NHTSA complaint: 2002 NISSAN MAXIMA — SEAT BELTS
TL* THE CONTACT REPORTED A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED AND BECAME DISTRACTED, VEERING OFF THE ROADWAY. THE DRIVER MANEUVERED THE STEERING WHEEL IN VARIOUS DIRECTIONS IN AN EFFORT TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER APPROXIMATELY EIGHT TIMES. THE DRIVER WAS NOT INJURED HOWEVER, A PASSENGER WAS KILLED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY STATE POLICE WHO ADVISED THAT AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH, THE PASSENGER'S SEAT WAS RECLINED, CAUSING THE SEAT BELT TO FAIL TO RESTRAIN THE PASSENGER EFFECTIVELY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER SEVEN YEARS OF RESEARCH SHE DISCOVERED THAT MOST PASSENGER SEATS WERE UNSAFE WHEN THEY WERE RECLINED. THE CONTACT WANTED A WARNING TO BE PLACED ON THE VISOR OF THE VEHICLE ALERTING PASSENGERS TO THE DANGER, AS WELL AS POSSIBLY A MECHANISM THAT WOULD NOT ALLOW THE SEAT TO BE ADJUSTED ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 2/1/2013*JS
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation