NHTSA Complaint #10291818 — 2004 FORD CROWN VICTORIA

RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FROM FORD REGARDING A 2004 CROWN VICTORY THAT I ACQUIRED 08/09 AS A FORMER POLICE CRUISER. LETTER STATED I HAD TO GET THIS CAR TO A DEALER ASAP AS THIS WAS AN 07 RECALL THAT HAD NOT BEEN COMPLETED. THE LETTER CLEARLY STATES DEFECTIVE WHEELS MUST BE REPLACED OR ONUS IS ON ME FOR ANY FUTURE FAILURES REGARDING THIS RECALL. I CALLED THE CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER ON LETTER AND THEY EXPLAINED THAT THE WHEELS (SPECIAL FOR POLICE) HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO DEVELOP CRACKS AND SPLIT OPEN FURTHER AT SOME POINT IN TIME. I ADVISED THAT I WAS A PRIVATE CITIZEN AND CAR WAS NOT A POLICE VEHICLE ANY LONGER & THEY SAID IT MATTERED NOT, AND MUST BE REPLACED. THEY GAVE ME A DEALER NAME & NUMBER WHICH I PROMPTLY CALLED THE NEXT DAY. DEALER HAD LITTLE INFO ON THIS SO I GAVE THEM THE RECALL NUMBER AND EXPLAINED WHAT I WAS TOLD AND WHAT LETTER SAID, DATED OCT '09. DEALER DECLINED TO ORDER PARTS AND SAID THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR UNDER RECALL SINCE IT WAS NO LONGER IN POLICE USE. I THEN CALLED CS AGAIN AND THEY AGREED THIS TIME WITH DEALER. I ESCALATED TO CUSTOMER RELATIONS WHICH WAS NO HELP WHATSOEVER. I EXPLAINED TO THEM THAT FORD HAD CONTACTED ME, THE LETTER DID NOT SAY TO DISREGARD IF NO LONGER USED AS A POLICE VEHICLE, ONLY THAT THIS WAS A HAZARD AND NEEDED TO GET DONE. I ASKED FOR A LETTER OF EXPLANATION AS TO HOW IT WAS SAFE FOR ME TO DRIVE AS A PRIVATE CITIZEN IF IT WAS NOT SAFE FOR POLICE AND THEY REFUSED, BUT DID TELL ME IT "SHOULD" BE OK. THE RECALL NUMBER & DESCRIPTION READS 07S48-16" STEEL WHEEL REPLACEMENT. I CAN FAX A COPY OF LETTER IF YOU REQUIRE, BUT FORD IS ADAMANT IN REFUSAL TO DO ANYTHING AFTER SOUNDING THE ALERT TO ME AND PUTTING ME IN A POTENTIALLY UNSAFE SITUATION, PLUS CLEARLY STATING I AM RESPONSIBLE IF ANYTHING HAPPENS AND I HAVE IGNORED THE LETTER. *TR