NHTSA Complaint #10470169 — 2011 FORD FIESTA

THE REAR HEAD RESTRAINTS IN THE 2011 FORD FIESTA CREATE SEVERE BLIND SPOTS OUT FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR. THESE BLIND SPOTS CAN ONLY BE MANAGED BY REMOVING OF BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT HEAD RESTRAINTS. THIS CREATES A SAFETY HAZARD FOR PASSENGERS WHO DO NOT KNOW, OR REPLACE THE HEAD RESTRAINTS IN A REAR COLLISION. FORD HAS ADDRESSED THIS ISSUE IN THEIR 2012 MODELS, BY USING A HEAD RESTRAINT THAT FOLDS DOWN WHEN NOT IN USE BY A PASSENGER. FORD HAS FAILED TO INCLUDE THIS UPDATE TO THE 2011 YEAR LINEUP. I LIVE IN A MAJOR URBAN AREA AND HAVE SEEN MANY OF THESE CARS DRIVING AROUND WITH EITHER NO HEAD RESTRAINTS PRESENT, OR INSTALLED INCORRECTLY. FORD IS CHARGING $300+ PER HEADREST MECHANISM. THE PART NUMBER IS <611A08 I HUMBLY REQUEST THAT THE NHTSA PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER. I WAS UNFORTUNATELY IN A HARD REAR END COLLISION LAST WINTER AND WILL ATTEST TO HOW WELL THE HEAD RESTRAINTS WORK IN CRASH CONDITIONS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. *TR