BACKUP SAFETY ALERT SYSTEM DESIGN IS INADEQUATE. EXTERIOR SENSORS ARE INSENSITIVE OR ERRATIC, WARNING BUZZER IS FAINT-TO-INAUDIBLE, ESPECIALLY IF THERE IS OTHER AMBIENT NOISE SUCH AS RADIO PLAYING, AND WARNING BUZZER SOUND LEVEL IS NOT ADJUSTABLE. WARNING LIGHTS THAT ARE COUPLED TO THE AUDIBLE ALERT ARE REMOTE FROM THE DRIVER, NOT VISIBLE WITHOUT TURNING DRIVER'S BODY AROUND 180 DEGREES, WHICH IS NOT POSSIBLE FOR MANY DRIVERS. SYSTEM SHOULD BE DESIGNED SO THAT WHEN THE CAR IS IN REVERSE GEAR AND IN MOTION ANY ENCROACHING PEDESTRIANS OR TRAFFIC OR OBSTACLES RESULT IN AN AUDIBLE WARNING COUPLED WITH WARNING LIGHTS THAT ARE VISIBLE IN THE DRIVER'S FIELD OF VIEW, WHICH WAS APPARENTLY THE INTENT OF THE DESIGNER. HOWEVER, THIS DESIGN AND ENGINEERING FALLS SHORT OF BEING EFFECTIVE, AS THE SENSORS AREN'T RELIABLE, THE BUZZER IS NOT LOUD ENOUGH, AND THE LIGHTS ARE NOT VISIBLE TO PEOPLE UNABLE TO TWIST THEIR BODIES AROUND TO LOOK DIRECTLY BACKWARD.
NHTSA ODI 11204094