2024 Ford Maverick Hybrid

The contact owns a 2024 Ford Maverick. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact became aware that the front driver's side door middle hinge was not properly welded. The contact stated that the front driver's side door was not properly welded when the vehicle was manufactured. The contact stated that the failure caused issues while rolling down the window. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the failure was confirmed. The contact was informed that the driver's side front door needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The manufacturer agreed to a 40 percent discount on the cost of the repair. The failure mileage was approximately 46,000.

After parking next to a gas pump to refuel, I twice pulled the hood-release handle on the left-side kick panel to check under-hood fluids. The gas pump did not accept my payment, so I drove to a second pump which also did not accept my payment. At this point I drove to a second gas station. As I approached 35 mph moving air suddenly caught the unlatched hood, then lifted and flipped it until it landed against the windshield. The hood severely obscured my view while the vehicle was still. Even so, I was able to peek under it enough to limp into a restaurant parking lot, where I stopped the vehicle and moved the hood back to its locked position. The hood latch mechanism does not incorporate a secondary safety hook designed for release while standing in front of the vehicle grill. Nor does the vehicle have an instrument cluster warning light or a DIC (driver information center) alert like it does for a passenger-compartment door not fully closed. Ideally, the vehicle should have an electronic interlock that prevents driving it until the hood is fully closed.