NHTSA Complaint #10630720 — 2010 FORD FUSION

LOCKS LINKAGES AND LEVERS DRIVER INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE FAILED WHILE EXITING CAR AT GAS STATION. CAR REPAIRED BY MECHANIC (NOT FORD). HANDLE LINKAGE IS MADE OF CHROME PLATED PLASTIC WHICH ATTACHES TO LOCK/DOOR RELEASE CABLE. I HAD TO EXIT THE CAR BY ROLLING DOWN THE DRIVER'S WINDOW AND USED THE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE. LUCKILY THE INTERIOR LATCH FAILURE CAUSED THE DOOR LOCK MECHANISM TO FAIL IN THE UNLOCKED MODE RESULTING IN THE INABILITY TO LOCK THE CAR. INTERIOR LATCH MECHANISM COST 120.00 DOLLARS PLUS LABOR TO REPAIR. SAFETY CONCERN IS THAT I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE INTERIOR DOOR LATCH FOR 2010 FUSIONS AT ABOUT 2-3 YEARS OLD. COULD THE PLASTIC BE DEGRADING DUE TO AGE OR HEAT? LIVING IN GA THE INTERIOR HEAT DURING THE SUMMER REACHES WELL OVER 100 DEGREES. SECOND SAFETY CONCERN IS THAT IF THIS FAILURE OCCURRED IN CONJUNCTION WITH A CRASH RESULTING IN CAR FIRE IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT TO EXIT THE CAR BY CRAWLING OVER THE CONSOLE TO USE THE PASSENGER DOOR--LET ALONE THINKING TO ROLL-DOWN THE WINDOW TO USE THE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE. *TR