NHTSA Complaint #10062356 — 2003 FORD WINDSTAR

WE'RE WRITING THIS LETTER TO INFORM YOU OF WHAT WE SEE AND FEEL IS A FLAW IN THE DESIGN OF THE 2003 FORD WINDSTAR AND A SAFETY HAZARD. WE TOOK OUR 2003 WINDSTAR TO THE DEALERSHIP FROM WHICH WE BOUGHT IT, " PRAIRIE FORD" LOCATED AT 601 WEST ROOSEVELT ROAD, WEST CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60185 BECAUSE WE WERE HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE DUAL SLIDING PASSENGER DOORS WINDOWS FOGGING UP WITH OR WITHOUT PASSENGERS. THIS WAS CAUSING A VISION PROBLEM FOR THE DRIVER BECAUSE YOU COULD NOT SEE OUT THOSE WINDOWS FOR THE PURPOSE OF; BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT OR WHEN CHANGING LANES DUE TO THESE WINDOWS WOULD NOT CLEAR DURING COLD OUTSIDE TEMPERATURES. THERE ARE FOUR CEILING VENTS (2) IN THE MIDDLE AND (2) TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. WE NOTICED THAT THE (2) MIDDLE CEILING VENTS DID NOT WORK WHETHER YOU USED THE FRONT CONTROLS OR YOU USED THE PASSENGER COMFORT CONTROLS ASKING FOR HEAT. THE (2) FAR BACK CEILING VENTS DID WORK AND DID PRODUCED HEAT AND WERE VERY LOUD TO THE PASSENGER TO THE POINT THEY COULD NOT HEAR CONVERSATION TAKING PLACE FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THIS WE BELIEVE IS NOT VERY PASSENGER FRIENDLY AND THE COMFORT CONTROLS DO NOT PROVIDE COMFORT FOR YOUR PASSENGERS. THE PASSENGERS SEATED BEHIND THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WERE NOT COMFORTABLE BECAUSE THEY WERE ALWAYS COLD AND COULD NOT SEE OUT THEIR SLIDING DOOR WINDOWS, BECAUSE THEY WOULD NOT DEFROST OR CLEAR. WHEN YOU ASKED FOR HEAT A RELAY SHUT DOWN THE (2) VENT TO THE MIDDLE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT CEILING VENT AND ONLY THE FAR BACK UNIT PROVIDED HEAT. WE WERE INFORMED THAT WE ARE THE FIRST TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BY OUR SALES PERSON. WE WERE FURTHER INFORMED THAT THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW AND THEY THE DEALERSHIP HAD NO ANSWERS ON HOW TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. *JB