IllustrationTHE REAR PASSENGER DOOR LATCH MECHANISM CLOSED WITHOUT THE DOOR ACTUALLY BEING CLOSED. THIS CAUSED A FALSE POSITIVE CONDITION FOR THE "DOOR AJAR" WARNING SYSTEM. I THOUGHT THAT THE DOOR WAS SECURE, HOWEVER THE DOOR WAS IN FACT NOT LATCHED TO THE VEHICLE. MY EIGHT YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS SITTING IN THE SEAT. WERE IT NOT FOR THE PER…
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THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR LATCH MECHANISM CLOSED WITHOUT THE DOOR ACTUALLY BEING CLOSED. THIS CAUSED A FALSE POSITIVE CONDITION FOR THE "DOOR AJAR" WARNING SYSTEM. I THOUGHT THAT THE DOOR WAS SECURE, HOWEVER THE DOOR WAS IN FACT NOT LATCHED TO THE VEHICLE. MY EIGHT YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS SITTING IN THE SEAT. WERE IT NOT FOR THE PERCEPTION OF MY WIFE WHO SUSPECTED THAT THE DOOR WAS INSECURE I WOULD HAVE BEEN DRIVING WITH A DOOR THAT WOULD OPEN WHILE THE CAR WAS MOVING. THIS FALSE POSITIVE CONDITION IS CAUSED BY THE FACT THAT FORD HAS PLACED THE SENSOR THAT TESTS FOR THE DOOR BEING CLOSED ON THE LATCH MECHANISM RATHER THAN ON THE VEHICLE BODY. AS OUR CIRCUMSTANCES DEMONSTRATE THE SIMPLE FACT OF THE DOOR LATCH BEING CLOSED DOES NOT INSURE THAT THE DOOR IS ACTUALLY SECURED TO THE VEHICLE BODY. WHILE NO INJURIES OCCURRED IN OUR INCIDENT THE POTENTIAL FOR A SERIOUS INJURY IS OBVIOUS. HAD THE DOOR ACTUALLY OPENED MY CHILD MAY HAVE EASILY FALLEN OUT OF A MOVING VEHICLE. THE DRIVER OF THE CAR MUST KNOW WITH ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY THAT ALL DOORS ARE TRULY SECURED. TESTING THE LATCH FOR BEING CLOSED IS NOT A SUFFICIENT TEST FOR THE CLOSURE OF THE DOORS. *TR