NHTSA Complaint #10379252 — 2011 FORD FLEX

A FRIEND OF MINE RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2011 FORD FLEX. UPON BRINGING IT HOME WE DECIDED TO LET MY CHILDREN INSIDE THE VEHICLE TO "CHECK IT OUT" AS MY OLDER SON WOULD SAY. WHEN MY YOUNGEST SON, 18 MONTHS AT THE TIME ENTERED THE SECOND ROW OF THE CAR, HE WENT TO REACH FOR THE SEAT BELT( TRYING TO BE COOL LIKE HIS BROTHER WHO WAS ALREADY BUCKLED AND ON A PRETEND ROAD TRIP)AND ACCIDENTALLY BUMPED AGAINST AN AUTOMATIC SEAT FOLD BUTTON WHICH CAUSED THE SEAT BACK TO FLIP DOWN HITTING HIM IN THE FACE, KNOCKING HIM INTO THE BACK OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT AND DOWN ONTO THE FLOOR WHERE THE SEAT CONTINUED TO FOLD. THIS HAS HAPPENED 2 TIMES BEFORE MY FRIEND DECIDED TO DISCONNECT THE SWITCH HIMSELF. LUCKILY THERE WERE NO MAJOR INJURIES, ONLY A BITTEN TONGUE, A RED MARK ON HIS FOREHEAD AND AFTER THE SECOND TIME( WHICH WAS NOT AS FORCEFUL DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE SEATING FOLDING ONTO HIM THE FIRST TIME HAD WEEKEND THE MOTOR A BIT) HOWEVER NOW HE DOES HAVE A SLIGHT FEAR OF GETTING INTO THE CAR. I THINK THE AUTOMATIC SEAT FEATURE IS NOT WHAT CAUSED THIS, BUT THE PLACEMENT OF THE BUTTON ITSELF WHICH IS RIGHT ALONGSIDE THE 2ND ROW SEAT WHERE IT IS EASY TO ACCIDENTALLY PUSH IT, EASY ENOUGH FOR MY 5 YEAR OLD TO REACH WHILE SEATED AND BELTED IN(THE BUTTON CAN BE ACTIVATED WITH DOOR OPEN OR SHUT) IF THEY CAN'T CHANGE THE PLACEMENT OF THE BUTTON THEY SHOULD AT LEAST BE OUTFITTED WITH SOME TYPE OF FLIP COVER YOU HAVE TO OPEN BEFORE THE BUTTON CAN BE PUSHED PREVENTING THINGS LIKE THIS FROM HAPPENING. *TR