This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
The contact owns a 1999 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that the safety seat belts failed to latch. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 170,000.
The contact owns a 1999 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that the rear, driver side sliding door would not close. The dealer replaced the alternator but to no avail. In addition, the ABS warning light remained illuminated and the front driver's seat belt was covered in an unknown oil each time it was retracted. The dealer was unable to repair any of the failures. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was unknown and the current mileage was approximately 95,000.
The contact owns a 1999 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that the front driver side seat belt and the rear middle seat belt will not lock. Ford stated that nothing could be done because it was not a safety issue and advised her that she would be responsible for any costs. The current mileage is 169,000 and failure mileage was 160,000.
I contacted Ford Corp. 3 editions of owners manual says 99 Windstar comes with auto.lock.retractors on the 3 pt seatbelts... (how many 99 Windstar are on the road?) Ford sales information book (which every salesmen gets) says ALR is standard equipment on 99 Windstar. (how many dealerships & how many salesmen, not to mention mgmt?) thousands of drivers T H I N K they have this safety feature and its not there (but it's in writing... in their owners manual). Ford won't change the belt retractor for me. Please respond. Ps I was told by Ford engineer to"disregard bigbird safety card. ALR's did not apply to my car." They wouldn't even send me anything that my existing seatbelts are safe and properly working... I guess putting it in writing means nothing.. so much for Ford means safety first.
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..
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Spring Valley , CA, USA