NHTSA Complaint #10579476 — 2007 LINCOLN MKZ

VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED USED FROM A 3RD PARTY IN MARCH 2010 WITH 46,000 MILES AND WAS UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY. WE DISCOVERED THE WHEELS HAD CHROME FLAKING BADLY SOON AFTER PURCHASE, AND ROB SIGHT LINCOLN MERCURY (NOW DBA ROB SIGHT FORD) ONLY AGREED TO REPLACE TWO OF THE WHEELS UNDER WARRANTY CLAIMING IT WAS A COSMETIC ISSUE. SINCE THE CAR HAD BEEN PURCHASED THROUGH ANOTHER DEALER, ROB SIGHT WAS HESITANT TO HONOR THE WARRANTY EVEN ON THE TWO WHEELS THEY DID REPLACE. SUBSEQUENTLY, WE HAVE EXPERIENCED AT LEAST10 FLAT TIRES ON THE REMAINING WHEELS, EVEN AFTER REPLACING ALL FOUR TIRES. CLEARLY THE ORIGINAL FLAKING ISSUE IS FAR MORE THAN COSMETIC, IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE. AT A COST OF NEARLY $1,000 EACH TO REPLACE WHEELS, THAT HAS NOT BEEN CONSIDERED AN ACCEPTABLE ALTERNATIVE. WE HAD THE WHEELS REBUILT AT A CAR WHEEL SPECIALIST IN MERRIAM, KS (HUBCAP & WHEEL) AND WHILE THE BEAD SEAL FAILURES IMPROVED FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, ADDITIONAL CORROSION HAS RENDERED THE WHEELS INOPERABLE. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 80,000 MILES AND THE TEMPTATION IS TO SELL IT TO SOMEONE ELSE, WITH THE HOPE THAT SUBSEQUENT TIRE FAILURES DO NOT RESULT IN A FATALITY. THERE CAN BE LITTLE DOUBT THAT MOST OTHER 2007 MKZ OWNERS UNFORTUNATE ENOUGH TO OWN THIS VEHICLE, AND HAVING RECEIVED THE SAME TREATMENT FROM FORD/LINCOLN THAT WE HAVE, ARE TEMPTED TO DO THE SAME THING. *JS