NHTSA Complaint #10052381 — 1999 MERCURY SABLE

I PURCHASED THE USED VEHICLE APRIL 03. EARLY AUGUST, I WENT OUT TO LUNCH WITH A FRIEND-WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO PUT ON THE VEHICLE SEAT BELT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT IT WOULD NOT WORK. WE DROVE HIS CAR INSTEAD. I THOUGHT IT WAS A FLUKE. I DECIDED TO CHECK THE INTERNET AND LOCATED THIS PROBLEM AS A MANUFACTURER RECALL AND FIGURED IT WOULD BE NO PROBLEM FOR THE DEALER TO TAKE CARE OF IT. THIS PROBLEM CONTINUED TO HAPPEN BUT BECAUSE OF MY WORK SCHEDULE I WAS UNABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER BECAUSE OF THE HOURS OF THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. FROM AUGUST TO DATE NO ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO RIDE IN THE FRONT SEAT. I WAS ON VACATION AND I CONTACTED THE DEALER TO SCHEDULE A SERVICE APPOINTMENT. I TOOK THE CAR IN ON 12/30/03 AND WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED TO PAY A $75 DIAGNOSTIC FEE AS NO INFORMATION CAME UP FOR THIS VEHICLE INDICATING A RECALL OR A WARRANTY. THE WARRANTY SITUATION WAS CORRECTED BUT I RECEIVED A MESSAGE FROM TONIA COOPER (SERVICE DEPARTMENT) AFTER I FAXED OVER THE RECALL INFORMATION FROM NHTSA THAT MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. I THOUGHT THIS WAS ABSURD; I AM EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM THAT IS NOTED ON ALL OF THE DOCUMENTATION OF THE RECALL BUT BECAUSE FORD NEGLECTED TO INCLUDE MY VIN NUMBER NO ONE WOULD HELP ME. WHAT'S WORSE IS THAT I CALLED FORDS' CUSTOMER RELATIONS ON 12/30/03 AND SPOKE WITH SYED WHO REFUSED TO GIVE ME A LAST NAME OR AN ID# AND HE TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO AND NO ONE OUTSIDE OF CUSTOMER RELATIONS AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT I COULD CONTACT TO GET THIS MATTER RESOLVED. I FIND IT MOST IRRITATIONG THAT NO ONE COULD CONCEIVE THE NOTION THAT THIS VIN# (& PERHAPS OTHERS) WERE ERRONEOUSLY OMITTED FROM THE RECALL. I LOOKED AT THE 3 COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER OWNERS & ONE HAS A VIN# VERY SIMILIAR TO MINE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE IN THIS MATTER, I ONLY WISH THAT I COULD HAVE RESOLVED THIS MATTER WITH FORD DIRECTLY. PASSENGER SAFETY & MICHIGAN'S "CLICK IT OR TICKET IT" LAW HAS MAKES THIS AN EXTREMEMLY IMPORTANT ISSUE!*AK