NHTSA Complaint #11531262 — 2020 FORD ESCAPE

At about 30,000k miles, began to hear a creak/pop sound when opening and closing the front d/s door. This past weekend, at about 30,075 miles, there was a loud noise when opening and closing the door, and noted that 3 spot welds appear to have popped and pulled through the sheet metal. These held the safety 'check arm' in place inside the door. In researching the matter, I located that you already have this noted (SSM 50150) on vehicles with high usage profiles. I am a regular driver. This is NOT a fleet vehicle. I'm lucky in that the car is under warranty and will hopefully be repaired with zero costs, HOWEVER, this is nothing that any Ford Escape owner should have to deal with, at all, through the LIFE of the vehicle. Furthermore, the same spot welds and check arm apparatus appears to be used on the other car doors, so my guess is that this too can pose an issue. Ford should honor these repairs well beyond any bumper to bumper warranty period, as well as disclose IF the replacement door is using an improved weld or fastening system. ***!!! THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE because without the arm check functioning properly the door can fly into passing or oncoming traffic unexpectedly, causing injury to the driver of the Escape and/or any oncoming vehicle that slams into said failing door assembly which could result in the loss of control of their vehicle!!! *** My car is in the shop now where I hope this will be part of a covered claim to document. Apparently, I may have to wait months for new front door assembly.