Federal agency probing seat belts on minivans

WASHINGTON The government is investigating complaints that seatbelts are breaking apart on passengers buckled up in older versionsof Chrysler's minivans.

The government's highway safety agency has received 171complaints about belts becoming unhooked from a floor anchor in themiddle row of the minivans. Chrysler dominates the minivan market,and the problem could exist in up to 1.1 million minivans made from1991 through March, 1993.

All complaints involve belts for the right-side seat in theminivans' second row, the only seat using a hook to anchor the belt,National Highway Traffic Safety Administration records showed.Most of the minivan owners reported that the belt came undonewhile in use, an agency memo said.In one accident, Lynn Beaty, of Clinton, S.C., hit the brakes onher 1992 Dodge Caravan to avoid hitting two deer, and the child seatholding her 18-month-old daughter was sent flying. It landed upsidedown with the child still in the seat, wedged between the minivan'stwo front bucket seats."I was terrified," Beaty said. Her toddler escaped injury, butBeaty was furious when she found the seat belt detached from itsfloor anchor.The April 10 agency memo reports "compelling" evidence of seatbelt failure. Agency investigators suspect the belt failure could bemore widespread, based on spot checks of other vehicles, the memosays.They are studying the belt's design and will ask Chrysler forany additional complaints it has received. Customers traditionallycall the company.Chrysler Corp. spokesman Jason Vines, speaking from AuburnHills, Mich., said the company was working with the federal agency to"see what has to be done."The government's auto safety hotline number is (800) 424-9393.Chrysler Corp.'s customer number is (800) 992-1997.