NHTSA Complaint #10382505 — 2011 FORD MUSTANG

THE HEAD RESTRAINT DESIGN ON THE 2011 FORD MUSTANG IS DEFECTIVE FOR TALLER DRIVERS. I AM 6' 1" BUT MY 5' 8" WIFE ALSO COMPLAINS. EVEN AT ITS TALLEST ADJUSTMENT, I MUST HOLD MY HEAD FORWARD IN AN UNNATURAL AND FATIGUING POSITION. I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS COMPLAINT, AS THE MUSTANG FORUMS ARE FILLED WITH SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER DRIVERS -- MANY OF WHOM REPORT SIMPLY REMOVING THE HEAD RESTRAINT ALTOGETHER. ACCORDING TO THE FORUMS, FORD SAYS TO INCREASE THE ANGLE OF THE SEATBACK, BUT THEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TOO FAR AWAY -- AND I DO NOT HAVE SHORT ARMS (35" SLEEVE LENGTH). MY CURRENT SOLUTION IS TO RAISE THE HEAD RESTRAINT ABOUT 2" HIGHER THAN THE HIGHEST DETENT PROVIDED BY FORD. EVEN THOUGH THE UNIT IS STILL IN PLACE, AND SEEMS SECURE WHEN I PUSH ON IT, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT HOW IT WILL PERFORM IN A CRASH BECAUSE IT IS NOT LATCHED INTO PLACE AND THERE'S LESS OF THE RODS DOWN IN THE SEATBACK FOR SUPPORT. THE OTHER ALTERNATIVE IS TO REMOVE THE UNIT ALTOGETHER, AS SOME OTHER MUSTANG OWNERS HAVE REPORTED DOING. FORD'S DESIGN FORCES TALLER DRIVERS INTO ONE OF THREE UNSAFE MODES: 1. DRIVE THE CAR WITH ONES HEAD TILTED FORWARD IN A POSITION THAT IS BOTH TIRING AND DISTRACTING. 2. REMOVE THE HEAD RESTRAINT ENTIRELY. 3. RAISE THE HEAD RESTRAINT ABOVE THE HIGHEST DETENT LEAVING IT FREE TO MOVE AND ALSO WITH QUESTIONABLE AMOUNT OF ROD IN THE SEATBACK. *TR