NHTSA Complaint #10981596 — 2013 FORD FLEX

DOOR LATCH AND DOOR SENSORS OVER THE COURSE OF AT LEAST A YEAR, FORD HAS BEEN RECALLING VEHICLES BECAUSE OF A FAULTY DOOR LATCH. FORD HAS NOT RECALLED THE FLEX. SAFETY ISSUES INVOLVED WITH THE DOOR LATCH INCLUDE THE INABILITY TO LOCK THE DOOR FOR SAFETY BECAUSE IF THE SENSOR REGISTERS THE DOOR IS OPEN, THE DOOR LOCKS WILL NOT ENGAGE. THERE IS ALSO A KNOCKING SOUND FROM THE DOORS WITH A FAULTY LATCH. IT SOUNDS AS IF THE LATCHES ARE NOT FULLY ENGAGED. AS A RESULT OF THE SENSOR PROBLEM, INSIDE LIGHTS RUN FOR HOURS ON END AS IF A DOOR IS OPEN, RUNNING DOWN A PERFECTLY NEW AND CHARGED BATTERY. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH FORD CORPORATE AND DEALERSHIPS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BUT THEY SAID IT WILL NOT BE FIXED ON THEIR DIME UNTIL A RECALL IS ISSUED. ASSUMINGLY, IF OTHER MODELS ARE BEING RECALLED BECAUSE OF SAFETY ISSUES WITH THE DOOR LATCHES, THE FORD FLEX, WHICH ALSO HAS DOOR LATCH PROBLEMS SHOULD BE RECALLED FOR SAFETY AS WELL. FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT WOULD RATHER FLEX OWNERS PAY $500 PER LATCH TO ENSURE OUR FAMILY IS SAFE WHILE RIDING IN A NEGLIGENTLY MANUFACTURED VEHICLE. DOES IT TAKE A KID FALLING OUT OF A FORD FLEX FOR THE RECALL TO BE ISSUED?