NHTSA Complaint #10091006 — 2000 DODGE DURANGO

I AM WRITING THIS EMAIL TO EXPRESS MY DEEP CONCERN FOR THE SAFETY OF CHILDREN RIDING IN THE REAR 3RD BENCH SEAT OF DODGE DURANGO'S. MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE A 2000 DODGE DURANGO. WE RECENTLY HAVE BEEN PUTTING MY 4 YEAR OLD SON'S BOOSTER SEAT IN THE BENCH SEAT SINCE THE BIRTH OF OUR 3RD CHILD. WE FIGURED WE COULD STILL USE THE DURANGO INSTEAD OF BUYING A MINI VAN. IT BECAME EVIDENT TO US ON A RECENT CAR TRIP THAT THE REAR BENCH SEAT DOES NOT LOCK INTO POSITION. MY HUSBAND AND I CAN EASILY PUSH ON THE SEATBACK FROM THE REAR AND IT WILL FOLD TO THE FLOOR. WE IMMEDIATELY ENVISIONED THE SAFETY HAZARDS THIS COULD IMPOSE ON ANYONE RIDING IN THE REAR BENCH SEAT, ESPECIALLY FOR CHILDREN. A REAR END COLLISION COULD SEND ANYONE FLYING FORWARD, EVEN IF THEY HAD THEIR SEATBELTS IN PLACE. I TURNED TO MY OWNERS MANUAL FOR ANSWERS AND IT GIVES A WARNING TO "MAKE SURE THE CUSHION IS PROPERLY ENGAGED UNDER THE SEATBACK TO PROPERLY LOCK THE SEATBACK IN THE RIDING POSITION". IN OUR EXPERIENCE THIS POSITIONING DID NOT LOCK THE SEAT. I CONTACTED TWO DEALERSHIPS EXPRESSING MY CONCERN AND GOT NO REAL ANSWERS. CHAMPION DODGE IN BARRINGTON SAID IT WAS UNSAFE FOR CHILDREN TO BE PLACED IN THE BENCH SEAT. VIKING DODGE OF CRYSTAL LAKE SIMPLY SAID THAT IF IT WAS IN THE OWNERS MANUAL IT MUST BE TRUE. I THEN CONTACTED THE CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER FOR DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION AND THEY SAID IT WAS UNSAFE FOR CHILDREN TO RIDE IN THE BENCH SEAT AND THAT THERE IS NO LOCKING MECHANISM. GIVEN THIS INFORMATION I FEEL THAT ANYONE WHO RIDES IN THAT BENCH SEAT IS AT RISK FOR SERIOUS INJURY. IT IS A SMALLER SEAT AND I COULD SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE WANTING TO PLACE CHILDREN BACK THERE. A LOT OF PARENTS COULD BE USING THAT SEAT FOR EXTRA CHILDREN THEY ARE TRANSPORTING IN CAR POOLS. I FEEL THIS SAFETY CONCERN NEEDS TO PUBLICIZED TO PREVENT SERIOUS INJURY. I FEEL DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION NEEDS TO PERFORM A RECALL ON ALL DURANGO'S AFFECTED AND INSTALL A LOCKING MECHANISM TO THE BENCH SEAT.