Questions for Ford Windstar owners..(1996-2000)

Ok, never mind, it's not going to work for us.

I drive a 1999 Windstar SE. It has two captain chairs in the middle and a third row bench. We also looked at LX models and those all had a middle row two-seater bench instead of the middle row captain chairs.

The third row bench is under 50 inches, if I remember correctly. I had a very hard time finding a three-across combo that would work there, and when it did work, it was using two width-adjustable boosters on about a 14 inch setting, plus a 17 inch wide harnessed seat in the middle.

I have headrests on all seats except the third row, center (so, four out of five rear seating positions have headrests). I know previous model years did not have headrests; I can't remember what year they got headrests in the rear, though. I am positive the 96-97 doesn't have them; not sure about 98.

I have top tether anchors for all five rear seating positions, plus a tether anchor on the front passenger seat.

The 2000 model year was the first to include lower anchors to complete the LATCH system.

All vehicles made after 1996 have seatbelts that lock in a child seat. Some lock at the latchplate (sliding part), some lock at the shoulderbelt retractor. My 99 has locking latchplates.

I believe the LX (base) model Windstar comes standard with a middle row bench, while the SE and SES come with captain chairs. Don't quote me on that, though--I just know that the LX we looked at had a middle row bench, while the SE we bought has captain chairs.

scatterbunny said:

The third row bench is under 50 inches, if I remember correctly. I had a very hard time finding a three-across combo that would work there, and when it did work, it was using two width-adjustable boosters on about a 14 inch setting, plus a 17 inch wide harnessed seat in the middle.

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Thanks so much for answering all those questions Jenny...but if the 3rd row bench is under 50" I guess there's no way we'll be able to fit our 3 car seats there. Thanks!! Sara