NHTSA Complaint #10044934 — 2002 LINCOLN LS

LTR RE HIS DEFECTIVE 2002 LINCOLN LS, THE AXLE BROKE AND THE WHEEL AND THE HUB CAME OFF THE CAR, WOULD LIKE SOMEONE TO LOOK INTO THIS DEFECT.*MR WHILE DRIVING ON THE GARDEN STATE PARKWAY, THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL CAME OFF AND THE CONSUMER WAS PULLED INTO THE CONCRETE MEDIAN STRIP. CONSUMER HAD ENOUGH EXPERIENCE NOT TO HIT THE BRAKE, SLIGHT ACCELERATION AND HE GOT CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. IT TOOK A HALF OF MILE TO GET THE VEHICLE ACROSS 3 LANES OF BUSY TRAFFIC AND ONTO THE SHOULDER. A PASSERBY CHECKED TO SEE IF THE CONSUMER WAS O.K. HE THEN INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE ENTIRE WHEEL FELL OFF. APPROX. 30 MINUTES LATER THE STATE TROOPER ARRIVED WITH THE WHEEL STILL ATTACHED TO THE HUB. IT CROSSED OVER 4 LANES OF TRAFFIC AND DIDN'T CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE LOWER BALL JOINT CAME OFF, WENT INTO THE INSIDE OF THE WHEEL AND THE AXLE BROKE. HE SUSTAINED BRUISES BUT NO LASTING INJURIES. CONSUMER HAD A HOLD PUT ON THE REPAIR WORK UNTIL FORD HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER SERVICE REP. STATED THE CONSUMER MAY WANT TO HAVE THE DEALER LOOK AT IT. THE CONSUMER REPLIED THAT SINCE THE DEALER MAY BE AT FAULT, HE DIDN'T WANT THEM TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGE IN THE AMOUNT OF $8000. THE WHEEL WAS BEING HELD FOR SOMEONE TO INSPECT IT. SOMEONE DID CONTACT THE CONSUMER STATING THEY WERE FROM FORD AND "THERE IS NO PROOF THAT THE ACCIDENT WAS CAUSED BY A DEFECT." THE CALLER WOULD LEAVE THEIR NAME OR NUMBER SO THE CONSUMER COULD RETURN THE CALL. *PH *NLM