NHTSA Complaint #10494871 — 2005 DODGE DAKOTA

DRIVER'S SIDE HEATER SEAT BURNT HOLE IN MY SEAT, MY BLUE JEANS AND MY WALLET, WARPED CREDIT CARD. THREE MONTHS AGO, A FRIEND BACKED MY TRUCK OUT OF HIS DRIVEWAY AND WHEN I LEFT HIS HOUSE, I NOTICED A HOLE IN THE BACK SEAT COVER. I BLAMED HIM FOR BURNING A HOLE IN MY SEAT SINCE HE IS A SMOKER. I HAVE NOTICED THAT LATELY MY SEAT HAD BEEN GETTING AWFUL "HOT" BUT NEVER THOUGH IT MIGHT BE BURNING. THEN, TUES JAN 22, I GOT OUT OF MY TRUCK AND NOTICED THE HOLE BURNT IN THE BOTTOM CUSHION. I HAVE SPENT THE PAST WEEK TALKING WITH THE DEALER AND CHRYSLER ABOUT IT SINCE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. CHRYSLER IS WILLING TO HELP ME OUT 50% COST. WHAT I AM FINDING OUT IS THAT THE DEALER ARTIFICIALLY INFLATES THE COSTS SO THAT IN REALITY, IT REALLY WON'T COST CHRYSLER A DIME. OBVIOUSLY, THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SOME TIME. THE PROBLEM WITH THE NHTSA IS THAT THESE ISSUES ARE MINOR TO THEM IN THE BIG PICTURE OF THINGS PERCENTAGE WISE - SO THEY IGNORE IT. BUT TO THE CONSUMER, IT IS MAJOR. IF THE NHTSA WAS SMART OR REALLY ON TOP OF THINGS - THEY WOULD LOOK AT THE OVERALL NUMBERS OF THE CAR COMPANY AND THEY WOULD FIND THAT THE CHRYSLER CORP. HAS HAD TROUBLE WITH THEIR HEATED SEATS FOR OVER A DECADE. ALL THEIR BRANDS. RECALL ON JEEP GR CHEROKEE 2001-2004 ; SEBRING; TOWN & COUNTRY; DODGE/RAM TRUCKS. WHY DOES NHTSA NOT CARE ABOUT THE INDIVIDUALS IN THESE CASES. THERE WAS A PARALYZED MAN THAT HAD HIS SEAT ACCIDENTALLY TURNED ON - HE ENDED UP WITH THIRD DEGREE BURNS ON HIS THIGH ABOUT THE SIZE OF A QUARTER. I WOULD SAY THAT THE NHTSA NEEDS TO DO SOME HOMEWORK ON CHRYSLER AND EXERCISE A RECALL ON ALL OF THESE HEATED SEAT ELEMENTS. HOW MANY PEOPLE NEED TO SUFFER? WHY IS EVERYTHING BASED ON NUMBERS?? DOES ANYONE IN THIS WORLD CARE ABOUT THE INDIVIDUALS BEING HARMED??IN MY OPINION, YOU ARE FAILING TERRIBLY BY NOT GOING AFTER THE CHRYSLER CORP. FOR THEIR NEGLECT. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR