NHTSA Complaint #10180915 — 2002 FORD F-150

IN LATE SUMMER OF 2006, MY 2002 FORD F-150 BEGAN EXPERIENCING CHASSIS ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS. EVERY TIME THERE WAS A RAINSTORM. SPECIFICALLY, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS CEASED TO WORK, THE INTERIOR DOME LIGHT WOULD FLASH ON & OFF, THE BLOWER MOTOR FOR THE HEATER WOULD CONTINUE TO RUN AFTER SHUTTING OFF IGNITION, THE KEYLESS ENTRY SYSTEM WOULD NOT WORK, THE ABS WARNING LIGHT WOULD COME ON. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO FORD DEALER # 1 WHO, WHEN I DESCRIBED THE SYMPTOMS, STATED IMMEDIATELY THAT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO WATER LEAKING PAST THE LOWER WINDSHIELD SEAL AND SHORTING OUT THE GEM MODULE AND THE FUSE BLOCK MOUNTED ON THE INTERIOR FIREWALL. DEALER STATED "THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR, YOU MIGHT WANT TO DO THE WORK YOURSELF". AS I DIDN'T FEEL I HAD THE ABILITY TO REPAIR, I LET IT GO FOR SEVERAL WEEKS. IN LATE NOVEMBER OF 2006, I WAS DRIVING TO WORK BEFORE SUNRISE, IN A VERY HEAVY RAIN, WHEN THE WIPERS SHUT OFF AND THE DOME LIGHT CAME ON MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE. I TOLD MY PARENTS ABOUT THIS & THEY INSTRUCTED ME TO TAKE VEHICLE TO FORD DEALER # 2 FOR REPAIR AT THEIR EXPENSE. DEALER # 2 WAS AWARE OF THE CONDITION AS WELL. THE ESTIMATE FOR REPAIR WAS $553 TO REPAIR THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS DAMAGED BY THE MOISTURE, AND THE VEHICLE WOULD THEN HAVE TO BE TAKEN TO A GLASS SHOP TO HAVE THE WINDSHIELD RE-SEALED. THE WORK WAS DECLINED, AND I CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE EXPLAINING THAT AS THIS WAS A SAFETY RELATED ISSUE, KNOWN TO BOTH DEALERSHIPS, I FELT THEY SHOULD ABSORB SOME OF THE EXPENSE OF MAKING VEHICLE DRIVABLE DURING ANY WEATHER CONDITION. REQUEST WAS DENIED. MY CONTENTION IS THAT SINCE DRIVING IN A RAINSTORM WITHOUT WIPERS AND AN ERRATIC ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AND SINCE BOTH DEALERSHIPS WERE ACQUAINTED WITH THE CONDITION, THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A VOLUNTARY RECALL, OR AT THE VERY LEAST, A TSB ADVISING OWNERS OF THE POTENTIAL PROBLEM. *JB