Sliding Van Doors Safe?

I never thought I’d have to ask myself that question.

When my husband and I went minivan shopping in early 2009 the one thing on our minds when finding the right van was safety. As we went from dealership to dealership we finally sat down and talked with a great car salesman at Landmark Chrysler in Springfield, IL. He was so helpful and went through every feature of the 2009 Chrysler Town & Country.

One of the main features we were looking for were power sliding doors. I was so worried about buying a van without them and accidentally closing one of my kid’s body parts in the door as I slung it shut. He helped ease that fear by showing us how the anti-pinch sensors of the sliding doors worked. This man was so confident in the product he was selling, he went as far to say, “they are so harmless it wouldn’t even break a pencil.”

Really?

I beg to differ!

This past Sunday as we all piled out of the Town & Country with power sliding doors, I activated the switch. As the door began to slide shut, my 2 year old Kaydence reached in to grab her Dora purse. The worst thing possible happened. Instead of the sensors “sensing” something blocking the path, they went full force ahead and closed on my daughters small fingers. Just as the door was about to lock into place, Kaydence pulled her fingers free.

The result…a terrified and crying toddler in pain.

An hour later her entire finger swelled, but luckily it wasn’t broken. I imagine if she hadn’t reacted quickly and pulled her fingers free they very well would have been broken.

This entire incident left me with a lot of questions. Why didn’t the sensors work in this instance? How safe are these power sliding doors? Was it just a fluke? I did a little testing of my own to find the answer. Unfortunately, after a search online and within the Chrysler Website I could find no technical answers as to how large of an object needs to block the path in order for the door to retreat as it’s suppose to.

I decided to test out the car salesman’s theory that…”it (sliding door) wouldn’t even break a pencil”.

In one online review, author Bob Plunkett writes…

…In addition, sliding side doors and the tailgate open and close through optional power controls, with pinch sensors on alert during any door movement. These sensors will instantly stop the door from closing if an object — such as a passenger’s hand — should get in the way.

This quick video demonstration will show you just how defective this system is.

In part one, my husband demonstrates the pressure it takes to activate the retreat of the sliding door. He has to actually push against the door. In part two, that poor pencil didn’t stand a chance. It was pinched in the door, just like my toddler’s fingers were! Lucky for her she pulled them out before it full engaged into the lock. We went through the pencil scenario 5 times, each time with a different pencil.

Pencil was clamped in door, but door retreated.
Pencil was clamped in door and the door stayed shut
Pencil was clamped in door, but door retreated.
Same as above.
Pencil was clamped in door and snapped in 3 places.

At this point, all I want is answers. I feel duped by the car salesman who led me to believe this would never happen. I feel let down by a vehicle manufacturer that boasts about the safety of it’s vehicles. Worst yet, I feel fear for any family that purchases this van and one of their children has to endure the pain of having their fingers clamped by Chrysler Town & Country power sliding door.