NHTSA Complaint #10218845 — 2002 DODGE CARAVAN

DRIVING ON A BOULEVARD THOROUGHFARE IN A SNOWSTORM, I LEANED BACK SLIGHTLY ON THE SEATBACK TO SHIFT MY WEIGHT SO I COULD SEE BETTER. I HEARD A LOUD SOUND SIMILAR TO A BULLET BEING FIRED, AND THE SEATBACK IMMEDIATELY FELL BACKWARD TO A HORIZONTAL POSITION. I WAS NOW ON MY BACK, UNABLE TO SEE THE ROAD OR OTHER REFERENCES THROUGH ANY WINDOW. I PULLED MYSELF UP USING THE STEERING WHEEL AND REGAINED CONTROL OF THE CAR. LUCKILY THERE WERE NO ACCIDENTS OR INJURY. I PHONED THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURER CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER AND REPORTED WHAT TOOK PLACE. THEY ASSIGNED A CASE NUMBER AND TOLD ME TO HAVE MY DEALER MAKE A DIAGNOSIS AND CALL THEM. THEY PHONED ME BACK THE SAME DAY SAYING THE MANUFACTURER WILL PAY TO HAVE THE SEAT REPAIRED IF I AGREED TO A $200. CO-PAY. I AGREED AND THE DEALER REPAIRED THE SEAT RECLINER, STATING ON THEIR PAPERWORK "THERE WAS A NUT ON THE SEAT FRAME THAT BROKE/SNAPPED OFF OF ROD." I ASKED FOR THE BROKEN PARTS, BUT THE DEALER SAID THE MANUFACTURER REQUESTED THEY BE SENT TO THEM. *TR