NHTSA Complaint #10808553 — 2005 FORD FOCUS

THE FORD ZXW WAGON'S LIFTGATE WIRING HARNESS HAD FRAYED INSIDE THE RUBBER HOUSING AT THE JUNCTION WHERE THE GATE PIVOTS BETWEEN THE CAR BODY AND LIFTGATE. THE WIRES SHORTED WHICH CAUSED THE ELECTRIC GATE RELEASE TO OPEN AT 70MPH, WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT ON A FREEWAY. THE LIFTGATE ROSE UP, OPENING THE BACK OF THE CARGO AREA TO TRAFFIC. LUCKILY FREEWAY SPEED WINDS KEPT IT FROM COMPLETELY OPENING, BUT WHEN SLOWED TO 30MPH IT WENT STRAIGHT UP. I'M LUCKY I HAD NO CHILDREN OR ANIMALS IN THE BACK CARGO AREA. AND THE FELLOW DRIVERS ON THE ROAD WERE LUCKY NOTHING SHIFTED AND FELL OUT. THE LIFTGATE REFUSED TO LATCH AFTER THIS POINT, MAKING DRIVING THE CAR SAFELY IMPOSSIBLE. IN RESEARCHING THE CAUSE AND REPAIR, I NOTICED SEVERAL FORUMS WHERE AN IDENTICAL PROBLEM WITH FORD'S DESIGN WAS POSTED. THE REPLACEMENT BILL AT A FORD DEALERSHIP WAS AROUND $1,200, NOT INCLUDING MY TIME LOST TO RESEARCH, REPAIR, OR FINDING ALTERNATIVE MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION FOR MY BUSINESS PURPOSES. THIS IS DANGEROUS, POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING, AND UNFORTUNATELY, NOT FIXED. THE MECHANICS AT FORD SAID THE REPLACEMENT PART IS THE SAME AS WHAT WAS ORIGINAL. THIS WILL LIKELY HAPPEN AGAIN.