NHTSA Complaint #10859813 — 2016 FORD EXPLORER

I AM THE OWNER OF A 2016 FORD EXPLORER XLT WITH THE FOOT ACTIVATION LIFTGATE FEATURE. WHILE LOADING A LARGE ITEM IN THE REAR CARGO AREA OF THE PARKED VEHICLE, THE FOOT ACTIVATED CLOSURE FUNCTION WAS UNEXPECTEDLY TRIGGERED AND THE LIFTGATE PROCEEDED TO CLOSE ON ME. THE LIFTGATE DID NOT STOP ONCE IT HIT ME. I HAD TO APPLY EXTREME CROSS FORCE PRESSURE TO STOP THE CLOSING PROCESS AND TRIGGER THE SAFETY STOP MECHANISM. HAD THIS MALFUNCTION OCCURRED WHILE MY 4 YEAR OLD CHILD WAS RETRIEVING OR PLACING AN ITEM IN THE VEHICLE, HER HEAD OR NECK WOULD HAVE BEEN CRUSHED. FURTHER TESTING AND TRYING TO SHUT THE LIFTGATE ON MYSELF VIA THE KEY FOB OR THE TAILGATE BUTTON DID NOT PRODUCE THE SAME RESULT. THE SAFETY STOP DETECTED MY PRESENCE UPON INITIAL IMPACT, AND RE-OPENED, AS EXPECTED. I AM FURIOUS THAT THIS UNEXPECTED CLOSING VIA ACCIDENTAL ACTIVATION VIA THE FOOT SENSOR ISSUE HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED, EVEN THOUGH A QUICK INTERNET SEARCH PULLS BACK MANY OWNER COMPLAINTS OF THIS SAME ISSUE. THE COMPLAINTS GO BACK SEVERAL MODEL YEARS. THIS FEATURE IS COMMONLY INSTALLED ON ALL DEALER STOCK VEHICLES, SO FORD SHOULD ADDRESS THE INCONSISTENCY OF THE FOOT ACTIVATION SENSOR, OR AT LEAST INCORPORATE A SETTING THAT ALLOWS THE OWNER TO DISABLE THIS FUNCTION VIA THE VEHICLE SETTINGS. SAFETY NEEDS TO EXCEED ANY VALUE OF A CONVENIENCE FEATURE.