NHTSA Complaint #10578715 — 2004 FORD CROWN VICTORIA

DRIVING S ON M-10 FROM I-94 TO I-75 ENTRANCE RAMP. I ENTERED THE RAMP AT 25- 30 MPH WHEN THE STEERING LOCKED UP, I COULD NOT TURN THE WHEEL. BEFORE I KNEW IT I HIT THE CURB AND THEN ROLLED OVER APPROX. 3 TIMES DOWN AN EMBANKMENT AND FINALLY HITTING A CONCRETE BARRIER WHICH STOPPED THE CAR. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE HEAT SHIELD FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WAS FOUND UNDER THE CAR, YOU COULD SEE IT RUSTED OFF AND YOU COULD SEE THE MARKS ON IT WHERE IT JAMMED THE STEERING SHAFT AND THE ENGINE BLOCK (STILL HAVE THE PART). BECAUSE OF THE COST CUTTING IN MATERIALS IN THE MANUFACTURING OF THIS HEAT SHIELD OUT OF SHEET METAL AND NOT OUT OF STAINLESS STEEL IT IS THE CAUSE OF THIS ACCIDENT. NOW BECAUSE OF THIS INFERIOR DESIGN AND THE ACCIDENT IT CAUSED, I'M DEALING WITH TBI, PTSD, PBA, NECK INJURY, LOWER BACK INJURY (WHICH IS AFFECTING MY LEGS MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO WALK). A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT I GRADUATED WITH A BACHELORS DEGREE IN MARKETING, BUT NOW BECAUSE OF MY INJURIES I AM UNABLE TO WORK. THIS NEEDLESS ACCIDENT HAS CAUSED ME FINANCIAL HARDSHIP, I LOST MY HOME, UNABLE TO PAY MY STUDENT LOANS, UNABLE TO PAY MY BILLS. THIS ALL STEMS FROM SOMEONE AT FORD'S DECIDING TO CUT COSTS IN THE MANUFACTURING OF THE HEAT SHIELD OUT OF SHEET METAL INSTEAD OUT OF STAINLESS STEEL. FORD SHOULD HAVE REALIZED THAT A MAJORITY OF THESE CROWN VICTORIA'S ARE OWNED IN AREAS WHERE SALT IS USED IN THE WINTER. YOU WOULD THINK FORD'S BEING LOCATED IN DEARBORN, MICHIGAN WOULD USE COMMON SENSE IN THEIR DESIGN OF THIS PART, KNOWING SALT IS HEAVILY USED IN SNOW REMOVAL IN MICHIGAN. THEY SAVED A FEW DOLLARS, BUT IN DOING SO THEY RUINED MY LIFE !! I JUST WONDER HOW MANY ACCIDENTS WHERE CAUSED BY THIS POOR DESIGN? I WONDER HOW MANY OTHER LIVES HAVE BEEN RUINED AND DON'T REALIZE IT WAS CAUSED BY THIS DEFECTED DESIGN. I WAS JUST LUCKY TO FIND THE PART TO SHOW WHAT CAUSED THIS ACCIDENT. ..UPDATED 05/20/14 *BF...UPDATED 08/10/15*BF UPDATED 8/17/17*CN