NHTSA Complaint #10128622 — 2005 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE

DT: CONSUMER STATED HIS VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED SO THAT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER REAR SEATS HAVE HEAD RESTS THAT MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO PROPERLY INSTALL A FORWARD FACING CAR SEAT IN THE REAR SEAT. THE HEAD RESTS STRIKE THE TOP OF THE CAR SEAT SO THAT THE CONSUMER CAN NOT PUT THE CAR SEAT FLUSH AGAINST THE BACK SEAT. THE ONLY PLACE THE CAR SEAT WILL PROPERLY FIT IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE REAR SEAT. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT TWO CAR SEATS CAN'T BE IN THE BACK SEAT. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY REFERRED HIM TO A DEALER THAT IS LICENSED TO INSTALL CAR SEATS. THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THIS WAS A PROBLEM, THE DEALER HAD ALREADY INFORMED THE MANUFACTURER OF THE PROBLEM. MANUFACTURER SAYS THAT THEY HAVE FIXED PROBLEM FOR 2006 YEAR MODEL BY REPLACING THE HEADRESTS, BUT THEY CAN NOT DO ANYTHING TO RETROFIT 2005 YEAR MODELS. THE CONSUMER SAYS THAT THE ONLY SOLUTION IS TO BUY A MUCH SMALLER AND NOT AS SAFE CAR SEAT. *JB