NHTSA Complaint #11654031 — 2018 FORD EXPLORER

In February 2024, I received the enclosed safety recall notice from Ford Motor Company regarding my 2018 Ford Explorer. The notice described a problem with A-pillar applique trim clip attachments that could cause the pillar trim become detached. In March 2024 while driving home from Pittsburgh PA, my left side pillar trim did blow off while I was traveling south on [XXX], and its final resting place is unknown to me. I notified my local Ford dealer (Mike Castrucci Ford, 1020 SR 28, Milford, OH) where I bought the car new about what happened. They said they were aware of the recall, but that as per the recall notice, replacement parts would not be available until the latter half of 2024. Well, it is almost end of the first quarter of 2025, and I have not received any positive responses to my follow up requests to the car dealer as to when I can expect have this issue resolved. Castrucci Ford's responses have been that the parts are on back order. My attempts to contact Ford Motor Company have also been pointless. Therefore, I am contacting the NHTSA, as per the recall letter, to see if Ford can be motivated to expedite getting my vehicle fixed. Thirteen months from the date of the initial recall notice to today should have been ample time to replace these pillars. As a member of the public, I'm wondering if Ford thinks that if they delay fixing the problem long enough, people will finally give up. FYI, I won't. Thank you for investigating my complaint. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)