NHTSA Complaint #10105975 — 2001 FORD WINDSTAR

I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY 2001 WINDSTAR PASSENGER REAR AUTOMATIC DOOR SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW. THE DOOR WOULD CONSTANTLY CLOSE AND REOPEN. I HAVE HAD IT CHECKED AT LEAST 3 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. MOST RECENTLY THE DOOR WOULD NOT CLOSE ALL THE WAY AND HAS BEEN RATTLING. THE PROBLEM NOW IS THE DOOR HAS CLOSED AND LOCKED AND WILL NOT OPEN. MY FORD DEALER NEEDS TO PRY IT OPEN WITH SOME DEVICE JUST TO CHECK THE PROBLEM. MINIMUM COST FOR THIS IS $250.00. I CANNOT DRIVE THIS VEHICLE WITH A JAMMED DOOR BECAUSE I HAVE TWO SMALL CHILDREN. IF I EVER NEEDED TO GET THEM OUT IN AN EMERGENCY I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO SEE IF THERE HAS BEEN ANY RECALLS OF THIS NATURE. FORD DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THIS PROBLEM AND DISMISSED IT AND ME. I THINK FORD SHOULD INVESTIGATE THIS FURTHER AND I THINK THEY SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM FOR FREE. AN AUTOMATIC DOOR MALFUNCTIONING SEEMS LIKE A RECALL SITUATION TO ME EVEN IF THERE IS ONLY ONE PERSON WHOM ITS HAPPENED TO SO FAR THERE MAY BE OTHERS.*AK