NHTSA Complaint #10206735 — 2001 MAZDA TRIBUTE

DESCRIPTION : DRIVER'S SIDE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE FAILS TO WORK. UPON DISASSEMBLY, WE FOUND THAT THE PART THAT CONNECTED THE HANDLE MECHANISM TO THE LOCK MECHANISM WAS A FLIMSY THIN METAL WASHER, WHICH HAD BROKE IN HALF. THIS COMPONENT IS DEFINITELY SUBSTANDARD FOR THE CONSTANT USE IT GETS. UPON CONFERRING WITH OTHER 2001 ESCAPE OWNERS AT ESCAPE-CENTRAL.COM (TECH. TIPS ), NOT ONLY DOES THIS PART FAIL, BUT THE HANDLE ON THE INTERIOR DOOR EVENTUALLY FAILS TOO, THUS YOU CANNOT OPEN THE DOOR FROM EITHER THE OUTSIDE OR INSIDE.' THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR ALSO HAS THIS PROBLEM AS POSTED BY OTHER OWNERS. THIS CREATES THE POSSIBILTY OF BEING TRAPPED INSIDE DURING AN EMERGENCY SITUATION, SUCH AS A FIRE, ACCIDENT, ETC. THESE CARS SHOULD BE RECALLED AND FORD SHOULD FIX THIS PROBLEM WITH A MORE SUBSTANTIAL PART. *TR