NHTSA Complaint #720758 — 1995 FORD F-150

I OWN A 95 FORD F150, THE FRAME OF THE DOOR IN WHICH THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE ASSEMBLY IS MOUNTED TO IS TORN. THE TEARS ARE IN THE DOOR WHERE THE ASSEMBLY HAS A TAB THAT SLIDES INTO THE DOOR AND WHERE THE ASSEMBLY BOLTS TO THE DOOR. THIS GIVES TOO MUCH AND DOES NOT ALLOW THE DRIVER TO OPEN THE VEHICLE FROM THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THIS CAN CREATE A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION IN TRYING TO EVACUATE THE VEHICLE IN CASE OF FIRE OR EMINENT DANGER. I CONTACTED THE LOCAL FORD DEALER WHO WERE VERY FAMILIAR WITH THIS PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD FOR $80 AND TWO WEEKS OF WAIT THEY COULD WELD THE TORN AREAS. I THEN CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND WAS TOLD MY VEHICLE IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND THIS WAS NOT AN ITEM THAT WAS RECALLED. A SOLUTION TO THIS WOULD BE TO HAVE AN ACTUAL CROSS BRACE TO BOLT THE ASSEMBLY TO AND NOT THE THIN SHEET METAL BODY OF THE DOOR, THICKER METAL ON THE SKIN OF THE DOOR, OR A WAY TO DISTRIBUTE THE STRESS MORE EVENLY.*AK