NHTSA Complaint #10433928 — 2004 FORD FREESTAR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WATER HAD ENTERED AND REMAINED IN THE REAR CARGO AREA. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND CORROSION IN THE REAR FENDER WELL AND THE THIRD ROW SEAT LATCH. THE REAR PANEL WAS NOT INSTALLED CORRECTLY AND CAUSED WATER TO PENETRATE THE CARGO AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,000. UPDATED 11/25/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THAT IT BECAME EVIDENT, WHILE TROUBLESHOOTING, THE FAILURE OF THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE VENT WINDOW MOTOR. THE WATER LEAKS HAVE BEEN CORRECTED AND THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE FENDER AND SEAT LATCH HAS BEEN RESTORED. UPDATED 06/06/12 *JS THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED THAT WAS ENTERING THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE IN THREE SEPARATE AREAS. INSIDE THE REAR WHEEL WELL ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, IN WHICH A RE-ENFORCING PLAT WAS IMPROPERLY INSTALLED. GASP ACROSS THE TOP TRAILING EDGE ALLOWED WATER TO GET IN BEHIND THE PANEL. WATER WAS ALSO ENTERING THE VEHICLE ALONG THE REAR SEAM WHERE THE INNER FENDER ATTACHED TO THE FLOOR PAN. THE FACTORY INSTALLED SEAM SEALER HAD FAILED. WATER WAS PENETRATING THROUGH CRACKS IN THE REAR ROOF SEAM LOCATED AT THE OUTSIDE TRAILING EDGE OF THE ROOF SEAM THAT SERVED AS THE RAIN GUTTER.