NHTSA Complaint #10226806 — 2006 FORD FREESTYLE

SIX MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING OUR CAR THE PAINT WAS "SAND BLASTED" OFF THE FORWARD SIDE OF THE REAR FENDERS. THE DESIGN OF THE CAR ALLOWS FOR THIS TO OCCUR. IT IS AWD AND THE FRONT TIRES CONSTANTLY THROW ROCKS AT THE REAR FENDERS. THE DEALER PAINTED THE FENDERS. SIX MONTHS LATER, THE PAINT WAS WORN AWAY. THE DEALER PAINTED AGAIN. THIS TIME THE DEALER APPLIED A SPECIAL PROTECTIVE DEVICE GIVEN TO THEM FROM THE FACTORY OVER THE PAINT TO PREVENT IT FROM OCCURRING IN THE FUTURE. WHEN I PICKED THE CAR UP, I LEARNED THAT THIS IS ACTUALLY THE SAME THIN PIECE OF PLASTIC FILM THE MANUFACTURER PUT THERE WHEN THEY BUILT IT. IT WAS DESTROYED ORIGINALLY WITHIN THE FIRST 6 MONTHS ALONG WITH THE PAINT. I HAVE CONTACTED FORDS CUSTOMER SERVICE, FORDS BUY BACK PROGRAM, THE ATTORNEY GENERALS OFFICE, AND BBB. I AM JUST NOW WORKING WITH THE BBB. ALL OTHER CONTACTS TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING MORE FORD WOULD DO TO PREVENT THE PROBLEM IN THE FUTURE. WHILE SPEAKING TO FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE, I WAS TOLD: (1) FORD WOULD DO NOTHING MORE TO FIX THE ISSUE, (2) I HAVE THE OPTION WHILE IT IS UNDER WARRANTY TO TAKE IT BACK AND HAVE IT PAINTED EVERY 6 MONTHS, (3) I COULD SEARCH THE FORD WEBSITE AND FIND A PART OFF ANOTHER FORD VEHICLE THAT MIGHT FIX THE PROBLEM, HAVE THE DEALER ORDER IT, AND TAKE IT HOME AND TRY TO MAKE IT FIT ON MY CAR TO PROTECT THE PAINT, (4) HAVING PAINT REMAIN ON THE FENDERS FOR LONGER THAN 6 MONTHS WAS OUTSIDE OF THE SCOPE OF THEIR QUALITY POLICY, (5) THAT THE CAR WAS NOT DESIGNED TO BE DRIVEN ON GRAVEL. ALL THESE RESPONSE ARE NOT ONLY UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE VEHICLE, BUT ALSO ABSURD. IF THE DEALER HAD TOLD ME, "SINCE YOU HAVE A GRAVEL DRIVEWAY, I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT YOU WILL HAVE TO HAVE YOUR VEHICLE REPAINTED EVERY 6 MONTHS" I NEVER WOULD HAVE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. IT IS A POOR DESIGN, POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE, AND POOR SALES PRACTICES TO SELL VEHICLES THAT MUST BE DRIVEN ON CLEAN DRY ROADS AT ALL TIMES. *TR