Ford Ranger Pickups Recalled for Child Seat Problem
The rear head restraints and lower LATCH anchors in Super Cab models prevent seats from being securely installed
Ford has announced a recall of 37,625 Ranger Super Cab pickups from the 2020 and 2021 model years because of two problems that may prevent child seats from being properly installed.
The fixed head restraints in these models could interfere with installation of taller, rigid anchor-mounted child seats, and prevent them from being secured. Additionally, it might not be possible to properly attach seats to the lower rear anchors. These issues also mean the vehicles don’t conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 225. To fix this problem, Ford dealerships will replace the head restraints and adjust the anchors as necessary, free of charge.
According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration documentation, Ford was alerted by a supplier of a variation between a benchmarking evaluation of the rear seat child restraint system and Ford’s internal FMVSS 225 certification results.
Ford introduced fixed, nonremovable rear head restraints during the 2020 model year and failed to recertify the child restraint system. After being notified of the discrepancy by the supplier, Ford inspected vehicles from different model years. It was during these inspections that it also became apparent that the lower anchors on certain 2021 models were not properly aligned as required by the safety standard.
Ford is not aware of any reports of crashes or injuries from this problem.
The Details
Vehicles recalled: A total of 37,625 Ford Ranger Super Cab pickup trucks from the 2020 and 2021 model years.
The problem: The fixed head restraints in Ranger Super Cab models may interfere with the installation of certain types of child seats, preventing them from being installed properly. In addition, it might not be possible to securely attach child seats to the lower LATCH anchors.
The fix: Ford dealers will inspect the rear lower LATCH anchors and adjust them as necessary. Dealers will also replace the nonremovable head restraints with removable ones. All of this will be done free of charge.
How to contact the manufacturer: Ford is expected to notify owners by mail beginning Nov. 15, 2021. Owners may contact customer service at 866-436-7332.
NHTSA campaign numbers: 21V765. Ford’s number for this recall is 21C24.
Check to see whether your vehicle has an open recall: NHTSA’s website will tell you whether your vehicle has any open recalls that need to be addressed.
If you plug your car’s 17-digit vehicle identification number (VIN) into NHTSA’s website and a recall doesn’t appear, your vehicle doesn’t currently have any open recalls. Because automakers issue recalls often, and for many older vehicles, we recommend checking back regularly to see whether your vehicle has had a recall issued.
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