NHTSA Complaint #10509190 — 2004 FORD FREESTAR

ON CHRISTMAS EVE 2012 WE DROVE TO OUR PARENTS HOUSE WE HEARD SOMETHING RUBBING AGAINST THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE. WHEN WE INVESTIGATED WHAT WAS GOING ON WE FOUND THE 3RD ROW SEAT LATCH HAD ALMOST DETACHED BUT WAS RUBBING AGAINST THE TIRE IT EVENTUALLY FELL OFF AS WE TRIED TO GET IT TO RECONNECT. WE RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER IN APRIL BUT WAS UNAWARE OF THE POTENTIAL DANGER THAT DRIVING LIKE THIS FOR 3 MONTHS HAD CAUSED . AT REPAIR SHOP VEHICLE WOULD NOT PASS INSP DUE TO ROTTED WHEEL WELL AND SPRINGS ALSO ROTTED WE CALLED LOCAL DEALER FOR APPT ON RECALL. TO MY DISMAY A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT ARE VERY CONCERNING TO ME OCCURRED I RECEIVED A CALL LATER THAT DAY FROM THE DEALER STATING THAT THEY WHERE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH FORD COMPANY ITSELF THE LATCH HAD FALLEN OFF AND THEY HAD THE PARTS TO REPLACE IT BUT THEY COULD NOT ATTACH IT TO THE REAR WELL BECAUSE IT WAS ROTTED AND NOT ONLY THAT THEY ALSO TOLD US THE SPRINGS COULD FALL OUT AND COLLAPSE THE REAR SUSPENSION IF IT WAS DRIVEN AGAIN WHEN THEY TOLD THE FORD REPRESENTATIVE THIS THEY SAID JUST WELD A METAL PIECE OVER THE WELL WHEEL AND JUST ATTACH IT ON THEIR DEALER DECLINED BECAUSE THIS WOULD STILL BE A DANGEROUS SITUATION TO DRIVE BECAUSE OF THE REAR SPRINGS IF DRIVEN COULD DROP THE WHOLE REAR SUSPENSION WHILE DRIVING FORD REP SAID NOT OUR PROBLEM YOU NEED TO COMPLETE THE RECALL AND THE CUSTOMER HAS TO PAY FOR THE SPRINGS TO BE REPAIRED . THIS IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE TO ME IT OBVIOUS THAT THE LATCH SITUATION AND CORROSION HAS CAUSED THIS WHOLE PROBLEM TO HAVE THEM TRY TO HAVE THE DEALER PUT IN EFFECT A BANDAGE ON THE SITUATION AND LET MY FAMILY RISK THERE LIFE DRIVING THIS VAN IS CORRUPT TO THE CORE. THE DEALER WAS ABLE TO GET THE AREA FORD REP TO COME OUT AND LOOK AT THE VEHICLE IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. BUT I CANNOT EMPHASIS MORE WHAT THEY TRIED TO DO TODAY WAS WITHOUT QUESTION UNETHICAL . *TR