NHTSA Complaint #716683 — 2000 FORD EXPLORER

OUR 3 YR. OLD DAUGHTER WAS PUTTING THE SEAT UP TO GET IN TO THE BACK AND WHEN THE SEAT CAME FORWARD THE TIP OF HER FINGER WAS CUT OFF BY SEAT SPRING MECANISM. THE FRONT SIDE OF THE MECANISM IS COVERED IN PLASTIC, BUT THE BACK SIDE IS OPEN. A VERTCLE PIECE OF FLAT BAR THAT IS MOUNTED STATIONARY TO THE SEAT MECANISM HAS A HOLE DRILLED THROUGH IT AND THE MOVING PART OF THE SEAT HAS ANOTHER PIECE OF FLAT BAR MOUNTED TO IT THAT SLIDES PAST THE STATIONARY PIECE WHICH HAS THE HOLE IN IT WHEN THE SEAT LEANS FORWARD FOR ENTRY INTO THE BACK SEAT. IT'S AT JUST THE RIGHT HEIGHT FOR SMALL CHILDREN TO REACH WHEN PUTTING THE SEAT UP. OUR DAUGHTER WAS USING HER RIGHT HAND TO RELEASE THE SEAT LATCH AND USING HER LEFT HAND TO SUPPORT HERSELF WHEN HER INDEX FINGER ON HER LEFT HAND WENT INTO THE HOLE AND WHEN THE SEAT RELEASED THE FLAT BAR ATTACHED TO THE SEAT SLID PAST THE HOLE, SLICING HER FINGER OFF. *AK