NHTSA Complaint #10149398 — 2004 FORD CROWN VICTORIA

ROUTINELY WHEN DRIVING MY 2004 FORD CROWN VICTORY (USED AS A HACKNEY CARRIAGE) AUTOMOBILE EXHIBITS VIOLENT, POTENTIALLY DEADLY BEHAVIOR. THE LOSES ITS OPERATIONAL ABILITY AND DRIVING CONDITIONS. THE LATEST NEAR-ACCIDENT SITUATION UNFOLDED AS FOLLOWS: WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT A SPEED OF 50 MPH THE AUTOMOBILE JUMPED (SWERVED) FROM THE LEFT LANE TO THE RIGHT LANE WITHOUT ME HAVING MOVED THE STEERING WHEEL. WHEN I RETAINED CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND ATTEMPTED TO SLOW DOWN, THE CAR DID NOT RESPOND, BUT PROCEEDED TO JERK FORWARD AT A DECREASING SPEED AND VIBRATE FEVERISHLY. THE BRAKE PEDAL APPEARED TO BE JAPED HALF-WAY TO THE FLOOR. THE REAR-AXLE BEARINGS PRODUCED A LOT OF NOISE. ON TWO OTHER OCCASIONS (DURING COLD WEATHER) THE ENGINE SHUT-OF WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR. AFTER THE CAR STOPPED, I WAS ABLE TO START THE ENGINE. AFTER, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO JERK VIOLENTLY FORWARD AND BACKWARD. WHEN STEERING THE CAR HOME, THE ANGLE OF AT WHICH I HELD THE STEERING WHEEL, DID NOT CORRESPOND TO THE DIRECTION THAT THE CAR WOULD TRAVEL IN. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED PRE-OWNED WITH 4,000 MILES ON IT AND THESE SEVERE INCIDENTS BEGAN OCCURRING AFTER ANOTHER 2,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE DEALERSHIP DOZENS OF TIME, EACH TIME THE SERVICE TECHNICIANS SAID THAT THE CAR IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. TWICE, WARRANTY SERVICE WAS DENIED. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 26,000 MILES. FORD IS NO WILLING TO SOLVE THESE POTENTIALLY DEADLY ISSUES. AS A TAXI DRIVER, I AM IN THIS VEHICLE FOR 12 HOURS A DAY CARRYING DOZENS OF PEOPLE EVERY DAY. IF ONE OF THESE TIME I AM UNABLE TO CATCH THESE FAILURES A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT MAY HAPPEN. ALL THESE PROBLEMS LEAD ME TO BELIEVE THAT THIS CAR AS AN INHERENT MANUFACTURING DEFECT, THAT ITS MANUFACTURER FORD IS NOT RECOGNIZING. THIS FAILURE TO CORRECT THEIR ENGINEERING FAILURE IS VERY SERIOUS AND POTENTIALLY DEADLY. *NM