NHTSA Complaint #10070644 — 2003 CHRYSLER CONCORDE

I PURCHASED A 2003 CHRYSLER CONCORDE IN FEB OF THIS YEAR. I HAVE A DAUGHTER WHO JUST TURNED 3 IN MAY. SHE IS 46LB. AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE, THE DEALERSHIP PUT THE CHILD SEAT (EDDIE BAUER HIGH BACK BOOSTER SEAT USING THE VEHICLE SEATBELT DUE TO HER SIZE) IN THE CAR. IT WAS PUT INTO THE CAR USING JUST THE TETHER. OVER THE PAST 4 MONTHS, I HAVE BEEN DOING RESEARCH BECAUSE MY DAUGHTER IS NOT SECURE IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONCORDE DOES NOT HAVE RETRACTABLE SEATBELTS. AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE, I DIDN'T THINK ABOUT IT BECAUSE IN MY PREVIOUS VEHICLE (DODGE DURANGO), THE CAR SEAT WAS SECURED INTO THE CAR WITH A LOCKING CLIP. I FIGURED THIS CAR WOULD DO THE SAME THING. IT DOESN'T. THE SEATBELT COMES OUT OF THE REAR PANEL AND DOES NOT ACCOMMODATE THE CLIP. MY DAUGHTER IS WELL BEHAVED AND DOES SIT IN THE SEAT. HOWEVER, SHE CAN GET OUT OF THE CAR SEAT WITHOUT UNBUCKLING THE SEAT BELT. I HAD THE SEAT INSPECTED BY THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ON THURSDAY WHO HAS INSTRUCTED ME THAT SHE IS NOT SECURE IN THE CAR. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THEY INSTRUCTED ME TO CONTACT THE CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE. I CALLED CUSTOMER SERVICE AND EXPLAINED MY SITUATION AND WAS DIRECTED TO CALL CHRYSLER'S PROGRAM FIT FOR A KID. I EXPLAINED MY PROBLEM TO THEM AND WAS TOLD THAT SHE WAS NOT A TECHNICIAN AND THE BEST SHE COULD DO WAS GIVE ME A NUMBER TO THE CLOSEST CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP THAT DOES SEAT INSPECTIONS. THE CLOSEST IS 16 MILES AWAY. CALLED ROCHESTER HILLS CHRYSLER AND TALKED TO DAVE ULMER. HE UNDERSTOOD THE SITUATION AND RECOMMENDED THAT I GO BUY A NEW CAR SEAT CALLED THE MARATHON BY BRITAX. THE HARNESS IS DESIGNED ON THIS SEAT TO HOLD UP TO 65LB. VS. THE NORMAL 40LB. OF OTHER SEATS. I WENT ON THE INTERNET AND LOOKED UP BRITAX. THE MARATHON DOES HOLD A CHILD UP TO 65LB. WITH THE HARNESS, HOWEVER, THE CHILD MUST BE 18 & 34; OR LESS IN THE SEATED POSITION FROM HER BOTTOM UP TO THE TOP OF HER SHOULDERS. MY DAUGHTER IS 17 & 34;. SHE WOULD GROW OUT OF THAT IN NO TIME