# 2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT — SEAT BELTS
> **FATAL** · NHTSA complaint `700137` · 2008-12-15 · Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 1
- **Injured:** 1
- **Fire:** No
- **Crash:** Yes
- **Police report:** Yes
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** VOLKSWAGEN
- **Model:** PASSAT
- **Year:** 2000
- **Manufacturer:** Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
- **Component:** SEAT BELTS
- **Miles at failure:** 95,000
## Narrative
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT.  WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS, THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.  THE VEHICLE VEERED OFF THE ROAD AND DROPPED DOWN APPROXIMATELY ONE FOOT.  THE VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER THREE TIMES.  THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, BUT THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED.  THE CONTACT WAS PINNED HALFWAY OUT OF THE VEHICLE WITH THE OTHER HALF UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE.  HE SUFFERED SEVERE HEAD TRAUMA AND PASSED AWAY AT THE SCENE.  THE OTHER PASSENGER, WHO WAS THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE, SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES, A CONCUSSION, AND MINOR CUTS AND BRUISES.  A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED.  HE BELIEVES THAT THE SEAT BELT IN THE VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE RESTRAINED HIS BODY WITHIN THE VEHICLE.  HE HAS NOT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, BUT A FRIEND REFERRED HIM TO NHTSA.  HE BELIEVES THAT THE SEAT BELT WAS DEFECTIVE.  THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 95,000.  UPDATED 2/2/09 *CN  UPDATED 02/04/09. *JB
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*