NHTSA Complaint #10782122 — 2002 FORD ESCAPE

THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR LOCKING SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE AND IS STUCK IN THE LOCK POSITION. UNABLE TO OPEN DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE OR THE INSIDE OF THE CAR. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED IN THE PAST SINCE I NOTICED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS SAME PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET OR YOUR NHTSA WEBSITE. THE FORD DEALER SERVICE MANAGER ALSO MENTIONED TO ME THAT THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED IN THE PAST BY FORD. SERVICE FEE IS $500 IF THE REPAIRMAN IS ABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR WITHOUT BREAKING IT AS SOMETIMES IT DOES BREAK CAUSING AN EVEN MORE EXPENSIVE REPAIR. THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR JOB FOR A JAMMED LOCKING MECHANISM THAT SHOULD EASILY BE WORKING PROPERLY. GOD FORBID I AM INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT AND MY WIFE, OTHER FRONT PASSENGER OR MYSELF IS UNABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY. THIS IS A MAJOR INCONVENIENCE AS ANY PASSENGER THAT WANTS TO SIT IN THE FRONT HAS TO LEAP THROUGH THE DRIVER DOOR TO SIT IN THE FRONT. MY WIFE IS THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS CAR AND IT CURRENTLY HAS 130,000 MILES. ALL CAR DOORS SHOULD BE ABLE TO WORK WITHOUT JAMMING AS THIS OBVIOUSLY POSES A SAFETY ISSUE. WHY NHTSA HAS NEVER BOTHERED TO ESCALATE THIS PROBLEM TO A RECALL IS BEYOND ME WHEN THERE ARE OTHER FORD ESCAPE OWNERS WITH THE SAME SAFETY PROBLEM? PLEASE ADVICE, THANKS.