NHTSA Complaint #11542177 — 2016 FORD TRANSIT CONNECT

Recall Issue with Vehicle Door Latch and Delays in Repair - NHTSA Recall Number 21V376 To whom it may concern, I am writing to report a significant safety concern regarding my vehicle. Specifically, the driver's door latch is malfunctioning and no longer securely locks the door, rendering the vehicle undriveable. This issue directly aligns with the advanced recall notice identified as NHTSA Recall Number21V376 and Manufacturer Recall Number 21S24. To seek a resolution, I reached out to local Ford dealerships, but initially faced challenges in even having a conversation about potential recalls. Fortunately, Future Ford of Roseville accepted to inspect my vehicle and I delivered it to their facility on August 23rd, 2023. One of their service managers indicated that they should be able to address the problem, especially since my car exhibits the symptoms detailed in the recall notice. However, it's September 1st now, and my vehicle remains in their possession with little to no updates. The only communication I received was a work order summary. Troublingly, this document states: "FORD DECLINED AUTHORIZATION TO REPAIR AT THIS TIME" regarding the advanced recall. Attempts to discuss this update with the service manager, [XXX] , have been unproductive. She briefly left a voicemail without pertinent details and despite promising a follow-up call, failed to do so. Furthermore, I reached out to Ford corporate for clarity but to no avail. I've consistently received vague answers, with most indicating a lack of direction from Ford. This is both alarming and frustrating. I am at a loss as to why the dealership can't take an interim measure, such as replacing the defective door latch—which has been acknowledged to degrade over time—to temporarily remedy the situation. This could serve as a temporary solution until an official fix is determined. Attached is the aforementioned work order summary for your reference. I urge you to consider the safety implications of INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFO