NHTSA complaint: 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA — SEAT BELTS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET IMPALA. IN OCTOBER OF 2006, WHILE STOPPED DUE TO CONSTRUCTION, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 55-60 MPH. THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN THE OTHER PASSENGER. SHE INJURED HER HEAD AND HAD TO BE HOSPITALIZED. SHE SUSTAINED MEMORY LOSS AND HAD TO UNDERGO THERAPY. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. ON DECEMBER 8, 2008 ON ICY ROAD CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE SLID INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE SEAT BELTS FAILED TO RESTRAIN AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE PASSENGER WAS INJURED. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FENDERS OF BOTH VEHICLES WERE DAMAGED. THE SEAT BELT FAILURE CAUSED HEAD INJURIES ONCE AGAIN. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT DEPENDED UPON THE TYPE OF CRASH AND HOW FAST THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE SEAT BELTS MAY OR MAY NOT LOCK UP IN A CRASH TO PROTECT THE SAFETY OF THE DRIVER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BODY SHOP THAT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE STATED THAT THE SEAT BELTS SHOULD HAVE LOCKED IN BOTH CRASHES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation