NHTSA Complaint #10120713 — 1994 MERCURY SABLE

ON MAY 10, 2005, I WAS DRIVING TO AN APPT. AFTER I GOT OFF THE HIGHWAY, I WAS DRIVING DOWN TARKILN HILL ROAD AND MY CAR STARTED TO MAKE A LOUD CLUNKING SOUND AND THE STEERING WAS OFF. I APPLIED MY BRAKE AT THE RED LIGHT AND MY BRAKE PEDAL WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR. I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR. I WENT TO THE APPT. WHICH WAS TWO BLOCKS AWAY VERY SLOWLY. WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE APPT. TO COME HOME, THE CAR STARTED AND THE NOISE WAS GONE. I DROVE SLOWLY HOME AND WHEN I GOT HOME, I LOOKED ON THE INTERNET TO SEE IF ANYONE HAD THIS PROBLEM. I CAME ACROSS A COMPLAINT PAGE WHERE SOMEONE IS COMPLAINING OF THE SAME ISSUE AND STATED THAT HIS STEERING WENT. HE SAID IT WAS DUE TO A SAFETY RECALL. I LOOKED UP THE RECALL AND CAME ACROSS A PAGE THAT HAD THE RECALLS FOR MY VEHICLE WHICH IS A 1994 MERCURY SABLE. THE CAMPAIGN ID # IS 98V323000. IT GOES ON TO SAY: SUMMARY: DETACHMENT OF THE BODY MOUNTS AT THE REAR CORNERS OF THE SUBFRAME, WHICH SUPPORTS THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION, ALLOWS THE REAR CORNERS OF THE SUBFRAME TO DROP. IF BOTH REAR CORNERS DROP, STEERING WOULD BECOME SUDDENLY VERY DIFFICULT, AFFECTING VEHICLE CONTROL AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. I CONTACTED THE DEALER ON CHURCH STREET IN NEW BEDFORD, SENTURY LINCOLN/MERCURY. THEY TOLD ME TO BRING THE CAR IN. WHEN I GOT THERE, THEY TOLD ME THERE WOULD BE A $75.00 CHARGE TO SEE IF THAT IS THE PROBLEM, AND IF IT IS, I WOULD HAVE TO PAY, BECAUSE THE RECALL WAS NOT ON THEIR COMPUTER. I CALLED THE FORD COMPANY'S 800 NUMBER AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THING. I THEN CALLED A MERCURY NUMBER, THAT I GOT OFF THE INTERNET AND WAS TOLD BY THAT GENTLEMAN THAT THE ID # OF THE RECALL IS FROM A VENDOR AND THE FORD COMPANY HAS A RIGHT TO NOT CONSIDER IT A RECALL AND IF THEY DO NOT SUPPORT IT, WHICH THEY DO NOT, I WOULD HAVE TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH YOU, WHICH IS WHAT I AM DOING.