NHTSA Complaint #10160329 — 2007 AUDI Q7

NOTE - THIS IS A 2007 AUDI Q7, WHICH IS NOT IN NHTSA'S SYSTEM - THEY INSTRUCTED ME TO LIST VOLKSWAGEN. AUDI Q7 REAR SEAT (2ND ROW) HEAD RESTS DO NOT ALLOW CORRECT INSTALLATION OF CHILD SEATS. THE AUDI Q7 HAS FOLDING REAR HEAD RESTS THAT ARE NOT REMOVABLE. THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE HEAD REST (SPECIFICALLY THE BARS WHICH EXTEND UPWARDS FROM THE SEAT TO HOLD THE ACTUAL HEAD REST) BLOCK CORRECT PLACEMENT OF FORWARD FACING TODDLER SEATS, INCLUDING MODELS TRIED FROM BRITAX AND GRACO. THE ISSUE IS THAT THE Q7 HEAD REST BARS, INSTEAD OF BEING STRAIGHT LIKE MOST CARS, CURVE FORWARD TO HELP THEM FOLD DOWN WHEN YOU LAY THE SEATS FLAT. SINCE THE TOP OF THE CHILD SEAT BACK EXTENDS ABOVE THE CAR SEAT BACK, THESE CURVED BARS BLOCK THE TOP OF THE CHILD SEAT SO YOU CANNOT LAY THE CHILD SEAT FLUSH AGAINST THE SEAT BACK, AND GET A SECURE FIT. BECAUSE THE BARS PUSH THE CHILD SEAT FORWARD, THE BASE OF THE CHILD SEAT EXTENDS PAST THE FRONT OF THE CAR SEAT BENCH. THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT INSPECTOR WOULD NOT APPROVE THE INSTALLATION, AND COULD NOT FIND ANY ACCEPTABLE INSTALLATION WITH THE CHILD SEATS WE TRIED. *NM *AK