NHTSA Complaint #10594792 — 2011 MERCURY MILAN

WAS STOPPED BY A POLICEMAN BECAUSE HE SAID MY RIGHT TAILLIGHT WAS GOING CRAZY, BLINKING, ACTING WRONG FOR A BRAKING PROCESS. I HAD NO INDICATION THAT MY RIGHT TAIL LIGHT DID NOT WORK AND ALSO THAT MY RIGHT SIGNAL LIGHT DID NOT WORK. THERE IS NO INDICATION THAT THE BLINKER WAS NOT WORKING. PRIOR TO BEING STOPPED BY THE POLICEMAN, I HAD A DRIVER SHAKE THEIR HEAD AT ME WHEN I WAS TRYING TO CHANGE LANES TO A RIGHT LANE AND SHE WOULD NOT LET ME IN TO EXIT RIGHT. I DID NOT KNOW THAT THE RIGHT SIGNAL WAS NOT WORKING. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY UNSAFE CONDITION BECAUSE THE CAR DOE NOT REGISTER ANY INDICATION THAT THE LIGHT IS NOT WORKING FOR THE BRAKE AND ALSO FOR THE SIGNAL. IN ADDITION, FORD WILL NOT REPLACE THESE LIGHT ASSEMBLIES WITHOUT CHARGING FOR THEM, WHICH COST $500 EACH. IT IS NOT A SIMPLE BULB REPLACEMENT, BUT INSTEAD AN ENTIRE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY FOR $500. I HAD MINE REPLACED BUT ONLY BECAUSE THE DEALER ARGUED WITH THEM AND I HAD TO PAY $100 DEDUCTIBLE FOR MY EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT IF THE LEFT TAIL LIGHT GOES OUT, THIS COST WILL NOT BE COVERED BY FORD AND I WILL HAVE TO PAY THE ENTIRE COST OF $500. JUST THE FACT THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, I WOULD THINK THIS WOULD BE A RECALL EVENT. THIS TAIL LIGHT ISSUE IS ALSO OCCURRING ON OTHER FORD CARS, INCLUDING THE LINCOLN MKZ. *TR