NHTSA Complaint #10249294 — 2004 FORD F-150

WHEN THE WINDOW CABLE BREAKS (THE CABLE HOLDING THE WINDOW) THE WINDOW FALLS DOWN INSIDE THE DOOR. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO THREE WINDOWS ON THIS VEHICLE IN FOUR YEARS. THERE IS NO WARNING SIGNS. THE WINDOW JUST FALLS DOWN. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE IF THERE IS SOMEONE NEXT TO THE WINDOW WHEN IT BREAKS. SOMETHING COULD FLY THROUGH AND HIT THE PERSON OR CHILD. THIS COULD ALSO CAUSE SEVER PROPERTY DAMAGE IF THIS OCCURRED DURING A RAIN STORM. PERSONAL PROPERTY COULD BE STOLEN OUT OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE PROBLEM HAPPENS. THERE IS NO ADVANCE WARNING. YOU LEAVE THE VEHICLE WITH ALL WINDOWS AND DOORS SHUT AND LOCKED, THEN RETURN TO THE VEHICLE WITH A WINDOW COMPLETELY GONE. IN ORDER TO REPAIR THE WINDOW THE COMPLETE INSIDE OF THE DOOR HAS TO BE REMOVED. MOST OF THE TIME THE LOCAL FORD DEALER DOES NOT HAVE THE PART ON HAND AND HAS TO ORDER IT. THAT CAUSES DIFFICULTY SINCE THERE USUALLY IS NO WAY TO SECURE THE WINDOW WITHOUT THE CABLE. IT IS DIFFICULT TO GET ANYTHING INSIDE THE DOOR TO PROP THE WINDOW UP AND IT IS VERY UNSAFE FOR PERSONAL SAFETY AND PROPERTY SAFETY TO DRIVE WITHOUT A WINDOW. IT USUALLY TAKES APPROXIMATELY $100 OR MORE FOR THE PART AND TWO HOURS TO REPAIR. IT WOULD MAKE MORE SENSE TO HAVE THE WINDOW LOCK IN A CLOSED POSITION IN ORDER TO SECURE PERSONAL AND VALUABLE ITEMS AND SECURE PERSONAL SAFETY. HAVING THE WINDOWS FALL INTO THE INSIDE OF THE DOOR IS A SAFETY ISSUE FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS ALIKE NOT TO MENTION THE PROPERTY DAMAGE AND EXPENSE OF VALUABLES LOST THAT COULD OCCUR. WHAT IF THE VEHICLE IS STOLEN WHEN THIS HAPPENS? SINCE IT IS A FACTORY DEFECT WHO IS RESPONSIBLE. THE VEHICLE OWNER TOOK PRECAUTIONS AND LOCKED THE VEHICLE WITH ALL WINDOWS SHUT, THEN THE CABLE BREAKS AND THE WINDOW FALLS DOWN. THE VEHICLE IS COMPLETELY OPEN TO ALL KINDS OF DAMAGE EVEN TO THE POINT OF STOLEN COMPLETELY AT FAULT OF THE MANUFACTURER. *TR