NHTSA Complaint #10144432 — 1999 FORD ESCORT

I JUST WANT TO COMPLAIN THAT I FEEL FORD MOTOR CO. SHOULD OFFER A SUBSIDIE FOR OWNERS OF 1999 FORD ESCORT ZX 2 AUTOMOBILES FOR THE ADDITION OF DISENGAGMENT SWITCHES FOR THEIR FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEVICES. I AM AWARE THAT NEWER MODELS COME EQUIPPED WITH THIS FEATURE. I WAS ADVISED BY FORD MOTOR CO. THAT THEY ACTUALLY ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO MAKE THIS ADDITION TO THEIR CARS FOR SAFETY PURPOSES. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICEPERSON THAT IN THE TEN YEARS "HE OR ANYONE WORKING THERE" HAD NEVER PERFORMED A "SWITCH ADDITION" I ASKED HIM IF IT WOULD BE EXPENSIVE AND HE SAID PROBABLY YES AND THAT HE WOULD CALL FORD AND SEE EXACTLY WHAT COULD BE DONE. HE SAID HE WOULD CALL ME BACK. HE HAS NEVER CALLED BACK. I HAVE THREE KIDS AND THERE IS ONLY TWO SEATBELTS IN THE BACK. I WANT TO BE ABLE TO LET MY ELEVEN YEAR OLD RIDE IN THE FRONT, BUT I AM AFRAID OF THE AIRBAG. NOW THAT IT IS STANDARD(SWITCHES) ON THE 2001 AND NEWER CARS I FEEL THERE SHOULD BE SOME COST SHARED BY FORD MOTOR CO. IN PERFORMING THIS UPGRADE. I FEEL IT SHOULD BE A "RECALL" FOR THIS ADDITION. *NM