NHTSA Complaint #10616552 — 2005 FORD FREESTAR

WHEN GOING TO PUT ITEMS IN THE BACK OF THE VAN, THE HATCH DOOR SUDDENLY CAME DOWN AND HIT ME IN THE BACK/SHOULDER LEAVING A BRUISE AND SOME SWELLING. WHEN TRYING TO GET OUT FROM UNDER THE DOOR I BUMPED MY HEAD A LITTLE AS IT WAS VERY HEAVY! SO, WE WERE PROPPING THE HATCH WITH A TWO-BY-FOUR WHILE WE TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO FIX IT. THEN ONLY A FEW DAYS LATER, THE HANDLE TO THE HATCH JUST CAME OFF INTO MY HAND WHEN TRYING TO OPEN UP THE HATCH! THERE HAD BEEN NO PRIOR WARNING TO EITHER INCIDENT. TOOK IT TO A FORD DEALER TODAY AND IT COST $53.99 JUST TO LOOK AT IT TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS AND THEY SAID IT WILL BE ANOTHER $440 + TAX TO REPAIR!!!!! THIS IS ONLY TO REPAIR THE HANDLE BACK ONTO THE HATCH JUST SO THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY OPEN IT AGAIN AND START USING IT AGAIN!!!!! WE HAVEN'T EVEN TALKED ABOUT THE COST OF REPAIRING THE SHOCKS TO THE HATCH, OR WHATEVER THAT ISSUE IS!!! THE FORD DEALER SAYS THE ROD AND CABLE HAS FAILED AND NEEDS REPLACED, BUT CAN'T EXPLAIN TO ME HOW THIS CAN HAPPEN WITH NO PRIOR WARNING, OR WHY EITHER INCIDENT HAPPENED AT ALL. WHEN LOOKING ONLINE, THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON COMPLAINT WITH THE FREESTAR, SO WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL ON IT???? AT THE VERY LEAST, WHY IS IT SO EXPENSIVE JUST TO REPLACE A HANDLE????? FORD SHOULD FIX THIS PROBLEM WITH A RECALL, OR OFFER TO RE-PAY CUSTOMERS!!!!!! I HAD A WINDSTAR ('99) THAT WE WERE CONSTANTLY PUTTING MONEY INTO, INCLUDING A COMPLETELY RUSTED AND ALMOST CRACKED IN HALF REAR AXLE, BUT I WAS RAISED BY A FORD FAMILY, SO I BOUGHT THIS FREESTAR (2005), HOPING FOR BETTER RESULTS! WHAT A JOKE!!!!! FROM THE BAD BRAKES THAT NEED REPLACED EVERY 1 1/2 - 2 YEARS, TO THE HORRIBLE RUSTING OUT OF THE BODY CAUSING MY 3RD ROW SEATS TO DETACH, ETC. ETC.ETC....NEVER AGAIN!!!!! FORD, PLEASE MAKE IT RIGHT!!!!!! I DON'T HAVE OVER $500 SITTING AROUND TO REPLACE A DOOR HANDLE THAT DEFINITELY SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE!! *TR