NHTSA Complaint #10676423 — 2012 FORD FIESTA

WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION, THE DOOR OPEN LIGHT AND THE INTERIOR CAR LIGHTS TURNED ON, THEN I IMMEDIATELY NOTICED THAT THE BACK DOOR BEHIND THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OPENED BY ITSELF. I STOPPED AND TRIED TO CLOSE IT AND IT WOULD NOT SHUT OR LOCK. THE PASSENGER AT THE TIME HAD TO HOLD THE DOOR UNTIL WE GOT TO OUR DESTINATION. REAL HAZARD TO THE CARS THAT WERE RIGHT BY MINE AND MY PASSENGERS. IT WAS SCARY TO THINK OF ALL THE THINGS THAT COULD HAVE GONE WRONG BECAUSE THE LATCH SUDDENLY FAILED OUT OF NOWHERE. CALLED FORD AND IT'S A MORE THAN $300 FEE TO FIX THE LATCH SYSTEM ON THAT DOOR AND THE SERVICE CLERK TOLD ME THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS. THIS DOES NOT MAKE SENSE. IF FORD KNOWS THIS, WHY AREN'T THEY DOING ANYTHING? NEVER BEFORE HAVE I HEARD OF A LATCH BREAKING WHILE A CAR IS IN MOTION, SPECIALLY WHEN MY CAR'S BACK DOORS ARE ALMOST NEVER USED AND MY CAR IS STILL RELATIVELY NEW. I DON'T WANT TO THINK THAT THIS MIGHT HAPPEN WITH ANY OF MY OTHER CAR DOORS AS WELL. THIS CONVENIENTLY HAPPENED WHEN MY CAR'S WARRANTY EXPIRED. *TR