On Friday, August 27, 2010 my daughter became tangled in her seatbelt, and was so constricted by the belt that we had to cut the belt. The sequence of events is as follows: 1. she belted in, as always. 2. she asked if she could lie down on the seat because she didn't feel well; I said okay, but keep the belt on 3. we pulled off the highway B/C she needed the bathroom - when she sat up, she said "I'm stuck in my seatbelt." Once parked, she released the clip, but remained tangled in the shoulder strap. 4. as we tried to get her out of the belt (she is 5'3", so I could not simply lift her up), which was around her waist in a full twist, she pulled the belt to full extension, accidentally starting the ratchet function. 5. the belt began to ratchet tighter and tighter, and became so constricted that she had to face over the back seat. 6. I held the belt to stop the ratcheting, while a friend ran in to get a pair of scissors. The belt was incredibly tight on her - we could not even move it up or down on her waist and she was crying because it was cutting in to her sides. 7. unable to release the belt, I cut it off my daughter. The car is a Ford escape, hybrid, 2007 - but the seatbelts are similar in most car brands. The belt is under warranty and will be replaced at no charge. I do not know how this could be prevented, as the ratcheting function of the seatbelt is necessary for child seat restraints (car seats). However, it was the ratcheting of the belt that put my daughter in so much danger, as once the seatbelt begins ratcheting, it will not release until it is fully retracted. Thankfully, I noticed it was ratcheting before she was completely constricted. I am also reporting this to Ford. It could happen in any car with ratcheting seatbelts, regardless of the brand. Hopefully, it will not happen to anyone else.

- Ann Arbor, MI, USA