10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 0 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 1 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 52,500 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
While parked with the engine off at the gas station my child attempted to exit the vehicle. Upon releasing the driver side back seat, the seat belt had my child entangled trying to get out of the car. The seat belt was unbuckled/unlatched yet it somehow entrapped my child. I was unable to loosen the seat belt and it continued to retract and tighten on my child. My child was also unable to loosen the seat belt which was wrapped around back and stomach causing pain and discomfort. My child was unable to sit or stand upright as I attempted to pull the seat belt overhead or below stomach; child was forced to remain in a squat-like position.I continued to pull at the top re-tractor in the hopes of it "giving" and loosening but the device failed to "override." I immediately went to the local fire department where they tried, unsuccessfully, to loose the harness that was created by the seat belt, nor were they able to remove the child. The final decision was made, by the chief, to cut the seat belt in order to release the child. I believe that there is a device malfunction that is a grave safety risk of strangulation if not properly reviewed and replaced. I was expecting the belt to loosen after tugging at it and the fact that trained firefighters/paramedics couldn't pull it out is quite alarming.
- Albany, NY, USA
- Elizabeth, NJ, USA