Vehicle recall 97V051000 · April 1, 1997
1998 Ford Windstar
Vehicle description: minivan equipped with second row bench seats with optional integrated child seat (ics).
Source: NHTSA data as of September 22, 2026. Last refreshed Sep 23, 2026, 2:43 AM UTC.
- Summary
- Vehicle description: minivan equipped with second row bench seats with optional integrated child seat (ics). The headrest lockout mechanism on the seats may not engage and lock the headrests in the "down" position, as intended, when the ics is deployed. A vehicle occupant could move the headrest to the "up" position.
- Consequence
- As a result of the headrest being in the "up" position, a child seated in the ics would receive less than the intended protection in the child head area in the event of a crash.
- Remedy
- The second row bench seats have been replaced with seats built with revised headrest lockout mechanisms.
- Notes
- Owner notification:all owners have been notified and the seats have been replaced in the affected vehicles.
Recall details
- NHTSA campaign
- 97V051000
- Reported to NHTSA
- April 1, 1997
- Filed by
- FORD MOTOR COMPANY
- Owner notification
- February 5, 1997
- Vehicles potentially affected
- 202
- Initiated by
- the manufacturer
- Components
- Child seat
Vehicles covered
As listed by NHTSA. A recall usually covers only some vehicles of each model and year, often a production date range.
- Ford Windstar (1998): 1998
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