NHTSA Complaint #10060600 — 1986 MERCURY COUGAR

THE HOOD IS HELD UP WITH A THIN METAL ROD AND PLACED INTO A HOLE IN THE HOOD. THERE ARE SEVERAL HOLES TO PUT THE ROD INTO BUT ONLY ONE IS PROPER SIZE AND FIT. IF YOU ARE UNDER THE HOOD AND YOU OR SOMEONE ELSE ACCIDENTALLY BUMPS THE ROD, THEN YOU WILL HAVE YOUR HEAD OR HANDS LITERALLY CHOPPED OFF SINCE THE WEIGHT OF THE HOOD IS SO HEAVY DUE TO HEAVY METAL PLATES PLACED IN THERE FOR FRONT END CRASH PROTECTION. I COMPLAINED TO THE FORD COMPANY IN 1986 BUT THEY JUST LAUGHED AS WELL AS NHTSA. ALSO MY CAR HAD ONE OF THE RUNAWAY PROBLEMS WHEREBY THE CAR WOULD JUST TAKE OFF ON ITS OWN DOWN THE STREET AT 90 MPH WITH BOTH FEE ON THE BRAKES. THE DEALER LAUGHED AND SAID I WAS THE ONLY ONE THAT COMPLAINED. NHTSA HAD 500 COMPLAINTS ON FILE FOR THAT PROBLEM. I WROTE CERTIFIED LETTER TO PRES OF FORD AND TOLD HIM THAT OF MY CAR INJURED OR KILLED ANYONE THAT HE WOULD BE FOUND GUILTY OF CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE. 2 WEEKS LATER I GOT A NEW COMPUTER THAT SOLVED THAT PROBLEM. MY CAR WAS KEPT IN SHOWROOM MINT CONDITION AND WAS STOLEN IN 1999. *JB