NHTSA Complaint #742550 — 1998 DODGE RAM

WE PURCHASED A 1998 DODGE CONVERSION VAN AS OUR FAMILY VEHICLE. ON SEPT 21,2000 MY WIFE LOADED OUR CHILDREN, AGES 7,6, & 2, INTO THE VEHICLE. SHE THEN WENT & LOCKED THE HOUSE DOOR. OUR 2 YEAR OLD GOT OUT OF HER CAR SEAT, WENT TO THE FRONT OF THE VAN, & PULLED DOWN ON THE GEAR SHIFT PULLING IT INTO GEAR. THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER A 3 FOOT WALL, DOWN A STEEP HILL, THROUGH A 2 FOOT DITCH, AND THEN STRUCK A TELEPHONE POLE. THANK GOODNESS NO ONE WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED, BUT THIS CONDITION COULD HAVE TRAGIC. I OWN AN INSURANCE AGENCY SO I STARTED TO CHECK AROUND TO SEE IF THIS WAS A DEFECT THAT THE VEHICLE COULD BE PUT INTO GEAR WITHOUT FIRST APPLYING THE BRAKE. WHAT I FOUND OUT WAS SHOCKING, I WAS INFORMED BY THE DODGE DEALER THAT THIS SAFETY FEATURE WAS AN OPTION ON THIS VEHICLE, WHICH I WAS NOT INFORMED OF AT TIME OF PURCHASE , THIS IS LUDICROUS!!! IN MY RESEARCH I HAVE YET TO FIND A PRIVATE PASSENGER VEHICLE THAT IS NOT EQUIPPED WITH THIS SAFETY FEATURE AND TO DECLARE IT AN OPTION ON A FAMILY USE VEHICLE IS IRRESPONSIBLE. THANK GOODNESS THE LORD WAS LOOKING OVER MY FAMILY THAT DAY, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE NEXT FAMILY. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS SITUATION, SO NO FAMILY HAS TO NEEDLESSLY ENDURE A TRAGEDY.*AK