NHTSA Complaint #11056329 — 2007 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN

ON OR ABOUT DECEMBER 2017, A 2007 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WAS TRAVELING NB ON THE INTERSTATE AND WAS HIT FROM THE REAR BY A LARGER VEHICLE. BOTH THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER WERE WEARING THEIR SEAT BELTS AND TRAVELING 50-55 MPH. AFTER BEING IMPACTED FROM THE REAR, THE VEHICLE SPUN 360 DEGREES. AFTER THE SPIN, THE VAN WAS IMPACTED DIRECTLY HEAD ON, IN THE FRONT, ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, BY A 4 DOOR SEDAN. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BELTS FAILED TO LOCK THE OCCUPANTS TO THEIR SEATS. THIS SAFETY EQUIPMENT FAILURE ALLOWED SIGNIFICANT BODY MOVEMENTS OF BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER. IT CAUSED ABRUPT FORWARD AND BACKWARD MOTION OF THEIR HEADS, NECKS, BACKS, ARMS, LEGS AND TORSOS, RESULTING IN SIGNIFICANT PHYSICAL INJURY AND EMOTIONAL TRAUMA. THE DRIVER ACCOMPANIED THE FRONT PASSENGER TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM. PHYSICAL EXAMINATION AND X-RAY EVALUATIONS WERE PERFORMED BY A MEDICAL SPECIALIST. THE PASSENGER WAS DIAGNOSED WITH UPPER SPINE, HEAD AND NECK INJURIES WITH SIGNIFICANT MUSCLE PAIN AND SEVERE CONCUSSION. THE DRIVER HAD INJURIES TO HIS SHOULDER, NECK, KNEE, TORSO AND BACK AREAS WITH SIGNIFICANT MUSCLE PAIN. SUMMARY, HAD THE SEAT BELTS FUNCTIONED, AS WAS ADVERTISED AND DESIGNED BY THIS MANUFACTURER, BOTH PASSENGERS WOULD NOT HAVE SUSTAINED SUCH SEVERE PHYSICAL INJURIES, AND HAD THE AIR BAGS FUNCTIONED AND DEPLOYED, AS ADVERTISED AND DESIGNED, BY THE MANUFACTURER, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN INJURED IN THIS IMPACT-COLLISION. HISTORY, THE DODGE GRAND CARAVAN OF PAST YEARS DESIGN INCLUDING THIS 2007 MODEL YEAR HAVE HAD SIMILAR AND REPEATED REPORTS OF SEAT BELT AND AIR BAG FAILURE. CONCLUSION, THIS MANUFACTURER KNEW OR SHOULD HAVE KNOWN OF THESE SAFETY DEFEATS, FROM PAST SETTLEMENT LITIGATION. THIS MANUFACTURER ALLEGEDLY HAS FAILED OR REFUSED TO CORRECT THESE ALLEGED INJURY CAUSING VEHICLE SEAT BELT AND AIR BAG DEFECTS.