The defect
CERTAIN MINIVANS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEM." DURING TESTING, A THIRD ROW BENCH FLOOR-TO-SEAT LATCH RELEASED BEFORE THE STRENGTH REQUIREMENT WAS MET. IDENTICAL LATCHES ARE USED IN THE SECOND ROW OF SEATS.
The risk
IF THE LATCHES ON TH4E SECOND OR THIRD ROW SEATS OF THE VEHICLE RELEASE IN A CRASH, THE POTENTIAL FOR OCCUPANT INJURY IS INCREASED.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEAT-TO-FLOOR LATCHES ON THE SECOND AND THIRD ROW OF SEATS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 21, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Ford Windstar | 2001, 2002, 2003 |
Components: SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Windstar | 2001 | 1,686 | 15 |
| Ford Windstar | 2002 | 1,353 | 8 |
| Ford Windstar | 2003 | 1,510 | 8 |
Other seats recalls in 2003
15 of the 527 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2003 concerned the seats; FORD MOTOR COMPANY filed 963 campaigns in all.
| 03V530000 12 Dec 2003 | ACCUBUILT, INC. |
| 03V514000 10 Dec 2003 | SAAB CARS USA, INC. |
| 03V402000 16 Oct 2003 | MID BUS CORPORATION |
| 03V364000 8 Oct 2003 | BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY |
| 03V346000 29 Sept 2003 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 03V345000 15 Sept 2003 | FERRARI NORTH AMERICA |
| 03V281000 5 Aug 2003 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 03V235000 1 Jul 2003 | ALFA LEISURE,INC. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2003