NHTSA Complaint #10050874 — 1999 FORD EXPLORER

I PUCHASED A "CERTIFIED" FORD SUV FROM A LOCAL DEALER. I WAS TOLD AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS A LEASE TRADE-IN. AFTER THE SALESMAN TOLD ME ABOUT FORDS 115POINT CHECK LIST TO "CERTIFY" ITS VEHICLES I FELT THAT THIS WOULD BE A WISE INVESTMENT. FROM THE BEGINING IVE HAD PROBLEMS, SOME OF WHICH THE DEALER DID REPAIR. BUT AS TIME WHEN ON, BIGGER PROBLEMS AROSE. WHAT CAUIGHT MY ATTENTION WAS THAT MY TRUCKS CLEARCOAT HAS BEGUN TO PEEL AWAY. I BROUGHT MY TRUCK TO TWO BODY SHOPS TO HAVE THE PROBLEM LOOKED AT. BOTH CLAIMED THAT THE VEHICLE MUST HAVE BEEN IN A ACCIDENT AND NOT REPAIRED CORRECTLY. AFTER HEARING THIS I PURCHASED A REPORT FROM CARFAX. TO MY SURPRISE I FOUND OUT THAT THE SUV WAS BOUGHT AT AUCTION AND WAS IN A SERIOUS FRONT END ACCIDENT WHERE THE AIR BAGS DID DEPLOY. I ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT THE DEALER ABOUT THE SITUATION, BUT WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I ALSO ATTEMPED TO CONTACT FORD, BUT WAS TOLD THAT FORD DOES NOT HANDLE COMPLAINTS LIKE THIS. SO IM IN THE POSTION WHERE THE DEALER NOR FORD ARE WILLING TO HELP ME. NOT I AM PAYING FOR A SUV WHICH I DONT FEEL SAFE IN, NOR DO I KNOW WHAT OTHER PROBLEMS ARE GOING TO ARRISE. ANY HELP OR ADVICE YOU MAY OFFER WOULD BE GREAT! THANKS. *AK