NHTSA Complaint #10775442 — 2013 FORD EDGE

THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR LOCK, SPECIFICALLY THE DOOR AJAR SENSOR, STARTED MALFUNCTIONING AFTER APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR OF OWNERSHIP. THIS CAUSES A SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE AS LONG AS THE DOOR AJAR ERROR APPEARS ON THE MESSAGE WINDOW, THE COMPUTER WILL NOT ALLOW ANY OF THE DOORS TO LOCK. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE OCCUPANT(S) COULD BE EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH OR A ROLLOVER. ADDITIONALLY, THE DEALER WANTS BETWEEN $300 AND $500 TO REPLACE THE FAULTY PART (COST $90) DUE TO HAVING TO DISMANTLE THE DOOR TO ACCESS THE PART. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THERE ARE DO IT YOURSELFERS REPAIRING OR DISABLING THE SENSOR, WHICH COULD CREATE OTHER DANGERS IF THE DOOR IS NOT PROPERLY RECONSTRUCTED. FURTHER INTERNET RESEARCH REVEALED THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN OCCURRING SINCE ABOUT 1996 AND IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM ACROSS SEVERAL MODELS AND PLATFORMS (CARS, TRUCKS AND SUV'S). THE OTHER MINOR ANNOYANCE IS THAT THE INTERIOR LIGHTS DO NOT GO OFF AS LONG AS THE SENSOR IS ACTIVATED, CAUSING BATTERY DRAIN AND SECURITY ISSUES.