NHTSA Complaint #10490515 — 2004 FORD FREESTAR

DURING STS TIRE SERVICING, MECHANIC SHOWED ME A LARGE SECTION OF STRUCTURAL STEEL HANGING FROM THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WHEEL WELL AND A MICHELIN TIRE THAT CONTAINED ABRASIVE RIPPING CAUSED BY THE SECTION OF STEEL THAT HAD BEEN DANGLING AND RUBBING AGAINST THE TIRE. THE LARGE SECTION OF STEEL CONTAINED AN ANCHOR AT THE CENTER WHICH WAS MANUFACTURED TO HOLD THE THIRD ROW ROW IN PLACE. THIS STEEL PLATE WITH THE ANCHOR FOR HOLDING THE THIRD ROW SEAT IN PLACE IS NO LONGER ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT WHICH ALLOWED THE WELDS HOLDING IT IN PLACE TO FAIL CREATING DANGERS OF: UNSECURED SEATING, HOLE EXPOSING PASSENGERS TO EXTERIOR OF VEHICLE AND MOVING PARTS, OPENING FOR RODENTS OR OTHER DANGERS TO ENTER VEHICLE, KNOWLEDGE OF PRIOR MAY CAUSE FEAR AND PANIC OF DRIVER OR PASSENGERS WHICH MAY CAUSE ACCIDENT OR MENTAL ANGUISE. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO SMITH FORD DEALERSHIP IN WASHINGTON, N.J. REQUESTING AN INSPECTION AND WARRANTY REPAIR OF THE ABOVE STATED STRUCTURAL STEEL. SMITH FORD INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND SAID THAT THE MANUFACTURING DEFECT WOULD NOT BE REPAIRED BY FORD AND THAT FORD DOES NOT ACCEPT FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY EVEN THOUGH THE PROBLEM WAS THE RESULT OF A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. REPORTED THIS TO FORD HEADQUARTERS ON NOVEMBER 30, 2012 AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE DEALERSHIP WAS CORRECT IN STATING THAT FORD WILL NOT REPAIR THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM. MY WIFE IS INCREASINGLY HAVING TERRIFYING VISIONS OF MICE JUMPING ON HER WHILE DRIVING, HAVING SNAKES CRAWLING INTO THE CAR, RAIN SNOW MUD ETC ENTERING VEHICLE, OR HAVING THE CHILDREN PUT THEIR HANDS OR OTHER THINGS INTO THE HOLE IN THE VEHICLE. *TR