NHTSA Complaint #10349555 — 2010 GMC SIERRA 1500

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2010 GMC SIERRA CREW CAB. THE REAR SEAT HEAD RESTRAINTS ARE INADEQUATELY AND/OR DEFECTIVELY DESIGNED, AND WILL OFFER LITTLE PROTECTION TO THE REAR SEAT PASSENGERS IN THE EVENT OF A REAR END COLLISION. THE RESTRAINTS ARE MOUNTED ON SHORT POSTS, WHICH DO NOT EXTEND HIGH ENOUGH TO OFFER PROTECTION TO MOST INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE SEATED IN THE REAR. THE POSTS ALSO DO NOT LOCK IN PLACE, (LIKE THE FRONT HEADRESTS) AND SIMPLY SLIDE UP AND DOWN FREELY. I CONTACTED GMC BY LETTER, AND REQUESTED THAT THEY MODIFY OR REPLACE THE HEADRESTS, BUT THEY REFUSED, STATING THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED TO PASS ALL FEDERAL SAFETY STANDARDS. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, I REALIZED THAT AUTO MANUFACTURERS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO INSTALL HEAD RESTRAINTS ON THE REAR SEATS OF PASSENGER VEHICLES, AND THAT THE SHAPE, SIZE AND LOCATION OF THE RESTRAINTS CONTINUES TO VARY FROM VEHICLE TO VEHICLE. IT THEREFORE APPEARS THAT MANY VEHICLES, SUCH AS MINE, OFFER INADEQUATE HEAD PROTECTION FOR ALL BUT THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGERS. INDEED, THE PROTECTION IS SO POOR IN THE SIERRA, THAT ANY FRONT OR REAR COLLISION WILL LIKELY RESULT IN THE REAR SEAT PASSENGERS' HEADS COLLIDING WITH THE REAR WINDOW, CAUSING HEAD TRAUMA IN ADDITION TO THE CERVICAL TRAUMA SUSTAINED FROM THE LACK OF HEAD AND NECK SUPPORT. I AM QUITE DISAPPOINTED THAT MY VEHICLE OFFERS SUCH INADEQUATE PROTECTION, AND HOPE THAT THE NHTSA WILL TAKE ACTION ON THE ISSUE. THE COST OF INSTALLING ADEQUATE HEAD RESTRAINTS IN ALL U.S. VEHICLES SURELY OUTWEIGHS THE HEALTH CARE AND HUMAN COSTS THAT ARE BEING BORNE BY OUR CONSUMERS EVERY TIME SOMEONE IS INJURED DUE TO A MANUFACTURER'S FAULTY OR NEGLIGENT HEAD REST DESIGN. UNTIL THE NHTSA MANDATES SUCH PROTECTIONS, AUTO MANUFACTURERS WILL HAVE FREE REIGN TO CONTINUE TO SKIMP ON CONSUMER SAFETY, AND THE U.S. PUBLIC WILL CONTINUE TO SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES. *TR