NHTSA complaint: 2012 JEEP WRANGLER — SEAT BELTS
2012 JEEP WRANGLER WAS A "POSTAL VEHICLE", IN THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. DRIVER ERROR OCCURRED, IN THAT DRIVER WAS ON RIGHT SHOULDER OF TWO LANE HIGHWAY, BUT PULLED OUT INTO TRAFFIC TO PERFORM "A 180" DEGREE TURN IN ORDER TO REVERSE DIRECTION. DRIVER DID NOT PROPERLY YIELD THE RIGHT-OF-WAY. WHEN ENTERING HIGHWAY, VEHICLE WAS STRUCK BY ONCOMING, SPEEDING CAR. CRASH RESULTED. IMPACT WAS SO SEVERE THAT FEMALE PASSENGER IN BACK SEAT WHO WAS WEARING HER SEAT BELT WAS EJECTED (AND KILLED). SEAT BELT WAS TORN DUE TO FORCE. ROOF COVER WAS INSUFFICIENT TO STOP EJECTION. MALE PASSENGER IN BACK SEAT, ALSO BELTED, WAS ALSO KILLED. INJURIES TO TWO PASSENGERS IN FRONT SEAT. POSSIBLE DEFECTS INCLUDE THE DESIGN DEFECTS INHERENT IN RIGHT-SIDED STEERING WHEEL, AND ALSO THE SEAT BELT SHEARING, PLUS ROOF COVER FAILURE DURING CRASH.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation