NHTSA Complaint #10154241 — 2003 FORD EXPEDITION

I OWN A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION THAT HAS BEEN GIVING ME PROBLEMS SINCE DAY ONE. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE CAUSING THE LIGHTS TO REMAIN ON AT ALL TIMES AND MY BATTERY TO RUN DOWN TWICE. THE DOORS ALL SEEM TO LOCK AND UNLOCK ONLY WHEN THEY WANT TO AND THE MOST RECENT OF MY COMPLAINTS IS THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR HAS BEGUN OPENING ON ITS OWN WHILE BEING DRIVEN. MY 10 MONTH OLD DAUGHTER AND I WERE OUT SHOPPING AT A LOCAL SHOPPING CENTER A FEW WEEKS AGO AND WHILE MAKING A TURN AND PREPARING TO PARK IN A SPACE THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR FLUNG COMPLETELY OPEN. I WAS STUNNED. MY DAUGHTER LUCKILY WAS SAFELY BELTED IN HER CAR SEAT IN THE MIDDLE SEAT. I SHUDDER TO THINK WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED IF MY OTHER TWO CHILDREN HAD OF BEEN WITH ME AT THE TIME AND HAD BEEN SITTING BY THAT DOOR WHICH MY 5 YEAR OLD USUALLY DOES ON A DAILY BASIS. I CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND THEY TOLD ME TO HAVE IT EVALUATED BY A FORD DEALERSHIP WHICH I DID AND IT WAS PROVEN TO BE A FAULTY LATCH AND SWITCH. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO MORE WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE AND THAT NO EXTENDED WARRANTY WOULD COVER IT. IT IS CONSIDERED TO BE NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE LESS THAN 3 YEARS AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW A FAULTY LATCH AND SWITCH COULD END UP BEING MY FAULT. I HAVE AUTHORIZED THE DEALERSHIP TO REPAIR NEEDLESS TO SAY IT IS NOT WORTH THE SAFETY OF MY CHILDREN, BUT I AM STILL UNSURE HOW A FAULTY PART IS DEEMED THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CONSUMER. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL SWITCHES FIXED FOR TWO OTHER DOORS WHILE UNDER WARRANTY BUT THE PROBLEM JUST SEEMS TO BE CONTINUING. THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF THE REPAIR WILL RUN ME $257.00. *JB