NHTSA Complaint #10979192 — 2012 FORD FIESTA

WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE ON 04/18/2017, THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR OF THE VEHICLE INADVERTENTLY OPENED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. I RECEIVED SAFETY RECALL NOTICE 15S16 ON JANUARY 2016 REGARDING THIS ISSUE THAT STATED: "IT MAY BE POSSIBLE FOR THE PAWL SPRING TAB INSIDE ONE OR MORE OF THE SIDE DOOR LATCHES IN THE VEHICLE TO BREAK, PREVENTING THE DOOR FROM LATCHING". THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT OCCURRED TO ME TODAY ON 04/18. SHORTLY AFTER RECEIVING THE RECALL NOTICE, I CONTACTED A FORD DEALERSHIP IN THE KANSAS CITY METRO AREA WHERE I WAS LIVING AND THEY STATED THAT PARTS WERE SO BACK ORDERED AND "TO TRY AGAIN IN A FEW MONTHS". AS LIFE MOVED ON, I PUT THIS ON THE BACKBURNER AND RELOCATED TO OMAHA, NE FOR A NEW JOB. TODAY I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN REGARDING THIS CONCERN AND THEY APPEAR TO BE REPLACING THE FAILURE OF THE LATCHING MECHANISM, BUT DID NOT HAVE PARTS IN STOCK AND DID NOT OFFER A RENTAL VEHICLE WHILE MY VEHICLE WAS UNDER REPAIR AS THE WARRANTY NOTICE IMPLIES. I SHARE THIS COMPLAINT BECAUSE I AM HIGHLY CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF OTHERS THAT DO NOT RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM. I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH THAT THE FAILURE OF MY DOOR LATCH TODAY DID NOT INJURE ANOTHER MOTORIST OR CAUSE INJURY, BUT I CAN GUARANTEE YOU IT MADE ME QUESTION THE RELIABILITY AND SAFETY OF MY VEHICLE WHICH IN WHICH I THOUGHT I COULD PLACE MY TRUST. IF ANYONE ELSE IS AFFECTED BY THIS MULTI-MILLION VEHICLE RECALL, PLEASE DO NOT DELAY OR ALLOW FORD DEALERSHIPS TO STALL ON REPAIRING THIS CRITICAL FAILURE THAT COULD LEAD TO SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERNS.