NHTSA Complaint #11366374 — 2012 FORD FUSION

WHEN I WAS PREPARING TO EXIT MY VEHICLE AT A CONSTRUCTION ROADWAY (I WAS LOST) MY DRIVERS' DOOR HANDLE WOULD NOT OPEN- IT FLOPPED. I COULD NOT EXIT. I CALLED MY FAMILY FOR HELP TO FIND OUT WHAT TO DO. (I AM A SENIOR AND COULD NOT CLIMB OVER THE STICK TO USE THE OTHER DOOR) MY FAMILY SAID TO LOWER THE WINDOW AND OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE AND "BE CAREFULL!" AFTER THAT I WENT HOME AND WHEN I TRIED TO CLOSE THE DOOR- IT WOULD NOT LATCH/NOR CLOSE- ONCE AGAIN I CALLED FOR HELP AND WAS TOLD TO TIE THE DOOR CLOSE THRU THE WINDOWS. WHICH MEANT MY DOOR WAS VUNABLE TO THEFT AND WEATHER. WHEN I SPOKE WITH THE FORD DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT, I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS "A COMMON PROBLEM WITH OLDER MODELS"(MINE IS A 2012!).PER THE DEALER IT REQUIRES A DOOR LOCK PART. WHAT IT TELLS ME IS THE SAFETY FEATURES ON "OLDER MODELS" EXPIRE WITH THE WARRANTIES! BUT THIS IS WHY I PURCHASED A FORD!! HAD I KNOW THE "SAFETY FEATURES" EXPIRE WITH THE WARRANTY, I WOULD HAVE RESEARCHED WHICH VEHICLE HAS THE BEST & LONGEST "SAFETY FEATURES"! I NOW FEEL UNSAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE DUE TO MY INABILITIES TO EXIT IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY DUE TO FAULTY/EXPIRED "SAFETY FEATURES!" IT MAKES ME FEEL I WOULD BE TRAPPED WITHOUT A WAY OUT! IF THIS IS COMMON-WHY ISN'T IT STATED SOMEWHERE FOR SENIORS TO KNOW IN ADVANCE- ESPECIALLY BEFORE PURCHASING A FORD WITH COMMON SAFETY DEFECTS!? HOW MANY SENIORS/OWNERS HAVE TO BECOME INJURED OR DIE BEFORE FORD REPORTS THIS AS A FAILED SAFETY FEATURE??!! AIRBAGS, SEATBELTS, ... - DOOR LOCKS ON DRIVER'S DOOR SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE RECALL LIST BEFORE IT RESULTS IN MANY INJURIES/DEALTHS! IT IS A CHEAP PART TO REPLACE PER FORD DEALER AND COULD BE REASON WHY IT IS NOT A RECALL BUT AT LEAST IT SHOULD A NOTICE SENT TO OWNERS SO THEY CAN AVOID IT HAPPENING TO THEM.LUCKLY MY INCIDENT OCCURRED IN DAYTIME- THIS COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE AT NIGHT!?