NHTSA Complaint #10448040 — 2005 FORD FREESTYLE

I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 FORD FREESTYLE ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 72 MPH. WHILE DRIVING ON A STRAIGHT SECTION OF HIGHWAY AND WITH BOTH OF MY HANDS ON THE STEERING WHEEL, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY WENT COMPLETELY OUT OF CONTROL. I TRIED DESPERATELY TO STRAIGHTEN UP AND TO CONTROL THE CAR BUT IT WAS USELESS. THE VEHICLE WENT SIDEWAYS AND THEN STARTED TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL. THE VEHICLE ENDED UP IN A BERM ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY FACING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. ONLY BY THE MERCY AND GRACE OF GOD WAS OUR VEHICLE NOT STRUCK BY A PASSING VEHICLE OR DID OUR VEHICLE ROLL. WE WALKED AWAY FROM THE ACCIDENT WITH NO INJURIES JUST THANKFUL HEARTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SERVICE STATION AND THE TECHNICIAN QUICKLY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A BROKEN LOWER LEFT REAR CONTROL ARM SUPPORT BRACKET. THE CONTROL ARM IS WHAT KEEPS THE REAR WHEELS FROM TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT. THE LOWER CONTROL ARM SUPPORT BRACKET IS WHAT HELPS TO KEEP THE CONTROL ARM IN PLACE. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION AFTER THE ACCIDENT WE HAVE IDENTIFIED A NUMBER OF OTHER VEHICLE OWNERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME PROBLEM. THE PART IS CONSTRUCTED WITH AN INEXPENSIVE AND WEAK GRADE OF STEEL AND IS SUBJECT TO DAMAGE. *TR...UPDATED 08/31/2012 *BF UPDATED 09/05/2012 *JS