NHTSA Complaint #10224466 — 2001 FORD TAURUS

I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY ON 4/7/08 THAT MY 2001 FORD TAURUS WAS BEING RECALLED TO HAVE FRONT ANTI-CORROSION SHIELDS INSTALLED ON THE FRONT SPRINGS. ON 4/8/08 THE LT FRONT SPRING RUSTED THROUGH AND PUNCTURED THE LEFT FRONT TIRE. HAD I BEEN DRIVING AT THE TIME I WOULD HAVE BEEN PULLED INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS TOLD SORRY THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY BY 3900 MILES EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A RECALL PROBLEM. I TRIED TO EXPLAIN THAT 4/7/08 WAS THE FIRST NOTICE I RECEIVED AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAD BEEN TRYING TO RECALL THE CAR SINCE 2004 BUT HAD BEEN SENDING THE NOTICES TO THE PREVIOUS OWNER. I PURCHASED THE CAR IN 2006. IT DID NOT MATTER THAT WAS THE FIRST NOTICE I HAD RECEIVED. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS MY FAULT BECAUSE I HAD PURCHASED A USED VEHICLE. I WAS ALSO TOLD THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE BECAUSE ILLINOIS WAS SLOW TO UPDATE THEIR DATABASE FOR FORD. I AM NOW RESPONSIBLE FOR A 900.00 REPAIR BILL. HAD THEY CONTACTED ME IN A TIMELY MANNER, THE SHIELDS WOULD HAVE BEEN INSTALLED IN 2006. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT ANY PRUDENT CONSUMER LOOKS FOR ANY RECALLS ON THAT VEHICLE ON THE CORPORATE WEB SITE BEFORE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE AND FORD TOOK NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT. THEY HAD A DESIGN FLAW AND ARE TAKING NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT. *TR