NHTSA Complaint #10353757 — 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND SHE COULD HEAR A SQUEAKING NOISE IN THE BRAKES. THE FAILURE BEGAN TO OCCUR MORE FREQUENTLY WHEN PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. SHE WAS NOTIFIED BY THE MANUFACTURER OF AN UNKNOWN BRAKE RECALL SO THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED SHE OPENED THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AND NOTICED WATER LEAKING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE DOOR PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT EXAMINED FOR THE CAUSE OF FAILURE BUT SHE INSTALLED WINDOW RAIN GUARDS ON ALL FOUR WINDOWS. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH SHE COULD FEEL THE VEHICLE SHAKING IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE OEM MOTOR MOUNT AND BRACKET WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE HAD NOT RECURRED. SHE ALSO STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED SHE TURNED ON THE AIR CONDITIONER BUT THERE WAS ONLY MINOR AIR FLOW COMING THROUGH THE VENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE A NEW COMPRESSOR AND EXPANSION VALVE WERE INSTALLED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000. UPDATED 12/23/10*LJ THE BLEND DOOR MOTOR WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 04/06/11 UPDATED 05/26/11 *BF UPDATED 05/31/11