Upset about broken door handle due to cold

[Jaegermeister]

I have had my 03 Explorer XLS sport 4x4 four-door for about two months. I bought it new and has been great so far.

Last night, it was about 15 degrees in Sioux City, and the rear door was frozen shut. I tried opening the lift window first, and it would not pop open using the remote. I unlocked the rear door and lifted up rather hard -- but not overly hard -- to open the rear door.

THE CHEAP BLACK PLASTIC TRIM PIECE OVER THE HANDLE LATCH QUICKLY CRACKED.

I have owned:
-- A 1970 Ford pickup
-- A 1979 Ford LTD
-- A 1988 Mercury Sable
-- A 1995 Ford Contour SE
-- A 2003 Ford Explorer.

I have never had such a part break, even while growing up in Minnesota, where ice storms preceeded snow in many cases.

The door latch and plastic trim under the rear window is cheap, cheap, cheap and not engineered to handle cold weather.

Am I right in expecting my dealer to fix under warranty?

 

[XplorerKid]

Yea if its a design flaw on there part you should be able to get it fix under warrenty

PEACE

 

[Doug]

Parts break, it happens. there might have been a defect in the manufaturing or a flaw in the material. Take it back to Ford and see what they can do for you.

 

[Jaegermeister]

Dealer will fix

The dealer will repair the broken plastic trim and pay for it

There is a TSB on the problem, and lots have people have come into our dealer in the last two days with the same issue. I have to reschedule the repair appointment as they are trying to figure out a fix that will stay fixed.

Some designer/engineer at Ford should be flogged for missing such a simple cold-weather flaw.

 

[blackbull]

I had the same thing happen last week with my "02 XLT.
When I got to work it was fine and at the end of the day it was cracked.
I figured it was due to moisture freezing under the trim.
I am no longer under warranty.
Does anyone know what it costs to repair this?
:redexp: