NHTSA Complaint #10212228 — 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED

DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40-45 MILES PER HOUR A LOUD NOISE EMANATED FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR, ENGINE RPMS RACED FROM 1500 TO 4500, A CLATTERING NOISE FOLLOWED SOUNDING LIKE A METAL SPOON DROPPED INTO A RUNNING GARBAGE DISPOSAL, CAR DRAMATICALLY SLOWED COMPLETE LOSS OF ACCELERATION CONTROL, STEERING CONTROL UNCERTAIN AS CAR WANDERED. NO UNUSUAL EVENTS OCCURRED PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, ITS OCCURRENCE CAME WITHOUT WARNING AND WAS TOTALLY UNEXPECTED. EVENT OCCURRED ON TWO LANE RURAL ROAD,VEHICLES FOLLOWING AND ONCOMING HAD TO TAKE EVASIVE ACTION BUT NO COLLISION OCCURRED. PASSENGERS STRANDED. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. RIGHT AXLE SHAFT BROKEN IN HALF. RIGHT AXLE CARRIER BEARING BROKEN TRANSMISSION AND SPLINES DAMAGED. OLD PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. AXLE SHAFT AND CARRIER BEARING WERE REPLACED AND TRANSMISSION SPLINES FILED DOWN. *TR