NHTSA Complaint #745360 — 2001 CHEVROLET SILVERADO

AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, I FOUND THAT THE SAFETY BELY SYSTEM WAS CAUSING PAIN IN MY SHOULDER. THIS IS A RESULT OF A SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THE PASSANGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM WHICH PREVENTS THE SHOULDER BELT PORTION OF THE SEAT BELT FROM BEING ADJUSTED SO THAT THE DRIVER AND/ORPASSANGER CAN PROPERLY BUKLE THE SEAT BELT. THIS DESIGN PRESENT SERIOUS AND POTENTIALY LIFE THREATENING CONSEQUENCES FOR THE DRIVER AND OCCUPENTS IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. THE DESIGN ALSO MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE DRIVER TO COMPLY WITH STATE SEAT BELT LAWS WHICH REQUIRE THE DRIVER AND PASSANGERS TO BE PROPERLY BUCKLED UP WHILE DRIVING. THIS DESIGN ALSO SUBJECTS PASSENGER WHO ARE ABOVE AVERAGE IN HEIGHT TO PAIFUL DOWNWARD PRESSURE ON THEIR SHOULDER AND COLAR BONE WHILE WEARING THE SAFETY BELT. THE SAFETY BELT CANNOT BE ADJUSTED AN ANY WAY OR FORM. THE VEHICKLE HAS BEEN TAKE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS, AND THE PROBLEM WAS FORWARDED TO THE MANUFATURER. THE REPORT BACK WAS THAT THE SEAT BELT SYSTEMS IS WORKING ACORDING TO THEIR DESIGN AND THAT IT IS NOT THEIR PROBLEM IS IS MINE BECAUSE I AM ABOVE AVEGARE IN HEIGHT AND DO NOT MEET THE CRITERIA THEY DESIGNED FOR. THEY STATED THAT THEY WILL MAKE NO EFFORT TO CORRECT THE SAFETY PROBLEM, WHICH THEY ADMITTED EXISTED, UNLESS THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE ITEM. IF THE SEAT BELT CANNOT BE ADJUSTED SO THAT THE DRIVER AND/OR PASSANGER CAN PROPERLY AND SAFLY BUCKLE UP, HOW CAN THIS DESIGN MEET FEDERAL SAFETY REQUIREMENTS. IS IT NOT THE REPONCIBILITY OF NHTSA TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC FROM SUCH OBVIOUSLY FLAGRANT VIOLATIONS AND SAFETY HAZARDS. WHY IS IT THAT NHTSA REFUSES TO TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTION TO FORCE THE MANUFACTURER TO CORRECT THIS SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT? IS NHTSA WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO BE KILLED OR PERMANANTLY DISABLED BEFORE THEY ACT. IF THIS IS THE CASE, THEN NHTSA IS ITSELF ASSUMING PARTIAL LIABILITY FOR FAILURE TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC FROM THE SAFETY DEFECTS THAT ARE KNOWN TO EXIST WITH THIS AND OTHER SIMILAR DESIGNS. *AK