NHTSA Complaint #10713243 — 2013 FORD FIESTA

THIS PAST SATURDAY, I OPENED MY REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR, AND IT TOOK A FEW ATTEMPTS TO CLOSE IT AGAIN. IT DID NOT WANT TO LATCH. I WASN'T SURE WHY IT HAPPENED, AND ALL BUT FORGOT ABOUT IT. LATER IN THE DAY, I PICKED UP SOME FRIENDS FROM THE AIRPORT, AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED. I OPENED THE DOOR TO LOAD IN A SUITCASE AND IT TOOK SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO GET IT TO LATCH CLOSED AGAIN. THEN, ON SUNDAY, I LENT MY CAR TO MY VISITING FRIENDS, AND WHILE THEY WERE DRIVING THE DOOR POPPED OPEN. IT DID NOT FLY OPEN OR CAUSE ALARM, IT JUST CAME UNLATCHED. WHEN THEY STOPPED THE CAR THEY USED THE SEAT BELT TO HOLD THE DOOR CLOSED. THEY TEXTED ME TO LET ME KNOW WHAT WAS HAPPENING. WE DISCOVERED THAT JUST ONLY TWO DAYS EARLIER A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED ON THE DOOR LATCHES ON MY MAKE AND MODEL OF CAR. THE MOST FRUSTRATING PART IS THAT THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY ARE NOT READY TO FIX THE PROBLEM. SO FAR THEY HAVE NOT RECEIVED INSTRUCTIONS OR PARTS YET. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT SCHEDULED ON JUNE 9TH TO ADDRESS ANOTHER RECALL ISSUE CONCERNING AN EMISSIONS PART, BUT I WAS INFORMED THAT ONLY IF THE DEALERSHIP HAD THE PARTS AND INSTRUCTIONS WOULD THEY ADDRESS MY OPEN DOOR PROBLEM. SO I WILL BE DRIVING AROUND FOR AT LEAST 5 WEEKS WITH A DOOR THAT WON'T CLOSE. THAT CAN'T BE SAFE. MEANWHILE IF THE DOOR IS NOT TIED TIGHTLY THE INTERIOR LIGHT STAYS ON. FORTUNATELY THERE WASN'T ANYONE IN THE BACK SEAT WHEN THE DOOR POPPED OPEN. *TR