NHTSA Complaint #10940096 — 2017 FORD FUSION

ISSUE 1: FMVSS CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUE. INTERMITTENT TOTAL FAILURE OF CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM, INCLUDING FAILURE OF DEFOGGER CAUSING OBSTRUCTED VISIBILITY IN COLD CLIMATES (VEHICLE IS BASED IN METROPOLITAN DETROIT). THE FAILURE IS BOTH ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL. NEITHER THE TOUCH SCREEN NOR THE PHYSICAL CONSOLE BUTTONS RESPOND TO COMMANDS. AFTER SECOND INTERMITTENT FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OVERNIGHT IN AN ATTACHED HOME GARAGE. AFTER IGNITION, DEFOGGER FUNCTIONED, BUT NO OTHER CLIMATE FUNCTIONS WORKED. DEFOGGER EMITTED A BURNING SMELL AKIN TO A CAMPFIRE. FORCED TO DRIVE WITH SUCH CONDITIONS TO WORK TO MAINTAIN VISIBILITY. ISSUE 2: POSSIBLE FMVSS SAFETY ISSUE. INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF THE AUDIO SYSTEM, INCLUDING SNYC COMMANDS. TOUCHSCREEN (BOTH ON THE HOME SCREEN AND ON THE TOOLBAR AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SCREEN) AND PHYSICAL BUTTONS DO NOT RESPOND WHEN AUDIO BUTTONS ARE PRESSED. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, SYNC DOES NOT RESPOND. ALTHOUGH BLUETOOTH IS ACTIVE, OCCUPANTS CANNOT HEAR THE DIALED PARTY, AND THE DIALED PARTY CANNOT HEAR THE OCCUPANTS. SINCE SYNC IS TIED INTO 911 SYSTEM FOR CRASHES, THIS WILL PREVENT OCCUPANTS FROM ENGAGING WITH 911 OPERATORS HANDS-FREE IN AN ACCIDENT. IF OCCUPANTS CANNOT REACH/MANIPULATE PHONE IN A CRASH, THEY MAY BE UNABLE TO CALL FOR HELP. ISSUE 3: INTERMITTENT REAR CAMERA FAILURE. AFTER RAINFALL AND FROST EVENTS, THE REAR CAMERA DOES NOT ENGAGE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PLACED IN REVERSE GEAR. THE SCREEN IS BLACK, EXCEPT FOR AN OUTLINE OF THE VEHICLE. THE RADAR SENSORS REMAIN ACTIVE AND BEEPS IF THE VEHICLE IS CLOSE TO BACKING INTO AN OBJECT. AFTER A PERIOD OF DRYNESS, THE CAMERA RE-ENGAGES. I ASSUME THERE IS A MOISTURE INTRUSION PROBLEM, BUT AM UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE ENTRY POINT. ONLINE SEARCHES SUGGEST THAT MOISTURE MAY BE INTRUDING THROUGH THE FACTORY-INSTALLED, ROOF-MOUNTED ANTENNA.