Child Seat Problems of Ford Windstar

The lower anchor strap for rear facing will not tighten or loosen and is stuck in the same position. I contacted graco and they are replacing the seat after I send back the defective one (related vehicle information: model year=2001, make=Ford , model=windstar).

See all problems of the 2001 Ford Windstar 🔎.

The brake fluid continues to leak, today I was driving and had no brake fluid, I have noticed some smoking under my van after the van is turned off. I had to remove a fuse due to lights not turning off also, the child built in restraints plastic is broken, (related vehicle information: model year=1998, make=Ford, model=windstar).

See all problems of the 1998 Ford Windstar 🔎.

While driving at 25 mph consumer's child was banging on the front of the shield of the child seat. Suddenly the entire shield fell apart with springs and parts flying everywhere in the vehicle.

The harness straps on the seat constantly come loose and need to be tightened. When the straps become loose child is not secure in the child safety seat. Consumer tightened the straps ten times in the last two months.

See all problems of the 2000 Ford Windstar 🔎.

The graco infant car seat/carrier, model# 8458 hh, will not attach safely to the car seat base when the upper position shoulder strap locations are used to secure the infant. When the upper shoulder strap location slots are used, the straps are joined by a metal juntion to the tightening strap, forming a "y". Because the shoulder straps are too short, even when used with a small infant (<13 lbs) and without bulky clothing, this junction piece and the "y" formed by the two shoulder straps and the tightening strap interfere with the main latch mechanism to the car seat base. The result is that the car seat can appear to be located in the seat base properly, but unlatched. Furthermore, due to the interference of the straps and the latch mechanism, the shoulder straps become displaced to one side of the latch housing/protrusion underneath the car seat. This results in uneven tension on the shoulder straps securing the child in the seat -- I. E. , one shoulder strap is tight while the other is loose. The model of the graco infant car seat is 8458 hh, serial # is mm0519990643, manufacture date: 05199, shoulder straps number f12217, lot id 175191-02, 263630, Apr 99 (as shown on the tag). I contacted graco at their cusomter assistance phone number (888 224-6549) on 10/25/99. The graco representative informed me that they were "aware of this problem" and they believed they were "working on it" but she had no information on whether or not a service/replacement part(s) would be made available and when graco might have further information regarding this safety problem. This is completely unacceptable! our newborn son is approximately 2-1/2 months old, and this problem has rendered the infant car seat unsafe and useless. Even if the car seat is used without the base to avoid the latch interference problem, the straps will not fit evenly on the child and will not have enough length to accommodate the child during winter months with bulky clothes or as he gets larger!.

See all problems of the 1999 Ford Windstar 🔎.

The vehicle's integrated child seat straps which come across the child's chest can pop open very easily. The child which sits in the seat can pop open the straps.

See all problems of the 1996 Ford Windstar 🔎.

The consumer's two year old child was able to undo the top half of the integrated child safety seat and proceeded to wiggle her legs out of the bottom strap and get out of the seat while the vehicle was making left hand turn omto a side street.

Locking clip harness of integrated child safety seat broke. Nlm.

When placing child in rear bench seat on a booster seat child's head is over the headrest.

When the integrated child safety seat is locked a green insert is shown. When locking the css the green insert shows, but when tugging on the straps to make sure that the child is buckled in properly, the buckle separates very easily.

I had difficulty finding an infant car seat that I could anchor properly in my car. I tried just about every major manufacturer's infant seat, and they all failed to restrain the seat properly aginst a front end crash. Finally, I found a seat made by britax called "handle with care". This seat had a teather strap that enabled me to properly secure the seat to withstand a front end collision. I recommend that you consider requiring all manufacturers of infant (rear facing) seats to also provide teather straps. The britax seat cost $140. 00. Most consumers won't be able to afford such a seat. If you have any questions, please call or email me and I will be glad to provide the details. Thanks, randy haufe.

Children easily slip out of harness of integrated child seat.

Design of integrated child seat's chest clip allows it to be easily pushed by child's feet, freeing child to/ stand up/get out.

Ford advertised that integrated child seat belts accomodate children to 60 pounds. However, consumer's child weighing 43 pounds cannot fit into seat belt.