NHTSA Complaint #11350264 — 2014 FORD EXPLORER

THE INTERIOR DRIVER SIDE DOOR PANEL BECAME DETACHED FROM THE DOOR AROUND THE WINDOW WELL. IT WAS KNOWN THAT THIS WAS AN ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE MAKE AND MODEL BUT WE DID NOT EXPERIENCE THIS ISSUE UNTIL JANUARY OF 2020 SO WE HAD NO REASON TO TAKE ACTION PRIOR. I CONTACTED RYDELL OF INDEPENDENCE, IA AND SCHEDULED THIS TO BE REPAIRED AT NO COST, THINKING THAT THIS WAS STILL COVERED SINCE THE MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE WAS AT 77,000(UNDER THE 100,000MILE WARRANTY). MY VEHICLE WAS ALSO SCHEDULED TO REPAIR ANOTHER RECALL THE SAME DAY. I NEVER RECEIVED ANY FURTHER CONTACT FROM THE FORD SERVICE GARAGE TO EXPLAIN THAT IT WASN'T COVERED AND WOULDN'T BE FIXED. I FOUND THIS OUT ONLY BY SEEING IT WASN'T ADDRESSED AND HAVING TO FIND THE MANAGER TO DISCUSS. AT THAT TIME THEY SAID FORD HONORS 5YEARS OR 100,000- WHICH EVER COMES FIRST. OUR WARRANTY STARTED IN JUNE OF 2014 AND EXPIRED JUNE OF 2019, ACCORDING TO FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE. WE MISSED THIS DEADLINE BY 6MOS FOR FORD TO COVER THE COST OF THE REPAIR FOR AN ISSUE THAT WAS NONEXISTENT AT THE TIME THE COVERAGE EXPIRED. I CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE TO VERIFY WHAT WAS SENT REGARDING THIS REPAIR AND THERE WAS NEVER ANY DIRECTION TO GET THE PANEL REPLACED EVEN IF IT WASN'T DETACHING FROM THE DOOR. THE VERBIAGE USED WAS TO REPAIR IF THE INTERIOR WAS DETACHING. THIS HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME