NHTSA complaint: 1994 CHEVROLET CAMARO — SEATS
IN WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN MINOR ACCIDENT-WENT OFF SIDE OF ROAD TO AVOID COLLISION WITH VEHICLE THAT WAS PASSING ON WET PAVEMENT;CAR STARTED TO SLIDE TOWARDS PASSING VEHICLE, PULLED OVER TO RIGHT AND OFF ROAD, HIT DRIVEWAY AND VERY SHALLOW "DITCH" UPON THIS IMPACT DRIVERS SEAT BROKE INTO A FULLING RECLINING POSITION: CAUSING TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE: COULD NOT SEE TO STEER-LOOKING STRAIGHT AT ROOF OF CAR; COULD NOT BRAKE: LURCHING BACKWARD PULLED FOOT BACK TOO FAR TO HAVE CONTACT, AND THE FAST JERK BACKWARD PULLED MUSCLES IN ABDOMEN, AND MAY HAVE CAUSED TEMPORARY UNCONCIOUSNESS. THE ACCIDENT THEN TURNED INTO MAJOR- CONTINUED ACCELERATION, WENT AIRBORNE, LANDED FRONT UP AT 80 DEGREE ANGLE ON HILLSIDE, AFTER SPINNING IN AIR. EVERY PANEL ON CAR WAS DAMAGED EXCEPT TWO DOORS.IF PASSENGER HAD BEEN IN REAR SEAT HE WOULD HAVE BEEN CRUSHED BY IMPACT OF SEAT DRIVING BACKWARD INTO THE RECLINE POSTION. SEAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE STRONG ENOUGH TO WITHSTAND THIS MINOR IMPACT AND ALLOW TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation