR? KIDS DO NOT READ THE OWNER?S MANUAL! WE FEEL THAT THE CASE MAKER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR HER DEATH BUT NO ONE WANTS TO HELP BECAUSE OF THE COST. WHAT CAN BE DONE TO HELP US? SINCERELY, CONSUMER COMPLAINANT STATED DURING A FOLLOW UP CALL THAT BOTH BELTED FRONT OCCUPANTS DIED AS A RESULT OF REAR ENDING A PARKED TRAILER WITH AN IMPACT SPEED OF APP. 40-45 MPH ACCORDING TO THEIR INVESTIGATOR. BOTH FRONTAL AIRBAGS DEPLOYED IN THE CRASH. THE MALE DRIVER'S HEAD IMPACTED THE TRAILERS SAFETY BAR RESULTING IN AN OPEN HEAD WOUND. THE FEMALE PASSENGER SLID UNDER THE SEAT BELT RESIDING ON THE FLOOR BOARD WITH AN INTERNAL HEAD WOUND AND A LACERATED HEART. IT WAS OBSERVED THAT THE PASSENGER'S BELT WAS BUCKLED AFTER THE CRASH. THE ANGLE OF THE PASSENGER'S SEAT WAS BETWEEN 1-2 O'CLOCK. THE DRIVER WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD A THE SCENE AND THE PASSENGER DIED THE FOLLOWING DAY. THE TRAILER WAS PARKED AT A WEIGHT STATION ON RAMP WHEN IT WAS STRUCK ON A SUNNY AFTER NOON AT ABOUT 4:00PM. THE POSTED SPEED ON THE TWO LANE HIGHWAY WAS 70 MPH. THE ROAD WAS STRAIGHT AND KNOWN TO THE DRIVER. DRUGS OR ALCOHOL WERE NOT A FACTOR. EYE WITNESS SAYS THE DRIVER WAS AWAKE AT THE TIME OF THE EVENT. IT IS NOT KNOWN WHY THE CRASH OCCURRED. THERE IS SPECULATION THAT THERE WAS A STEERING PROBLEM BECAUSE THE CONSUMER HEARD THAT THE INTREPID HAD STEERING PROBLEM. THE COMPLAINANTS LAWYER IS INVESTIGATING THIS ISSUE. ACCORDING TO LAWYER THE PASSENGER'S SEAT WAS RECLINED FURTHER BACK THAN WHAT WAS STATED BY COMPLAINANT. EYEWITNESS STATED AS SUCH. CW. *LA AN INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE WAS PERFORMED, HOWEVER THERE WERE NO INDICATIONS THAT THE ACCIDENT WAS CAUSED BY A STEERING OR BRAKING PROBLEM. *JB

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