NHTSA Complaint #737402 — 1998 CHEVROLET CORVETTE

THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT JAMMED FOR AT LEAST THE FIFTH TIME AFTER THE DEALER INSTALLED THE CLIP REQUIRED BY THE RECALL. AN ACCIDENT OCCURRED A FEW MINUTES AFTER THE LAST JAM. MY PASSENGER WAS VERY LUCKY NOT TO HAVE BEEN INJURED WITH MORE THAN A BRUISE ON HER LEG AND A BUMP ON HER HEAD. WHEN SHIFTING FROM FIRST GEAR INTO SECOND AT ABOUT 35 MPH (ENGINE SPEED AT ABOUT 3300 RPM), THE REAR END CAME AROUND TO THE LEFT CAUSING THE CAR TO DO A 180. THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM NEVER INTERVENED AS IT HAS DONE MANY TIMES IN MUCH LESS SEVERE SITUATIONS. THE CAR THEN WENT SIDEWAYS ACROSS TRAFFIC INTO A CURB AND THEN OVER THE CURB INTO A FENCE ON THE EDGE OF AN OVERPASS. A POLICE OFFICER WAS A FEW CARS BEHIND ME AND SAW THE ENTIRE INCIDENT. IN HIS POLICE REPORT HE ESTIMATED MY SPEED AT 35 MPH. *AK