NHTSA Complaint #10889294 — 2013 FORD FUSION

THE 3RD DOOR LATCH ON OUR 2013 FORD FUSION BROKE WHILE IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET WHILE MY CHILDREN WERE IN THE CAR. THE DOOR OPENED AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CLOSE. THIS ORIGINALLY HAPPENED TO OUR REAR LEFT SIDE DOOR BEFORE FORD HAD RECALLED THE PART. AS MY HUSBAND TURNED LEFT ON A CITY STREET THE DOOR OPENED. MY TODDLER WAS IN HER CAR SEAT NEXT TO THE DOOR AND MY 8 YEAR OLD SON HAD TO HOLD THE DOOR SHUT TILL HE COULD PULL OVER. THE CAR WAS JUST BARELY OUT OF WARRANTY MILEAGE, BUT ONLY 18 MONTHS. IT WAS NOT RECALLED AT THAT TIME. NEXT WAS OUR LEFT FRONT PASSENGER DOOR. MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING A COWORKER HOME WHEN THE DOOR LATCH BROKE. HE WAS IN THE TOWN HE WORKS IN AND HAD TO LEAVE IT AT THEIR FORD DEALERSHIP, DUE TO THE FACT THAT DRIVING IT OVER AN HOUR TO THE DEALERSHIP WE PURCHASED IT AT WAS UNSAFE AND IMPOSSIBLE. THEY HAD TO KEEP OUR CAR FOR OVER A MONTH TO GET THE PART TO FIX IT. DURING THAT TIME PERIOD OUR CAR SAT WITH THE DOOR TAPED SHUT ON THEIR LOT. WE EXPECTED THAT DURING THAT MONTH THEY WOULD HAVE FIXED ALL THE DOORS ACCORDING TO THE RECALL, HOWEVER THAT WAS NOT DONE. WHY ARE THESE CARS BEING SENT BACK ON THE STREET WITH UNSAFE PARTS? ARE WE WAITING FOR CHILDREN TO FALL OUT AND DIE ON THE STREETS? FORD NEEDS TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR NOT FIXING THE PARTS IN ORDER OF THEIR RECALL WHILE THEY HAVE THE VEHICLE. WHO HAS TIME TO GO BACK AND FORTH TO THE DEALERSHIP, DEAL WITH GETTING A RENTAL CAR AND WAITING FOR A FEW PARTS AT A TIME TO COME IN AND FIX IT. HAVING FOUR YOUNG CHILDREN I AM TERRIFIED TO GET THIS VEHICLE BACK! THE CAR HAS BEEN BACK TWICE FOR THE SEAT BACK REPLACEMENT AS WELL. THE BRACKETS ARE NOT SAFE AND GIVE OUT WHILE DURING. FORD TOLD US TODAY WE NOW NEED TO GET NEW PARTS ON ALL THE DOORS. WHY DID THEY FIXING IT WITH DEFECTIVE PARTS? WHY ARE THEY SENDING THESE CARS BACK ON THE STREET WHEN THEY ARE NOT PROPERLY FIXED GIVING A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY?