NHTSA Complaint #10454307 — 2011 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN

WITH THE REAR HATCH OPEN THERE IS NO COVER OR SAFETY STOP MECHANISM ON THE AUTOMATIC FOLDING REAR SEATS. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS I HAVE ACCIDENTALLY DEPRESSED THE BUTTON AND HAVE HAD THE SEAT CRUSH OBJECTS IN ITS PATH. I AM GRAVELY CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF I HAD MY BABY SEAT STRAPPED IN WHILE I ACCIDENTALLY DEPRESSED THE BUTTON. WOULD MY CHILD BE CRUSHED OR MAIMED? BASED ON THE ITEMS IN MY TRUNK, YES. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO WAY TO STOP THE MECHANISM ONCE IT HAS STARTED AND NO WAY TO PREVENT ITS ACCIDENTAL DEPLOYMENT. I CONTACTED VW AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS NO PLAN TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. *TR