NHTSA Complaint #10345034 — 2001 LINCOLN LS

2001 LINCOLN LS, LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURE WHILE DRIVING!!!, THERE IS A RECALL RELATED TO THIS ISSUE 00S39, BUT MY VEHICLE ACCORDING TO FORD, BY VIN DID NOT FALL UNDER THE CURRENT RECALL? MY REAL QUESTION IS WHY? SOME BACK GROUND ON MY INCIDENT I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 65 MPH, HEARD AND FELT A CHANGE IN THE STEERING, PULLED OVER AND AS I WAS COMING TO A STOP THE RIGHT LOWER BALL JOINT STUD BROKE IN HALF, IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED 30 SECONDS SOONER (GOING 65 MPH) I COULD HAVE EASILY LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AT FREEWAY SPEEDS, I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO MY SHOP, I AM A OWNER OF A REPAIR FACILITY FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS, AND AM A ASE CERTIFIED MASTER TECHNICIAN, WITH OVER 23YRS OF EXPERIENCE WORKING ON VEHICLES. I INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THE HOLES (BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT SIDES) IN THE ALUMINUM LOWER CONTROL ARMS OVER SIZED FROM THE BALL JOINT STUD BEING LOOSE AND MOVING INSIDE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM. THIS IS AN OBVIOUSLY DANGEROUS ENGINEERING/MANUFACTURING ERROR, STEEL BALL JOINT STUDS PASSING THROUGH A ALUMINUM CONTROL ARM WITHOUT A STEEL REINFORCED SLEEVE IN THE CONTROL ARM? WITH THE CONSTANT MOVEMENT AND DISSIMILAR METALS, KEEPING A PROPER TORQUE ON THE BALL JOINT STUD IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. THEY HAVE A NYLOCK/SELF LOCKING NUT ON THE BALL JOINT STUD SO IT WON'T BACK OFF ALL THE WAY, BUT COMING LOOSE/LOSING TORQUE AND MOVING INSIDE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM UNTIL IT SNAPS OFF IS INEVITABLE. MY PROFESSIONAL OPINION FROM MY YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IS THE CURRENT RECALL NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED OR SERIOUSLY INJURED. TO REPEAT AFTER PERFORMING MY OWN INSPECTION AND AS A PROFESSIONAL IN THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY, THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT THAT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND REPAIRED BY FORD. PLEASE TAKE THIS REPORT SERIOUSLY AS I FEEL MY LIFE WAS IN REAL DANGER AND I KNOW OTHERS ARE IN DANGER AS WELL... JIM OLDHAM, OWNER AUTOMOTIVE SOLUTIONS, ASE MASTER TECHNICIAN. *TR