NHTSA Complaint #10314048 — 2007 FORD FREESTYLE

THE 2007 FORD FREESTYLE WE BOUGHT ALLOWS EXHAUST FUMES FROM OTHER VEHICLES TO ENTER THE VEHICLE AT OVERWHELMING QUANTITIES. WE LIVE IN A RURAL AREA IN NEW MEXICO AND ARE GRATEFUL WE DON'T HAVE THIS CAR IN A BUSY CITY. THE EXHAUST THAT ENTERS OUR CAR IS VERY DANGEROUS LUCKILY WE HAVE CLEAN AIR AND CAN OPEN WINDOWS ALMOST YEAR ROUND. TURNING OFF THE HEAT OR AIR CONDITIONING IS MOSTLY HELPFUL, BUT IN SOME WEATHER THAT'S ALSO DANGEROUS AND CERTAINLY UNCOMFORTABLE. WE ARE IRRITATED BY THE AC TURNING ON AUTOMATICALLY HOWEVER THAT PRESENTS NO DANGER. FINALLY THE LIGHT BULB FOR THE GAUGES HAS GONE OUT AT JUST 1 YEAR. I'VE BEEN INFORMED THAT IT WILL COST MORE THAN $800 TO FIX THE BULB. FOR A SELF EMPLOYED MOTHER OF 6 THIS IS JUST TOO FAR OUT OF REACH AS IT IS ALMOST TWO MONTHS PAYMENTS. I BELIEVE THIS TOO CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE I CAN'T SEE THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE AND HALF OF THE SPEEDOMETER AT NIGHT. THE OTHER HALF OF THE SPEEDOMETER IS SOMETIMES LIT AND SOMETIMES NOT MAKING ME QUESTION THE INTEGRITY OF THE ELECTRIC SYSTEM. I'VE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT AND PRAY THAT THESE PROBLEMS DON'T CAUSE ONE. *TR