The "early production" Fiesta updated door handle assembly thread

[tjl]

Originally Posted by LMTech

I agree with you that I have no worries about the safety of my SES either. ( built 6/30/10 )

I am not especially worried about my (June 2010 built) Fiesta in this respect.

What difference in crash protection there may be would come into play only in what is probably a very rare situation:

• Side impact which would cause the door to open with the "old" door mechanism, but not the "new" door mechanism, and
• A subsequent event where the door being open affects the safety, such as a second crash on that door (that didn't just push the door closed again), or an unbelted occupant falling out (but someone who cares about safety should have the seat belts on anyway).

Indeed, Daimler did not change the Smart ForTwo's door mechanism in response to the IIHS side crash test where the door opened.

[FORDSVTPARTS]

Originally Posted by FiestaGurl

Obsessive compulsive is his middle name, I can guarantee you all of those marks will be gone by tommorow afternoon. Soon as he gets it in the garage at the Funeral Home where he has some good lights.....Most of the ones easy to get to are already gone....

Back on topic.....he is paranoid about taking the car in for the door upgrade. I am going to pick up the parts, (afraid he will make a fuss) and we are going to take them to the attorney, and then sit on them until we can research more. My husband talked in length with a gentleman who works for Jackie Cooper Transport on Friday, (we stopped at a "Loves" to get gas), and we saw a truck with Fiestas, 2 Mustangs and a few other Fords, and he said they were doing more than inspect seats. He said they set up a big tent, had a big truck, which he described as a Nascar type hauler with a lift in it and they were taking tires off of some cars, door panels were removed on some. He said what he saw at one yard was fairly involved...apparently these guys go terminal to terminal or load somewhere and then go to another rail yard or factory close to where they unload to get cars going the other way and he said he saw Fiesta's in various stages of dis-assembly. He did say he saw seats wrapped in plastic at one location, he saw bumpers removed to quote him "In 12 years doing this I ain't never seen nothing like it" He did say that from time to time they have to hunt down a car and do something to it, but nothing like what they did with the Fiestas.

So Ford has a new to market small car that they're counting on to be a big hit and they're trying to be as sure as possible that the cars are up to spec.

I don't see the problem.

[golf strom]

Originally Posted by FORDSVTPARTS

So Ford has a new to market small car that they're counting on to be a big hit and they're trying to be as sure as possible that the cars are up to spec.

I don't see the problem.

The problem isn't that Ford wants to make sure that the cars are correct before they are put in the hands of consumers, it is that they are not forthcoming with the details about exactly what the issues are. In todays instant information world when you hold back on important details when it comes to consumer products and the buying public hears about it (Reuters clearly communicates in their story that Ford won't be specific about which items are at issue) it causes a lot of speculation, and it has on this internet site.

I'm glad Ford is remedying the issues, but I can't understand why they are being so reluctant to just be transparent with the consumer. Time and time again when you come out and level with the consumer (as long as you are making good on correcting an issue) you get a lot of continued loyality and forgiveness when it comes time to purchase an item once again. All you have to do is look at the recent Toyota situation. Their problems started when they were not being transparent with the customer and the public.

The editor of the Automotive News had it right. Transparency is the future when a car company is dealing with the consumer as long as proprietary info is not compromised.

[FORDSVTPARTS]

Originally Posted by golf strom

The problem isn't that Ford wants to make sure that the cars are correct before they are put in the hands of consumers, it is that they are not forthcoming with the details about exactly what the issues are. In todays instant information world when you hold back on important details when it comes to consumer products and the buying public hears about it (Reuters clearly communicates in their story that Ford won't be specific about which items are at issue) it causes a lot of speculation, and it has on this internet site.

I'm glad Ford is remedying the issues, but I can't understand why they are being so reluctant to just be transparent with the consumer. Time and time again when you come out and level with the consumer (as long as you are making good on correcting an issue) you get a lot of continued loyality and forgiveness when it comes time to purchase an item once again. All you have to do is look at the recent Toyota situation. Their problems started when they were not being transparent with the customer and the public.

The editor of the Automotive News had it right. Transparency is the future when a car company is dealing with the consumer as long as proprietary info is not compromised.

Sorry but Toyotas problems came about by outright covering up and lying about serious safety issues in their cars.

Ford is simply trying to make sure any glitches that are found are fixed quickly and before they become an issue once the car has been delivered.

Over the last 10-15 years Ford has really stepped up on recalling cars for safety concerns and they've been good about fixing other issues that are not saftey related.

Ford is simply trying to stay ahead of the game on these cars and people think there's some conspiracy going on.

[FiestaFaction-1]

This thread is meant to be a RESOURCE thread to provide information directly related to the TOPIC.

I'll leave all the current posts here for now, so that everyone reading can get caught up. But, don't be surprised, if the thread gets cleaned up at some point to focus directly on those posts that add pertinent information to the topic.

Please feel free to contribute if you have any new information regarding the topic, such as:

• You've received a quote for labor on installing these parts
• You have newer/different technical drawings than the ones posted
• You've had these parts installed by a Ford dealer
• You've purchased and installed these parts yourself and have photos of the process
• You have any additional information from your dealer regarding this topic
• Etc.

If your post contains solid information about the topic, we may add it to the original post as part of the list of resources.