NHTSA complaint: 2003 FORD FORD TRUCK — SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
ON JULY 30, 2005,WE WERE TOTALLY STOPPED, WAITING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN WHEN WE WERE STRUCK FROM BEHIND BY A DRIVER GOING ABOUT 50 MPH (IN A 30 MPH ZONE). WE WERE IN A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR SPORT VAN WITH QUAD-CAPTIAN SEATS. OUR FRONT SEATS BOTH COLLAPSED BACKWARD AND MINE ON THE PASSENGER STRUCK OUR 9-YR OLD SON WHO WAS DIRECTLY BEHIND ME. HE IS SMALL FOR HIS AGE. HE HAD A BUMP ON HIS FOREHEAD, AND HIS KNEE, AND STILL HAS MUSCLE PAIN IN THE THIGH OF THIS LEG. IF THERE HAD BEEN A FULL-SIZE ADULT SITTING BEHIND EITHER FRONT SEAT, THERE COULD HAVE BEEN VERY SERIOUS INJURIES. AS IT IS, WE ALL THREE HAVE WHIPLASH AND ARE DEALING WITH A LOT OF PAIN. OUR AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, WHICH IS NO GOOD SINCE THE SEATS COLLAPSED. AND, OF COURSE, EVEN THOUGH WE WERE SEAT-BELTED, OUR SHOULDER STRAP WAS STILL IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION WHEN WE WERE IN A PRONE POSITION WITH THE STOMACH PORTION OF THE STRAP STILL ACROSS US. I CALLED THE FORD COMPANY AND SPOKE WITH A CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE THAT ONLY SAID SHE HAD NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING, AND THAT THE LOCAL FORD GARAGE WOULD MORE THAN LIKELY BE SENDING THEM A REPORT SINCE THEY ARE FIXING IT.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation