NHTSA Complaint #10155878 — 1997 LINCOLN TOWN CAR

HEARD A POPPING IN THE FRONT END OF MY 1997 LINCOLN TOWNCAR AND IT WAS PULLING TO THE LEFT WHEN I WOULD APPLY THE BRAKES. I TOOK IT TO THE GARAGE AND HAD THE TIRES ROTATED AND THE FRONT BRAKES REPLACED AND THE ROTORS WERE REPLACED AND BRAKE PADS, NOTHING WAS NOTICED AT THIS TIME. THE CAR WAS STILL PULLING TO THE LEFT WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. I WAS DRIVING TO MY JOB WHICH IS ABOUT 10 MILES FROM HOME AND WHEN I PULLED IN TO THE DRIVE AND WENT TO BACK UP I HEARD A LOUD POP, I CALLED MY HUSBAND AND TOLD HIM ABOUT IT AND WHEN HE LOOKED UNDERNEATH THE CAR HE FOUND THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BRACKET THAT WAS FACTORY WELDED TO THE FRAME HAD COME LOOSE. THE POPPING NOISE WAS OBVIOUSLY FLEXING OF THE BRACKET THAT WAS WELDED TO THE FRAME AND WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE FLEXING OF THE BRACKET WAS CAUSING THE CAR TO PULL TO THE LEFT. MY HUSBAND CALL THE LOCAL LINCOLN DEALERSHIP AND EXPLAINED WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING BEFORE. I THEN WENT ON LINE TO CARFAX AND RESEARCHED THE HISTORY OF MY CAR TO SEE IF IT HAD EVER BEEN WRECKED AND THE RESULTS WERE CLEAN, NO WRECKS OR SERVICE HISTORY OF ANY PROBLEM. WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL PEOPLE LOOK AT THE CAR AND EACH AND EVERY ONE EXPRESSED THAT THIS WAS A FIRST FOR THEM, THAT THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING BEFORE AND THAT THEY FEEL LIKE IT WAS A FACTORY DEFAULT ON THE WELDING AND THAT I MUST HAVE HAD AN ANGEL ON MY SHOULDER BECAUSE THIS COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS. AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW I AM AT AWE AS TO WHAT TO DO BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN ADVISED TO NOT HAVE ANYTHING DONE TO THE CAR TILL SOMEONE FROM FORD/LINCOLN LOOKS AT. I FEEL THAT THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION AND THAT FORD/LINCOLN SHOULD TAKE SOME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS PROBLEM. THIS VEHICLE IS USED ON THE ROAD ONLY AND NOT USED AS AN OFF ROAD VEHICLE AND IT HAS NOT BEEN ABUSED IN ITS USE. I WOULD VERY MUCH APPRECIATE SOME KIND OF RESPONSE OR HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. *JB