NHTSA Complaint #10703928 — 2003 FORD F-150

2003 FORD F-150 LARIAT SUPERCAB IT WAS RAINING, I GOT IN THE TRUCK, WATER WAS DRIPPING INSIDE THROUGH THE CENTER AREA IN THE CEILING WHERE THE COMPASS IS. THERE ARE WIRES UP THERE, SO WATER IS NOT GOOD. I CLIMBED UP AND LOOKED AT THE ROOF OUTSIDE, AND DISCOVERED RUST ON EVERY ONE OF THE CHANNELS ON THE ROOF, ONE COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH AND THE REST PARTIALLY RUSTED THROUGH. ASIDE FROM THE NEGATIVE EFFECT ON THE APPEARANCE, THIS IS A PROBLEM BECAUSE: 1. WATER DRIPPING INTO THE WIRING COULD CAUSE A SHORT WHICH COULD LEAD TO A FIRE 2. RUST-THROUGH ON THE ROOF COULD CAUSE THE METAL TO BREAK OFF AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND INJURE SOMEONE 3. DECREASED STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE ROOF COULD DECREASE SAFETY IN THE EVENT OF A ROLLOVER 4. RUST IN THE AREA ATTACHING THE WINDSHIELD COULD CAUSE THE WINDSHIELD TO FAIL OR FLY OFF 5. WATER LEAKING INTO THE ROOF CAUSED MOLD, WHICH IS A BREATHING HAZARD THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY THE DEFECTIVE DESIGN - THE CHANNELS COLLECTED WATER WITH NO WAY FOR IT TO DRAIN, SO THE WATER POOLED AND CAUSED RUST, BOTH IN THE ENDS OF THE CHANNELS AND ALONG THE RIM OF THE WINDSHIELDS. THE OLDER MODELS WERE SMOOTH ON TOP SO THE PROBLEM DIDN'T EXIST. NEWER MODELS HAVE FINS STICKING UP RATHER THAN INDENTATIONS, SO FORD CLEARLY REALIZED THERE WAS A PROBLEM AND CHANGED THE DESIGN. FORD DID NOT RESPOND WHEN I CONTACTED THEM ABOUT THIS. *TR