NHTSA Complaint #716073 — 1999 FORD WINDSTAR

THE FORD WINDSTAR DOES NOT HAVE THE SWITCHABLE RETRACTOR SEATBELTS INSTALLED ON THE EXTERIOR, REAR LAP AND SHOULDER BELT COMBINATION SEATBELTS; ALTHOUGH FORD PAPERWORK SHOWS THAT AS STANDARD FEATURE IN THE 1999 WINDSTAR AND THE OWNER'S MANUAL ON THIS VEHICLE SAYS THAT THIS TYPE OF SEATBELT IS INSTALLED. THE MANUAL DESCRIBES THE METHOD OF INSTALLING A CHILD SAFETY SEAT AS THOUGH THIS TYPE OF SEATBELT IS INSTALLED (PAGE 130 - 142 IN OWNER'S MANUAL). IF THE INSTALLATION OF THE CAR SEAT IS MADE ACCORDING TO THE OWNER'S MANUAL THE CAR SEAT WILL NOT BE SECURE. THIS IS BECAUSE AN EMERGENCY LOCKING RETRACTOR IS USED ON ALL SEATS IN THE WINDSTAR. I VERIFIED THIS WITH DOREE COLLETT AT 312-324-8914 (A CHILD CAR SEAT SAFETY CONSULTANT). THE INSTALLATION OF THE CHILD SEAT IN THE REAR WINDSTAR SEATS CAN BE MADE SAFE WITH A LOCKING CLIP UNTIL THE CORRECT SEATBELTS ARE INSTALLED. I HAVE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURERS CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMEROUS TIMES. I WAS TOLD THE OWNER'S MANUAL IS ONLY A GENERAL GUIDE AND THAT IT WILL NOT TELL ME WHAT IS ON THE VEHICLE. THIS MAY BE TRUE, BUT CAR SEAT INSTRUCTIONS DIRECT OWNER'S TO REFER TO VEHICLE OWNER MANUALS FOR INSTALLATION AND AS I'VE STATED PREVIOUSLY - FOLLOWING THESE INSTRUCTIONS WOULD DIRECT A PERSON TO MAKE AN UNSAFE INSTALLATION OF CAR SEATS. (NOTE: IT TOOK ME A GREAT DEAL OF TIME AND PERSISTANCE TO EVEN BEGIN TO GET HELP FROM FORD ON THIS ISSUE. I AM NOW USING THE LOCKING CLIP, BUT I AM CERTAIN OTHER KIDS ARE SECURRED IAW THE OWNER'S MANUAL AND ARE NOT SAFE). FEEDBACK ON MY REPORT/ANALYSIS OR ACTION BEING TAKEN WOULD BE APPRECIATED.. *AK