NHTSA Complaint #10862135 — 2016 FORD EXPLORER

ON 22 APR 2016 OUR SON WAS IN TOWN VISITING WHEN HE WAS LOOKING OVER OUR NEW VEHICLE AND NOTICE THAT THE SCREWS THAT HOLD THE BELT TENSIONER IN PLACE WERE ALMOST ALL THE WAY OUT. SINCE MY SON IS A MECHANIC HE ADVISED US NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE SINCE THIS COULD CAUSE A CATASTROPHIC MALFUNCTION LEADING TO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 1681 MILES ON IT AND WE IMMEDIATELY CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP WHICH ALSO TOLD US TO CONTACT ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP TIGHTEN THE BOLTS DOWN AND ACCORDING TO THE INVOICE (ATTACHED) THAT THE BOLTS NEVER WERE TIGHTEN DOWN AT THE FACTORY. I'VE INCLUDED A COUPLE PHOTOS. I'VE CONTACTED FORD AND OPENED A CASE FILE SINCE THIS APPEARS TO BE ISSUES AT THE PLANT AND WHO KNOWS HOW MANY OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM. THE QUALITY CONTROL INSPECTIONS SHOULD HAVE IDENTIFIED THIS ISSUE AND FIXED IT! AFTER I FILED THE COMPLAINT (CASE # CAS-9331585) I WAS TOLD THAT NO ONE WILL PROBABLY GET BACK WITH ME REGARDING THIS ISSUE. I HAD REQUESTED TO TALK WITH EITHER A FORD SAFETY REPRESENTATIVE OF THE QUALITY CONTROL MANAGER AT THE CHICAGO FORD PLANT TO EXPRESS MY CONCERNS. I BELIEVE FORD SHOULD PUT OUT AN IMMEDIATE SERVICE NOTICE TO HAVE INDIVIDUALS CHECK THE TENSIONER BOLTS ON THEIR 2016 FORD EXPLORERS SINCE THIS CAN LEAD TO A MAJOR MALFUNCTION WHICH COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS IF NOT DEADLY ACCIDENT.