Chrysler and Dodge Vehicle Seatbelt Latch Plate Defects Investigation
The national law firm of Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP, is investigating complaints by owners of Chrysler and Dodge cars, trucks and vans concerning allegedly defective seatbelt latch plates. The latch plates are designed to keep child safety seats securely in place, by keeping the lap belt tight around the child seat. However, when used as instructed to secure child safety seats, the latch plate reportedly breaks open on the backside.
As a result, the latch plate allows the lap belt to loosen, and no longer keeps the child seat firmly in place. This defect creates a safety hazard for children seated in the child seat, because the loosened belt may permit the seat to pitch forward or to the side during a sudden stop or an accident. Furthermore, the hazard is usually hidden, because the latch plate breaks in a spot not visible unless the plate is turned over and inspected, and because it is difficult to tell that the latch plate has broken in such a serious manner.
The allegedly defective latch plates were installed in millions of Chrysler vehicles, model year 1994 through 2003. The vehicle make and model years are:
Make |
Model Year |
Dodge Neon |
1995-2003 |
Dodge Stratus |
2000-2003 |
Chrysler Cirrus |
2000 |
Plymouth Breeze |
2000 |
Chrysler Sebring Sedan |
1996-2003 |
Chrysler Sebring Convertible |
1996-2000 |
Dodge Ram Truck Standard Cab |
1994, 1996-2002 |
Dodge Ram Truck Extended Cab |
1996-1997 |
Dodge Ram Truck Quad Cab |
1998-2002 |
Chrysler PT Cruiser |
2001-2003 |
Dodge Ram Van |
2001-2003 |
Dodge Durango |
2001-2003 |
These vehicles were manufactured by Chrysler, LLC, and equipped with seat belts manufactured by Autoliv North America, Inc. Rather than using metal parts, as is and was industry standard, it is alleged that Autoliv constructed the seat belt latch plates of cheap plastic, which fail in the manner described above.
Contact Lieff Cabraser
California residents who use child safety seats in one of the Chrysler or Dodge vehicles listed above are invited to learn more about this investigation or submit a complaint to a Lieff Cabraser attorney. There is no charge or obligation for our review of your case.
About Lieff Cabraser
Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP is a fifty-plus attorney law firm that has represented plaintiffs nationwide since 1972. We have offices in San Francisco, New York and Nashville. We represent plaintiffs in class and group actions and in individual lawsuits in cases involving substantial losses. For the last five years, the National Law Journal has selected Lieff Cabraser as one of the top plaintiffs' law firms in the nation.
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