NHTSA Complaint #10149935 — 2003 FORD EXPEDITION

HAVE A FORD EXPEDITION. THE 2ND ROW, MIDDLE SEAT WILL NOT STAY IN A LOCKED UPRIGHT POSITION. NOTIFIED FORD, AS THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY INFRACTION. ANY CHILD OR ADULT COULD BE SERIOUSLY HARMED IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, AS THE SEAT WOULD COLLAPSE FORWARD. FORD CLAIMS THE PART WHICH CONTROLS THE LATCHING OF THE SEAT INTO AN UPRIGHT POSITION (KNOWN AS A SEAT HANDLE RELEASE) IS TRIM AND THEREFORE UNCOVERED BY WARRANTY. THIS IS NOT AN ISSUE OF FIXING A DOOR HANDLE OR A CRACKED PIECE OF PLASTIC, BUT TO CORRECT A SAFETY CONCERN THAT COULD CAUSE DAMAGE IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. REPEATED PHONE CALLS TO FORD HAS YIELDED NO RESULTS AND WHILE THE FORD EMPLOYEES I SPOKE WITH CONCUR THAT THE ISSUE IS A SAFETY CONCERN, THEY ARE UNWILLING TO RE-CATEGORIZE THE PART OR ALLOW THE PART TO BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *NM