NHTSA Complaint #722426 — 1998 CADILLAC DEVILLE

I PUT MY SON'S CAR SEAT IN THE BACK OF MY MOTHER IN-LAWS 1998 CADILLAC DEVILLE (VIN GM [XXX]) AND BOTH OF THE MIDDLE SEAT BELTS IN THE BACK SEATS PULLED OUT COMPLETELY! I REMOVED THE SEAT TO FIND OUT THAT THE NUTS THAT HOLD THE SEAT BELTS ON WERE NEVER INSTALLED. THE NUTS LAID UNDER THE SEAT, OBVIOUSLY NEVER EVEN PUT ON THE BOLTS! THE ONLY THING HOLDING THE SEAT BELTS ON THE BOLTS WAS THE METAL ROD ("W" SHAPE) IN THE BACK SEAT (PART YOUR BACK LEANS UP AGAINST) OVERLAPPED THE BOLT AND THE STEEL PLATES THE SEAT BELTS ARE ATTACHED TO. I AM AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA AND I TEACH PRODUCT SAFETY & LIABILITY. I HAVE CONTACTED CADILLAC'S CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT A LOT OF THE TIMES THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS USUALLY YIELDS A FURTHER LOOKING INTO THE PROBLEM. I KNOW HOW INDUSTRY WORKS! THE BEAN COUNTERS IMMEDIATELY DETERMINE IF IT WILL COST MORE TO FIX THE PROBLEM OR PAY THE CLAIMS! I WANT TO SEE TO IT THAT THE PROBLEM IS INVESTIGATED TO DETERMINE IF THIS IS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT OR A MAJOR MISTAKE IN MANUFACTURING THE PRODUCT. HOW CAN I BE GUARANTEED THAT I WILL FIND OUT HOW THIS MISTAKE OCCURRED? HOW CAN I BE GUARANTEED THAT CADILLAC WILL TAKE EVASIVE ACTION TO DETERMINE IF THIS PROBLEM IS OUT THERE AND I AM THE FIRST PERSON TO REPORT THIS PROBLEM. I WANT TO SEE TO IT THAT NO ONE IS INJURED WHEN THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN DISCOVERED! I AM THOROUGHLY DISGUSTED AT WHAT I FOUND AND THE POTENTIAL FOR CHILD DEATH IS HIGH SHOULD SOMEONE BE IN AN ACCIDENT WITH A CHILD IN THE BACK SEAT BUCKLED INTO THE MIDDLE OR SIDE OF THE CAR. I WANT TO BE CONTACTED PERSONALLY OVER THE PHONE REGARDING THIS ISSUE! MY PHONE NUMBER AT WORK IS[XXX] EXT. [XXX] AND MY NUMBER AT HOME IS [XXX]. MY NAME IS [XXX] AND I JUST WANT EVIDENCE TO PROVE THAT THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN TO ANYONE ELSE THAT OWNS A VEHICLE MANUFACTURED WITH THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR IMMEDIATE RESPONSE TO THIS SERIOUS DEFECT NOTED! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C