NHTSA Complaint #10170694 — 2002 FORD EXPLORER

EACH WINTER SINCE PURCHASING MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER THERE HAVE BEEN DAYS WHEN THE DOOR WOULD NOT LATCH SHUT AND I WAS FORCED TO WAIT FOR THE MECHANISM TO THAW OR USE ONE HAND TO KEEP THE DOOR FROM FLYING OPEN AS I DROVE. AFTER THAWING OUT THE DOOR WOULD LATCH AND I COULD CONTINUE SAFELY. I ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT THIS WAS A PROBLEM ISOLATED TO MY VEHICLE THOUGH AFTER HEARING OF THE RECENT RECALL I AM CERTAIN THIS IS ANOTHER IN A LONG LIST OF DEFECTS I HAVE EXPERIENCED. IN FACT ON JULY 30, 2005 WEST HERR FORD OF HAMBURG, NY HAD TO REPLACE BOTH FRONT DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS BECAUSE THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT LOCK AND THE PASSENGER SIDE WOULD NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. I NOW WONDER IF THE CONSTANT FREEZE / THAW CYCLE OF THE WATER THAT OBVIOUSLY LEAKS INTO THE DOOR CAUSED THIS DAMAGE. *JB