NHTSA Complaint #10290979 — 2002 CHRYSLER SEBRING

I WAS DRIVING ON A SURFACE STREET AT APPROXIMATELY 35MPH AND SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A STOP AT AN APPROACHING RED LIGHT WHEN THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BACK COLLAPSED THROWING ME BACKWARDS WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION. AT THAT POINT MY LEG WAS STRETCHED STRAIGHT AND I HAD DIFFICULTY REACHING THE BRAKE PEDAL. I WAS ABLE TO PULL MYSELF BACK UP BY PULLING ON THE STEERING WHEEL WITH BOTH HANDS ONLY TO SEE THAT I WAS QUICKLY APPROACHING A CAR THAT HAD STOPPED FOR THE LIGHT IN FRONT OF ME. ONCE SITTING BACK UP IN MY SEAT I WAS ABLE TO APPLY THE BRAKES IN TIME TO AVOID REAR-ENDING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME WITH ONLY INCHES TO SPARE. THE CAR AT THAT POINT WAS BARELY DRIVABLE BUT I DID MANAGE TO DRIVE TO MY MECHANIC WITHOUT A SEAT BACK. THIS IS A POWER SEAT ABLE TO ADJUST FORWARD/BACKWARD, UP/DOWN, AND TILT BACK/FORWARD THE MECHANIC HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE MOTOR ASSEMBLY AS THERE WAS NO WAY TO PURCHASE ONLY THE DEFECTIVE REPLACEMENT PART. *TR