NHTSA Complaint #11222949 — 2014 FORD FIESTA

THE LEFT REAR DOOR LATCH BROKE WHEN THE DOOR WAS CLOSED. THIS HAPPENED IN OUR DRIVEWAY AS WE WERE PREPARING TO LEAVE ON A TRIP. IF THIS LATCH HAD BROKEN WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN IT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT CAUSING DAMAGE TO THIS OR OTHER VEHICLES AND POSSIBLE INJURY OR DEATH TO OCCUPANTS OR BYSTANDERS. FORD RECALLED NEARLY 390,000 2012-2014 FIESTA, FOCUS AND LINCOLN MODELS FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM. THIS VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED LESS THAN TWO WEEKS AFTER THE PROBLEM WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN FIXED AT THE PLANT IN MEXICO. APPARENTLY THEY SHOULD HAVE RECALLED MORE SINCE THIS VEHICLE WAS EXEMPTED FROM THAT RECALL, BUT OBVIOUSLY HAS THE SAME DEFECT. I AM NOW FORCED TO PAY $300 TO REPAIR A VEHICLE WHICH FORD SHOULD HAVE KNOWN WAS DEFECTIVE. THESE VEHICLES NEED TO BE RECALLED AND REPAIRED AT FORD'S EXPENSE, NOT THE CUSTOMER'S. THE RECALL NOTICE WAS 15F16 REGARDING THIS PROBLEM.