NHTSA Complaint #10610105 — 2010 FORD FOCUS

MY HUSBAND, MY DAUGHTER AND I WENT SHOPPING. WE DID OUR ERRANDS AND MY DAUGHTER GOT INTO THE BACK SEAT. I PROCEEDED TO OPEN THE BACK DOOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, AND THE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. WE LEFT THE STORE AND DROVE HOME. I PARKED THE CAR AND MY DAUGHTER WAS NOT ABLE TO OPEN HER DOOR. BOTH OF THE BACK DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN FROM EITHER THE INSIDE OR FROM THE OUTSIDE. SHE HAD TO CLIMB OVER THE SEAT TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. MY DAUGHTER IS 44 AND IS A LARGE WOMAN. CLIMBING OVER THE SEAT IN ORDER TO GET OUT OF THE CAR IS NOT ACCEPTABLE, BUT WE COULD THINK OF NO OTHER WAY FOR HER TO GET OUT. I LIVE ON SOCIAL SECURITY AND CANNOT AFFORD TO JUST GO GET THE DOORS FIXED. PER THE DEALERSHIP, THEY THINK IT'S THE ACTUATOR'S IN THE DOOR...BUT THEY'RE NOT SURE. EVEN IF IT IS, THE DIAGNOSTICS AND REPAIR ARE CLOSE TO A THOUSAND DOLLARS. I DON'T HAVE THIS KIND OF MONEY. PER MY ONLINE RESEARCH, I HAVE FOUND OTHERS THAT ALSO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS A "SAFETY ISSUE". PEOPLE CANNOT AFFORD TO BE LOCKED IN OR OUT OF THEIR CAR. BEING LOCKED IN CAN BE MUCH WORSE BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEMS IT CAN CAUSE. I THINK THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT CLOSELY AND FORD NEEDS TO MAKE THE PROBLEM RIGHT. THIS IS A SERIOUS "SAFETY ISSUE." *TR