NHTSA Complaint #11255141 — 2009 FORD FUSION

TAKATA RECALL. VEHICLE STATIONARY ON JANUARY 18, 2019 THE PASSENGER AIR BAG INFLATOR WAS REPLACED UNDER THE 18S01 RECALL, FORD PART NUMBER 8E5Z 54044A74 AD. ON SEPTEMBER 10, 2019 BROUGHT CAR INTO LOCAL QUIRK FORD DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE BECAUSE AIR BAG COVER WAS NO LONGER WAS FLUSH TO THE DASHBOARD. FORD SERVICE SAID PROBLEM WAS DUE TO "WORN DASHBOARD" AND NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL. SEE FIRST ATTACHED PICTURE. CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE ON SEPT 11, 2019 WAS TOLD PROBLEM WAS NOT COVERED UNDER ANY RECALLS OR ANY WARRANTIES, CASE NUMBER CAS-24226208-S8R0V4. MY CONCERN IS THAT BY HAVING AN OPEN CORNER (SEE SECOND ATTACHED PICTURE) FOREIGN OBJECTS COULD ACCIDENTALLY FALL INTO THIS SPACE WITHOUT THE DRIVERS KNOWLEDGE (IE. A PENNY, DIME, ETC) AND IF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED A SERIOUS INJURY COULD OCCUR. SPECIFICALLY, FOREIGN OBJECTS COULD BECOME AIR BORNE WHEN AIR BAG DEPLOYED. A SMALL PIECE OF METAL LIKE A PENNY OR DIME COULD CAUSE FATAL DAMAGE TO THE PASSENGERS IN THE CAR IF AIR BAG DEPLOYED. NOT SURE IF THIS SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE ORIGINAL TAKATA RECALL OR IF ANOTHER RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED. IN ANY CASE I BELIEVE THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WHICH SHOULD BE BROUGHT TO YOUR ATTENTION.