NHTSA complaint: 2005 TOYOTA SEQUOIA — SEAT BELTS
OUR TWO YEAR OLD IS IN A PROPERLY SECURED REAR-FACING BRITAX TODDLER CAR SEAT. SHE IS IN THE SECOND ROW ON THE DRIVER SIDE. AS WE WERE DRIVING OUR SIX YEAR OLD ALERTED US TO HER DISTRESS. SHE HAD MANAGED TO GRAB THE SEAT BELT FOR THE MIDDLE SIT (SECOND ROW) AND WRAPPED IT AROUND HER NECK. SHE WAS STRUGGLING TO GET OUT BUT WHEN SHE PULLED IT TO HER, SHE PULLED IT ALL THE WAY OUT SO THE MORE SHE STRUGGLED, THE TIGHTER THE SEAT BELT AROUND HER NECK GOT. HAD OUR SIX YEAR OLD NOT ALERTED US, THIS COULD'VE ENDED TERRIBLY. WE IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER, GOT HER UNBUCKLED FROM HER CAR SEAT TO PULL HER CLOSER TO THE SEAT BELT FOR ENOUGH SLACK TO GET HER HEAD AND NECK OUT OF THE STRANGLING OF THE SEAT BELT. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE INCIDENT, OUR TWO YEAR OLD CLUNG TIGHTLY TO MOM AND CRIED WITH RED MARKS AROUND HER NECK. SHE WAS SCARED TO GET BACK IN THE CAR. DAD TOOK THE MIDDLE SEAT BELT AND WRAPPED IT AROUND A HEAD REST TIGHTLY TO GET IT OUT OF THE TODDLERS REACH. *TR
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation