NHTSA Complaint #10806494 — 2012 FORD TAURUS

THE CONTROLS FOR MY HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEM FAILED. THE CENTER CONSOLE WITH THE RADIO AND CLIMATE CONTROLS ARE INOPERABLE HOWEVER, THE HEAT IS STUCK ON 90 DEGREES FULL BLOWER. I DELIVERED VEHICLE TO FORD AUTONATION FOR SERVICE. FORD ADVISES THAT THE FRONT CONTROL INTERFACE MODULE (FCIM) ON MY VEHICLE WAS BAD AND THAT THE PART WAS ON NATIONAL BACKORDER. I REQUESTED THE BLOWER BE DISCONNECTED IN ORDER TO MAKE THE INTERIOR CABIN OF THE VEHICLE TOLERABLE. FORD ADVISED THAT WOULD DO THIS, BUT THERE WAS NO RESULTANT CHANGE IN THE INTERIOR OF THE COMPARTMENT. WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE, IN ORDER TO DEAL WITH THE EXTREME AMOUNT OF HEAT POURING INTO THE VEHICLE, I HAVE TO DRIVE WITH THE SUNROOF OPEN AND THE WINDOWS DOWN TO DRAFT HEAT FROM THE VEHICLE. ADVERSE DRIVING CONDITION INCLUDE: STEERING WHEEL HEATING UP (IT'S NOT A HEATED STEERING WHEEL), THE SMELL OF MELTING PLASTIC, EXTREME HEAT IN THE FOOTBOX OR FLOORBOARD OF THE CAR MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO KEEP MY FEET IN THEIR NORMAL POSITION CLOSE TO THE BRAKE, EXTREME HEAT ON MY FACE CAUSING MY SKIN TO BREAKOUT, OVERHEATING GLOVEBOX, EXTREME PHYSICAL DISCOMFORT DUE TO HIGH HEAT IN THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE, AND DRIVING WITH THE SUNROOF AND WINDOWS OPEN IN THE RAIN WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. THE FAILURE OF THIS PART HAS CREATED A SAFETY ISSUE AND THE LACK OF AVAILABILITY OF THE PART CAUSES ME GREAT CONCERN. THE JUNKYARD DEALER INDICATED THAT HE HAS HAD "A RUN ON THIS PART" AND THAT SUPPORTS MY IMPRESSION THAT DEMAND FOR THIS PART IS UNREASONABLY HIGH. I HAVE NOT YET HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO FULLY RESEARCH FORD'S OBLIGATIONS TO ME AND THE OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD AS IT PERTAINS TO VEHICLE SAFETY, BUT I WILL BE LOOKING INTO FORD'S OBLIGATIONS TO ME AS A CONSUMER AND UNDER THE FEDERAL LAW WHILE I AWAIT YOUR RESPONSE. I HAVE REQUESTED ASSISTANCE IN RESOLVING THIS MATTER AND THEY HAVE NOT YET OFFERED ANY SOLUTIONS.