ORLANDO, Fla. – Mario Ayala's Ford F-150 has been broken into twice.
"The first time I was at Home Depot and went out to my truck and found the lock pushed in," he said.
Recommended Videos
Ayala spent $450 to have the lock replaced, to no avail.
"The second time it happened, I was parked in a garage at work."
He claimed a Ford dealer told him to ignore the problem.
"(The dealer said) 'Don't bother replacing it. It's only going to happen again.'"
The dealer?s statement may explain why several other Ford F-150 owners, both locally and nationally, have come forward to report break-ins, as well. A WKMG-TV investigation discovered that F-150 owners across the country were claiming that the locks on their vehicles were defective. Apparently, thieves can access the lock rod right through the keyhole.
?My F-150 has been broken into two times,? a consumer in South Florida said.
?They stole my wallet,? another claimed.
Authorities as far away as Spokane, Wash. reported nine Ford F-150 break-ins in a 48-hour period.
Some members of the auto trade told WKMG-TV that they see this problem routinely on Ford F-150s.
?We definitely see more Ford models than any of the other vehicles that experience these simple though-the-keyhole break-ins,? said Ed Federkeil, owner of California Custom Sports Trucks.
Federkeil said he knew when he bought his own Ford truck that there might be a problem, but since his truck came with a remote door opener and a key pad on the door, Federkeil simply covered the keyhole.
?I wish the manufacturer would so something that would prohibit this from happening as frequently as it does in these models,? said Federkeil.
?There is a flaw in the way that it is built,? said John Cuellar, who owns an auto accessories business.
Cuellar said one fix is to install a plate on the back side of the door handle which effectively blocks access through the keyhole.
Federkeil offered another suggestion, noting that the F-150 driver?s door keyhole is the only one on the truck.
?We install a rear handle in the front, and now there is no way to get to the lock because there is no lock to go through,? he said.
Ford Motor Company issued a statement denying a lock design flaw in the F-150:
?Ford vehicles, including F-Series trucks, offer the latest in anti-theft technologies and features to help provide customers with peace of mind for the security of their vehicles and belongings. Ford continually monitors the performance of its vehicles and is confident locking mechanisms work properly in all of our vehicles. But, like any lock, thieves can overcome them,? the automaker said.