NHTSA Complaint #10252990 — 2008 FORD F-250 SD

I ORDERED A 2008 F-250 SUPER DUTY LARIAT CREW CAB IN MARCH 2008 AND TOOK DELIVERY IN LATE APRIL 2008. WHEN TRYING TO INSTALL A CHILD SAFETY SEAT, I REALIZED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE SEATBELT IN THE INBOARD REAR SEAT. IT WOULD NOT GO INTO 'AUTOMATIC LOCKING MODE' FOR THE CORRECT INSTALLATION OF THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT AS THE TWO OUTBOARD REAR SEATS AND THE OUTBOARD PASSENGER SEAT DID. I TOOK IT TO MY DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE INBOARD REAR SEATBELT ONLY TO FIND THAT ONE DIDN'T WORK EITHER. UPON CLOSE EXAMINATION OF MY OWNER'S MANUAL I FOUND THAT IT SAID THAT ONLY THE OUTBOARD REAR SEATS AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT HAD SEATBELTS WITH AN 'AUTOMATIC LOCKING MODE.' THE TECH SERVICE LINE TOLD MY DEALER THAT THE REAR INBOARD SEAT WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO HAVE AN 'AUTOMATIC LOCKING MODE' AND LEO FROM CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLD ME THE SAME. FORD WAS FORCED TO CHANGE FROM A 'TYPE 1 LAP BELT' IN THE REAR INBOARD SEAT TO A 'TYPE 2 INTEGRAL LAP/SHOULDER BELT' BECAUSE OF 'ANTON'S LAW,' WHICH WAS SIGNED DECEMBER 4, 2002. ONE OF THE PRIMARY REASONS FOR THIS LAW WAS THE 'INCREASED PROTECTION THAT CHILDREN BETWEEN THE AGES OF FOUR AND EIGHT GAIN BY HAVING A LAP/SHOULDER BELT MADE AVAILABLE IN REAR INBOARD SEATING POSITIONS. WHEN THESE TYPE 2 BELTS ARE INSTALLED IN THE REAR INBOARD SEATING POSITION, THERE IS AN ADDITIONAL, AND POTENTIALLY SAFER, SEATING POSITION AVAILABLE FOR A CHILD IN A BELT-POSITIONING BOOSTER SEAT.' *TR