NHTSA Complaint #718447 — 2000 PONTIAC MONTANA

WE PURCHASED THE PONTIAC MONTANA AS A FAMILY VEHICLE. WE HAVE A 2 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AND ANOTHER BABY DUE IN MAY. WE DISCOVERED, AFTER WE PURCHASED THE VAN, THAT THE REAR BUCKET SEATS HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE SEAT BELT SYSTEM THAT DOES NOT SAFELY RESTRAIN A CHILD SEAT. WE CONSULTED THE PA STATE POLICE (TROOPER DANIEL WHITE) ABOUT THE PROBLEM. HE SAID THAT THE SEAT BELT SHAFT IS TOO FAR FORWARD TO SAFELY HARNESS THE SEAT IN PLACE. HE SAID THAT HE DOES NOT KNOW OF CHILD SEAT THAT WOULD SAFELY WORK IN THIS VAN. HE SAID THAT OUR DAUGHTER COULD DIE IN AN ACCIDENT WITH THE WAY THE CHILD SEAT FITS IN THE VAN. WE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY SAID WE COULD PURCHASE NEW SEATS WITH BUILT IN CHILD RESTRAINTS. WE DO NOT WISH TO DO THIS BECAUSE OUR NEW BABY STILL WILL NOT BE ABLE TO RIDE IN THOSE CHILD RESTRAINTS UNTIL HE/SHE IS AT LEAST A YEAR OLD. PLUS, WE DO NOT AGREE THAT WE SOULD PAY FOR NEW SEATS SINCE IT WAS CLEAR THAT IT WAS OUR INTENTION THAT THIS WOULD BE A FAMILY VEHICLE AND WE WILL HAVE 2 SMALL CHILDREN. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY COULD ORDER US A SEAT BELT EXTENSION BUT, TROOPER WHITE DOES NOT THINK THAT WILL SOLVE OUR PROBLEM. THAT SAID, OUR REAL PURPOSE FOR WRITING THIS TO YOU IS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS SOME WAY TO LET OTHER OWNERS OF THE 2000 PONTIAC MONTANA KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. WE DROVE AROUND FOR 2 WEEKS BEFORE WE REALIZED THERE WAS A MAJOR PROBLEM. WE FEEL IT IS QUITE POSSIBLE THAT THERE ARE PARENTS OUT THERE WITH THIS VAN, WITH CHILD SAFETY SEATS IN THEM, AND THEY DO NOT REALIZE THEY ARE NOT SAFELY INSTALLED. WE DO NOT WANT ANY CHILDREN TO BE INJURED OR WORSE BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. WE FEEL THAT THE PONTIAC PEOPLE SHOULD REALIZE THAT PEOPLE BUY VANS AS FAMILY VEHICLES AND MOST OFTEN INSTALL CHILD RESTRAINTS IN THEM. WE THINK THAT THERE HAS TO BE A WAY TO RESTRUCTURE THE REAR SEAT BELT SYSTEM SO THAT CHILD SAFTY SEATS CAN BE USED. IT IS OUR SINCERE HOPE THAT YOU CAN GET THIS PROBLEM SOLVED.*