NHTSA Complaint #10025649 — 2001 FORD F-150

WE (ABRA AUTO BODY AND GLASS--APPLE VALLEY LOCATION) ARE REPLACING THE WINDSHIELD IN A 2001 F150 THAT WAS CRACKED IN AN ACCIDENT. WE FOUND THAT THE CLEAR COAT ISN'T STICKING TO THE BASE COAT, WHERE THE URETHANE IS. THERE IS ADHESION BETWEEN THE CLEAR COAT AND URETHANE, BUT NOT CLEAR COAT AND BASE COAT. IT IS PEELING OFF IN CHUNKS, CREATING A WINDSHIELD ADHESION PROBLEM WHICH CAN POTENTIALLY CAUSE THE WINDSHIELD TO COME OUT OF THE VEHICLE IN A SEVERE CRASH OR A ROLL OVER ACCIDENT. THIS IS A POTENTIAL FOR A DEADLY SITUATION IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN. THIS COULD POSSIBLY BE A PROBLEM FOR MANY TRUCKS OUT THERE. IS THERE STILL A PROBLEM WITH ADHESION BETWEEN BASE AND CLEAR COATS IN SILVER COLORS??? THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY FOR THE SAFETY OF YOUR VEHICLE DRIVERS. I CONTACTED THE FORD HOTLINE (800-392-3673) AND SPOKE WITH ARIAL (EMPLOYEE NUMBER 2141) AND HE TOLD ME THAT BECAUSE WE ARE NOT A FORD DEALER, THERE IS NOTHING THAT HE COULD DO TO LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM. THE CUSTOMER WOULD NEED TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALER TO HAVE INSPECTED. I LET HIM KNOW THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE ISN'T DRIVEABLE BECAUSE OF THIS. I ALSO LET HIM KNOW THAT WE COULDN'T INSTALL THE WINDSHIELD WITH THIS PROBLEM STILL THERE. HE TOLD ME THAT THE CUSTOMER WOULD NEED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALER THEN TO HAVE IT INSPECTED. I VERIFIED THAT HE WANTS ME TO HAVE THE CUSTOMER PAY TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A FORD DEALER TO CHECK OUT THE WINDSHIELD ADHESION PROBLEM?? HE SAID "YES". I THANKED HIM FOR HIS TIME AND CONTACTED RANDY KAISER AT APPLE VALLEY FORD IN APPLE VALLEY MINNESOTA FOR FURTHER ADVISE INTO THIS ISSUE. *AK