NHTSA Complaint #10503160 — 2005 FORD FOCUS

MY FORD FOCUS HAD A PROBLEM ONE YEAR AGO WHERE A SMALL PLASTIC PIECE SNAPPED INSIDE THE DOOR WHICH MADE THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR INACCESSIBLE FROM THE OUTSIDE. A YEAR LATER, TODAY, THE SAME THING HAPPENED WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. SINCE THIS IS A 2 DOOR HATCHBACK MODEL, AND THE BACK HATCH KEY LOCK IS NOT WORKING, THERE IS NO WAY TO ENTER MY VEHICLE. THE PIECE THAT HAS BROKEN IS A SMALL WEDGE SHAPED PLASTIC COMPONENT, WHICH SEEMS POORLY MADE, AND NOW REQUIRES ME TO SPEND OVER 300.00 DOLLARS, AND I MUST WAIT 3 DAYS BEFORE THE CAR CAN EVEN BE INSPECTED. I THINK THIS IS A SAFETY RELATED ISSUE, BECAUSE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF A PERSON WERE TO HAVE THEIR CHILD IN A CAR SEAT IN THE VEHICLE WHEN THEY STEPPED OUT, AND REALIZED THEY COULD NOT ENTER. ALSO, WHAT IF SOMEONE WERE TO CONSIDER THEIR VEHICLE RELIABLE, RESPOND TO AN EMERGENCY, AND THEN REALIZE THAT THEY CANNOT ASSIST BECAUSE THEY NO LONGER HAVE ENTRY TO THEIR VEHICLE. BESIDES THE INCONVENIENCE THIS CAUSES, IT COULD INDIRECTLY OR DIRECTLY CAUSE HARM TO A PERSON. MANUFACTURERS NEED TO BE HELD TO A HIGHER STANDARD, ESPECIALLY WHEN THIS COULD BE AN OBVIOUS TACTIC TO PROMOTE EXTRA BUSINESS AND PROFIT OF FORD SPONSORED COMPANIES. *TR