NHTSA Complaint #744882 — 2001 CHEVROLET VENTURE

THIS ACCIDENT HAPPENED IN A RENTAL CAR THROUGH NATIONAL CAR RENTAL IN FT. LAUDERDALE, FL. MY WRIST WAS BROKEN IN THIS INCIDENT WHICH I BELIEVE WAS CAUSED BY THE AUTOMATIC MOTORIZED DOOR WHICH WAS SLOW TO KICK IN AND BY THE LARGE HANDLE/LEVER ON THE DOOR WHICH YOU MUST PULL TO ENGAGE THE MOTOR. I WAS A PASSENGER IN THE BACK SEAT ON RT. SIDE BY AUTOMATIC MOTORIZED SLIDING DOOR STRAPPED INTO MY SEAT BELT. WE WERE PARKED AND READY TO GET OUT. I GRABBED LEVER TO OPEN THE DOOR. LEVER IS SUPPOSED TO ENGAGE THE MOTOR BUT THE MOTOR DID NOT START SO I PULLED BACK SOME MORE AND IT OPENED ABOUT ANOTHER FOOT OR SO AND STILL DID NOT ENGAGE THE MOTOR. ON THE THIRD PULL THE MOTOR SUDDENLY ENGAGED BUT THE POSITION OF MY HAND AROUND THIS LARGE LEVER AND THE FACT THAT MY ELBOW WAS BACKED AGAINST THE BACK OF THE SEAT, IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO EXTRICATE MY HAND. THE DOOR, WITH MY HAND AROUND THE LEVER, DRAGGED BACKWARDS UNTIL IT SNAPPED MY WRIST IN HALF. I INCURRED A RIGHT DISTAL RADIAL FRACTURE AND BEING RIGHT HANDED AND AN ARTIST AND ART TEACHER IT HAS BEEN DIFFICULT TO SAY THE LEAST. I FEEL THAT THE DESIGN OF THE SLIDING DOOR HANDLE IS A HAZARD AND SHOULD BE CONSIDERED FOR A RECALL. OTHER AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOORS ON OTHER MINIVANS TEND TO HAVE A BUTTON OR A SMALL HANDLE THAT WOULD NOT CATCH THE HAND AND DRAG IT BACKWARDS CAUSING INJURY. I WONDERED IF I WAS THE ONLY PERSON TO WHOM THIS HAPPENED. THE RENTAL COMPANY HAD CHEVY INSPECTORS CHECK THE DOOR AND SAID IT WORKED FINE BUT FOR THE ENTIRE TRIP THE DOOR NEVER ENGAGED THE MOTOR WITHOUT GREAT STREGNTH AND SEVERAL PULLS. IT WAS VERY SLUGGISH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. I KNOW IT IS JUST A MINOR INJURY BUT IT HAPPENED TO ME AND I DO NOT WANT THIS TO HAPPEN TO ANYONE ELSE. PE04064.PCO