NHTSA Complaint #10628735 — 2012 FORD FIESTA

MY MOTHER (83 YO) WAS RIDING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND AS SHE WAS GETTING OUT OF THE CAR SHE CLOSED THE DOOR AND IT BOUNCED BACK AND HIT HER ON HER LEFT HIP. WHAT HAPPENED IS THAT THE DOOR LATCH BROKE BECAUSE THE PART THAT LATCHES IS MADE OF PLASTIC AND WE HAVE BEEN HAVING SOME HOT WEATHER THESE DAYS. I GUESS THE PLASTIC MUST HAVE GOT TOO HOT ONE TOO MANY TIMES AND IT GAVE OUT AND BENT OR BROKE. AS SHE CLOSED THE DOOR WITH HER LEFT HAND SHE PROCEEDED TO WALK TO THE FRONT OF THE CAR AND THIS IS WHEN THE DOOR HIT HER AND/OR GOT IN THE WAY AS SHE STARTED TO WALK TO THE FRONT OF CAR. MY MOTHER WAS IN PAIN FOR ABOUT A COUPLE WEEKS OR SO. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A WORSE ACCIDENT IF MY MOTHER HAD BEEN A YOUNGER PERSON AND MOVING MUCH FASTER. ANYWAY, THESE DOOR LATCHES SHOULD BE MADE OF STEEL SO THEY DON'T BREAK SO EASILY. PLEASE LOOK INTO IT BECAUSE THESE LATCHES SHOULD BE RECALLED. THIS IS THE SECOND LATCH THAT HAS BROKEN IN MY CAR. THESE LATCHES ARE GETTING BRITTLE WITH AGE AND UNFORTUNATELY MY CAR IS A DARK COLORED ONE, WHICH AS YOU MAY WELL KNOW, IT ATTRACTS A LOT OF HEAT FROM THE SUN. FURTHERMORE, I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT THIS COULD BE ANOTHER SAFETY ISSUE IF SOMEONE IS TRYING TO BREAK INTO THE CAR, IF THE LATCH IS BRITTLE ENOUGH, A GOOD HARD PULL CAN BREAK IT AND WHAT IF THE DRIVER IS STILL IN THE CAR AND THE PERSON BREAKING IN WANTS TO HARM OR ROB HER/HIM. STOP PUTTING PLASTIC LATCHES IN CARS DOORS. FORD IS MAKING A MINT SELLING THESE LATCHES FOR $183.00 DOLLARS EACH AND THIS IS NOT TO MENTION THE INSTALLATION.