NHTSA complaint: 2002 FORD EXPLORER — LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
OCTOBER 2001, I PURCHASED A NEW 2002 FORD EXPLORER FROM DON REID FORD MAITLAND, FLORIDA. I EXPERIENCED ONE PROBLEM AFTER THE OTHER WITH MY WINDOWS AND DOORS. FIRST, THE BACK HALF DOOR CAME OPEN AND REFUSED TO CLOSE. THE DEALER REPAIRED IT. NEXT, THE REPLACEMENT REFUSED TO WORK; THE DEALER ORDERED THE PART AND REPAIRED IT. NEXT, THE ENTIRE BACK WINDOW, CRASHED TO THE GROUND. I PLACED THE DRAGGING PART IN THE BACK OF MY TRUCK AND STOPPED AT GREENWAY FORD. GREENWAY REFUSED THE REPAIR AND SENT ME WHERE I PURCHASED IT. DON REID KEPT THE TRUCK A FEW DAYS AND REPAIRED IT. NEXT, SCREWS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR CAME OUT, THAT DOOR WOULDN'T CLOSE. FED UP WITH REPEATED TRIPS TO DON REID I HAD MY HUSBAND FIX IT, THE DOOR CAME LOOSE AGAIN. I'M AT THE LIMIT ON WHAT I'LL ENDURE FROM A VEHICLE I'M PAYING NEARLY $500.00/MO FOR. IT'S NOT WORTH THE PAIN I AM EXPERIENCING. I ALMOST DIED ON AUGUST 26, 5:30 TO 6:00 PM, WHEN THE LOCKED DRIVER'S DOOR SUDDENLY SWUNG OPEN AND CLOSED ON MY ARM. I WAS LEANING ON THE ARMREST. THE SEAT BELT KEPT ME FROM BEING THROWN. I NEARLY RAN OFF THE ROAD. MY ARM HURT AND STARTED TO SWELL. THE DOOR REFUSED TO LATCH. I HELD THE HEAVY DOOR SHUT WITH MY SWOLLEN ARM AND CONTROLED THE TRUCK WITH THE OTHER. I CRAWLED 35 MINUTES TO ORLANDO. MY HAND WAS NUMB AND I WAS SCARED TO DEATH. I PULLED OVER TO REST MY NUMB ARM. I PULLED INTO WINN DIXIE'S PARKING LOT AND A CUSTOMER, REVERSED INTO THE BACK OF MY TRUCK, ADDING TO IT'S DAMAGES. STILL HOLDING THE DOOR, I MADE IT HOME. DO
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation