30 of the
1,949 complaints about the 1998 Ford Windstar are about the
seat belts — 2% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
96,000 miles.
WE COLLIDED WITH A 1989 CHEVROLET TRUCK DRIVEN BY AN INTOXICATED DRIVER WHO PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF US IN A 45 MPH SPEED ZONE. WE WERE IN OUR 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. OUR CHILDREN, AGES 18 AND 13 WERE SEATED IN THE QUAD SEATS BEHIND THE FRONT SEATS, AND ON IMPACT, BOTH SEAT BELTS FOR THEIR SEATS CAME UNDONE.
NHTSA complaint #10254051 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 96,000 milesColumbiana, OH
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
DT: THE CONTACT STATES THAT THE SEAT BELT STRAPS ARE RIPPING APART. TWO OF THE STRAPS HAVE COMPLETELY RIPPED. ONE OF THE STRAPS IS FRAYING. EACH OF THE SEAT BELTS IS LOCATED IN A DIFFERENT ROW. TWO OF THE SEAT BELTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10141641 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 96,000 milesColumbiana, OH
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
DT: THE CONTACT STATES THAT THE SEAT BELT STRAPS ARE RIPPING APART. TWO OF THE STRAPS HAVE COMPLETELY RIPPED. ONE OF THE STRAPS IS FRAYING. EACH OF THE SEAT BELTS IS LOCATED IN A DIFFERENT ROW. TWO OF THE SEAT BELTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10141641 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sauquoit, NY1 injured
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
THE CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN SHE MADE A SUDDEN STOP, HER 5 YEAR OLD CHILD'S SAFETY SEAT CAME FLYING TO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. SHE STATED THAT THE SAFETY SEAT ACTUALLY CAME LOOSE FROM THE SEAT BELT. THAT THE CHILD SUSTAIN SOME MINOR INJURIES (2 BUMPS ON THE HEAD) BUT NEVER CAME OUT OF THE GRACO SEAT BECAUSE IT REMAINED FASTENED. *NM THE SEAT WAS ORIGINALLY POSITION ON THE PASSENGER SIDE THIRD ROW BENCH SEAT.
NHTSA complaint #10052161 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Robbins, TN
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT DOES NOT RELEASE FROM THE RETRACTOR.
NHTSA complaint #10046274 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Tijeras, NM
SEAT BELTS
HOWEVER, WE ARE CURRENTLY VERY UPSET WITH OUR LOCAL FORD DEALER OVER A SIMPLE SEAT BELT. WE OWN A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. WHEN THE CAR WAS LESS THAN A YEAR OLD WE TOOK IT IN TO HAVE A FRAYED SEAT BELT REPAIRED. I HAVE THE PAPERWORK FOR THIS REPAIR. WE THEN HAD A BABY AND INSTALLED A FIVE POINT HARNESS CAR SEAT IN THAT SEAT POSITION. THE CAR SEAT REMAINED THERE FOR FOUR YEARS, (REMOVED ONLY WHEN SO FILTHY IT HAD TO BE CLEANED), THUS THE SEAT BELT REMAINED LOCKED IN POSITION AND WAS NOT PULLED OUT OR RETRACTED DURING THAT TIME. THAT BABY IS NOW OLD ENOUGH TO NEED A BOOSTER SEAT (WHICH UTILIZES THE SEAT BELT DIRECTLY). WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF STARTING TO USE THE BOOSTER SEAT DAILY WE NOTICED THAT THE SEAT BELT WAS ONCE AGAIN FRAYING. I CALLED THE DEALER AND HE TOLD ME TO BRING IT IN. WE TOOK IT BACK TO THE ORIGINAL REPAIR PLACE (WITH THE PAPERWORK FROM THE FIRST REPAIR) AND EXPLAINED THE SITUATION. THEY TOLD US THAT SINCE THE FIRST REPAIR WAS AT 7138 MILES AND THE VAN NOW HAS 89,123 MILES ON IT THAT THE SEAT BELT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. I ASKED FOR A LETTER STATING THIS FACT (THAT THE SEAT BELT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY) AND THEY REFUSE. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10032602 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Tijeras, NM
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
WE OWN A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. WHEN THE CAR WAS LESS THAN A YEAR OLD WE TOOK IT IN TO HAVE A FRAYED SEAT BELT REPAIRED. I HAVE THE PAPERWORK FOR THIS REPAIR. WE THEN HAD A BABY AND INSTALLED A FIVE POINT HARNESS CAR SEAT IN THAT SEAT POSITION. THE CAR SEAT REMAINED THERE FOR FOUR YEARS, (REMOVED ONLY WHEN SO FILTHY IT HAD TO BE CLEANED), THUS THE SEAT BELT REMAINED LOCKED IN POSITION AND WAS NOT PULLED OUT OR RETRACTED DURING THAT TIME. THAT BABY IS NOW OLD ENOUGH TO NEED A BOOSTER SEAT (WHICH UTILIZES THE SEAT BELT DIRECTLY). WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF STARTING TO USE THE BOOSTER SEAT DAILY WE NOTICED THAT THE SEAT BELT WAS ONCE AGAIN FRAYING. I CALLED THE DEALER AND HE TOLD ME TO BRING IT IN. WE TOOK IT BACK TO THE ORIGINAL REPAIR PLACE (WITH THE PAPERWORK FROM THE FIRST REPAIR) AND EXPLAINED THE SITUATION. THEY TOLD US THAT SINCE THE FIRST REPAIR WAS AT 7138 MILES AND THE VAN NOW HAS 89,123 MILES ON IT THAT THE SEAT BELT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10013813 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 28,000 milesWest Haven, CT
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
DRIVER FRONT SEATBELT MALFUNCTIONING, PERSISTENT VIBRATION IN RT FRONT END AT 60-65MPH NOT CURED BY NEW STRUTS, SWAY BAR LINKS, SPRINGS ALIGNMENT, MULTIPLE WHEEL BALANCE. TS
NHTSA complaint #10000516 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 113,000 milesCenterville, PA
SEAT BELTS
THE PLASTIC COVERS ON THE SEAT BELTS ARE WORN AND HAVE SHARP EDGES. THE DRIVERS SIDE BELT IS CUT IN HALF. THE DRIVER SIDE REAR BELT IS CUT HALF WAY THROUGH AT THIS TIME. *JG TS
NHTSA complaint #8023298 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
West Springfield, MA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
CONSUMER STATED THE DRIVER SEAT BELT FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #567129 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Potomac, MD
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
FATIGUE FAILURE OF WIRE SPRINGS WHICH STIFFEN STALK, AND LIE NEXT TO WEBBING. SHARP ENDS OF BROKEN SPRINGS ABRADED AND WEAKENED WEBBING- CONCERN FOR BELT FAILURE UNDER CRASH LOADS. SAME FATIGUE FAILURE SEEN ON LEFT AND RIGHT SEATS.
NHTSA complaint #764147 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Philadelphia, PACrash1 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
INVOLVED IN COLLISION WITH OTHER VEHICLE - FRONT DRIVERS SIDE OF OTHER VEHICLE HIT FRONT DRIVERS SIDE OF MY VEHICLE - BOTH MY WIFE (FRONT PASSENGER) AND MYSELF HAD OUR SEAT BELTS ON. AT IMPACT MY WIFES SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD HER UPPER BODY BACK CAUSING HER UPPER BODY TO GO FORWARD AND STRIKE HER FOREHEAD WITH THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. ALSO AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. SEAT BELTS AT TIMES DON'T TIGHTEN ACROSS THE UPPER BODY.
NHTSA complaint #761880 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lynnwood, WA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WARNING LIGHT/DEVICES
SEAT BELT ALARM,LIGHT, AND COURTESY LIGHT WOULD REMAIN ON WHILE DRIVING. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME.
NHTSA complaint #8004936 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wakefield, RI
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
DRIVERSIDE SEATBELT FELL APART IN MY HAND! THEN AFTER FURTHUR CHECKING , THE MIDDLE PASS SIDE BELT WAS STARTING TO FRAY. AFTER 20 DAYS OF NOT HAVING A SEATBELT THEY ARE FINALLY BEING REPLACED. VERY DISSAPOINTED IN FORD TAKING ITS SWEET TIME WHEN IT COMES TO THE SAFETY OF ITS OWNERS AND THERE FAMILIES.
NHTSA complaint #757221 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Loudon, CA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
COURTESY LIGHTS WILL INTERMITTENLY WORK. THEY WILL COME ON WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT, OR SOMETIMES THEY WILL NOT COME ON AT ALL. *AK EXPERIENCING OTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE REVERSE LIGHTS, INTERIOR LIGHTS, AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS, DOOR CHECK LIGHT, AND SIGNAL LIGHTS OPERATING INTERMITTENTLY, CONSUMER STATES THAT THE ENGINE IS NOISY AND THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON, THE SEAT BELT IS LOOSE, PASSENGER SIDE ARM REST IS LOOSE, AND THE BACK WINDOW WIPER IS INOPERATIVE.
NHTSA complaint #8002490 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Loudon, CA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
COURTESY LIGHTS WILL INTERMITTENLY WORK. THEY WILL COME ON WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT, OR SOMETIMES THEY WILL NOT COME ON AT ALL. *AK EXPERIENCING OTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE REVERSE LIGHTS, INTERIOR LIGHTS, AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS, DOOR CHECK LIGHT, AND SIGNAL LIGHTS OPERATING INTERMITTENTLY, CONSUMER STATES THAT THE ENGINE IS NOISY AND THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON, THE SEAT BELT IS LOOSE, PASSENGER SIDE ARM REST IS LOOSE, AND THE BACK WINDOW WIPER IS INOPERATIVE.
NHTSA complaint #8002490 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Williamstown, MA
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
RESTRAINT ON DRIVER'S SIDE ON SECOND ROW HAS SHREADED FROM TOP OF RESTRAINT. DEALER WILL BE NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #881516 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
North Quincy, MA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
THE DRIVER'S SIDE/ PASSENGER'S SIDE/MIDDLE, AND REAR SHOULDER BELTS ARE COMING APART AT WEBBING. DEALER REPLACED THEM A YEAR AGO.
NHTSA complaint #880982 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Boulder, CO1 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
7- YEAR OLD CHILD WAS SITTING ON PASSENGER'S SIDE BACKROW AND ENDED UP GETTING TANGLED UP WITH SHOUDLER BELT. WHEN SHE COULDN'T BREATHE, SHE ASKED FOR HELP. ANOTHER PASSENGER UNBUCKLED SEATBELT, BUT SEATBELT WAS IN RETRACTING MODE, SO IT CONTINUED TO STRANGLE 7-YEAR OLD CHILD. SEATBELT HAD TO BE CUT OFF IN ORDER TO ALLOW CHILD TO BREATHE. CONSUMER FELT THERE SHOULD BE RELEASE BUTTON TO DEACTIVATE RETRACTING MODE.
NHTSA complaint #874460 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Indianapolis, IN
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
I'VE BEEN HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE SEATBELTS (THE FRONT PASSENGER AND ALL 5 OF THE REAR SEATBELTS). I HAVE TALK TO THE DEALER AND I HAVE SENT A EMAIL TO FORD INC. THE TELL ME THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE SEATBELTS. THE PROBLEM THAT I'M HAVING IS THAT THE SEATBELTS (EXCEPT THE DRIVERS SIDE) IS THAT THEY KEEP LOCKING UP. WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS WHEN YOU PULL THE SEATBELT OUT TO PUT IT ON AND SNAP THE TWO HALVES TOGETHER, WHEN YOU LET THE EXTRA PART OF WHAT YOU PULLED OUT ROLL BACK INTO THE ROLLER, AFTER THIS POINT, MOST OF THE TIME THE SEATBELT LOCKS. THEY WILL NOT PULL OUT ANYMORE. YOU CAN'T LEAN FORWARD WITHOUT TAKING THE SEATBELT OFF. I HAVE FOUND THAT WHEN I OR MY KIDS RIDE IN THE BACK SEATS OR FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, THAT THE SEATBELTS KEEP GETTING TIGHTER AS YOU DRIVE DOWN THE ROAD, WHICH IN TURN MAKES YOU TAKE THE SEATBELT OFF DUE TO PAIN FROM THE SEATBELT PULLING TIGHT. I WAS TOLD THAT A REP. FROM FORD LOOKED AT THIS PROBLEN AND SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO.
NHTSA complaint #731305 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mccoy, VACrash
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION IN WHICH VEHICLE FLIPPED AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. SEAT BELT BUCKLE ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE BENCH SEAT BROKE, CAUSING CHILD AND INFANT SEAT TO BE THROWN TO THE FLOOR. *AK VEHICLE DID NOT FLIP, IT HIT WATER AND SPUN. *YH THE BUCKLE SHATTERED AND THE PLASTIC HOUSING AND SPRINGS INTERNAL TO THE MECHANISM BROKE APART.
NHTSA complaint #866593 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Chicago, IL
SEAT BELTS
WHEN FIRST PURCHASED VEHICLE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE DRIVERS SEATBELT WAS INOPERATIVE.
NHTSA complaint #849864 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Chicago, IL
SEAT BELTS
THE DRIVER'S SIDE RESTRAINTS DON'T RETRACT OR BUCKLE PROPERLY. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. BELT NOT WORKING PROPERLY AFTER PARTS WERE REPLACE.
NHTSA complaint #847568 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LA Puente, CA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
CUP HOLDER SPILLS EASILY. SEAT BELT RESTS TOO HIGH (ON NECK). NEEDS ANOTHER RUN BOARD SO THAT SHE CAN STEP INTO VEHICLE MORE EASILY.
NHTSA complaint #609130 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ptoskey, MI
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
DRIVER'S SEATBELT DOES NOT RETRACT, WHICH WON'T PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN EVENT OF A CRASH. DEALER WILL REPLACE DRIVER'S SEATBELT. PARTS ARE ON BACK ORDER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #845727 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAN Diego, CA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
DRIVER'S 3-POINT SEAT BELT FASTENER FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #608093 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Verona, PA
SEAT BELTS
FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT TIGHTEN ON OWNER'S SON. AS HE TRIED TO RELEASE THE BELT, THE RACHET CONTINUED TO TIGHTEN ON HIS LAP. A NEIGHBOR PULLED THE SHOULDER BELT OFF THE SON AND THE RACHET TIGHTEN SOME MORE. THE NEIGHBOR FREED THE SON BY CUTTING THE BELT WITH A KNIFE.
NHTSA complaint #537761 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ramer, AL
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
CHILD GOT TRAPPED IN THE REAR SEAT BELT SYSTEM. THE SEATBELT WAS UNLOCKED, BUT DID NOT RELEASE AND BECAME TIGHTER AS THE CHILD STRUGGLED WITH IT. IT WAS FINALLY CUT TO BE REMOVED. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.
NHTSA complaint #830648 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Brooklyn, NY
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
ALL REAR SEAT BELTS ARE NOT LOKING PROPERLY. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #829128 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hartswell, ME
SEAT BELTS
SEAT BELTS IN SECOND ROW/MIDDLE SEAT DO NOT ALLOW OCCUPANT TO LEAN FORWARD. SEAT BELTS ARE TOO TIGHT. POSSIBLE DESIGN FLAW.
NHTSA complaint #824081 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.