NHTSA Complaint #10082783 — 2000 JAGUAR S-TYPE

I GOT A 2000 JAGUAR S-TYPE FROM AUTHORIZED DEALER ("SELECT EDITION") CONDITION ON JUNE 9, 2004. SON (DRIVER) AND HIS PASSENGER WERE BOTH BELTED JULY 2, 2004 DURING WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS A BLOWOUT. CAR STOPPED PERPENDICULAR (AFTER FULL SPIN) IN OPPOSITE LANE (FACING EAST) FROM WHICH IT HAD BEEN TRAVELING (NORTH). WHEEL SHEARED FROM AXLE/HUB ON RIGHT FRONT! CAR ON BARE RIGHT FRONT AXLE! MY HUSBAND AND I WERE AT SCENE IN MINUTES, WE REJOICED NO ONE WAS KILLED! NO ONCOMING TRAFFIC! SEAT BELTS WERE IMPORTANT AS MY SON STATE HE "JUST HELD ON." MY HUSBAND RECOVERED DEBRIS AND SHEARED WHEEL PLACING SAME INTO TRUNK. ONE OF THESE PARTS PROVED TO BE A BROKEN BRAKE, BUT NOT THINKING OF ANALYTICAL ISSUES AT THIS POINT---JUST THANKFUL THAT FATALITIES WERE NOT RESULT. UNBENDING RAIN WAITING FOR TOW TRUCK. THE NC PATROL ARRIVED AT ABOUT 11:30 PM AS THE CAR WAS BEING DRAGGED ONTO A WRECKER. THEY DID NOT LOOK AT SHEARED WHEEL OR ROTOR. THE CAR WAS TOWED JULY 3 TO THE JAGUAR DEALERSHIP. I VISITED DEALERSHIP ON MONDAY, JULY 5TH TO TAKE PICTURES WHEN GREG CARLETON (JAGUAR SERVICE WRITER) SHOWED ME BOTH SIDES OF THE WHEEL STATING THAT "WEAR ON THE RIMS IS WHAT YOU'D EXPECT" AND "THERE'S NOTHING YOU SEE THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED THAT WHEEL TO COME OFF." HE (MR. CARLETON) PICKED UP THE BRAKE ROTOR AND HELD IT LIKE A KNIFE OVER AN OBVIOUS GASH INSIDE THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. IT SEEMED CLEAR THAT THE PART PIERCED THE ALLOY WHEEL. OBVIOUS IN THE LIGHT; WE WERE IN A QUANDARY WHEN IT OCCURRED. HE CALLED THE NEXT DAY JULY 6 TO SAY THAT "ALL PARTS WERE COVERED" UNDER WARRANTY, THAT THE FACTORY WOULD INVESTIGATE THE FAILURE. ANOTHER PERSON CALLED ON WED. JULY 7TH AND SAID "YOU MAY WANT TO CALL YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY". JAGUAR HAS SHIFTED FROM THEIR POSITION TO TEST PARTS. THERE WAS NOTHING: NOT A POTHOLE, NOT ANOTHER VEHICLE, BUT SEVERE DAMAGE THAT WAS A RESULT OF PART FAILURE. I HAVE REQUESTED JAGUAR TO LEAVE ALL PARTS IN THE TRUNK OF THE CAR. *AK