NHTSA Complaint #10370019 — 2004 FORD F-150

THE DRIVERS WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED WHILE DRIVING, AND THE WINDOW CAME CRASHING DOWN. I WAS NOT USING OR ADJUSTING THE WINDOW IN ANY WAY PRIOR TO FAILURE. THE WEATHER WAS COLD AND WET LEAVING WATER DAMAGE TO THE INTERIOR AND CAUSING DIFFICULTY DRIVING IN THE ADVERSE CONDITIONS. I WAS NOT DRESSED TO BE IN 60 MPH COLD BLASTING AIR AND MY HANDS WERE HAVING PROBLEMS STEERING. THE DEALER DID NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS. FORD CONTACTED ME AND ACCEPTED RESPONSIBILITY BUT ONLY WANTED TO PAY FOR 50% OF THE REPAIR COST. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. MY VEHICLE HAS VERY LOW MILES AND IS IN LIKE NEW CONDITION. AFTER INVESTIGATING THE ISSUE WITH THE REGULATOR, I WAS AMAZED THAT THERE ARE MANY THOUSANDS OF FORD OWNERS WITH THIS SAME ISSUE. AND '04-08 F150'S HAVE THE VAST MAJORITY OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. MANY HAVE HAD MULTIPLE WINDOWS FAIL. I HAD TO REPLACE THE REGULATOR MYSELF AS THE COSTS TO GET THIS DONE IS OVER $500 AT THE DEALER, AND OVER $400 AT A REPAIR SHOP. WHEN I REMOVED THE REGULATOR I WAS SHOCKED AT HOW POORLY THE PARTS WERE MADE. THE DESIGN LOOKS TO BE FLAWED AS WELL. CLIPS THAT CAN FALL OFF. CABLES THAT CAN FALL OFF SMALL PLASTIC WHEELS. AND THE POWER MOTOR REELS TWO CABLES UP TOGETHER. THIS IS GOING TO BIND UP AND FAIL IN A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. THE MOTOR REEL HAD BOTH CABLES TANGLED WHEN I PULLED IT OUT. IT APPEARS TO BE DESIGNED TO FAIL. THIS IS A VERY HEAVY PIECE OF GLASS, AND THE MECHANISM SUPPORTING THIS ASSEMBLY IS COMPLETELY INSUFFICIENT. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT IT WAS NOT DESIGNED FOR EXTENDED USE.