NHTSA complaint: 2002 FORD F-150 — STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCK FEATURE ACTIVATED AND PINCHED MY ARM IN THE DOOR LOCK. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIME, HOWVER THIS IS THE MOST SERIOUS INSTANCE. I RECEIVED A BRUICE APPROXIMENTLEY 1 1/2" INCHES IN LENGTH AND 2 SMALL ABRASIONS. THIS IS AT LEAST MY 4TH FORD VEHICLE WITH AUTOMATIC LOCKS AND HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. I BELIEVE THERE IS A DESIGN PROBLEM WITH THE DOOR LOCK BUTTON. IT IS ABOUT 1" LONG AND HAS AN INDENTATION WITH RIDGES. THIS IS APPARENTLY WHAT PINCHED MY ARM. THERE IS NO NEED FOR THE RIDGES SINCE THE BUTTON IS INSIDE THE DOOR WHEN LOCKED AND NO WAY TO USE THE INDENTATION TO PULL UP THE DOOR LOCK MANUALLY. IT THE LOCK BUTTON WAS MADE SMOOTH AND POSSIBLE TAPERED TOWARD THE TOP I BELIEVE IT WOULD GREATLY REMOVE THE HAZARD. IN ADDITION THIS WOULD NOT INPAIR THE ONLY USE THAT I CAN SEE FOR THE BUTTOM, TO PUSH IT DOWN FOR A MANUAL LOCK.*AK
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation