NHTSA Complaint #10146850 — 1999 FORD F-150

WE BOUGHT A USED F-150 AND HAD IT CHECKED OUT AND IT HAD NO PROBLEMS FOR A YEAR. AFTER A HEAVY RAIN, THE ALARM WENT OFF AND ON, LIGHTS FLASHED, DOOR CHIME WENT OFF WHEN THE KEY WAS OUT OF THE IGNITION, ETC. HAYWARD FORD IN CA LOOKED AT IT AND SAID THEY HAD NO IDEA WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS AND SINCE OUR EXTENDED WARRANTY "JUST RAN OUT," THEY WANTED TO CHARGE US $150 TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. I SAID FORGET THAT AND TOOK IT TO A REPUTABLE AUTO ELECTRICAL PLACE. THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AND TOLD US THAT IT WAS INDEED A LEAKY WINDSHIELD CAUSING THE PROBLEM. THEY EVEN GAVE US THE PAPER THAT FORD PUTS OUT TELLING MECHANICS WHAT TO DO IN THE EVENT OF THE LEAKY WINDSHIELD (BASICALLY TO SEAL THE WINDSHIELD WITH BUTYL SEALANT). I CALLED FORD BACK AND THEY SUDDENLY ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM, BUT SAID THAT ISN'T A RECALL PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE ABOUT 20 DIFFERENT MAKES/MODELS OF FORDS HAVING THIS EXACT PROBLEM. WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT OUT OF POCKET AND IF THE GEM WAS HARMED, WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE IT FIXED TOO (AT A TUNE OF $1600). I CALLED FORD DIRECTLY AND AFTER GETTING THE RUN AROUND, A SUPERVISOR FINALLY TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT THEY ARE WILLING OR WILL DO TO HELP US OUT. THEY ACKNOWLEDGE IT IS A PROBLEM, BUT THAT THERE AREN'T ENOUGH PEOPLE THAT HAVE COME FORWARD TO COMPLAIN (YET) AND THERE ISN'T A RECALL (YET). SO, THEY AREN'T WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. I AM SO MAD I CAN'T SEE STRAIGHT. I HAVE WRITTEN A COMPLAINT LETTER. MY TRUCK IS JUST SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY (TARPED UP TO PREVENT RAIN FROM GETTING ON THE GEM) WITH THE BATTERY PULLED (OTHERWISE IT GETS DRAINED). SO, WE EITHER PAY TO HAVE IT FIXED OR CONTINUE TO WATCH THE TRUCK ROT IN THE DRIVEWAY. I'M SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING A CLASS ACTION SUIT. ANYONE ELSE WITH THIS PROBLEM? *NM