NHTSA Complaint #10631952 — 2000 FORD TAURUS

CAR HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN FOR A MONTH OR TWO. AFTER STARTING IT ONE DAY IN EARLY MARCH, OWNER HEARD SPRING ON THE FRONT, LEFT STRUT POP AND BREAK. THE CAR WAS NOT IN MOTION NOR HAD IT BEEN FOR QUITE SOME TIME. IN AN ATTEMPT TO TAKE IT TO A LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP, THE SPRING PUNCTURED TIRE. THE SET OF FOUR TIRES HAD BEEN RECENTLY PURCHASED BY OWNER. OWNER HAD TO PAY FOR TOW, BRAND NEW TIRE, AND BOTH FRONT QUICK STRUTS FOR VEHICLE PLUS LABOR COSTS. THERE WAS A RECALL ISSUED ON 7-15-2004 REGARDING INSTALLING PANELS TO PROTECT THE TIRES FROM THE EXACT TYPE OF DAMAGES INCURRED. DAHL FORD DEALERSHIP STATED THE RECALL DID NOT APPLY TO VEHICLE'S SPECIFIC VIN, SO, THEY WOULD NOT PUT THE PANELS IN NOR REPLACE DAMAGED COMPONENTS AT NO CHARGE. OWNER ADVISED DAHL FORD THAT THIS RECALL WAS SENT FROM ADVANCE AUTO PARTS ONLINE GARAGE SERVICES, SO, IT CANNOT BE TOO INVALID. OWNER ALSO WAS TOLD BY EMPLOYEES OF A LOCAL MEINEKE CAR CARE CENTER THAT THE ISSUES FOR THE CAR SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. FORD MOTOR COMPANY REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REGISTERED IN ONE OF THE STATES WHERE THE DAMAGE TO STRUTS AND SPRINGS CAN OCCUR--FROM ROAD SALT--AND OWNER SPENT CLOSE TO $800 REMEDYING A PROBLEM THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. THE VIN DOES NOT INDICATE THAT THE PANELS WERE EVER INSTALLED AT AN EARLIER DATE, AND THE LACK OF DOING SO CAUSED THE EXACT TYPE OF ISSUE OUTLINED IN RECALL NUMBER 04S17. *TR