NHTSA Complaint #10614432 — 2005 DODGE SPRINTER 2500

THE PASSENGER PULLED THE SEAT BELT ACROSS HER AND CLICKED INTO THE END MOUNT PIECE. THE END MOUNT PIECE CAME BACK WITH THE SEAT BELT EXPOSING 2 CABLE PIECES THAT HAD BROKEN OFF THE MOUNTING PLATE. THIS SHOWED THAT THE 2 CABLES MUST HAVE BROKEN FROM FATIGUE OVER SOME TIME AND WOULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. THE DRIVER?S SIDE MOUNT WAS INSPECTED AND SHOWED NO FATIGUE OR FRAYING OF THE CABLES. I BROUGHT THE BROKEN END MOUNT PIECE TO THE ST CLAIR SHORES MI MERCEDES DEALER PARTS DEPARTMENT AND THE MOUNT PIECE DID NOT MATCH THE FACTORY INFORMATION. THE BROKEN END MOUNT COULD NOT BE LOCATED IN THE UNITED STATES AND HAD TO BE ORDERED FROM GERMANY. THIS VAN WAS ORIGINALLY BUILT IN GERMANY AS A DODGE SPRINTER AND MODIFIED BY ROADTREK CANADA INTO AN RV. HOWEVER THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF ANY MODIFICATION TO THE FRONT 2 SEATS OR SEAT BELTS. THE FRONT SEAT BELT HAVE MERCEDES PART NUMBER MARKINGS ON THEM.