NHTSA Complaint #10471813 — 2004 FORD FREESTAR

THE REAR LEFT METAL U-SHAPED POST THAT IS USED TO SECURE THE FRONT OF THE REAR BENCH SEAT AND IS ATTACHED THROUGH THE BODY BY A METAL PLATE IN THE REAR WHEEL WELL FELL OUT OF THE VEHICLE AS THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING AT A SPEED OF 10 MILES PER HOUR. THE REAR SEAT WAS FOLDED INTO THE FLOOR AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. THE POST AND THE ATTACHED PLATE FELL OUT INTO THE WHEEL WELL AND THEN FELL TO THE ROADWAY. UPON INSPECTION, THE EDGE OF THE METAL PLATE, AND MUCH OF THE SURROUNDING WHEEL WELL HAD RUSTED AWAY CAUSING THE INCIDENT. THE INCIDENT RESULTED IN A LARGE HOLE IN THE WHEEL WELL THAT GOES CLEAR THOUGH TO THE INTERIOR OF THE VAN. WE BROUGHT THE VAN TO A LOCAL FORD DEALER FOR REPAIR. THEY ACKNOWLEDGED SEEING THIS ISSUE RECENTLY IN THE SAME MAKE, MODEL, AND YEAR OF VAN. THEY SAID THEY WERE UNABLE TO MAKE A REPAIR. THEY SUGGESTED TAKING THE ISSUE TO A BODY SHOP. TWO LOCAL BODY SHOPS WERE UNABLE TO MAKE THE REPAIR. AS IT STANDS, THE REAR BENCH SEAT IS UNUSABLE AS IT CAN'T BE SECURED IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION, AND THERE IS A HOLE NEAR THE EXHAUST SYSTEM THAT MAKES THE VAN UNSAFE TO DRIVE. IT IS FRUSTRATING THAT THE SAME ISSUE HAS BEEN SEEN BY FORD, YET NO SUITABLE REPAIR OR SOLUTION HAS BEEN PROVIDED. *TR