Fiat Chrysler Recalls 50,000 Pacificas for Seat Belt Issue
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) announced it is recalling 50,000 Pacifica minivans in the U.S. and Canada following a company-issued report that said fast driving could cause a second-row seat belt to unbuckle. As reported by Fox Business, the recall applies to certain 2017-18 Pacifica minivans with the eight-passenger seating option. The recall affects roughly 48,000 vehicles in the U.S. and 1,900 vehicles in Canada. The recall is scheduled to begin Oct. 20.
The second-row center seat belt can inadvertently cause the left outside seat belt to unlatch in cases in which the vehicle undergoes “extreme handling maneuvers,” FCA said in a statement Wednesday. This happens when the buckle’s release button comes in contact with an adjacent buckle. If you Pacifica is involved in an accident, the seatbelt could unlatch, leaving the passenger in the left outside seat completely unprotected. This could result in a very serious injury to all passengers.
Issues and Recalls with Automobiles
The recall comes on the heels of a worldwide recall announced by the automaker on Tuesday that affects 494,000 Ram pickups. The water pump could overheat and potentially cause a fire.
Problems with seatbelts can be extremely dangerous. They have the potential to create situations where passengers can suffer very serious injuries where otherwise they would been restrained and in a position of safety. The issue was originally discovered during a test conducted by FCA’s interior restraints engineering department and reported on May 12, documents say. The company advises customers to refrain from using the second-row center seat belt if other second-row seats are occupied.
Contact an Experienced Auto Product Liability Law Firm
If you have lost a loved one to a vehicle defect, you may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit seeking compensation for your loss. In such cases, it would be in the best interest of injured victims or families who have lost loved ones to contact an experienced auto defect lawyer who will help them hold the negligent automaker accountable and secure maximum compensation for their losses. Contact the skilled auto defect legal team at Bailey Javins & Carter at (800) 497-0234 or contact us online.
