Owner-reported complaints naming the seat belt system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1998 Ford Windstar submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 36 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 36, in the owner's own words
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). *TR
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. *TR
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. *AK
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. *NM
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT DOES NOT RELEASE FROM THE RETRACTOR. *AK
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
CONSUMER STATES WHILE APPLYING BRAKES SUDDENLY CHILD SAFETY SEAT'S SHIELS SNAPPED . MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *AK
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
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
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
CONSUMER STATEED BOTH FRONT TIE RODS FAILED AND WERE REPLACED, ALSO THE STEERING RACK WAS REPLACED.*YH
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.*AK
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.*AK
SEAT BELT ALARM,LIGHT, AND COURTESY LIGHT WOULD REMAIN ON WHILE DRIVING. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME.*AK
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.*AK
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. *TT
I PURCHASED THE EVENFLO MEDALLION CARSEAT (MODEL #2541113P1, MANUFACTURED 25FEB00). MY 16 MONTH OLD SON IS ABLE TO UNCLASP THE CHEST BUCKLE. I HAVE TO TO STOP EVERY FEW BLOCKS TO RELATCH IT. I CONTACTED EVENFLO ABOUT MY PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD THAT THE BUCKLE HAD BEEN CHANGED ON THE NEWER MODEL AND THEY WOULD SEND ME THE NEW BUCKLE. BUT, IF I USE THIS BUCKLE AND IT DOES NOT HOLD, EVENFLO WOULD ASSUME NO LIABILITY SINCE I HAD ALTERED THE HARNESS. THEY SAID THIS BUCKLE HAD NOT BEEN TESTED ON MY MODEL CARSEAT SO THEY WOULD NOT GUARANTEE ITS SAFETY ( EVEN THOUGH THEY OFFERED TO GIVE IT TO ME, INTERESTING DON'T YOU THINK?). I WAS TOLD BY THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE REP THAT THE BEST THING TO DO WOULD BE TO BUY A NEW SEAT. THIS SEAT COST ABOUT $100, AND I PURCHASED IT BECAUSE I WAS TOLD THAT A FIVE POINT HARNESS WAS THE SAFEST. I TRULY CANNOT AFFORD ANOTHER SEAT ( ALTHOUGH I WILL BUY ONE IF IT IS MY ONLY RECOURSE). PLEASE ADVISE ME ON MY NEXT STEP. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.*AK
RESTRAINT ON DRIVER'S SIDE ON SECOND ROW HAS SHREADED FROM TOP OF RESTRAINT. DEALER WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK
THE DRIVER'S SIDE/ PASSENGER'S SIDE/MIDDLE, AND REAR SHOULDER BELTS ARE COMING APART AT WEBBING. DEALER REPLACED THEM A YEAR AGO. *AK
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.*AK
LOCKING CLIP HARNESS OF INTEGRATED CHILD SAFETY SEAT BROKE. NLM
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.*AK
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. *TT
CHILD WEIGHING 33 POUNDS SITS IN THE BUILT-IN CHILD SEATIN WHICH HARNESS IS TOO HIGH, AND DOES NOT PROTECT THE CHILD CORRECTLY. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
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. *AK
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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