2009 Ford F-150

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT BOTH REAR DOORS FAILED TO OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE CABLE THAT RELEASED THE LOCKS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT BOTH REAR LATCHES AND LOCKS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

AFTER ATTEMPTING TO DIS-ENGAGE THE CHILD SAFETY DOOR LOCK FEATURE THAT PREVENTS THE DOOR FROM BEING OPENED FROM THE INSIDE, BOTH THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE DOOR LATCHES BECAME COMPLETELY INOPERATIVE PREVENTING THE DOOR FROM BEING OPENED AT ALL. I NOTED A SIMILAR COMPLAINT FILED ON THE NHTSA SITE (COMPLAINT #10489372.) WHEN I CONTACTED THE FORD DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR I WAS TOLD THAT THE NEW VEHICLE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED TWO MONTHS PRIOR (MARCH, 2013) AND WAS THEREFORE FORCED TO PAY NEARLY $400 FOR A NEW DOOR LATCH. I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS ISSUE AS AN INOPERATIVE DOOR LATCH POSES A VERY HIGH RISK OF INJURY OR DEATH IF OCCUPANTS ARE UNABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. *TR

WHEN ENGAGED, THE CHILD SAFETY LOCK ON THE FORD F150 2009 CAUSES THE DOOR TO NOT HAVE THE CAPABILITY OF BEING OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE. THE PURPOSE OF THE CHILD SAFETY LOCK IS TO PREVENT THE DOOR FROM BEING OPENED (BY CHILDREN) FROM THE INSIDE ONLY. THE INABILITY OF THE DOOR BEING ABLE TO BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE PRESENTS A GRAVE RISK OF DANGER IF THIS VEHICLE IS ENGAGED IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION WHICH WOULD PREVENT EMERGENCY PERSONNEL OR ANY OTHER PERSONNEL FROM BEING ABLE TO PROPERLY OPEN THE DOOR POTENTIALLY CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, MY FORD F150 2009 PICKUP TRUCK IS A FOUR DOOR CREW CAB MODEL. WHEN I ENGAGED THE CHILD SAFETY LOCK ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME DURING OWNERSHIP (12/16/2012), THE DOOR HANDLE IMMEDIATELY WOULD NOT WORK FROM BOTH THE INSIDE (AS EXPECTED) AS WELL AS THE OUTSIDE. I CURRENTLY HAVE THREE CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF FOUR WHICH ARE SITUATED IN CAR SEATS (AS REQUIRED BY LAW) IN THE CREW CAB SECTION OF MY TRUCK. IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY, GREAT CONCERN EXISTS FOR THE SAFETY OF MY CHILDREN AS WELL AS THE CHILDREN OF FELLOW, UNKNOWLEDGEABLE OR UNSUSPECTING FORD F150 TRUCK OWNERS THAT THIS SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR INVESTIGATION INTO THIS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR