NHTSA Complaint #746152 — 2001 CHEVROLET SILVERADO

THE 3-POINT SAFETY BELT CUTS INTO MY SHOULDER AND CAUSES SEVERE PAIN EVEN WHEN THE VEHICKLE IS NOT MOVING. THE SAFETY BELT CANNOT BE ADJUSTED TO CORRECT TIS PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM WAS NOT NOTICED A THE TIME VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED DUE TO TEH SHORT DURATION OF THE TEST DRIVE, AND THE HEAVY COAT THAT WAS WORN AT THE TIME. IF THE SAFETY BELT CAUSES PAIN AND DISCOMFORNT AFTER SHOR DURATIONS OF WEAR, IT IS OBVIOUS THAT IT WOULD CAUSE SEVERE INJURIES DUE TO THE DESIGN IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. THE MANUFACTURER SAYS THAT THE SEAT BELT IS OPERATING AS IT WAS DESIGNED TO AND THAT IT IS MY FAULT THAT I AM TALLER THAN THEIR DESIGN CRITERIA. THE DEALER DID NOT IDENTIFY ANY HEIGHT RESTRICTION ACCOSIATED WITH THE SAFETY OF THIS VEHICKLE WHEN IT WA SPURCHASED. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT THAT THE MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO CORRECT. THE ONLY WAY TO DRIVE THIS VEHICKLE MORE THAN 10 MILES WITHOUT BEING SUBJECTED TO PAIN AND SUFFERING IS TO DRIVE WITHOUT BEING BUCKLED UP. SO DO I BUCKLE UP AND CONTINUE TO INDURE THE PAIN, OR DO I BREAK THE LAW AND NOT BUCKLE UP. NOT WEARING THE SEAT BELT PUTS ME AT THE SAME OR GREATER RISK OF INJURY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT AS WELL AS IS BREAKING THE LAW.*AK