NHTSA Complaint #10118238 — 2000 CHEVROLET VENTURE

MY WIFE, DEBORA WAS A PASSENGER IN THE BACK SEAT OF A CHEVROLET VENTURE MINIVAN. AS SHE OPENED THE SLIDING DOOR WITH THE HANDLE HER ARM BECAME PINNED AGAINST THE SIDE OF THE SEAT AND EDGE OF THE DOOR JAM. THE POWERED DOOR CONTINUED TO OPEN UNTIL HER WRIST SNAPPED. I HAVE LOOKED AT HOW THIS COULD HAPPENED AND SAW THIS OBVIOUS AUTOMOTIVE DESIGN FLAW. MY WIFE IS CURRENTLY AWAITING SURGERY, WHICH WILL INCLUDE TITANIUM PLATE & SCREWS. WHO KNOWS THE EVENTUAL OUTCOME ? MY COMPLAINT AND QUESTIONS ARE THESE.. IN YOUR RECALL SEARCH I FIND YOUR ASSIGNED RECALL # 04V-597 AND GM'S RECALL #04110. MY WIFES WRIST WAS BROKEN ON APRIL 16TH BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEM AS STATED IN THAT RECALL. WHY HASN'T THE VEHICLE OWNER (ORIGINAL OWNER) BEEN NOTIFIED OF THIS INJURY CAUSING PROBLEM? I'VE SPOKEN TO CHEVY DEALERSHIP OWNERS, WHO SAY THEY HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE YET OF THIS RECALL. GM HAS A DATABASE OF ALL ORIGINAL OWNERS AS DO DEALERSHIPS. IS IT TOO DIFFICULT OR TOO EXPENSIVE TO BULK MAIL YOUR CUSTOMERS. SORRY FOR THE INCONVENIENCE, DE-ACTIVATE THE DOOR TILL WE GET YOU A NEW HANDLE. ASK THE OWNERS TO CAUTION PASSENGERS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. WELL, GMS PROBLEM BECAME MY PROBLEM. FARMERS INSURANCE WON'T PAY FOR THE INJURY BECAUSE THEIR CLIENT (CAR OWNER) WAS NOT NEGLIGENT. THANKS FOR LISTENING. STEVE DEPOYSTER. *NM