NHTSA Complaint #10390042 — 2003 FORD TAURUS

OIL CHANGE WAS PERFORMED ON MY 2003 FORD TAURUS (MILEAGE WAS 73,200) 8 AM THE MORNING OF MARCH 8, 2011 AT A FORD DEALERSHIP. WHEN THE DEALERSHIP WAS FINISHED W/MY CAR, I DROVE TO WORK, LESS THAN 5 MILES AWAY. I PARKED MY CAR AT MY OFFICE AND IT SAT IN THE PARKING LOT UNTIL 5 PM THAT DAY WHEN I DROVE MY CAR HOME. THE AFTERNOON OF MARCH 8, 2011 WE HAD A THUNDERSTORM PASS OVER W/1-2 INCHES OF RAIN. WHEN I GOT IN MY CAR TO DRIVE HOME I NOTICED A SPOT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR MAT BUT DIDN'T CHECK IT UNTIL I ARRIVED HOME. WHEN I OPENED THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AND REMOVED THE FLOOR MAT, I COULD SEE THE CARPET WAS SOAKING WET. I IMMEDIATELY USED SEVERAL TOWELS TO SOAK UP THE WATER. THE MORNING OF MARCH 9, 2011, I DROVE MY CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I HAD THE OIL CHANGE. I ASKED THE SERVICE MANAGER TO LOOK AT MY CAR, SHOWING HIM THE DAMP PASSENGER SIDE CARPET. I ASKED HIM IF SOMEONE BUMPED SOMETHING UNDER MY HOOD WHEN THEY CHANGED MY OIL THE DAY BEFORE. I ASKED HIM IF THEY KNOCKED SOMETHING LOOSE THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED THE LEAK ON THE FLOOR. HE SAID 'NO' BUT ASKED ME TO RETURN TO THE DEALERSHIP THE FOLLOWING MORNING MARCH 10, 2011. I DID RETURN TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY LOOKED AT MY CAR AND TOLD ME I HAD A COWL LEAK AND IT WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $400 TO FIX. I HAVE NOT HAD IT FIXED BUT I'VE NOTICED FROM READING ABOUT OTHER 2003 FORD TAURUS OWNERS, THEY'VE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM.. IS THERE NOT SOME WAY FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE AND PAY FOR THESE REPAIRS? *TR