Table 1 shows one common tether, lower anchor (on car seat or vehicle) related problems of the 2017 Ford Explorer.
| Problem Category | Number of Problems |
|---|---|
| Tether, Lower Anchor (on Car Seat Or Vehicle) problems |
While the car seat was properly installed and being used under normal conditions, the top tether strap pulled free from the anchor point. This caused the car seat to no longer be safely secured. The top tether is a critical safety component intended to limit forward movement of the car seat. Once the tether pulled free, the child’s safety was put at risk due to loss of proper restraint performance. The car seat has not been physically inspected by the manufacturer or other parties. The incident was reported to the manufacturer, but the manufacturer declined to evaluate the failure.