NHTSA Complaint #10467592 — 2001 FORD TAURUS

RIM (WHEEL) RIPPED APART WITH THE LUG NUTS AND CENTER OF RIM STILL ATTACHED TO CAR / ROTOR: MY SON WAS TRAVELING AT APPROX. 70 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE FRONT RIGHT PASSENGER WHEEL STARTED TO SHAKE. BEFORE HE COULD STEP ON THE BRAKE THE TIRE AND MOST OF THE RIM WAS DETACHED FROM THE CAR CAUSING EXCESSIVE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END. FROM THE CENTER LANE, THE CAR WENT SKIDDING OUT OF CONTROL TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY BARELY MISSING A LARGE POLE AND EVENTUALLY COMING TO A STOP. THE MECHANIC ON THE SCENE HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS IN HIS LONG CAREER OF MECHANICS. HE TOLD MY SON THAT HE WAS VERY LUCKY HE WAS ON EVEN PAVEMENT BECAUSE THE CAR COULD HAVE EASILY FLIPPED CAUSING MAJOR INJURY AND PROBABLY DEATH. HOOD OR DRIVER SIDE DOOR WON'T OPEN. BRAKES ARE NOT FUNCTIONAL. FRAME, ROTOR AND LOWER SUSPENSION ARE DAMAGED. IT IS PRESUMED THAT THE COST TO REPAIR WILL BE MORE THAN THE CAR IS WORTH (TOTAL LOSS). I FOUND THAT ANOTHER INCIDENT JUST LIKE THIS WAS REPORTED TO NHTSA ON JULY 27, 2001, VIN-[XXX], SO THIS ISN'T JUST A ONE TIME OCCURRENCE. I FELT COMPELLED TO REPORT THIS BECAUSE I FEEL THAT MANY MORE ARE AT RISK AND THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHERS WHO DIDN'T KNOW TO REPORT IT. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR