NHTSA Complaint #10278107 — 2004 FORD FREESTAR

I OWN A 2004 FORD FREESTAR IN VIRGINIA. LAST WEEK I TOOK IT IN FOR THE ANNUAL STATE INSPECTION TO FIND THAT THE CONTROL ARM/BALL JOINT ASSEMBLY ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS PENDING FAILURE. THIS IS A POTENTIAL LIFE-THREATENING ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. MY VEHICLE HAS ONLY 36,000 MILES. THE FORD SERVICE CONSULTANT TOLD ME THAT IT SHOULD HAVE LASTED ABOUT 80,000 MILES ON AVERAGE. ALTHOUGH MY VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY I EXPECTED THAT SINCE THIS PART WAS MOST LIKELY DEFECTIVE THAT FORD WOULD HAVE REPLACED IT FOR FREE. NOT ONLY DID THEY REFUSE TO DO SO BUT OFFERED TO FIX IT OF $660. THE PART CAN ONLY BE PURCHASE AS A UNIT, IN OTHER WORDS, YOU CANNOT GET JUST THE BALL JOINT, YOU HAVE TO BUY THE WHOLE ASSEMBLY WHICH FORD SELLS FOR ABOUT $487.. I MUST GET THIS DONE, NOT ONLY FOR SAFETY BUT IN ORDER TO PASS MY STATE INSPECTION. I BELIEVE THAT FORD IS LIABLE FOR THE FAILURE OF THIS PART AND SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT BY REPLACING IT AT THEIR EXPENSE. I BELIEVE THE PART MUST HAVE BEEN DEFECTIVE FROM THE TIME IT WAS INSTALLED AT THE FACTORY. *TR