NHTSA Complaint #11288915 — 2010 FORD FUSION

DRIVER SIDE DOOR DOES NOT OPEN FROM OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE DOES NOT WORK NOR MOVE. THIS IS DANGEROUS FOR THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS: BECAUSE CAR HAS "BUCKET STYLE" FRONT SEATS. DRIVER CANNOT MOVE FROM FRONT PASSENGER TO/FROM DRIVER SIDE SEAT. TO ENTER AUTO, DRIVER ENTERS FRONT PASSENGER DOOR, REACHES OVER THE CENTER CONSOLE TO DRIVER INSIDE DOOR HANDLE, OPENS DRIVER DOOR FROM INSIDE, EXITS AUTO, ENTERS (THE NOW OPEN) DRIVER SIDE DOOR. IN UNSAFE NEIGHBORHOODS THIS PUTS THE DRIVER AND HIS PASSENGERS IN UNNECESSARY DANGER. THIS DRIVER IS UNABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR WITH THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR UNLOCKED, SO IN EVENT OF A CRASH/ACCIDENT, THE DRIVER CANNOT BE REMOVED, FROM THE CRASHED DAMAGED CAR, THE BROKEN DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE CANNOT BE OPENED BY A FIRST RESPONDER/RESCUER. THE DRIVER IS IN UNNECESSARY DANGER. THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP, EXAMINED THE DRIVER'S DOOR AND REPORTS: "OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE IS STUCK, WILL NOT OPEN. PULLED DOOR PANEL OFF AND FOUND THAT LOCK AND ROD FROM HANDLE TO LATCH HAS RUSTED, AND ROTTED, CAUSING ROD TO BREAK IN HALF, ROD NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. PART HAS BEEN ORDERED AND SHOULD BE HERE BY 12-16-2019." IN THE PAST, THE DRIVER SIDE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED THREE (3) TIMES DUE TO FAULTY MECHANISMS. THERE IS CONCERN THAT THIS EXTRA USE OF THE INSIDE HANDLE MAY AGAIN BREAK THE INSIDE HANDLE, TRAPPING THE DRIVER INSIDE THE CAR, WITH NO WAY TO EXIT. THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP: GRIECO FORD OF FORT LAUDERDALE 1333 N. FEDERAL HIGHWAY FORT LAUDERDALE, FL PHONE: 1.954.390.6530 I PAID: $139.95, ON 12/11/2019. I WAS TOLD THAT TO REPAIR THIS DANGEROUS AUTO CONDITION WILL COST AN ADDITIONAL $373.00. TOTAL COST TO REPAIR DANGEROUS AUTO CONDITION IS $512.95 FORD CORP. SHOULD REIMBURSE CUSTOMER FOR THESE UNEXPECTED COSTS, $512.95. 4 PROPERLY WORKING AUTO DOOR IS A SAFETY ISSUE.