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2010 KIA SPORTAGE — SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT

1 injured · 853904 · 2011-04-30

Vehicle

Make
KIA
Model
SPORTAGE
Year
2010
Manufacturer
Kia America, Inc.
Component
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT
Miles at failure
400
Speed
25 mph

Severity

Deaths
0
Injured
1
Fire
No
Crash
No
Police report
No
Medical attention
No
Vehicle towed
No

Narrative

THE HEADREST POSITION IN NEW VEHICLES HAS CAUSED THORACIC OUTLET SYNDROME IN THIS DRIVER WHO IS 5'4". MY CERVICAL SPINE IS FORCED OUT OF ALIGNMENT WITH MY THORACIC AND LUMBAR SPINE. AFTER DRIVING FOUR OR FIVE HOURS WHICH I DO FOR WORK, I EXPERIENCE NECK AND SHOULDER PAIN. ARM AND HAND TINGLING/NUMBNESS AND PAIN IS SO SEVERE THAT IT HAS INTERFERED WITH THE PERFORMANCE OF MY JOB. I CAN PROMISE YOU THAT IF I EXPERIENCED A REAR-END COLLISION, I WOULD SUFFER A CLOSED HEAD INJURY AS MY HEAD AND NOT MY NECK RESTS DIRECTLY AGAINST THE HEADREST. I'D RATHER TAKE MY CHANCES WITH WHIPLASH. JUST AS ALL DRIVERS DON'T HAVE THE SAME LEG LENGTHS, NEITHER DO ALL DRIVERS HAVE THE SAME TORSO LENGTH. THERE WILL BE MANY, MANY, MANY MORE SEVERE INJURIES IN SHORTER PEOPLE. JUST WATCH THE DATA, WHICH WILL SPEAK VOLUMES. THERE ARE INJURIES NOW WITHOUT COLLISION. THERE IS NO ADJUSTMENT AVAILABLE TO LOWER THE HEADREST TO ITS INTENDED POSITION, AGAINST THE NECK. THE ONLY ALTERNATIVE IS TO REMOVE IT COMPLETELY. *TR

Source

Authoritative
NHTSA ODI Flat-File Downloads
ODI Number
10398341
Machine
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