NHTSA Complaint #10895772 — 2011 FORD FUSION

ON 16 JULY 2016. THE 2011 FORD FUSION WAS IN PARK AND THE IGNITION WAS OFF. WHEN THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, THE MECHANISM FOR THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE BROKE, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE DIRECTLY FROM THE INSIDE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE WAS STILL FUNCTIONAL, SUCH THAT THE WINDOW COULD BE ROLLED DOWN WITH AUXILIARY POWER OR THE ENGINE RUNNING AND THE DOOR OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE THROUGH THE WINDOW USING THE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE. THIS THEN REQUIRED ROLLING UP THE WINDOW AND TURNING OFF THE POWER/ENGINE TO FULLY EXIT THE VEHICLE. ALTERNATIVELY, A PASSENGER EXITING THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE DRIVER COULD ALSO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE TO ALLOW THE DRIVER TO EXIT; HOWEVER, ALL DOORS SHOULD BE OPERABLE FROM THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT POWER OR ASSISTANCE IN ORDER TO ALLOW EXIT FROM THE VEHICLE IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. PART #6E5Z*5422601*A (DRIVER INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE) WAS REPLACED ON 18 JULY 2016.