NHTSA Complaint #10074501 — 2002 DODGE RAM QUAD CAB

LETTER WRITTEN TO THE PRESIDENT OF CHRYSLER-DODGE ON 3/2004 REGARDING THIS IMPORTANT MISSING SAFETY FEATURE. DEAR MR. ZETSCHE: I PURCHASED A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB IN LATE 2001 OF WHICH I AM CURRENTLY MAKING PAYMENTS THROUGH CHRYSLER FINANCIAL. HOWEVER, THERE HAS BEEN A CONSIDERABLE SAFETY CONCERN OF MINE SINCE PURCHASING MY TRUCK IN LATE 2001. THIS CONCERN REVOLVES AROUND THE LACK OF BACK SEAT HEAD RESTS (RESTRAINTS) FOR THE MODEL YEAR IN QUESTION. I COMMUTE WITH MY THREE DAUGHTERS AGES 16, 12, 10, AND HAVE ALWAYS FELT THAT MY TWO YOUNGEST CHILDREN, WHICH RIDE IN THE REAR SEAT, ARE AT AN CONSIDERABLE RISK FROM HEAD INJURY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. THE LACK OF THESE REAR SEAT HEAD RESTS (RESTRAINTS) PLACES THE BACK OF THE CHILDRENS HEADS DIRECTLY AGAINST THE REAR GLASS OF THE CAB. I RECENTLY VISITED MY LOCAL DODGE DEALER - PLANET DODGE IN MIAMI, FL. - AND LOOKED AT THE 2004 DODGE HEMI'S WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF TRADING UP MY TRUCK NEXT YEAR. I IMMEDIATELY NOTICED THAT ALL OF THE 2004 DODGE TRUCKS HAVE COLLECTIVELY INCORPORATED THIS SAFETY FEATURE FROM THE FACTORY. I PRESUME THAT THERE WAS A SAFETY CONSIDERATION WHICH ADDED TO THE DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF THIS ITEM. SINCE THESE SAFETY HEAD RESTS (RESTRAINTS) WERE NOT DESIGNED INTO THE 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB THAT I PURCHASED. I REQUEST THAT CHRYSLER RETROFIT THE NEWLY DESIGNED HEAD RESTS (RESTRAINTS) AS A SAFETY PRECAUTION IMMEDIATELY. I WELCOME ANY OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THIS MATTER FURTHER WITH YOU. THANKING YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR ATTENTION IN THIS MATTER TONY QUINTANA *LA