NHTSA Complaint #10056345 — 2000 FORD TAURUS

MAKE : FORD MODEL : TAURUS YEAR : 2000 NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 01V078000 RECALL DATE : MAR 02, 2001 COMPONENT: EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS:SWITCH SUMMARY: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ADJUSTABLE PEDALS. IF THE GREASE FROM THE ADJUSTABLE PEDAL ASSEMBLY ENTERS THE STOP LAMP SWITCH, IT CAN CONTAMINATE THE CONTACTS LEADING TO CARBON BUILD UP, AND POTENTIALLY, A SHORT CIRCUIT. CONSEQUENCE: A SHORT CIRCUIT COULD LEAD TO EITHER THE BRAKE LAMPS STAYING ON, OR TO A LOSS OF BRAKE LAMP FUNCTION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. REMEDY: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH AND WIPE DOWN THE ADJUSTABLE PEDAL ASSEMBLY TO REMOVE EXCESS GREASE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 22, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673. AFTER RECEIVING THE NECESSARY CORRECTIVE REPAIR FROM THE ABOVE MENTIONED RECALL, MY VEHICLE HAS ENCOUNTERED THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM WITH THE SAME SYMPTOMS. THIS IS THE 3RD TIME THAT MY VEHICLE HAS UNDERGONE CORRECTIVE REPAIRS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS TIME, FORD AND THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP SAID THAT I MUST PAY FOR THE REPAIRS AS FORD HAS BEEN BILLED FOR THE RECALLED REPAIR PREVIOUSLY. ADDITIONALLY, MY TAIL LIGHT STAYED ON, DRAINING MY BATTERY TO THE POINT THAT A REPLACEMENT BATTERY HAD TO BE PURCHASED. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE PROBLEM CORRECTED SO THAT I DON'T EXPERIENCE THIS EVERY FEW YEARS. ADDITIONALLY, I DON'T FEEL I SHOULD PAY FOR AN ACKNOWLEDGED RECALL PROBLEM SIMPLY BECAUSE FORD CORRECTED THE PROBLEM BEFORE, TO NO SATISFACTION. IN ADDITION, I FEEL I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR THE COST OF REPLACING MY DRAINED BATTERY. APPARENTLY, FORD WILL NOT TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THIS CONTINUING PROBLEM UNLESS THEY ARE PROMPTED TO DO SO BY NHTSA. *JB