The "early production" Fiesta updated door handle assembly thread

[FiestaFaction-1]

Note: This thread was created as a reference thread. All future posts about this issue should be posted here. Any additional threads/posts that are started regarding this issue will be locked, deleted, or merged with this thread.

On August 25, 2010 The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) released their rating on the 2011 Ford Fiesta. And it was the first and only minicar to earn their Top Safety Pick. The report can be found here:

IIHS-HLDI: Ford Fiesta sedan

The report states that the test applies to "2011 models mfg. after Jul. 2010". Which would seem to mean that a design change was made, mid-production, to cars produced after that date.

For those cars that were manufactured before the change, there is a part that can be swapped out on each door handle that will apparently bring these early build cars in line with the "models mfg. after Jul. 2010".

1. What does this all mean?
We realize that some owners of the early build cars may be interested in knowing more information regarding this issue. Therefore, we decided to put together this resource thread to put all the information we could find in one place.

2. Are the early build cars safe?

From the online chat with Sam De la Garza, Fiesta Marketing Manager, on August 31, 2010.

Q

[Comment From Jackie ]
The IIHS safety rating, while being a very good thing for Fiesta as a whole, concerns me. I have a Fiesta (which I love) built prior to July 2010. Will you be issuing a recall or fix on door handles to bring pre-July cars up to the same high safety standards? If not, will handles be made available if we would choose to want to change them out?

A

Sam De La Garza:
Jackie -

We were very pleased to receive the IIHS recognition as the Top Safety Pick (first mini car to receive that award).

Please be assured that all Ford vehicles are designed to a high level of crash performance. Ford did make design changes to the door handle to further improve their robustness in crash testing. All Fiestas, including those before the design change, are safe.

3. If I want to have this change made, what parts should I ask my dealer to order, and what do they cost?

According to the Ford dealer we spoke with, the parts are listed in the Ford parts system as: Handle asy-door-inner

The part numbers that your dealer needs to order are as follows. The suggested retail prices* are in parenthesis:

BE8Z*5426684*A ($38.68)
BE8Z*5426685*A ($34.77)
BE8Z*5426684*D ($30.07)
BE8Z*5426685*C ($30.42)

*You may be able to find these parts discounted online, or possibly even through one of our site sponsors.

4. How much will the work cost to have the parts installed?

Each individual Ford dealer sets their own service pricing, so costs will vary.

Note: We are currently awaiting a real world labor cost estimate and will post it as soon as we receive it.

5. Additional Reference Material - Schematic of Parts





*NEW* Photos of the parts:





We will revise/update this post with any pertinent information we find.

DISCLAIMER:
This thread, and the information contained in it, are for REFERENCE ONLY and is offered on an “AS IS” basis without warranties or guarantees of any kind. It is not meant to be considered any type of official guide regarding this topic. You should contact your Ford dealer in regards to this matter. The owners of Fiesta Faction are not liable in regards to any information presented in this thread and shall be held harmless involving any claim related to, or stemming from, the information presented.

[FiestaFaction-1]

Links about the IIHS results from around the automotive web:

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/25/2...autoblog-watc/

http://rumors.automobilemag.com/6679...ick/index.html

http://blogs.edmunds.com/strategies/...fety-pick.html

http://blogs.insideline.com/straight...fety-pick.html

http://jalopnik.com/5621622/ford-fie...ety-pick-award

http://www.windingroad.com/articles/...p-safety-pick/

[FiestaGurl]

Can you check and see if those drawings are current? I believe the current drawings show the supplemental part number*....I believe (based on what we were told) that this is outdated information. There should be a drawing with the supplemental part number, and a page with the orginal part enlarged or "blown up" and shows the fitting of the reinforcement plate to the actual orignal part.

*The way we understand it, the new part is added to the existing latch assembly hence the *A *D & *C designation. Can you verify this with your source to see if the information we have received matches what you are being told?

Thanks...

[DelayedZ]

Whats wrong with the handles? Cause my passenger side handle sticks when you try to open it from the outside but other then that, no problems.

[FiestaFaction-1]

Originally Posted by FiestaGurl

Can you check and see if those drawings are current? I believe the current drawings show the supplemental part number*....I believe (based on what we were told) that this is outdated information. There should be a drawing with the supplemental part number, and a page with the orginal part enlarged or "blown up" and shows the fitting of the reinforcement plate to the actual orignal part.

*The way we understand it, the new part is added to the existing latch assembly hence the *A *D & *C designation. Can you verify this with your source to see if the information we have received matches what you are being told?

Thanks...

Thanks for the heads up. I'll see what I can find out.

[FiestaFaction-1]

Originally Posted by DelayedZ

Whats wrong with the handles? Cause my passenger side handle sticks when you try to open it from the outside but other then that, no problems.

It doesn't sound like your problem has anything to do with this. You should probably take your car to the dealer and see if they can fix your sticking handle issue though. Especially because it obviously should still be under warranty at this point.

[tjl]

Originally Posted by DelayedZ

Whats wrong with the handles?

Short summary is that some people are concerned that the IIHS Good rating for the IIHS side impact test applies only August 2010 production Fiestas and later, since there was a change to the door handle mechanism to reduce the chance of the door opening in side impacts. This thread is about what is needed to retrofit the later production parts into an earlier production Fiesta.

IIHS-HLDI: Ford Fiesta sedan

Note that in the case of the Smart ForTwo, the door actually did open in the IIHS side crash test. The IIHS downgraded the structure rating from Good to Acceptable, but the overall rating was still Good because all of the other ratings were Good.

IIHS-HLDI: Smart Fortwo

[FiestaGurl]

Originally Posted by tjl

Short summary is that some people are concerned that the IIHS Good rating for the IIHS side impact test applies only August 2010 production Fiestas and later, since there was a change to the door handle mechanism to reduce the chance of the door opening in side impacts. This thread is about what is needed to retrofit the later production parts into an earlier production Fiesta.

IIHS-HLDI: Ford Fiesta sedan

Note that in the case of the Smart ForTwo, the door actually did open in the IIHS side crash test. The IIHS downgraded the structure rating from Good to Acceptable, but the overall rating was still Good because all of the other ratings were Good.

IIHS-HLDI: Smart Fortwo

The driver side rear door opened on the Fiesta as well during the crash test. This is why Ford made the "rolling change" to the newer cars. I never in my life thought I would learn this much about cars......

[golf strom]

I'm curious...did the EU spec Fiesta have it's rear doors open during similar Euro N CAP tests?

[LMTech]

Originally Posted by golf strom

I'm curious...did the EU spec Fiesta have it's front doors open during similar Euro N CAP tests?

It isn't a front door opening problem in the video. Read the post again above yours.