This notification involves my brand new 2009 Ford Mustang GT premium convertible and the use of child seat tethers. When one installs a child seat in this vehicle and runs a tether strap over the head rest of the rear seat, the Ford manual states that the tether should be attached to the indicated anchor hook. This anchor hook is down in the storage compartment where the power convertible top stows when it is opened. Unfortunately, when the convertible top goes through the opening process, the first part of the roof that is lowered down into the roof storage compartment is the hard rear-window glass part of the roof. As the rear-window begins to lower itself into the storage well, it comes down on top of the tether buckle. When the rear-window contacts the tether buckle, two serious things happen (or could happen). First, and most seriously, the pressure from the rear-window can cause certain types of tether buckles to loosen with the downward pressure from the rear-window. This, of course, loosens a key safety belt attachment for the child riding in the child seat. The loosening of this attachment could put the child seat occupant at greater risk of injury, without a parent knowing it has occurred. Second, the contact of the rear-window with the tether buckle could damage the rear-window glass, the fabric on the convertible top and/or the motor mechanism which drives the entire roof structure. Luckily, I was smart enough to foresee this problem before lowering my roof all the way after child seats were installed. Thus, I know to avert the risk of the potential loosening of the tether buckle. However, I wonder how many parents are driving around at this very moment thinking that the tethers on their children's car seats are secure, when they may not be.

- Atlanta, GA, USA