NHTSA Complaint #10166017 — 2001 JAGUAR XK8

WHILE DRIVING MY 2001 JAGUAR XK-8/ CV. AT HIGHWAY SPEED WITH THE TOP DOWN, THE HYDRAULIC FLUID FROM THE CONVERTIBLE TOP STARTED LEAKING FROM THE CENTER LOCK DOWN MECHANISM ON THE WINDSHIELD FRAME. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS WINDSHIELD WIPER SPRAY FROM THE CAR IN FRONT OF US. I WIPED MY FACE WITH MY HAND AND FELT AN OILY SUBSTANCE. I PAID CLOSER ATTENTION TO THE WINDSHIELD AND DID NOT SEE ANYTHING ON THE GLASS. I SLOWED THE CAR IN AN ATTEMPT TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING. SINCE IT WAS AT NIGHT, IT WAS DIFFICULT TO ASCERTAIN WHERE THE THIS OILY SUBSTANCE WAS COMING FROM. I PLANNED ON GETTING OFF AT THE NEXT EXIT. BEFORE I COULD REACH THE NEXT EXIT MY EYES WERE SPRAYED BY THIS OILY SUBSTANCE. I PULLED ONTO THE SHOULDER WITH MY EYES STINGING AND BARELY OPENED. LUCKILY, MY WIFE HAD WITH HER MY EYE DROPS AND MANAGED TO FLUSH MY EYES OUT WRIGHT AWAY. WHEN I SHIFTED THE CAR INTO PARK I FELT A DROP HIT THE BACK OF MY HAND, THAT IS WHEN I NOTICED THE HYDRAULIC FLUID LEAKING FROM THE WINDSHIELD FRAME. THE COVER FOR THE LOCK MECHANISM IS A MESH METAL TRIM PLATE, AS WE DROVE AT SPEED THE OIL TURNED INTO A FINE MIST AND WAS SPRAYING IN MY FACE. ONCE THE CAR WAS STOPPED IT POOLED ON THE COVER UNTIL IT DRIPPED ONTO THE CENTER CONSOLE. NEEDLESS TO SAY THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A SEVERE PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT JAGUAR OF GREAT NECK IN ROSLYN, N.Y. I ALSO CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. I HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM THEM. *NM