NHTSA Complaint #10683375 — 2011 FORD FIESTA

I PUT MY BABY INTO HER CAR SEAT, CLOSED THE BACK PASSENGER DOOR, AND STARTED DRIVING WHEN THE "DOOR AJAR" WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASH APPEARED. I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED AND SAW THAT THE BACK PASSENGER DOOR WAS AJAR. HER DOOR WOULD NOT STAY CLOSED. NOTHING I ATTEMPTED WOULD FIX IT. THE CAR WAS NEVER DAMAGED, AND THE BROKEN DOOR RECEIVED BARELY ANY USE, AS SHE IS UNDER SIX MONTHS OLD. I HAD TO TIE A SWADDLE BLANKET TO THE HANDLE AND HOLD ON WHILE DRIVING US HOME. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE WE HAD PURCHASED THE CAR (FORD AKINS) AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS, DESPITE THE FACT THAT THERE IS AN ONGOING INVESTIGATION, AND THAT WE WOULD BE CHARGED TO FIX A GLARING SAFETY ISSUE EVEN THOUGH WE HAD PURCHASED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND THE CAR WAS EXACTLY FOUR YEARS OLD. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO ORDER THE PART, AND AM NOW LEFT WAITING WITH MY BABY IN THE BACK OF A CAR WITH A DOOR THAT IS DUCT TAPED CLOSED. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE AN EXTREMELY SERIOUS SAFETY COMPLAINT, AND DON'T TRUST THAT ANOTHER DOOR WON'T FLY OPEN WHILE DRIVING. *TR