NHTSA complaint: 2004 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500 — SEATS
I PULLED INTO A GAS STATION, DRIVING A 2004 CHEVY AVALANCHE. I HAD DROPPED SOMETHING BETWEEN THE SEAT AND THE DOOR. I TURNED OFF THE TRUCK AS I WAS REACHING DOWN TO FIND WHAT I HAD DROPPED. WHEN I PULLED THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION, THE AUTOMATIC SEAT WENT BACKWARDS (WHICH IS A PERSONAL SETTING OPTION). MY TOP 1/3 OF MY MIDDLE FINGER GOT CAUGHT IN A HOLE WHERE THE UNDERCARRIAGE FOR THE SEAT ATTACHES TO THE FLOOR. BUT WHEN THE SEAT WENT BACK, MY FINGER WAS NOT ONLY SMASHED, BUT ALSO STUCK. I TRIED TO PUT THE KEY BACK IN THE IGNITION TO MOVE THE SEAT UP, WHICH DIDN'T HELP. I WAS CRYING TO MY HUSBAND TO HELP, BUT HE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG! I FINALLY REACHED OVER WITH MY RIGHT HAND TO THE SEAT CONTROLS AND WAS ABLE TO GET THE SEAT BACK ENOUGH TO RELEASE MY FINGER. I HAD FOUR LACERATIONS--TWO RADIATING FROM THE CORNERS OF MY NAIL BED. THE OTHER TWO WERE ON THE BACK SIDE OF MY FINGER. THIS HAPPENED IN THE MIDDLE OF WEST VIRGINIA (FAR FROM HOME OR WHERE WE WERE GOING), SO MY HUSBAND WENT INTO THE STORE AT THE GAS STATION, BOUGHT FIRST AID SUPPLIES, WRAPPED UP MY FINGER, AND I PUT IT IN A CUP OF ICE. THE FINGER WAS PRETTY HORRIBLE AND WAS INCREDIBLY PAINFUL. I KEPT THINKING THAT A CHILD WOULD HAVE LOST A FINGER. IT SEEMS THAT THERE SHOULD BE SOME MECHANISM TO STOP THE SEAT IF AN OBSTRUCTION IS PRESENT. I DID END UP SEEING A DOCTOR. IT IS NOW 3 MONTHS LATER AND MY FINGER STILL LOOKS PRETTY GNARLY. I NEVER THOUGHT TO REPORT THIS UNTIL A FRIEND SAW MY FINGER YESTERD
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation