NHTSA Complaint #10222572 — 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED

I PURCHASED A 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED USED LAST 2/07; ON 3/4/08 MY INSTRUMENT PANEL WENT OUT COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING. NO GAUGES, LIGHTS, NOTHING. I TOOK IT TO MY FORD DEALER 3/5/08 WHO LOOKED AT IT, AFTER 3 HOURS RETURNED IT TO ME SAYING I NEEDED A NEW INSTRUMENT PANEL, BUT THEY HAD TO ORDER ONE AND SAID TO COME BACK WHEN THEY HAD IT. THE PANEL WORKED, SO I WONDERED WHAT WAS UP; HOWEVER AFTER A FEW DAYS, THE GAUGES WOULD QUIT MOMENTARILY BEFORE WORKING AGAIN PERIODICALLY. I HAVE YET TO HEAR FROM FORD ABOUT MY PART, ALSO, THEY SAY I HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. THIS IS NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR AND OBVIOUSLY A DEFECT, I'VE OWNED 5 CARS IN MY LIFE AND NEVER HAD AN INSTRUMENT PANEL REPLACED EVER. I'VE OWNED VEHICLES FOR 10 YEARS. I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR A FACTORY DEFECT WHICH IS A SAFETY HAZARD. I HAVE YET TO GET THE PART REPLACED, AS THEY DON'T SEEM TO HAVE ONE YET. SO I RISK MY SAFETY EVERY TIME I DRIVE. *TR