NHTSA Complaint #10481405 — 2007 DODGE DURANGO

DESIGN OF REAR SEAT BELT BUCKLES IN 2007 DODGE DURANGO ARE FAULTY AND EASILY BREAK, THUS PROVIDING NO SECURE/LOCKING FEATURE DURING IMPACT. I OWN A 2007 DODGE DURANGO AND HAVE JUST OVER 28K MILES ON IT. IT IS USED SPARINGLY DUE TO GAS PRICES. THE THIRD ROW SEAT BELT BUCKLES ARE A METAL BASE WITH A CHEAP PLASTIC PIECE PLACED IN IT THAT SLIDES TO "LOCK" THE SEAT BELT WEBBING AGAINST THE METAL IN LEU OF A LOCKING RACKETING SYSTEM USED ON MOST CARS WHERE CHILD SEATS WOULD/COULD GO. THIS PIECE HAS BROKEN FROM BOTH THIRD ROW SEAT POSITIONS. ONE FAILED TWO OR THREE YEARS AGO AND WAS REPLACE WITH A BETTER DESIGN UNIT. THE OTHER FAILED RECENTLY, BUT DUE TO THE WARRANTY PERIOD BEING OVER, DODGE REFUSES TO REPLACE THE DEVICE. THEREFORE I HAVE NO WAY TO SAFELY AND SECURELY BUCKLE MY CHILDREN IN THIS REAR SEAT. WITHOUT THIS BUCKLE BEING REPLACED, MY CHILD COULD BE SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED IN AN IMPACT SITUATION. SURELY OTHERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS TERRIBLE SEAT BELT RE-TENSION SYSTEM. IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE THE DOT APPROVED SUCH A DESIGN TO BEGIN WITH. I CANNOT AFFORD THE COST TO REPLACE THIS AND FEEL STRONGLY THAT DODGE SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO RECALL THESE SEATBELTS AND REPLACE WITH THE NEWER DESIGN. I WONDER HOW MANY CHILDREN ARE UNSAFELY BEING BUCKLED INTO THESE CARS EVERY DAY. *TR