NHTSA Complaint #10629585 — 2012 FORD FIESTA

I HAD JUST CLOSED THE RIGHT REAR DOOR AFTER LOADING MATERIAL INTO THE BACK SEAT. (THIS DOOR HAS MAYBE BEEN OPENED 10 TIMES IN THE LIFE OF THE CAR [2.5 YEARS] AS I NEVER HAVE REAR SEAT PASSENGERS.) AFTER LEAVING A PARKING LOT YESTERDAY AND WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 50MPH, I NOTICED THE OPEN DOOR WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASH AFTER WHICH I NOTICED THE RIGHT REAR DOOR WAS AJAR. I STOPPED THE CAR, OPENED THE DOOR AND ATTEMPTED TO SHUT IT AGAIN. IT BOUNCED BACK OPEN. I TRIED FIDDLING WITH THE LATCH AND CLOSING SEVERAL TIMES WITHOUT SUCCESS. LUCKILY I HAD A ROPE IN THE TRUNK SO I TIED THE TWO REAR DOORS TOGETHER BY THE INTERIOR HANDLES. I DROVE TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALER AND BARELY HAD BEGUN TO EXPLAIN MY PROBLEM WHEN THE ATTENDANT SAID SHE WAS AWARE OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS. WITHOUT LOOKING AT THE DOOR SHE TOLD ME THE PARTS WERE ON "BACKORDER" LEADING ME TO BELIEVE THE PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD. THANKFULLY I DON'T HAVE REAR PASSENGERS, SO I CAN DEAL WITH TIED DOORS, BUT SINCE I CAN'T LOCK THE CAR AND THE DOME LIGHTS STAY ON, IT IS A BIG PROBLEM. SHE ASKED ME TO RETURN IN THE AM AND LEAVE THE CAR FOR THEM TO LOOK AT. THEY WOULD TRY TO MAKE A TEMP FIX WHILE WE WAITED FOR PARTS THAT MIGHT TAKE A FEW WEEKS SO I WOULDN'T HAVE TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY OR PULL FUSES. THIS MORNING I LEFT THE CAR AT THE DEALER WHERE IT SITS AS I WRITE THIS. I FOUND THIS NHTSA WEBSITE CHRONICLING SIMILAR PROBLEMS AS WELL AS OTHER REFERENCES TO THE PROBLEM ON OTHER WEB SITES. OF 81 TOTAL COMPLAINTS MADE ON THIS MODEL ON THIS NHTSA WEB PAGE, 20 ARE FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM. THOSE 20 COMPLAINTS HAVE ALL BEEN WITHIN THE MOST RECENT 50 COMPLAINTS AND ALL MADE IN THE PAST 10 WEEKS. SOMETHING IS WEARING OUT AND IT WON'T BE LONG BEFORE A CHILD, PET, SUITCASE OR BAG OF GROCERIES FALLS OUT RESULTING IN DEATH. DON'T WAIT FOR THAT TO HAPPEN. GET THIS RECALLED NOW NATIONWIDE! *TR