NHTSA complaint: 1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT — UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE THIRD-ROW SEATS WERE KNOCKED OUT OF THEIR ANCHORS WHEN A FORD ESCORT HIT MY VAN IN THE REAR. I WAS STOPPED TO TURN WHEN I WAS HIT. THE ESCORT WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 TO 45 MPH, AND MY REAR BUMPER TOOK THE FULL FORCE OF THE IMPACT; AFTERWARDS, I NOTICED THAT BOTH THIRD ROW SEATS WERE OUT OF THEIR ACHORS AND LAYING BACK TOWARDS THE REAR GLASS. THE REPAIR SHOP WAS ONLY ABLE TO RE-SEAT ONE OF THE SEATS; THEY HAD TO ORDER A FRAME FOR THE OTHER ONE. THE COST OF THE NEW SEAT FRAME WAS $650.00. THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF DAMAGE TO MY VAN EXCEEDED $3,400.00. THE SEAT FRAME WAS THE SECOND MOST EXPENSIVE ITEM. MY WORRY IS THAT IF MY CHILDREN HAD BEEN WITH ME, SERIOUS INJURY COULD HAVE OCCURRED AS A RESULT OF THE SEATS COMING OUT OF THEIR ANCHORS. SECONDLY, THE SEAT BELTS ARE ATTACHED TO THE SEATS INSTEAD OF THE FLOOR, SO THESE ARE USELESS IN A REAR COLLISION. IF THE SEATS COME OUT THE SEATBELTS GO WITH THEM. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THE PERFORMANCE OF BOTH THE SEATS AND THE SEATBELTS, I AM VERY UNCOMFORTABLE WITH PUTTING ANYONE IN THE THIRD ROW. THE BOTTOM LINE HERE IS THAT THE 1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT IS VERY UNSAFE WHEN IT COMES TO COLLISIONS.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation