NHTSA Complaint #10356821 — 2005 FORD FREESTAR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FREESTAR. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE CONTACT WAS GETTING SOMETHING OUT OF THE TRUNK AND THE LIFT GATE WOULD NOT CLOSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIFT GATE WOULD NOT CLOSE WITH THE KEY. THE LIFT GATE COULD ONLY BE CLOSED MANUALLY. TWO DAYS LATER THE LIFT GATE POWERED UP AND STARTED CLOSING WITH THE CONTACT IN BETWEEN IT. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE LIFT GATE WITH HIS SHOULDER AND HEAD. THE FAILURE OCCURRED FOUR TIMES. THE LIFGATE NOW HAS TO BE HELD SO THAT IT WILL NOT FALL ON THE CONTACT AND INJURE HIM. HE REFERENCED RECALL 06V069000, STRUCTURE BODY HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE AND STATED THAT THE DEALER PERFORMED THE RECALL WORK IN AUGUST 2007. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND HE WAS ADVISED THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED SINCE THE DEALER HAD TO ORDER THE PARTS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 74,000.