I have a 2001 V70 that if I put a standard (Britax) car seat in the middle the curb side passengers are unable to latch the seat belt due to anchor is blocked by the seat. I find this to be poor engineering since the QX4 I traded and the 2000 Nissan Sentra I use to commute is able to have a car seat in the middle and all out board passengers buckle up. I can't imagine that I am the only parent who wants to place the car seat in the middle and have the ablity to safely use the booster seats in the out board seating positions. But as of now the dealer (355 Volvo Rockville, MD) is unaware of a solution and lets just say Volvo's customer service has been anything but..

I am surprised that you are having problems. I have a Britax seat installed in my car and we regularly have 2 adults sit in the back with the baby and nobody has ever complained they cannot latch their seat belts...Are you sure you have installed your car seat correctly?

Yannis

I just installed an infant rear facing car seat in my 96 850. The bottom section barely fit between the seat belt recievers. I have not tried but I don't think the other seat belts will be functional now. My daughter is one month old today.

Is your Britax the Roundabout? And is it installed rear facing?

Yes...on both accounts.

Yannis

I'm not sure about your particular seat, but most child seats have a base that is wider at the back than the front. So, when installed rear facing, they fit between the center seatbelt latches, but when you turn them forward, you have problems with access. This is what happened in my case.

Koz.

Yannis -

Is your Britax installed in the middle position? Take a glance at the right side passenger belt receiver, and you'll see the problem...unless your car is drastically different than mine. More than once I've realized that my passenger has just given up without complaint.

- Darell

Yes it is...But, honestly, no one has ever had a problem. And I cannot see how my car is any different than yours, right? Actually, this week we have relatives staying with us, from San Diego, and we have had 2 other adults with us on quite a few occasions, they never had a problem finding their respective latches...very intriguing!

Yannis

Well it an issue and honestly I dont think you understand the problem. My V70 came off the line in 01/01 and its impossible to have a rearfacing car seat in the middle and have the curb side passenger buckle up. Believe it or not !

Yannis -

Well, the only thing I can ask is that you take a look back there, and let me know what you see. Certainly our cars should not be different, but I suppose it's possible that they fixed them mid-year. Mine was built a year ago.

- Darell

Hi Darell,

Well, I did look...I guess I understand what you are trying to "tell" me but w/ my seat installed to face the rear (my son is only 6 months old) there is no problem for either passenger in the rear to buckle up. I am not sure if I will have problems when I will have to turn his carseat around when her gets older.

Yannis

OK, I'll quiet down down. At least you see the potential problem, and I guess some seats make it worse than others. And it still does not explain why Volvo felt they had to put the center anchor toward the right side of the car, and the right side anchor toward the center.

I'm glad you've found a seat that works so well. I hope my next one will. You can bet I'll check first!

- Darell

Found a Fisher Price seat that works if booster seat is down. This is PPE (Piss Poor Engineering) and will be my last Volvo. Just a note took the Britax Roundabout seat and gave it to the grandparents(2001 Honda Accord)and would you believe the passenger on each side of the seat have easy access to the seat belts. Last VOLVO I'll ever own