NHTSA Complaint #10483977 — 2007 MERCURY MONTEGO

THE FACTORY-SUPPLIED VEHICLE SERVICE JACK FAILED DURING A SPARE TIRE CHANGE. THE JACK IS A STANDARD MECHANICAL SCREW JACK WITH A 16-INCH LONG, 3/8-INCH DIAMETER HORIZONTAL BOLT SCREWED INTO A THREADED SUPPORT MEMBER IN THE JACK. THE THREADS IN THE THREADED SUPPORT MEMBER BECAME STRIPPED WHILE THE JACK WAS LIFTING THE VEHICLE, CAUSING THE JACK TO FULLY COLLAPSE AND THE VEHICLE TO FALL TO THE GROUND. THE THREADED NUT IN THE SUPPORT MEMBER NO LONGER HOLDS THE 16-INCH BOLT IN PLACE, AND METAL SHAVINGS ARE SEEN ON THE HORIZONTAL BOLT. THERE IS NO SIGN OF THREAD WEAR ON THE BOLT ITSELF, SO THE FAILURE IS PURELY DUE TO THE THREADED NUT INSIDE THE SUPPORT MEMBER OF THE JACK. AT THE TIME OF THE COLLAPSE, THE BOLT WAS BEING TURNED USING THE FACTORY-SUPPLIED JACK HANDLE. THE JACK WAS RAISED APPROXIMATELY 10 VERTICAL INCHES FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE BASE TO THE TOP OF THE CAR CONTACT POINT AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. THE JACK HAD NOT YET LIFTED THE VEHICLE ENOUGH OFF THE GROUND TO CHANGE THE TIRE. *TR