NHTSA MAKES FINAL DECISION, ORDERS RECALL: 1995 CHRYSLER CIRRUS, DODGE STRATUS DO NOT MEET SAFETY STANDARD FOR SEAT BELT ANCHORAGES

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) today announced a final decision by Administrator Ricardo Martinez, M.D., that more than 91,000 Model Year 1995 Chrysler Cirrus and Dodge Stratus passenger cars do not meet its safety standard for seat belt anchorage strength and ordered a recall.

Because Chrysler has already informed the agency that it will not comply with this recall order, the Justice Department has today filed a civil suit in Washington, D.C., to compel the company to notify owners of the noncompliance and to provide a free remedy.

"This is the first time that the government has had to go to court to compel a vehicle manufacturer to comply with a recall order based on a noncompliance with a safety standard," Dr. Martinez said.

According to Dr. Martinez, this decision is the result of an investigation which began in July 1995, when a rear seat lap belt anchorage pulled out of the floor of a 1995 Cirrus during a routine test to determine whether it complied with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 210, Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages. The standard requires seat belt anchorages to sustain a 3,000-pound load for 10 seconds.

NHTSA made an initial decision of noncompliance on Jan. 21, followed by a public meeting on Feb. 23 at which interested persons presented additional information. After reviewing the entire record, the administrator made a final decision that the cars do not comply and ordered Chrysler to recall them by July 8.

Seat belt systems are the most important safety device motorists have to protect themselves in a crash, so it is important that these devices perform effectively. Our safety standard ensures that seat belts perform properly when used, and provide users at least a minimum level of protection. This is an important standard and all new passenger cars must meet it, Dr. Martinez said.

The cars covered by this decision were manufactured before May 15, 1995. Later vehicles comply with the safety standard because Chrysler strengthened the anchorage by replacing the original anchorage assembly with a stronger design.