NHTSA Complaint #730452 — 1995 FORD ESCORT

WHEN I REMOVED MY FOUR YEAR OLDS SAFETY SEAT TO CONVERT IT TO A BOOSTER SEAT, I DISCOVERED THAT THE SEAT BELT IN THE REAR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE NO LONGER RETRACTED. THE ONE ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE STOPPED RETRACTING APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS AGO. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT REPAIRED, I WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD COST $430.00 TO REPLACE BOTH SEAT BELTS. WHAT BOTHERS ME IS THAT THESE WERE NOT OVERLY USED SEAT BELTS. ONE SEAT BELT HAD A CAR SEAT STRAPPED INTO IT FOR 4 YEARS. HAD I NOT BEEN CONVERTING THE CAR SEAT, I WOULD HAVE NEVER KNOWN OF THE PROBLEM. BECAUSE OF SEAT BELTS THAT WERE FAILING, AND NOT FROM EXCESSIVE USE I MIGHT ADD, MY CHILD COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR EVEN KILLED. *AKY