NHTSA complaint: 1997 DODGE RAM 1500 — SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT
MY TRUCK WAS AT A STAND STILL WHEN I WAS REAR-ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. AT POINT OF IMPACT, BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SEATS BROKE AND RECLINED TO THE REARWARD POSITION. BOTH CAN BE PUT IN THE FORWARD AND BACK TO THE REARWARD POSITION (TOTALLY RECLINED) BY SIMPLY PUSHING IT FROM FRONT TO BACK. THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BROKE TO THE POINT THAT ONLY A SMALL PART OF THE HINGE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE SEAT REMAINS TO HOLD THE BACKREST TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEAT. BOTH SEATS FAILED TO HOLD UP TO THE IMPACT! THE CONSEQUENCE OF THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BREAKING IS THAT MY SON, WHO WAS POSITIONED BEHIND THE DRIVERS SEAT, BROKE HIS JAW WHEN HE WAS THROWN FORWARD, AFTER THE SEAT HAD ALREADY BROKEN TO THE REARWARD POSITION. HIS FACE MADE CONTACT WITH THE HEADREST OF THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT AS IT WAS LAYING IN HIS LAP. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE AS OF YET, AS THE CLAIMS ADJUSTER HAS YET TO INSPECT MY TRUCK. *AK
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation