NHTSA complaint: 1996 FORD EXPLORER — LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
THE DEVICE CAUSED MY 2 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER TO LOSE A PORTION OF HER RIGHT POINTER FINGER AND WE FEEL THIS COULD BE PREVENTED IF THAT PART WAS COVERED UP (AT THE VERY LEAST) IN THE MODELS IT EXISTS IN. IT CAN HAPPEN WHEN THE REAR DOOR IS BEING OPENED AND THE FRONT DOOR IS ALREADY OPEN. MY DAUGHTER WAS STANDING IN THE DOORWAY OF THE FRONT DOOR AND APPARENTLY TOUCHED THIS ROLLER MECHINISM AS MY HUSBAND WAS OPENING THE REAR DOOR, IT BASCIALLY SUCKED HER FINGER IN AND CUT IT OFF (DUE TO THE PRESSURE - THE ROLLER USES THE CAR BODY TO HOLD THE DOOR OPEN). WE HAVE CHECKED AND SOME VEHICLES HAVE THIS AND OTHER DO NOT AND SOME HAVE IT COVERED UP! IT WOULD ONLY BE APPLICABLE IN 4 DOOR VEHICLES. PLEASE CONTACT ME FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, AS I KNOW IT IS SOMEWHAT CONFUSING. BUT WE WOULD LIKE TO PREVENT ANYONE ELSE FROM GOING THROUGH WHAT WE DID - MY DAUGHTER (2 YEARS OLD) HAD TO HAVE EMERGENCY SURGERY TO REMOVE MORE OF THE BONE/FINGER AND REPAIR THE TIP THE BEST IT COULD BE. SHE STILL HAS DISCOMFORT AT TIMES AND IT HAS BEEN 2 1/2 MONTHS SINCE THE ACCIDENT. WE HAVE CHECKED IT OUT AND SHE COULD HAVE FIT HER WHOLE HAND IN THERE WHICH WOULD OF BEEN EVEN MORE TRAGIC! I HOPE YOU WILL HELP US GET THE WORD OUT ABOUT THIS DANGEROUS PART IN MANY CARS. *AK
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation