NHTSA complaint: 2018 VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS — SEATS
WE HAVE A FRONT FACING CHILDSEAT INSTALLED IN THE 2ND ROW PASSENGER CAPTAIN SEAT AND A REAR FACING INFANT CHILD SEAT IN THE PASSENGER SIDE THIRD ROW. THIS CONFIGURATION IS NECESSARY BECAUSE THE INFANT SEAT HAS A BRACING BAR THAT IS DIFFICULT TO RAISE AND LOWER PROHIBITING THE CHAIR FROM ANGLING FORWARD FOR CLIMBING IN AND OUT OF THE THIRD ROW. HOWEVER, WE HAVE LEARNED ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS, WITHIN THE FIRST MOMENTS OF DRIVING/ACCELERATING, THAT THE 2ND ROW CAR SEAT MAY SPRING FORWARD FORCEABLY, SMASHING THE FACE AND BODY OF OUR RESTRAINED 4 YR OLD CHILD INTO THE BACK OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THE SEAT IS TOO HEAVY AND LOCKS IN THE FORWARD POSITION, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO PUSH BACK, TRAPPING THE CHILD UNTIL AN ADULT IS ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE AND PULL THE SEAT BACK FROM THE OUTSIDE. THE SEAT INITIALLY APPEARS TO BE LOCKED IN THE CORRECT PLACE, OR IS AT LEAST STABLE ENOUGH FOR THE CHILD TO CLIMB INTO HER SEAT, BUCKLE IN, AND THE TRIP TO BEGIN. AT SOME POINT THEREAFTER THE SEAT PROPELS FORWARD. WE ARE UNCLEAR WHETHER THE LATCH FAILS OR IS NOT SUFFICIENTLY ENGAGED. THE INCIDENTS HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY SCARY, AND HAS RESULTED IN A BLOODY LIP, AND ABRASIONS AND CONTUSIONS TO OUR CHILD'S FACE. IN THESE SITUATIONS, UNTIL WE ARE ABLE TO SAFELY RESPOND, WE ARE ONLY ABLE TO SEE OUR CHILD'S TERRIFIED EYES AND HEAR HER CRYING. WE ARE EXTREMELY CONCERNED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL FOR OTHER HEAD AND NECK INJURIES AS THE SEAT ROCKETS FORWARD EXTREMELY FAST AND WITH SIGNIFICANT FORCE. W
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation