NHTSA Complaint #10327103 — 2000 FORD EXCURSION

I PURCHASED A 2000 FORD EXCURSION LAST MONTH FROM PRIVATE SELLER. AFTER FIXING ALL OF THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS ( WHICH IS APPARENTLY IS YET ANOTHER NON-RECALLED PROBLEM) AFFECTING MOST OF THESE FORD VEHICLES, I DISCOVERED THAT THE FORMER OWNER "FORGOT" TO TELL ME THE GEM UNIT HAD BEEN SWAPPED OUT FOR ONE FOUND APPARENTLY IN A SALVAGE YARD. THE GEM CONTROLS 4X4 FUNCTION, AND A FORD TECH TELLS ME, IT APPEARS THIS ONE CAME FROM A 4X2 VEHICLE. THE PLOT THICKENS. THIS INTEGRAL ELECTRICAL COMPONENT OF A FORMERLY $45,000 VEHICLE HAS BEEN DECLARED OBSOLETE BY FO MO CO. . IT CANNOT BE FOUND. THERE ARE NONE AVAILABLE...ANYWHERE. NO AFTER MARKET COMPANY HAS THEM EITHER. THIS VEHICLE IS VIRTUALLY WORTHLESS TO ME.. I LIVE IN COLORADO AND MUST HAVE A 4X4. I THOUGHT PARTS FOR VEHICLES HAD TO BE AVAILABLE FOR 20 YEARS. FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE HIRELINGS HAVE BEEN TOTALLY WORTHLESS. "WE'RE SORRY, THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO." *TR