NHTSA Complaint #10125640 — 2000 LINCOLN LS

DT: ON MAY 27, 2005 CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO HEISER LINCOLN MERCURY BECAUSE WAS HAVING PROBLEMS OPENING DRIVER'S DOOR WITH KEY OR KEYLESS ENTRY. DOOR WOULD SOUND LIKE IT UNLOCKED, BUT WOULD NOT OPEN. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, WHO DID A FULL DIAGNOSTIC TEST ON DOOR AND FOND THAT DOOR LOCK ROD BROKE. DEALER TOLD CONSUMER THAT IT WAS NORMAL WEAR. CONSUMER PAID FOR REPAIRS, WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER REPAIRS. AFTER CONSUMER PICKED UP VEHICLE AND LEFT. WHEN CONSUMER REACHED DESTINATION DRIVER'S DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. AFTER SOME EFFORT CONSUMER GOT DOOR OPEN. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE MORE THE DRIVER'S DOOR WAS USED THE WORSE THE PROBLEM GOT. ON MAY 29, 2005 CONSUMER CALLED DEALER COMPLAINING THAT BEFORE REPAIR DRIVER JUST HAD PROBLEM OPENING DOOR FROM OUTSIDE, AFTER REPAIR PROBLEM WAS FROM THE INSIDE. CONSUMER TOOK CAR IN ON JUNE 16, 2005 AT ABOUT ONE O'CLOCK PM. DEALER SAID DRIVERS SIDE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE BROKE. CONSUMER ASKED TO SEE BROKEN HANDLE, CONSUMER COULD NOT SEE WHERE HANDLE BROKE. DEALER REPLACED INTERIOR HANDLE FOR $70 INSTEAD OF 1$140. D CONSUMER STATED THAT THIS FIXED THE PROBLEM, BUT IT WAS NOT THAT DEALER ACTUALLY REPLACED HANDLE.*AK