NHTSA Complaint #10336417 — 2005 DODGE MAGNUM

WITH MY FULL ATTENTION ON THE CARGO BEING REMOVED FROM VEHICLE, THE REAR LIFTGATE STRUTS FAILED SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING LIFTGATE TO FALL ON MY HEAD AND NECK. THE LIFTGATE IS APPROXIMATELY 125 POUNDS AND LEVERAGED TO ACCELERATE DURING CLOSING. THE LIFTGATE STRUTS ARE INSUFFICIENTLY SIZED FOR THE APPLICATION AND NO FAIL SAFE EXISTS TO PREVENT FREE FALL. THE LATCH MECHANISM STRUCK ME DIRECTLY ON THE SPINE AT THE BASE OF THE SKULL CAUSING TEMPORARY UNCONSCIOUSNESS. THIS COULD EASILY BE A FATAL IMPACT, ESPECIALLY FOR YOUNG CHILDREN, INFANTS OR THE ELDERLY. REPLACEMENT STRUTS ARE EXPENSIVE AND WILL SIMPLY FAIL AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE TO REPAIR THESE DEFECTS REGARDLESS OF WARRANTY OR MILEAGE. *TR