NHTSA Complaint #10369534 — 2008 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONV

I OWN A 2008 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE. DURING THE PROCESS OF LOWERING THE RETRACTABLE TOP,I REACHED INTO THE TRUNK WHILE STANDING NEXT TO THE CAR TO FREE AN OBJECT (CARDBOARD BOX)THAT I FEARED WOULD ENCUMBER THE OPERATION OR DAMAGE THE TOP. THE MECHANISM PINNED MY ARM AND I WEDGED MY SHOULDER INTO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE TRUNK LID TO IMPEDE THE TRAVEL OF THE LID SO I COULD EXTRICATE MY ARM FROM THE SCISSORING ACTION OF THE TOP. ONCE I HAD MY ARM FREE, THE MECHANISM HAD ME PINNED FACEDOWN WHILE IT CONTINUED TO CLOSE. I BRACED MYSELF AGAINST THE FORCE IN ANTICIPATION OF ACTIVATING SOME SORT OF SAFETY STOP/REVERSAL MECHANISM. I WOULD ESTIMATE THE DOWNWARD FORCE TO BE IN EXCESS OF SEVERAL HUNDRED POUNDS PER SQUARE INCH SINCE ONE OF THE GUIDE PINS CREATED A 2 CM IMPRESSION IN MY BACK ABOUT 2 INCHES FROM MY SPINE. THE TOP DID FINALLY STOP AND I WAS ABLE TO PRY MYSELF FREE. MY CONCERN IS THAT HAD CIRCUMSTANCES BEEN SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT, I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED, PARALYZED OR HAD MY RIGHT ARM AMPUTATED ABOVE THE ELBOW. A CHILD, SLIGHT FRAMED, OR ELDERLY PERSON PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN CRUSHED OR KILLED. THIS MECHANISM EXERTS AN EXTRAORDINARY AMOUNT OF PRESSURE AND WILL ONLY STOP WHEN IT ENCOUNTERS AN OBJECT THAT IT CANNOT CUT OR CRUSH. *TR