NHTSA Complaint #10662536 — 2012 FORD FIESTA

LATE IN THE AFTERNOON, AFTER SECURING MY TODDLER IN THE BACK OF MY CAR, I CLOSED THE REAR-PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AND PROCEEDED TO START THE CAR IN A BUSINESS PARKING LOT. THE DOOR SOUNDED AND FELT LIKE NORMAL WHEN I CLOSED THE DOOR. AFTER STARTING THE CAR AND DRIVING A FEW YARDS, THE OPEN-DOOR INDICATOR APPEARED ON THE DASH AND I NOTICED, AS I APPLIED THE BRAKES, THAT THE REAR-PASSENGER DOOR BEGAN TO OPEN. AFTER STOPPING, I INSPECTED THE DOOR AND FOUND THAT THE DOOR LATCH HAD FAILED COMPLETELY. THE LATCH COULD BE MANIPULATED BY HAND, BUT IT WOULD NOT LATCH AT ALL. I SECURED THE DOOR AS BEST I COULD WITH A NECK TIE AND RETURNED HOME, CONCERNED THAT AN OPEN DOOR WOULD SERIOUSLY COMPROMISE THE SAFETY OF THE CAR, IN PARTICULAR, THE REAR PASSENGER COMPARTMENT IN WHICH MY TODDLER WAS SEATED. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP THE FOLLOWING DAY AND THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE SAID THAT FORD USUALLY WARRANTIES THE REPLACEMENT OF THE LATCH. THEY DECLINED TO WARRANTY THE LATCH IN MY CAR AND I WAS FORCED TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR, WHAT SEEMS TO ME, TO BE A SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE WAS VERY SURPRISED BY FORD'S REFUSAL TO WARRANTY THE LATCH AND ENCOURAGED ME TO KEEP MY RECEIPTS IN CASE OF A RECALL. *TR