NHTSA Complaint #10507353 — 2002 FORD WINDSTAR

PURCHASED VEHICLE JANUARY 2012, PASSENGER FRONT SEAT BELT LATCH WAS BROKEN, I PURCHASED A NEW ONE FROM DEALER FOR $170.48. MARCH 2012, IT BROKE AGAIN WITH SAME PROBLEM. IT DOES NOT LATCH, OR WHEN IT DOES LATCH, IT OPENS ON ITS OWN WITH OR WITHOUT ANYONE IN THE SEAT. DEALER REFUSES TO WARRANTY THE 3 MONTH OLD LATCH, BUT OFFERED TO ORDER ME ANOTHER FOR $170.48 +LABOR WITHOUT HAVING TO PAY FOR IT FIRST. AFTERMARKET DEALERS SAY ITS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2001/2002 WINDSTAR'S AND 2001'S HAD A RECALL ON IT. 27 JUNK YARDS BETWEEN BUFFALO, NY,CLEVELAND, OHIO & PITTSBURG PA ALL HAVE DEFECTIVE SEAT BELT LATCHES IN THEIR 01/02 VANS. SO MY OPTION IS TO EITHER NOT USE THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OR PAY $233.43 EVERY 3 MONTHS TO HAVE A NEW LATCH ASSEMBLY INSTALLED. I HAVE PAPERWORK FROM CHAMPION FORD, CONFIRMING THAT THE SEAT BELT IS BROKEN DATED 4/6/2013. BUT THE FEMALE SERVICE WRITER CONVENIENTLY LOST MY PAPER WORK FOR THE ORIGINAL SEAT BELT LATCH FROM 2012. ALSO SEARCHING NET BRINGS UP OVER 23,000 REPORTED ISSUES WITH 2002 WINDSTAR SEAT BELTS. WHY HAS THERE BEEN NO RECALL ON THE 2002 WINDSTAR AS THERE WAS WITH THE 2001. ITS NOT FAIR THAT I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY $233.43 EVERY 3 MONTHS TO THE FORD DEALER TO HAVE A WORKING SEAT BELT. CLEARLY THIS IS A SAFETY AND MANUFACTURING DEFECT.. ITS UNREASONABLE TO MAKE ME DECIDE IF I FEEL SAFER HUNCHED OVER IN MY ELECTRIC WHEELCHAIR IN THE REAR OF MY VAN ONLY BELTED INTO THE WHEELCHAIRS SAFETY BELT HAVING TO HOPE THAT IT DOESN'T FLIP OVER SQUISH ME DURING AN ACCIDENT OR IF I WOULD RATHER BE EJECTED THRU THE FRONT WINDSHIELD!! HOW CAN I BE ASKED TO PUT MY LIFE AT RISK EVERY TIME I GET INTO THE VAN!! I ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT SEAT BELTS WERE THE MOST IMPORTANT SAFETY FEATURE IN A VEHICLE. HOW CAN THIS BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE? I THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR PROMPT ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. *TR