NHTSA Complaint #10865531 — 2004 FORD FREESTAR

FORD IS NOT HONORING 13V081000 FOR THE THIRD ROW SEAT STRIKER PROBLEMS. OUR VAN WHICH IS OPERATED IN THE KANSAS CITY METROPOLITAN AREA, WHICH HEAVILY SALTS THE ROADS IS HAVING THE CORROSION PROBLEM. JUST THIS WEEKEND WE WERE TRAVELING WITH ALL SEATS OCCUPIED WHEN THE INNER FENDER WELL ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE BROKE THROUGH WITH THE SEAT STRIKER MOUNTING BRACKET HITTING THE SIDEWALL OF THE REAR TIRE. FORTUNATELY AT THE TIME WE WERE NOT DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS AND WERE ABLE TO REMOVE THE SEAT OCCUPANTS AND RETURN HOME SAFELY. THE DESIGN OF THIS SEAT STRIKER PLATE IS FLAWED AS THERE IS A REINFORCING PLATE ON THE INNER SIDE OF THE FENDER WELL THAT RESULTS IN ENTRAPMENT OF MOISTURE AND DIRT. THIS BAD DESIGN COMBINED WITH THE WEIGHT OF THREE PEOPLE OCCUPYING THE SEAT RESULTS IN STRESSING OF THE FENDER WELL MATERIAL. WHEN I WENT TO THE FORD DEALER ON MONDAY AND GAVE THEM MY VIN THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY HINT OF A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE ON MY VEHICLE.