NHTSA Complaint #10818760 — 2007 FORD FOCUS

THERE IS A NON-ISOLATED SAFETY ISSUE INVOLVING THE SEATS USED IN THE 2007 FORD FOCUS. THERE ARE COUNTLESS FORUM THREADS REGARDING THE POOR BUILD QUALITY OF THE SEATS USED IN THIS PARTICULAR MODEL OF FORD. THE BACK OF THE SEAT FRAME BENDS WITH LITTLE TO NO PRESSURE AND THE CONDITION OF THE SEAT BACK SLOWLY BUT PROGRESSIVELY DETERIORATES. THIS POSES A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION, PARTICULARLY IN AN INCIDENT WHERE MY VEHICLE IS REAR ENDED. NOT ONLY WOULD THE AIRBAGS DEPLOY IN THE WRONG DIRECTION, BUT THE DRIVER WOULD NOT BE PROPERLY PROTECTED IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION. I SUFFER FROM SEVERE BACK PAIN JUST BY DRIVING THE VEHICLE UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS, LET ALONE IN THE AFTERMATH OF AN ACCIDENT. THERE IS NO COST EFFECTIVE WAY AND LEGAL WAY TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. FORD MOTOR COMPANY SELLS THE OEM SEATS (WHICH ARE ALL PRONE TO SEATBACK FAILURE REGARDLESS) FOR $3,000. THE ONLY OTHER OPTION AVAILABLE TO CONSUMERS IS TO PURCHASE AFTERMARKET SEATS. HOWEVER, IN STATES WHICH REQUIRE ANNUAL VEHICLE INSPECTION STICKERS, THERE IS NO LEGAL WAY TO INSTALL AFTERMARKET SEATS BECAUSE BY DOING SO, AN AIRBAG ERROR LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE ON THE DASH, THEREBY AUTOMATICALLY FAILING THE CAR'S INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. WHILE SPEAKING TO A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE FORD MOTOR VEHICLE COMPANY, I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE IS "REGRETFULLY, NO RECALLS AT THIS TIME FOR THE ISSUE I WAS EXPERIENCING" AND "THAT THERE IS NO CREDIBLE SAFETY DEFECT INVOLVING THE SEAT."