U.S. PROBES COMPLAINTS OF CHRYSLER SEAT BELT FAILURES.Byline: Associated Press Associated Press: see news agency. Associated Press (AP) Cooperative news agency, the oldest and largest in the U.S. and long the largest in the world. The government is investigating complaints that seat belts are breaking apart as passengers ride buckled up in older versions of Chrysler's popular mini-vans. The government's highway safety agency has received 171 complaints about belts becoming unhooked from a floor anchor in the middle row of the mini-vans. Chrysler dominates the mini-van market, and the problem could exist in up to 1.1 million mini-vans made from 1991 through March 1993. All complaints involve belts for the right-side seat in the mini-vans' second row, the only seat using a hook to anchor the belt, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA, often pronounced "nit-suh") is an agency of the Executive Branch of the U.S. Government, part of the Department of Transportation. records reviewed by the Associated Press showed. Most of the mini-van owners reported the belt came undone while in use, an agency memo said. In one accident, Lynn Beaty, of Clinton, S.C., hit the brakes on her 1992 Dodge Caravan Not to be confused with the Nissan Caravan. The Dodge Caravan and Dodge Grand Caravan are minivans manufactured by the Chrysler Group (DaimlerChrysler from 1998). to avoid two deer, and the child seat holding her 18-month-old daughter was sent flying. It landed upside down with the child still in the seat, wedged between the mini-van's two front bucket seats. ``I was terrified ter·ri·fy tr.v. ter·ri·fied, ter·ri·fy·ing, ter·ri·fies 1. To fill with terror; make deeply afraid. See Synonyms at frighten. 2. To menace or threaten; intimidate. ,'' Beaty said in an interview. Her toddler escaped injury, but Beaty was furious when she found the seat belt detached from its floor anchor. The April 10 agency memo reports ``compelling'' evidence of seat belt failure. Agency investigators suspect the belt failure could be more widespread, based on spot checks of other vehicles, the memo says. They are studying the belt's design and will ask Chrysler for any additional complaints it has received. Customers traditionally call the company. Identical belts were used in 1991-93 Dodge Caravan and Grand Caravan, Plymouth Voyager The Plymouth Voyager and Plymouth Grand Voyager were minivans marketed by DaimlerChrysler (they were sold by the Chrysler Corporation until 1998). The Voyager was originally a full-size van from 1974 to 1983, but the name was used again for a minivan in 1984. and Grand Voyager and Chrysler Town and Country
The Chrysler Town and Country is a minivan marketed by Chrysler and formerly DaimlerChrysler (1998-2007). mini-vans. Chrysler Corp. spokesman Jason Vines, speaking from Auburn Hills, Mich., said the company was working with the federal agency to ``see what has to be done.'' |
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