DRIVE MEDICAL Unsafe, poor quality wheelchair - Silver Sport Reclining Port Washington, New York

On 2/22/10 I bought a Silver Sport 18" Reclining Wheelchair for $850.00 through WheelChairSelect.com. In March my mother (140 lbs) was being wheeled--with her legs raised--when the small plastic part that holds up the leg rest broke and fell to the floor. My mother's leg fell and her foot got caught under the wheel. It was UNSAFE. Drive Medical should recall this wheelchair and replace the faulty part with one made out of a stronger material than plastic.

My mother's illness worsened (not as a result of the wheelchair breaking) and she became bedridden, so I didn't call Drive Medical until 7/22. I was told I had to order the replacement part through WheelChairSelect.com, which I did (order #12203318). On August 9th I got an email that the part was not covered under warranty. I called on August 10th and said the part is faulty, and that the chair was not being used in a rough or reckless manner so it should be covered. They told me "the frame" has a limited lifetime warranty, but "parts" are only covered for 90 days.

I then called Drive Medical and told them it is a defect in their design to use a weak plastic part to hold up the leg rest, but they told me the same thing--the part is not covered. WheelChairSelect said the part costs $112.00, because the small plastic piece isn't sold separately; the whole leg rest needs to be replaced. The wheelchair is now on sale for $320. Paying more than 1/3 of the wheelchair's current price to repair a plastic part the size of a large Macadamia nut doesn't seem right. This is upsetting to me and my family, but it is secondary to the larger issue of safety. The plastic part which holds up the leg rest is not strong enough, and I'm worried that injuries will result when it breaks with other patients.