NHTSA Complaint #10785127 — 2003 FORD F-150

PURCHASED VEHICLE IN7/2003. REAR SMALL DOOR (SO CALLED "SUICIDE DOOR") ON PASSENGER SIDE BROKE IN 11/2012. WOULD NOT OPEN OR CLOSE FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. HAD TWO LATCHES REPLACED AT WALKER FORD IN CLEARWATER, FL ALSO IN 11/2012 AT A COST OF $615.59. SAME DOOR BROKE AGAIN IN 9/2015. TOOK TRUCK BACK TO WALKER FORD . THEY OFFERED TO REPAIR IT AGAIN FOR ABOUT $500 AND STATED THE LATCHES THEY REPLACED IN 11/2012 HAD "DETERIORATED FROM NON-USE"!. I DECLINED THE REPAIR OFFER AS IT IS CLEAR TO ME THAT THE LATCHES ARE INADEQUATE AND/OR OF DEFECTED MANUFACTURE. IT IS MY POSITION THAT THESE REAR DOOR LATCH PROBLEMS ARE A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE IF THERE IS A SITUATION OF WATER IMMERSION, FIRE, SMOKE, FUMES, ETC. IN SUCH AN EVENT, ANY REAR SEAT PASSENGER WOULD BE TRAPPED. I AM ASKING YOU TO CONSIDER AN IMMEDIATE RECALL TO REPLACE THESE LATCHES.