NHTSA Complaint #10146523 — 2005 CHEVROLET VENTURE

I HAVE A 2005 CHEVY VENTURE. THERE'S A BAR THAT ATTACHES MY AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOOR TO THE VAN AND MAKES THE DOOR OPEN AND CLOSE. WHEN THE DOOR IS CLOSING, IT CAUSES A TRIANGULAR GAP BETWEEN THE DOOR, VAN AND BAR. THE AUTOMATIC DOOR HAS A SENSOR THAT IF SOMEONE IS IN BETWEEN THE DOOR AND VAN, IT WILL STOP AND OPEN THE DOOR UP. THERE IS A PIECE OF PLASTIC ON THE FLOOR WHERE THE CARPET STOPS AND BEFORE THE METAL SIDE OF THE VAN BEGINS. MY COUSIN'S DAUGHTER WAS SITTING IN THE SEAT BEHIND THE DRIVERS SEAT. I BUCKLED IN MY KIDS & WAS STANDING NEXT TO THE OPEN DRIVER'S SIDE SLIDING VAN DOOR TALKING TO MY COUSIN. HER DAUGHTER WAS SITTING IN THE SEAT BEHIND THE DRIVERS SEAT. THE BUTTON THAT CLOSES THE AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOOR WAS BUMPED. THE DOOR STARTED CLOSING, HER FOOT SLIPPED OFF THAT PLASTIC PIECE ON THE FLOOR AND INTO THE TRIANGULAR GAP. THE SENSORS NEVER PICKED UP THAT SOMETHING WAS IN THE DOOR SINCE IT WAS NOT ACTUALLY IN FRONT OF THE DOOR AND NEVER STOPPED CLOSING. THANKFULLY I WAS STANDING CLOSE ENOUGH THAT WHEN SHE SCREAMED, I REACHED IN AND GRABBED HER FOOT. SHE HAD ON BOOTS & JEANS AND STILL HAD A MARK AND BRUISE ON HER SHIN. WE STUCK A SHOE INTO THIS GAP AND CLOSED THE DOOR ON IT TO SEE IF THE SENSOR WOULD SEE IT. IT TORE THE SHOE AND NEVER STOPPED CLOSING. I TOLD CHEVY ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND THAT I WANTED MY VAN FIXED SO NO ONE ELSE GETS INJURED.THEY SAID THERE IS NO FIX & TO SHUT OFF THE AUTOMATIC FEATURE TO AVOID THIS. ONE PROBLEM-WHEN YOU SHUT OFF THIS FEATURE, YOU HAVE TO TUG HARDER TO SHUT THE DOOR. IF A KID'S FOOT GOES INTO THE GAP WHILE I'M SHUTTING THE DOOR MANUALLY, I WON'T BE ABLE TO STOP THE FORWARD MOTION IN TIME TO NOT CAUSE INJURY. CHEVY SAID THERE IS NOTHING I CAN DO UNLESS ENOUGH PEOPLE COMPLAIN & THEN THEY WILL LOOK INTO A FIX. I AM VERY WORRIED ABOUT THIS WITH MY CHILDREN. I WANT MY VAN FIXED OR A VAN COMPARABLE ONE THAT DOES NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. I ALSO FEEL THAT MY COUSIN SHOULD ALSO BE COMPENSATED IN SOME WAY. *NM