NHTSA Complaint #11019018 — 2010 MERCURY MARINER

THE PASSENGER-SIDE, LIFTGATE GLASS HINGE ON THE REAR WINDOW BROKE DUE TO CORROSION ON A BOLT. THE WINDOW IS NOW LOOSE AND SAGGING ON THAT SIDE. WE TOOK IT TO A REPAIR SHOP TODAY, AND THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE HINGE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE IN ALSO VERY CORRODED, AND SAID IT WILL LIKELY BREAK SOON. (THERE ARE WHITE STREAKS FROM THE CORROSION RUNNING DOWN THE WINDOW.) THE WINDOW WOULD BE AT RISK OF FALLING OUT. IF THIS HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY, IT COULD PRESENT A VERY REAL DANGER TO CARS FOLLOWING US. I LOOKED ONLINE AFTER WE RETURNED FROM THE SHOP, AND FOUND COMMENTS FROM HUNDREDS OF OTHER MARINER AND ESCAPE OWNERS THAT HAD EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. MANY SAID THAT THEY HAD CONTACTED THEIR DEALERS TO SEE IF THIS PROBLEM WAS COVERED BY A RECALL. WHEN THEY DISCOVERED THAT IT WASN'T, A GREAT NUMBER OF THEM EITHER MADE THE REPAIR THEMSELVES, OR WENT TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, SINCE THE DEALERS WERE CHARGING UP TO $850 TO MAKE THIS REPAIR. SO, MANY OF THESE REPAIRS WEREN'T MADE BY DEALERS WHERE THEY COULD BE TRACKED FOR A POSSIBLE RECALL.