NHTSA Complaint #10149229 — 2003 FORD TAURUS

JUST LIKE EVERY ONE ELSE. MY HEATER BLOWER QUIT WORKING ON ALL MODES EXCEPT HIGH. THEN WITHIN A COUPLE DAYS HIGH WENT OUT. I TESTED IT AND FOUND THE RESISTOR TO BE BAD, BUT WHEN I BY-PASSED IT, THE BLOWER MOTOR WAS ALSO BAD. THAT'S WHEN I KNEW THERE WAS MORE TO THE STORY THAN WHAT I WAS SEEING. I NOTICED THAT THE RESISTOR HAD RUST ON IT. THIS WAS NOT GOOD, WHEN I OPENED THE FAN MOTOR CASING I FOUND WATER IN IT. THIS IS NOT SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN. THE SEAL IS FAULTY (DEFECTIVE) . I RESEARCHED AND FOUND OUT THAT THERE IS A BULLETIN OUT ON THIS AT FORD DEALERSHIPS SO FORD IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, BUT NOT OBLIGATED TO TELL CUSTOMERS. SO IF YOU STILL HAVE A WARRANTY IT'S COVERED ONLY IF YOU CONTACT FORD. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A WARRANTY NO LONGER THAN YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE TO PAY THE BILL. THEY HAVE NOT PUT OUT A RECALL BECAUSE NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED. MOST TAKE IT IN TO SERVICE AND FORD REPAIRS AND CHARGES THEM, USUALLY WITHOUT TELLING THEM ABOUT THE DEFECTIVE SEAL. I AM CURRENTLY FIGHTING WITH THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND HAVE CALLED AND MADE COMPLAINTS. MY VEHICLE IS NOT FIXED AT THE MOMENT, BUT I AM DETERMINED. THEY KNEW ABOUT THIS DEFECTIVE SEAL, BUT YET DID NOT HAVE THE COMMON COURTESY TO INFORM THEIR CUSTOMERS AND HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED BEFORE IT COST APPROXIMATELY $400-$500 FOR THOSE WITHOUT WARRANTY INSTEAD OF SAVING THE $300-$400 . SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT RIPPING OFF CUSTOMERS, AND MAKING THEM PAY THE PRICE FOR ANOTHER'S KNOWING MISTAKE. THIS LEADS TO ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AND IS A FIRE HAZARD LOURIE. *NM