NHTSA Complaint #862621 — 1996 DODGE RAM 2500

3-YEAR OLD SON INJURIED HIMSELF ON THE CENTER CAPTAIN'S CHAIR WHICH WAS COVERED BY A PIECE OF FABRIC. WHEN THE SEAT WAS POSITIONED FORWARD OR BACKWARD, IT EXPOSED THE METAL TRACK. BUT ON THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SEAT, WHETHER POSITIONED FORWARD OR BACKWARD, IT WAS NOT EXPOSED. THIS WAS A DESIGN FLAW. DAYS LATER, CHILD WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF CAPTAIN'S CHAIR DIRECTLY BEHIND THE DRIVER. DRIVER'S SEAT WAS UP FORWARD, EXPOSING THE METAL TRACKING. DRIVER HAD TO APPLY BRAKES SUDDENLY TO AVOID HITTING A DOG, CAUSING THE MIDDLE CAPTAIN'S CHAIR SEAT BELT CABLE TO SNAP, AND CHILD FLEW OUT, HITTING HIS HEAD ON THE METAL TRACK. CONTACTED DEALER, AND HE WAS NOT ABLE TO HELP. CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER FOR SEAT BELT CONVERSION PACKAGE THAT WAS PUT ON BY ELK ENTERPRISES. THEY WERE NO LONGER IN BUSINESS. THE CABLE ON THE OTHER CENTER CAPTAIN CHAIR WAS WEARING OUT. CHRYSLER SAYS THEY ARE UNABLE TO HELP BECAUSE IT WAS NOT A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. *AK *ML