NHTSA Complaint #10663384 — 1995 PORSCHE 911

RECENTLY, I PURCHASED TIE RODS FOR MY 1995 PORSCHE 911. I ORDERED THROUGH ECS TUNING (ORDER #: [XXX]), SHIPPED TO MY HOME. I INSPECTED THE TIE RODS, AND WHILE NOT IDENTICAL TO THE ORIGINAL MANUFACTURERS PARTS, THEY LOOKED SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME. I INSTALLED THE TIE RODS (MADE BY HAMBURG TECHNIC) WITHOUT INSTALLATION DIFFICULTY. AS YOU ARE AWARE, TIE RODS ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE STEERING SYSTEM AND ARE DESIGNED TO BE ADJUSTED FOR WHEEL ALIGNMENT. I EYEBALLED THE ALIGNMENT AND PROMPTLY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MERCHANTS TIRE AND AUTO (3419 HWY 17 S, MURRELLS INLET, SC 29576, 843-651-4816) FOR A PROFESSIONAL ALIGNMENT ON A HUNTER LASER RACK. AS THE VEHICLE WAS BEING BACKED UP AT THEIR FACILITY, THE LEFT INNER TIE ROD SEGMENT SEPARATED. THE INNER SLEEVE BECAME COMPLETELY DISCONNECTED FROM THE OUTER SLEEVE, RENDERING THE CAR INCAPACITATED. I DON'T KNOW HOW I MANAGED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITHOUT THEM SEPARATING ON THE ROAD, LEADING TO AN ACCIDENT. AS I HAD ORDERED 2 SETS OF TIE RODS, I RETURNED HOME AND GOT THE SECOND SET, AND THEY PUSHED THE CAR INTO A SERVICE BAY. THEY REPLACED THE TIE RODS WITH THE SECOND SET. WHILE BACKING THE CAR OUT OF THE SERVICE BAY, TO MOVE IT TO THE ALIGNMENT RACK, THE LEFT TIE ROD SEPARATED AGAIN, RENDERING THE CAR INCAPACITATED FOR THE SECOND TIME. AS THERE IS CLEARLY A DESIGN OR MANUFACTURING PROBLEM WITH THESE PARTS, I OBTAINED TIE RODS FROM ANOTHER VENDOR. THOSE TIE RODS WERE PLACED ON THE VEHICLE WITHOUT ISSUE, AND AN ALIGNMENT WAS SUCCESSFULLY PERFORMED. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR