NHTSA Complaint #10100142 — 2003 FORD EXPLORER

AT 8000+ MILES IN JANUARY 2004, MY DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT HEATER BROKE. I TURNED THE CAR IN TO THE LOCAL DEALER SERVICE SHOP FOR REPAIR. SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY THE DEALER REPLACED THE FAULTY COMPONENT, A SHORTED SWITCH. I USED THE SEAT HEATER FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO AND A HALF MORE MONTHS UNTIL IT GOT WARM. NOW IT'S NOVEMBER 2004 AND I WENT TO USE THE SEAT HEATER, AND AGAIN IT IS BROKEN. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT IT IS THE SAME PROBLEM THAT OCCURRED IN JANUARY. HOWEVER, SINCE I TRAVEL A LOT IN MY VEHICLE, IT IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND THE PART'S WARRANTY HAS ALSO EXPIRED, 12 MONTH/12000 MILE. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT SINCE THE SAME PART BROKE WITH LIMITED USE, THE DEALER JUST TREATED THE SYMPTOM OF THE PROBLEM AND NOT THE CAUSE. BY REPLACING THE SWITCH, THEY DIDN'T FIND OUT EXACTLY WHAT CAUSED IT'S FAILURE AND THEREFORE DIDN'T FIX MY VEHICLE WHILE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. NOW THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME FOR FIXING THE SEAT HEATER AGAIN.*AK