NHTSA Complaint #10552838 — 2013 FORD FUSION

VEHICLE DRIVER WAS DRIVING ON A PUBLIC ROAD APPROXIMATELY 35 MILES PER HOUR WHEN A THUD WAS HEARD AND THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WENT DOWN SIMILAR TO HAVING A FLAT TIRE. THE DRIVER STOPPED THE VEHICLE AS THE STEERING AND BRAKING WAS ADVERSELY AFFECTED. AFTER GETTING OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND SEEING WHAT HAPPENED THE DRIVER SAW THAT THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WAS OUT OF ITS NORMAL CONFIGURATION WITH THE WHEEL AT APPROXIMATELY A 45 DEGREE ANGLE WITH THE TOP OF THE WHEEL POINTING INWARD TOWARD THE ENGINE AND THE BOTTOM OF THE WHEEL POINT OUTWARD TOWARD THE RIGHT. AFTER A TOW VEHICLE WAS CALLED AND PICKING UP THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE RIGHT FRONT ALUMINUM LOWER CONTROL ARM BROKE STRAIGHT ACROSS WHERE THE LOWER BALL JOINT WAS PRESSED INTO THE CONTROL ARM. THIS CAUSED RELEASE OF THE LOWER AXIS CONNECTION OF THE WHEEL SPINDLE AND BROKE THE RIGHT FRONT DRIVESHAFT , TIE ROD, AND BENT THE STRUT. THIS IS A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARM WITH POTENTIAL TO CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY TO THE DRIVER AND ANY OTHER VEHICLES OR PEDESTRIANS. FORD IS TRYING TO DISCLAIM AND PLAY DOWN THIS FAILURE SAYING THAT IS NOT THE FAULT OF THEIR DEFECTIVE LOWER CONTROL ARM. I FEEL ALL VEHICLES OF THIS KIND HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO FAIL IN THE SAME WAY AND SHOULD BE IMMEDIATELY INSPECTED FOR SIGNS OF CRACKING ON THE LOWER CONTROL ARM. *TR