NHTSA Complaint #10461420 — 2006 FORD ESCAPE

I HAVE A 2006 FORD ESCAPE. MY CAR ALARM STARTED GOING OFF ON IT'S OWN FOR A FEW DAYS. THEN THE CAR "AJAR DOOR" LIGHT CAME ON WHILE I WAS DRIVING FROM A DOCTORS APPOINTMENT. SO I TOOK THE CAR INTO A FORD DEALERSHIP TO GET THE PROBLEM INSPECTED. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A RIGHT REAR DOOR FAULT. SO I ASKED HIM TO EXPLAIN. THE TECH SAID THAT FORD HAD REDESIGNED THE REAR DOOR LATCH AND THAT IT REQUIRES A NEW CABLE WHICH WILL COST ME $404.00 TO REPLACE. NEEDLESS TO SAY MY JAW HIT THE FLOOR, BECAUSE THAT WAS JUST ONE DOOR. APPARENTLY, AFTER SEARCHING ONLINE FOR A CHEAPER SOLUTION, I CAME ACROSS SO MANY COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM SINCE 2001. EVIDENTLY FORD HAVE NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. IT'S A SAFETY HAZARD. IF THE REAR DOOR LATCH IS LIKELY TO GO BAD THEN IT'S JEOPARDIZING THE SAFETY OF THE CHILDREN THAT'S REQUIRED TO SIT IN THE BACK SEAT. IT PROBABLY WOULD BE SO BAD IF IT WERE CHEAPER TO REPLACE, BUT $404.00 IS RIDICULOUSLY HIGH. IF THEY KNEW THAT THEY HAD TO REDESIGN THE LATCHES A RECALL SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE. *TR