NHTSA Complaint #721038 — 2000 CHEVROLET VENTURE

THE INTEGRATED CHILD SAFETY SEATS IN MY NEW 2000 CHEVY VENTURE DON'T ADEQUATELY PROTECT MY CHILDREN (AGES 22 MONTHS AND 40 MONTHS). THE KIDS ARE ABLE TO SLIDE DOWN THE CLASP THAT HOLDS THE CHEST STRAPS TOGETHER AND THEN SLIP THEIR ARMS OUT OF THEIR BELTS. THE YONGER CHILD THEN ATTEMPS TO REACH THE POWER SLIDING DOOR AS I'M DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. ALL OF THIS MAKES FOR A STRESSFUL CAR TRIPS. THE BUCKLES ARE TOO EASY TO OPERATE AND THERE IS NO MECHANISM TO KEEP THECLASP AT CHEST LEVEL WHERE IT BELONGS. ONCE THE KIDS SLIDE THEM DOWN TO THE CROTCH BUCKLE IT IS VERY EASY FOR THEM TO WIGGLE THEIR ARMS OUT OF THE BELTS. I'M WORRIED I'M GOING TO CRASH WHILE TRYING TO CONVINCE THEM TO PUT THEIR ARMS BACK IN THE STRAPS AND REBUCKLE THE CLASPS. I BOUGHT THE CAR BECAUSE I ASSUMED THE INTEGRATED SEATS WERE SAFE BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURER PUT THEM IN THE VEHICLE BUT AS IT TURNS OUT THEY ARE VERY UNSAFE. I DON'T WANT MY KIDS TO GET INJURED WHILE SITTING IN A SEAT THAT WAS DESIGNED TO PROTECT THEM! *AK