NHTSA Complaint #10818740 — 2012 FORD EXPLORER

THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE PILLAR BLEW OFF MY VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEED ON I-75 (70 MPH). IT JUST MISSED A CAR THAT WAS FOLLOWING ME. THE PLATE THAT HOLDS THE PILLAR ON THE FRAME, SHOWS STRESS CRACKING AT EACH BOLT AND THE LOWER TWO TABS THAT CONNECT THE PILLAR ARE SHEARED. THE TABS AT THE TOP OF THE PILLAR PULLED OUT COMPLETELY. I HAD TAKEN THIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE NOISE THE WIND NOISE COMING FROM THE SIDES OF THE WINDSHIELD. THEY SAID THAT THEY COULDN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM AND ADVISED ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THE PILLAR ASSEMBLY REPLACED IF I WANTED TO GET RID OF THE NOISE. THEY DID NOT REMOVE THE PILLAR TO INSPECT ANYTHING, LIKELY KNOWING THEY WOULD DAMAGE IT.