NHTSA Complaint #726436 — 1999 FORD ECONOLINE

SEVERAL TIMES WE HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO GET INTO THE PASSENGER SEAT AS THERE IS NOTHING TO GRAB ONTO WHEN CLIMBING IN. WE PURCHASED 2 VEHICLES AT THE SAME TIME. THE OTHER VEHICLE IS A TAURUS WHICH HAS HANDLES EVERYWHERE TO ASSIST CLIMBING INTO THE CAR. FINALLY WE ARE PUTTING ON RUNNING BOARDS AT OUR EXPENSE. THE DEALER REFERRED US TO VANTASTIKS WHICH IS A COMPANY THAT COULD ALTER OUR VEHICLE. AT VANTASTIKS WE WERE TOLD ABOUT THE MOTORISTS MOBILITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM THAT FORD HAS. WE WERE NEVER TOLD ABOUT THIS PROGRAM INITIALLY. TODAY I WAS TOLD THAT THE IS NOT THE FIRST THING THEY THINK OF. I WOULD THINK THAT THE SAFETY OF THEIR PASSENGERS SHOULD BE PRIMARY AND ANYTHING THAT CAN INSURE THIS IS MOST IMPORTANT. THE HANDLES ARE ON THE PILLARS IN AN F150. THESE SHOULD ALSO BE ON THE E150. WE RECENTLY RETURNED FROM CALIFORNIA WHERE WE HAD A CHEVROLET ASTRO MINI VAN. THE STEP ON THAT VEHICLE WAS MUCH LOWER AND THERE WAS A HANDLE TO ASSIST CLIMBING INTO THE VEHICLE. THE STEPS ON THE FORD E 150 ARE MUCH HIGHER AND THERE IS NOTHING TO GRAB TO HOLD WHILE CLIMBING INTO THE VEHICLE. *AK