NHTSA Complaint #10415429 — 2006 MERCURY MILAN

I AM UNABLE TO OPEN DRIVER SIDE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE OF CAR. THE HANDLE REMAINS IN THE UNLOCKED POSITION AND CAN ONLY BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE CAR. THE CAR CAN'T BE LOCKED WITH THE REMOTE, ONLY WITH THE KEY. IN THE EVENT THERE WAS AN EMERGENCY, THE DRIVER WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR UNLESS THEY COULD OPEN THE WINDOW AND THEN OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE. THIS PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE PREVALENT WITH THE 2006 MODELS BOTH FORD AND MERCURY. JUST SEARCH THE INTERNET. IT APPEARS THE RESOLVE IS TO HAVE THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE REPLACED. THERE HAVE BEEN RECALLS ON OTHER FORD MODELS FOR SIMILAR PROBLEMS BUT NOT THE FUSION OR MILAN, WHICH HAVE THE MOST COMPLAINTS SEEN ON THE INTERNET. THE DEALER WILL FIX THE PROBLEM FOR A FEE BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THIS IS NOT DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. MY VEHICLE HAS ONLY 44,344 MILES, IS WELL CARED FOR AND IT IS EVIDENT THAT OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH MUCH LESS MILEAGE. I AM SURPRISED THAT THIS ISSUE HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED. I HAVE CALLED FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND THEY HAVE INFORMED ME THAT IF CUSTOMERS DO NOT REPORT THE PROBLEMS DIRECTLY THEN THERE IS NO ACTION TO TAKE CARE OF SUCH SERIOUS AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS PROBLEMS, SO I AM REPORTING MY PROBLEM. I HOPE TO SEE THIS BECOME A RECALL ISSUE AS THE DEALER I SPOKE WITH INFORMED ME THAT THESE HANDLES BREAK VERY EASY AND WITH NO WARNING LEAVING A PASSENGER OR DRIVER STUCK INSIDE THE CAR AND THIS COULD BE A MATTER OF LIFE OR DEATH IN AN EMERGENCY OR ACCIDENT. *TR