NHTSA Complaint #10904977 — 2014 FORD FLEX

OUR 2014 FORD FLEX INDICATES PASSENGER DOOR AJAR (RIGHT FRONT DOOR) ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, EVEN THOUGH THE DOOR APPEARS PROPERLY CLOSED. REPEATED ATTEMPTS (UP TO 50 OR MORE) ARE REQUIRED TO GET THE DOOR TO CLOSE WITH THE INDICATOR LIGHT TURNING OFF. ONCE THE DOOR IS CLOSED PROPERLY, WITH THE INDICATOR LIGHT OFF, THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT MAY TURN ON AGAIN WHILE THE CAR IS OFF AND NOT MOVING, CAUSING THE ALARM TO SOUND. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING, THE PASSENGER DOOR AJAR LIGHT MAY SUDDENLY TURN ON, CAUSING THE NEED TO PULL OVER TO INSURE THE DOOR IS CLOSED PROPERLY. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON TURNS AND ON STRAIGHT ROADS. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD, AS PARKING ALONG THE SIDE OF A HIGHWAY OR ROADWAY CAN CAUSE A DANGEROUS SITUATION NOT ONLY FOR THE PASSENGER RIDING IN THE FRONT SEAT BUT ALSO FOR ALL PASSENGERS IN THE CAR. WE ARE CONCERNED THAT AT SOME POINT THE DOOR LATCH MAY FAIL AND THE DOOR MAY OPEN WHILE MOVING. THIS ISSUE OCCURS EACH TIME THE DOOR IS OPENED AND INTERMITTENTLY WHILE MOVING OR PARKED. WE HAVE DISCUSSED THIS ISSUE WITH THE LOCAL FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENT PRIOR TO THE SEPTEMBER EXPANSION OF THE DOOR LATCH RECALL AND THEY INDICATED THAT OUR VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED BY THE CURRENT RECALLS EVEN THOUGH THE REPRESENTATIVE WAS VERY AWARE OF THE PROBLEM OCCURRING. HIS INDICATION WAS THAT IT "MOSTLY HAPPENED ON THE DRIVER DOOR". WE BELIEVE THAT OUR VEHICLE SHOULD ALSO BE COVERED BY THE RECALL.