NHTSA Complaint #709816 — 1998 CHEVROLET BLAZER

MY COMPLAINT IS A RESULT OF POOR DESIGN AND PLACEMENT OF THE POWER WINDOW SWITCH ON THE REAR DOORS. MY WIFE, MY TWO DAUGHTERS AND MYSELF WERE WAITING ON A SLOW MOVING QUEUE LINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF BUT THE KEY WAS IN THE ON POSITION. MY WIFE AND I WERE STANDING DIRECTLY OUTSIDE THE VEHILCE. MY 3 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS FREELY WALKING AROUND THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. SHE STOOD ON THE ARM REST TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON OUTSIDE THE CAR AND INADVERTANTLY STOOD ON THE POWER WINDOW SWITCH. THE SWITCH IS A TOGGLE TYPE WHERE YOU PUSH THE SWITCH DOWN TO PUT THE WINDOW DOWN BUT THE BIGGEST PROBLEMN IS THAT YOU ALSO PUSH THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SWITCH DOWN THE PUT THE WINDOW UP. WHEN SHE STOOD ON THE SWITCH THE WINDOW CLOSED ON HER NECK. WE WERE FORTUNATE TO ACT QUICKLY AND STOPPED THE WINDOW 1 1/2" INCHES FROM THE FULLY CLOSED POSITION. I SHUTTER TO THINK OF WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF OUR ACTIONS WERENT AS QUICK. WE INITIALLY QUESTIONED WHY THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW CONTROL SWITCH WAS NOT ENGAGED. THE ANSWER IS THAT THE SWITCH NOT ONLY CONTROLS THE REAR WONDOWS BUT ALSO THE PASSENGER DOOR AND IS NORMALLY OFF FOR CONVENIENCE FOR THE PASSENGER. I HAVE TO QUESTION WHY THE PASSENGER WINDOW IS INCLUDED IN THIS CONTROL SWITCH AS IT IS ILLEGAL TO HAVE CHILDREN IN THE FRONT SEAT ANYWAY. I ALSO OWN A 98 HONDA ACCORD AND THE DESIGNERS OF THE POWER WINDOW SWITCHES IN THAT VEHICLE HAVE OBVIOUSLY TAKEN THIS HAZARD INTO CONSIDERATION WHERE THE SWITCH HAS TO BE LIFTED IN ORDER TO CLOSE THE WINDOW. THE SWITCH LOCATION IN MY 98 BLAZER AS WELL AS DESIGN MUST BE CHANGED BEFORE SOMETHING TERRIBLE HAPPENS TO ANOTHER CHILD. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME WITH REGARD TO THIS MATTER.