NHTSA Complaint #710105 — 1991 MERCURY SABLE

LIFTGATE HAD CHRONIC DIFFICULTY CLOSING SECURELY, BEGINNING AT APPROXIMATELY 50,000 MILES. DEALER ADVISED ME TO ADJUST STRIKER POSITION. EVENTUALLY PROBLEM WORSENED UNTIL LIFTGATE WOULD NOT CLOSE SECURELY DESPITE STRIKER ADJUSTMENT. PLASTIC TRIM PIECE COVERING LIFTGATE STILL WAS REMOVED REVEALING THAT THE SHEET METAL STILL (PART NUMBER 8D74) WAS FRACTURED AROUND THE STRIKER ADJUSTMENT OPENING, CAUSING STRIKER TO MOVE WHEN LIFTGATE WAS CLOSED, PREVENTING LIFTGATE FROM CLOSING AROUND STRIKER. I CALLED DEALER TO ALERT THEM TO THIS DEFECT; DEALER STATED THEY KNEW OF NO TSBS (TECHNICAL SAFETY BULLETINS) ADDRESSING THIS PROBLEM; THEREFORE I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIR COSTS. I THEN CALLED FORD-MERCURY CUSTOMER SERVICE; THEY STATED THAT MY CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, AND THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THIS PROBLEM; THEREFORE THEIR "FINAL DECISION" WAS THAT THE REPAIR COSTS WERE MY RESPONSIBILITY. (REPAIR COSTS, AS ESTIMATED BY A BODY SHOP, WERE $315.) I SUBMIT THAT THIS IS NOT A NORMAL "WEAR & TEAR" PROBLEM, BUT A SAFETY DEFECT. MY SAFETY CONCERNS: 1/UNSECURED LIFTGATE ALLOWS CARBON MONOXIDE FROM EXHAUST TO ENTER CAR WHILE DRIVING, ENDANGERING ALL OCCUPANTS; 2/UNSECURED LIFTGATE CAN BOUNCE OPEN WHEN DRIVING, ENDGANGERING OCCUPANTS OF REAR-FACING SEAT; 3/UNSECURED LIFTGATE EXPOSES CONTENTS OF PARKED CAR, AND CAR ITSELF, TO THEFT. I AM CERTAIN THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF VEHICLE. FORD-MERCURY WAS QUITE UNRESPONSIVE AND INDIFFERENT ABOUT ADDRESSING AND CORRECTING THIS SAFETY DEFECT. I APPRECIATE YOUR ASSISTANCE, AND WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THIS FURTHER WITH YOUR REPRESENTATIVES.