NHTSA Complaint #10712518 — 2013 FORD C-MAX

ON 4-1-2015, AT APPROXIMATELY 1PM, WHILE TRAVELING WEST ON HIGHWAY 702 IN PIERCE COUNTY WASHINGTON IN MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN I SWITCHED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FROM INTERMITTENT TO THE LOW CONTINUOUS SPEED. ANTICIPATING THE HEAVY WASH FROM AN ONCOMING FULLY LOADED LOGGING TRUCK I SWITCHED THE WIPERS TO THE HIGH SPEED AND THE WIPERS FROZE IN PLACE JUST AS I REACHED THE LOGGING TRUCK. FORTUNATELY THEY RESTARTED WHEN I SWITCHED THEM BACK TO THE LOW CONTINUOUS SPEED. I CONTACTED THE DEALER, KORUM FORD IN PUYALLUP, WA AND ARRANGED FOR A SERVICE CALL THE NEXT DAY 4-2-2015. THE FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENT ADVISED THAT THE WIPERS FAILED BECAUSE OF DAMAGE TO THE WIRING THAT GOES TO THE MODULE THAT CONTROLS THE WIPER'S HIGH SPEED. THEY ALSO ADVISED THAT THE DAMAGE WAS DONE BY MICE AND SHOWED ME THE CHEWED MARKS ON THE PLASTIC COVER AND SOME MOUSE DROPPINGS. THEY ALSO SHOWED ME THE SHREDDED INSULATION LINING ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE ENGINE HOOD. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT FORD USES SOY IN THE INSULATION AND THAT ATTRACTS THE MICE. WHEN I PICKED UP THE VEHICLE ON 4-11-2015 THE SERVICE ADVISOR SHOWED ME WHERE TO PUT CAYENNE PEPPER TO DISCOURAGE THE MICE FROM EATING THE WIRE INSULATION. I CONTACTED FORD AND THEY DID NOT HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO PREVENT FURTHER DAMAGE AND REFUSED TO ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE COST OF THE DAMAGE. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT IF I HAD NOT BEEN ON A FAMILIAR STRAIGHT ROAD I WOULD HAVE BEEN HEAD-ON WITH A LOADED LOGGING TRUCK. I GUESS I'M FORTUNATE THAT IT ONLY COST ME $2,324.73 INSTEAD OF MY LIFE. FORD NEEDS TO COME UP WITH A METHOD OF PREVENTING RODENT DAMAGE CAUSED BY THEIR USE OF SOY IN THE WIRE INSULATION AND THEY MUST ADVISE OWNERS OF THE RISK OF DAMAGE BY RODENTS AND THEY SHOULD NOT CHARGE CUSTOMERS THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO FIX THEIR MISTAKE. *TR