NHTSA Complaint #700395 — 1993 FORD EXPLORER

ON ABOUT 12/1/97 MY RIGHT FRONT INSIDE DOOR PANEL HANDLE TO MY EXPLORER GAVE WAY. THIS OCCURRED WHILE I WAS EXITING MY VEHICLE. I NEARLY FELL OUT OF THE DOOR. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP (PALMETTO FORD) WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 1995. THE AUTO BODY SHOP FOREMAN TOLD ME THIS WAS A REGULAR OCCURANCE WITH FORD EXPLORERS. HE SAID THERE WAS NO KNOWN RECALL FOR THE HANDLE AND THE PRICE TO REPLACE IT WAS ABOUT $600.00 I CALLED THE FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE BUREAU AND LEARNED THE SAME. THEY WERE NOT WILLING TO HELP ANY FURTHER. I ENDED UP PURCHASING ANOTHER PANEL FOR $200.00 FROM A USED PARTS DEALER. THE SAME INCIDENT OCCURRED ON 10/03/98 WITH THE LEFT FRONT DOOR HANDLE. IT IS OBVIOUS TO ALL PERSONS WITH KNOWLEDGE OF THIS VEHICLE (CUSTOMERS, DEALERS, AND REPAIR SPECIALISTS) THAT THIS IS A KNOWN HAZARD AND DEFECT. IN BOTH CASES THE HANDLE (WHICH IS FITTED INTO THE INTERIOR PANEL) BREAKS AWAY FROM THE PANEL WITHOUT NOTICE. THIS MAY CAUSE AN INDIVIDUAL TO FALL DUE TO THE SUPRISE OF THE EVENT. ALSO, IF A MAJOR EVENT SHOULD OCCUR AND THE HANDLE DID BREAK DURING THIS INCIDENT, THE CONSUMER WOULD BE LOCKED INSIDE THE VEHICLE UNTIL HE/SHE OPENED THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE. I AM CERTAIN ONCE YOU INVESTIGATE MY REPORT, YOU WILL FIND IT VERY ACCURATE AND WELL KNOWN TO THE FORD COMPANY, DEALERS, ETC. UNFORTUNATELY, THEY HAVE CHOSEN TO ALLOW THIS DEFICIENCY TO CONTINUE WITH DISREGARD FOR THE SAFETY AND ECONOMIC HARM TO IT'S CUSTOMERS.