NHTSA Complaint #10261916 — 2004 FORD F-150

MY 2004 F-150 ELECTRIC WINDOWS KEEP FAILING. THEY FALL INTO THE DOOR WHILE I AM DRIVING AND IT HAPPENS WITH NO NOTICE AND AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. WHEN IT HAPPENS IT IS QUITE DISTRACTING BECAUSE OF SUDDEN THERE IS A LOUD NOISE AND A HUGE FORCE OF AIR COMING INTO THE CABIN. WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENED I THOUGHT SOMEONE HAD FIRED A WEAPON AT MY TRUCK. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED THE DEALER FIXED THE PROBLEM UNDER WARRANTY BUT WOULD NOT FIX THE OTHER WINDOWS EVEN THOUGH THEY ADMITTED THE PROBLEM WAS COMMON WITH MY TYPE OF VEHICLE. IT HAPPENED AGAIN JUST AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED AND THE DEALER SPLIT THE COST WITH ME. THE THIRD TIME IT HAPPENED I WAS ON MY OWN. IT IS A SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLAR REPAIR. THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE A SIMPLE PIECE OF PLASTIC WITH A PULLEY THAT ALLOWS A CABLE TO WIND AROUND A MOTOR SHAFT. ALTHOUGH THE CAUSE IS SIMPLE, THE REPAIR IS NOT AND THE ENTIRE DOOR MUST BE TAKEN APART. THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IS THAT THE FAILURE WILL SCARE THE DRIVER AND SIGNIFICANTLY TAKE YOUR MIND OFF THE ROAD. IF A CHILD IS SITTING NEXT TO THE WINDOW, THE EVENT COULD EVEN HAVE MORE SEVERAL CONSEQUENCES. FORD APPARENTLY KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM BASED OF FORD MECHANIC COMMENTS ABOUT THE ISSUE BEING COMMON TO THE 2004 F-150 AND THE NUMBER OF REPAIR KITS THEY GO THROUGH. BELOW THE DATE IS THE MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE. *TR