NHTSA Complaint #10649847 — 2008 FORD ESCAPE

THE LIFTGATE WINDOW LATCH ON MY 2008 FORD ESCAPE XLT HAS SEPARATED FROM THE REAR WINDOW GLASS. THE GLUE JOINT HAS FAILED AND ALLOWED THE LATCH TO BREAK AWAY FROM THE WINDOW. NOW THE WINDOW CANNOT BE CLOSED TIGHTLY AND LOCKED. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE EXHAUST GASES MAY BE DRAWN INTO THE CABIN THROUGH THE GAP BETWEEN THE WINDOW AND THE WINDOW SEAL ON THE LIFTGATE. IT IS ALSO A SECURITY ISSUE, SINCE SOMEONE COULD EASILY PRY THE WINDOW OPEN AND ENTER THE VEHICLE CABIN. ORIGINALLY, THE LATCH WAS APPARENTLY GLUED TO THE GLASS AND ALSO IS ATTACHED LOOSELY WITH A SINGLE BOLT TO THE REAR WINDOW WIPER ASSEMBLY. RIGHT NOW, THE SEPARATED LATCH IS FLOPPING AROUND IN SUCH A WAY THAT THE WINDOW CAN BE PULLED OPEN BY ABOUT 1/2 TO 1 INCH. THIS IS CLEARLY A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THIS LATCH ON THIS VEHICLE. THE LATCH IS ABSOLUTELY CRUCIAL TO THE SECURITY AND SAFETY OF THE OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE. I BELIEVE THAT THE NHTSA SHOULD FORCE FORD TO RECALL THEIR VEHICLES WITH THIS SAME INSECURE DEFECTIVE LATCH DESIGN AND REPLACE IT WITH A SECURE DESIGN THAT WILL REMAIN ATTACHED TO THE WINDOW GLASS. *TR