NHTSA Complaint #10670679 — 2007 FORD FREESTYLE

DESCRIPTION OF FAILURE FORD MOTOR CASE NO. [XXX] DECEMBER 2, 2014 2007 FORD FREESTYLE SEL FWD ' 89,800 MILES VERY GOOD CONDITION- ORIGINAL OWNER ON NOVEMBER 26, 2014 OWNER EXPERIENCED PROBLEM WITH PASSENGER REAR WHEEL. WHEEL WAS SWAYING IN AN OUTWARD DIRECTION ON THE BASE OF THE WHEEL AND DRIVER WAS NOT ABLE TO CONTROL THE AUTOMOBILE. UPON INSPECTION AT METRO FORD SALES (WHERE AUTOMOBILE WAS PURCHASED) ON DECEMBER 2, 2014 IT WAS FOUND THAT THE REAR SUSPENSION SUB-FRAME HAD FAILED THROUGH EXTENSIVE RUST. THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BRACKET HAD BROKEN FREE OF THE ACTUAL SUSPENSION SUB-FRAME BODY. THIS ALLOWED THE BASE OF THE WHEEL SYSTEM TO PROJECT IN AN OUTWARD DIRECTION AND CAUSED THE LOSS OF CONTROL AND TRACTION. THE MAINTENANCE PERSONAL DETERMINED THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO REPAIR THE SUB-FRAME ASSEMBLY. THE CORRECTIVE ACTION WOULD BE THE REMOVAL OF THE SUB-FRAME ASSEMBLY AND THE REPLACEMENT WITH A SERVICEABLE ASSEMBLY. THERE IS NO DOUBT IN THE MINDS OF THE SERVICE PERSONAL THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS EXTENSIVE AND UNUSUAL RUST. UPON INSPECTION OF THE REMAINDER OF THE UNDERCARRIAGE FRAMEWORK THERE WAS COMPARATIVELY LITTLE RUST TO OTHER COMPONENTS. THE EXHAUST SYSTEM, WHICH IS ADJACENT TO THE FAILED SUB-FRAME SYSTEM, HAD VERY LITTLE RUST AND WAS STILL VERY SERVICEABLE THIS IS A VERY TROUBLING SITUATION SINCE THE CAR WAS RARELY DRIVEN IN THE SNOW. FURTHERMORE, THE AUTOMOBILE HAS ALWAYS BEEN HOUSED IN A CLIMATICALLY CONTROLLED GARAGE SYSTEM THROUGHOUT ITS LIFESPAN. AT THIS JUNCTURE, IT IS VERY OBVIOUS TO ALL PARTIES CONCERNED THAT THE SUB-FRAME IN QUESTION WAS MANUFACTURED WITH SUB-STANDARD STEEL AND ALLOYS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR