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As I posted here back in 2018, I had the door latches on my 2015 XLT fail AFTER having the recall repair done. Turns out the parts were never installed on the first "repair" under the recall. Lots of fighting over several months to get the dealer to fix the problem and refund the money I paid for the repair. But complaints to NHTSA and trying to get local news channels or news papers to inform others, who might also be driving around in cars that were still unrepaired after having the recall done, all got me zero responses. But this morning I got an email that a second recall is being issued because first recall may not have been done properly. Here's a copy/paste: Jun 08,2020 Manufacturer Recall Number20S30 NHTSA Recall NumberAWAITING# Recall StatusRecall Incomplete, remedy not yet available SummaryVEHICLES MAY NOT HAVE HAD ALL OF THEIR DOOR LATCHES REPLACED OR REPLACED CORRECTLY WHEN PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED BY DEALERSHIPS UNDER SAFETY RECALL 15S16 OR 16S30. SAFETY RECALLS 15S16 AND 16S30 WERE ISSUED TO REPLACE DOOR LATCHES WITH A LATCH PAWL SPRING TAB THAT WAS SUSCEPTIBLE TO CRACKING AND FAILURE IN AREAS WITH HIGH THERMAL LOADS. Safety RiskA DOOR LATCH WITH A FRACTURED PAWL SPRING TAB TYPICALLY RESULTS IN A DOOR WILL NOT CLOSE CONDITION. IF THE CUSTOMER IS ABLE TO LATCH THE DOOR AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO SHUT THE DOOR, THERE IS A POTENTIAL THE DOOR MAY UNLATCH WHILE DRIVING, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY. And in just a few hours I am going to be turning in my 2015 and picking up my new 2020. And it's from the same dealer I took the 2015 to in order to have a double check on the second installation of the recall parts. I am going to try to see if I can get the service fee refunded not that a second recall is being issued. It was a pain and took too long, but at least now I have peace of mind that other people in the same situation will be protected. I kept imagining some poor family driving around in a "recall repaired" van with kiddies jumping around in the back and the doors flying open and kids falling out on the road. And all because the parts were never installed like happened with mine. Now that's finally being corrected. The good guys win for a change.

Yeah, that tailgate latch is always in my mind. Something I'd never consider before is to make an opening in the liftgate and add a mechanical release with some sort of exterieur lock - just wishfull thinking for now. No mechanical control is the result of "penny pinching" by manufacturers. They want the cheapest possible method and charge the max possible for it !! Big problem with computerised controls: What training did the computer programmer have in mechanics ?? I'd hate to find out "in the middle of nowhere" that the software was faulty, hacked, or inappropriate !!

Current vehicles are basically miniature computer networks so it's nearly impossible to do any old school repairs or upgrades. How on earth do you build a vehicle where the ONLY latch release is controlled by an electrical module with no physical handle with mechanical linkage for backup. That's happened to a couple forum members with the rear liftgate failures. But I do see some reasoning behind that fuse box design, at least from a reliability standpoint. That double cover setup and the fact that they result in the fuses hanging upside down when installed would not allow water to collect in the fuse area even if the covers were left off or got cracked. Any penetrating water would drip out instead of collecting at the connections and causing corrosion. A secondary benefit would be that by disconnecting the plugs before gaining access you minimize the chance of damage during fuse replacement by shorting something else out while replacing fuses. Of course now you have an extra connector and it's powered fittings but if designed to handle clumsy people that can still be pretty reliable. But I'm just guessing based on the photos.

Welcome to ford's "Customer Service" ! I guess what they really mean is "the customer services our wallets" !! My 2016 electricals seem DELIBERATELY designed to force people to go to dealers for ANYthing - and pay 'an arm & leg' for it. Thats why I prefer less gadgets and gizmos in my car - at least from the factory !

This is super helpful! Thank you! I'm eventually going to buy a roof top box, so I suppose I'll just have to be conscious of the weight we carry in it.