NHTSA Complaint #11020332 — 2014 FORD FUSION

THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT DOOR LATCH FAILED, AND SO THE DRIVER'S DOOR WILL NOT LATCH CLOSED. WHEN DRIVING, THE DOOR MUST BE HELD CLOSED BY THE DRIVER (I RESORTED TO TYING A ROPE FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLE TO THE PASSENGER SIDE IN ORDER TO GET THE CAR HOME). WHEN TAKING RIGHT TURNS, IF NOT PROPERLY SECURED BY THE DRIVER'S ARM, THE DOOR WILL FLY OPEN WHICH COULD LEAD TO THE DRIVER BEING EJECTED FROM THE MOVING VEHICLE. AFTER THE DOOR INITIALLY FAILED, I CONTACTED THE NEAREST FORD DEALER ABOUT GETTING THE CAR REPAIRED AND WAS TOLD THE EXISTING DOOR LATCH RECALL DID NOT APPLY TO MY VEHICLE AND THAT THEY HAD NO PARTS IN STOCK FOR A REPAIR. FORD ISSUED A RECALL FOR FAULTY DOOR LATCHES ON SPECIFIC 2014 FUSION MODELS. MINE APPARENTLY WAS NOT ONE OF THEM, BUT STILL SUFFERS FROM THE SAME FAULTY DOOR LATCH DESIGN. THE EXISTING RECALL NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED TO PROPERLY COVER ALL FUSIONS (AND THE OTHER AFFECTED FORD/LINCOLN MODELS) WITH THESE INFERIOR DOOR LATCHES SUFFERING FROM FAULTY "PAWL SPRINGS". INQUIRIES TO THE PARTS DEPARTMENTS OF TWO LOCAL FORD AUTHORIZED DEALERS HAVE NOT BEEN FRUITFUL; THE PART IS APPARENTLY OUT OF STOCK AT ALL DEALERS IN THE STATE OF ARIZONA AND THERE IS NO ETA ON A REPLACEMENT. AN INQUIRY TO AN ONLINE OUTLET CALLED FORD PARTS GIANT SHOWS THE PART NUMBER GIVEN TO ME BY THE DEALER TO BE DISCONTINUED. THAT PART IS AE8Z-5421813-E, DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR. I CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER SERVICE IN AN ATTEMPT TO LOCATE A PROPER REPLACEMENT PART SOMEWHERE IN THE UNITED STATES, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE ANY USEFUL INFORMATION.