When did lap/shoulderbelt combos become standard in the backseat?

[Unregistered]

I thought it was 89, but I was at my friends yesterday. She just got a "new" '91 minivan, and not a single position in the back has a shoulderbelt. I was really blown away. (btw, it doesn't look like they're simply missing, it looks like it was made without them. The van itself is in remarkably good shape.)

[CPSDarren]

It is my understanding that shoulder belts for outboard seating positions were required by a federal standard starting in the 1991 model year. Perhaps exceptions were made for certain models or classes of vehicles since your friends' seems to be an exception. Maybe I'm off by a year and it was required in 1991 for 1992 model year vehicles...

[Kecia]

Back seat outboard lap/shoulder belts were first required in passenger cars after December 11, 1989. However, convertible passenger cars, light trucks, vans, and SUVs were exempt from this requirement until September 1, 1991.

By model year 1990, all passenger cars (except convertibles) had lap/shoulder belts at the rear outboard seating positions. Many passenger vans and SUVs were also equipped with lap/shoulder belts in the back outboard seating positions before FMVSS 208 made it a requirement. Unfortunately, as you have discovered, some manufacturers waited until they were mandatory before adding them. :-(

Kecia Healy