2000 Lincoln Ls

THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER REGARDING RECALL 00V-359 FOR THE LOWER BALL JOINT, CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR INSPECTION AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SUBJECT TO THE RECALL, WHEN THE CONSUMER INQUIRED WHY THE DEALER TOLD HIM THAT THE COMPUTER INDICATED "A LACK OF COMMENT" ON THE VEHICLE AND THAT FORD WOULD NOT PAY HIM TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE FOR DEFECT. NLM

THE LINCOLN LS IS MADE ON A EUROPEAN MODEL JAGUAR FRAME WHICH HAS ALL CONTROLS ON THE RIGHT SIDE. IN ORDER TO FIT AMERICAN STANDARDS ALL CONTROLS EXCEPT THE ABS SYSTEM HAS BEEN MOVED TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR. SINCE THE ABS SYSTEM REMAINS ON THE RIGHT SIDE, LINCOLN HAD TO RUN BRAKE LINES ACROSS THE CAR. IN DOING SO, THEY HAVE RAN THESE LINES ON TOP, BESIDE AND ALONG THE RADIATOR AND RIGHT ALONG THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THIS SHORT CUT OF RUNNING THESE LINES, INSTEAD OF MOVING THE ABS ASSEMBLY TO THE LEFT SIDE, CAUSES THE BRAKE FLUID TO GET EXCESSIVELY HOT WHICH EVENTUALLY BREAKS THE PLASTIC RESERVOIR CONTAINER CAUSING LEAKAGE OF BRAKE FLUID. THIS LEAKAGE CAN SUBSTANTIALY CAUSE BRAKE FAILURE. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY MY DEALER THAT THEY WILL NO LONGER REPLACE THIS RESERVOIR BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT FIGUERED OUT WHAT IS THE PROBLEM. I HAVE REPEATEDLY ADVISED THE LOCAL DEALER OF THIS DEFECT AND THEY HAVE NOT TAKEN IT SERIOUSLY. I HOPE THAT YOUR ORGANIZATION WILL FORWARD THIS COMPLAINT YOUR INTERNAL ENGINEERS TO ANALYZE AND INVESTIGATE MY COMPLAINT. JUST LIKE IN PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS THAT YOU MAY HAVE RECEIVED ABOUT FIRESTONES TIRE FAILURE, TIMING IS EVERYTHING. I URGE YOU TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION (LIKE A FULL RECALL ON ALL LINCOLN LS VEHICLES) BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. TO ADD FURTHER CREDIBILITY TO MY ANALYSIS OF THE PROBLEM, FORDS (MAKER OF LINCOLN) ONLY VEHICLE THAT HAS AN ABS SYSTEM ON THE RIGHT SIDE IS THE LINCOLN LS. PLEASE CALL ME IF YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OR NEED MORE DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. *AK

IN APRIL OF 2000, I PURCHASED A NEW LINCOLN LS, AND I HAVE HAD 2 FIRESTONE TIRES BLOW APART AT THE SEAMS. IN INCIDENT #1, THE TIRE TOTALLY SEPARATED INTO 2 PIECES, AND IN INCIDENT #2, THE TIRE BLEW OUT ON THE INSIDE WALL, CREATING A WHOLE ABOUT 8" IN DIAMETER. AS A STATE HIGHWAY OFFICIAL HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS, I BELIEVE THAT THE FIRESTONE FIREHAWK LH SHOULD BE RECALLED.*AK (TIRESIZE: P235/50R17)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/50R17 )

MY WIFE REPORTED THIS INCIDENT YESTERDAY, BUT WITHOUT THE V.I.N. MOTOR TREND'S CAR OF THE YEAR HAD A MAJOR FAILURE WHILE I WAS DRIVING, FORTUNATELY IN A PARKING LOT, AT A VERY LOW SPEED. THERE WAS A SPONTANEOUS LOSS OF CONTROL (THERE WAS NO CONTACT WITH ANYTHING ELSE), FOLLOWED BY PARTIAL DETACHMENT OF THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL FROM THE VEHICLE. THIS OCCURRED AS A RESULT OF FRACTURE OF A BOLT SECURING THE LOWER CONTOL ARM. THE VEHICLE WAS RENDERED UNDRIVEABLE, AS THE WHEEL WAS TURNED 90 DEGREES. OBVIOUSLY, A SIMILAR INCIDENT AT A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED WOULD LIKELY HAVE RESULTED IN MAJOR INJURY. I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO REPORT THIS TO YOU BECAUSE, INCREDIBLY, IT IS FORD MOTOR CO.'S POLICY NOT TO DO SO AUTOMATICALLY!