NHTSA Complaint #11180385 — 2007 FORD FUSION

I TOOK MY 2007 FORD FUSION TO THE HALDEMAN FORD DEALERSHIP IN ALLENTOWN, PA IN RESPONSE TO NHTSA RECALL 19V-001. WHEN THE RECALL REPAIR WAS COMPLETED, I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER (VICTORT) THAT ALTHOUGH A NEW AIR BAG INFLATOR WAS INSTALLED, THE AIR BAG STILL WOULD NOT INFLATE BECAUSE THE WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD WOULD NOT GO OUT. I WAS TOLD THAT AS LONG AS THE WARNING LIGHT WAS ON THE AIR BAG WOULD NOT INFLATE. I WAS TOLD I WOULD NEED TO SPEND OVER $1200 TO REPAIR A ROD UNDERNEATH THE SEAT THAT CONTROLLED THIS FUNCTION. WITHOUT THE REPAIR OF THIS ROD, THE AIR BAG WOULD NOT INFLATE IN AN ACCIDENT, LEAVING ME WITHOUT AIRBAG PROTECTION. SINCE THIS REPAIR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, THE REPAIR WOULD ONLY BE COMPLETED IF I PAID THEM THE OVER $1200 REPAIR COST. I WAS CHARGED $110 FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC THEY PERFORMED TO CONFIRM THAT THIS, IN FACT, WAS THE PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING FURTHER COULD BE DONE AT THE DEALER- SHIP TO RESOLVE THE FACT THAT THE AIRBAG WOULD NOT BE MADE FUNCTIONAL UNLESS I PAID THEM OVER $1200. I ASKED FOR A TELEPHONE NUMBER TO REPORT THIS TO FORD. I CALLED FORD ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT THE HALDEMAN DEALERSHIP HAD THE RIGHT TO CHARGE ME $110 FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC SINCE THEY NEED TO DEFINITELY DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE ACTIVATION OF THE WARNING LIGHT. I PRESUME THAT SINCE THEY CHARGED ME TO DO THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST THEY WILL STAND BEHIND THE RESULTS OF THAT DIAGNOSTIC TEST. I WAS ALSO TOLD BY THE FORD REPRESENTATIVE THAT THE PROBLEM THAT WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM WAS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL, SO THAT IF I WANTED THE AIR BAG TO INFLATE I WOULD NEED TO PAY THE $1200 REPAIR FEE. I TOLD HIM THE TECHNICALITY OF WHAT THE RECALL INCLUDED WOULDN'T MATTER IF SOMEONE WERE KILLED IN AN ACCIDENT. HE KEPT REPEATING THE COMPANY LINE THAT THE $1200 REPAIR WAS A SEPARATE ISSUE THAT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. HE THEN HUNG UP ON ME. PLEASE HELP!