NHTSA Complaint #10136590 — 2006 FORD TAURUS

SUBJECT: HEAD REST CONSTRUCTION IN NEW 2006 FORD FOCUS IN OUR CIRCUMSTANCES, THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEAD REST IS ANGLED FORWARD ACUTELY SO THAT IT STRIKES ON A HORIZONTAL LINE ACROSS THE BACK OF THE HEAD. THE HEAD REST FORCES THE HEAD DOWNWARD INTO THE CHIN, AND MOST IRRITATINGLY CREATES A CONTINUING DISTRACTION TO THE DRIVER WHO FEELS AS IF SOMEONE IS CONSTANTLY PLAYING WITH THEIR HAIR. WE WERE ADVISED THAT THERE IS "NOTHING" THAT THE DEALERSHIP CAN DO TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AS IT IS A DESIGN ISSUE GIVEN THE DEALERSHIP BY FORD MOTOR CO. HOWEVER, LOOKING AT OTHER FOCUS MODELS, CONFIRMS THAT OF THE TWO HEAD REST IN EVERY VEHICLE, ONE IS PREDOMINATELY "PUSHED FORWARD" OF THE OTHERS, AND THAT THE FORWARD ANGLES IN ALL EXAMINED HEAD REST IS DIFFERENT. WE HAVE TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM IS NOT REPAIRABLE, BUT CAN BE MODIFIED. FURTHER DISCUSSIONS WITH OUR DEALERSHIP CONSUMER AFFAIRS MANAGER HAVE BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM SEEN NOT JUST IN THE FOCUS, BUT IN OTHER FORD MODELS AS WELL. IT APPEARS THAT THE USUAL FIX IS TO SIMPLY SWAP HEAD REST - I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT IN SOME CASES THE HEAD REST ARE SIMPLY TURNED AROUND THE OTHER DIRECTION TO RESOLVE THE CUSTOMER COMPLAINT - OR REMOVED ALTOGETHER. ALTHOUGH WE HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED AN ACCIDENT AS A RESULT OF THIS CONCERN, MY WIFE HAS REPORTED ONE "INCIDENT" IN WHICH SHE ALMOST BACKED INTO A VEHICLE BECAUSE SHE KNEE-JERK REACTED TO REACH BACK TO MOVE AWAY "SOMETHING CRAWLING ON MY HEAD." I AM CONCERNED THAT WHAT APPEARS TO BE A DEFECT THAT CAN BE RANDOMLY WORSE ON SOME VEHICLES MORE THAN OTHERS, CREATES A DISTRACTION WHILE DRIVING THAT MAY PRECIPITATE AN ACCIDENT. FURTHER, DEALERSHIP SOLUTIONS MAY EXPOSE CONSUMERS TO SOLUTIONS THAT SOLVE THE PROBLEM, BUT DEFEAT THE PURPOSE OF THE HEAD REST AS A SAFETY DEVICE ARE YOU AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, AND IS ANY EFFORT BEING MADE TO RECALL THE DEFECTIVE HEAD REST AND REPLACE THEM WITH ERGONOMIC REPLACEMENTS? THANK YOU. *NM