NHTSA Complaint #10967142 — 2016 FORD EDGE

ISSUE: LATCH ON DRIVER'S DOOR BROKE. THE EVENTS DESCRIBED BELOW TOOK PLACE OVER A 3-DAY TIME FRAME (03/18/2017 - 03/20/2017). ON SAT., 03/18/2017, I DROVE THE VEHICLE TO A SHOPPING DESTINATION AND THE DRIVER'S DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. I HAD TO CLIMB OVER FRONT CONSOLE TO EXIT THE CAR VIA THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR. TO DRIVE BACK HOME, I HAD TO ENTER THE VEHICLE VIA THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR AND AGAIN CLIMB OVER THE FRONT CONSOLE. AFTER SEVERAL HOURS, THE DOOR WAS OPENED AND ALL WAS PRESUMED TO BE OK. HOWEVER, THE NEXT DAY (SUN., 03/19/2017), THE DRIVER'S DOOR FLEW OPEN WHILE THE CAR WAS EXITING THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 45 MPH. I PULLED OVER AND STRAINED TO PULL THE DOOR IN. HOWEVER, THE LATCH WOULD NOT CATCH AND CLOSE. WHILE MANEUVERING THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER DROVE HOME VERY SLOWLY PULLING IN AND HOLDING THE CAR DOOR. THE VEHICLE SAT UNSECURED OVERNIGHT UNTIL IT COULD BE TAKEN TO FOR REPAIR. THIS PROBLEM PRESENTED A HIGH LEVEL OF DANGER FOR ME, OTHER VEHICLES/DRIVERS/PASSENGERS, AND POSSIBLY PEDESTRIANS/PROPERTIES. THE AFFECTED VEHICLE HAS A LITTLE OVER 3,500 MILES LOGGED AND IS UNDER YEAR ONE OF A THREE YEAR LEASE. AS THIS REPORT IS BEING TYPED (MON., 03/20/2017), THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT THE LOCAL FORD DEALER IS ASSESSING THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE CO-OWNER HAS ALREADY BEEN INFORMED THAT PARTS AND LABOR COSTS TO FIX THE ISSUE ARE NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY; WILL COST HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO REPAIR; TAKE A WEEK TO COMPLETE; AND, A LOANER CAR IS NOT AVAILABLE. AFTER BEING LOYAL FORD CUSTOMERS FOR OVER 30 YEARS (PURCHASE/LEASE), THIS STINGS THE OWNER(S) ON MANY LEVELS.