NHTSA Complaint #10730821 — 2006 LINCOLN TOWN CAR

AS PART OF THE RECENT FORD STEERING RECALL, AN EMERGENCY INSPECTION WAS DONE ON 11/18/13 AT 69,104 AND DECLARED SAFE TO DRIVE. ON 3/18/14 DRIVING TO THE DEALER TO HAVE RECALL WORK PERFORMED, THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED-UP SOLID AT THE TURN WAS MADE ENTERING THE DEALERS PROPERTY.A REPAIR WAS DONE REPLACING THE LOWER SHAFT ONLY AS SHOWN IN PICTURE #1. THEN LESS THAN 14 MONTHS LATER A REPEAT FAILURE OF THE UPPER SHAFT ASSEMBLY SHOWN IN PICTURE #2. THERE WAS NO SECONDARY RECALL ISSUED, SO A SEARCH BY VIN SHOWED NO OUTSTANDING RECALL, AND THE DEALERS INSISTENT ED THIS WAS NOT A RECALL ISSUE, BUT. IT WAS, AS THE COMPLETE UPPER AND LOWER SHAFT SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED DURING THE REPAIR. THE UNPREDICTABLE LOCKING OF THE STEERING WHEEL POSES A SERIOUS INJURY/DEATH RISK. ALL VEHICLES PART OF THE INITIAL RECALL SHOULD BE INSPECTED TO INSURE THE REPAIR WAS DON COMPLETELY AND CORRECTLY. PICTURES AVAILABLE ON REQUEST (CAN'T SEEM TO ATTACH N THIS FORM) ALSO SEE PREVIOUS FOR FILED WHEN FIRST FAILURE OCCURRED DESPITE INSPECTION THAT DECLARED VEHICLE SAFE TO DRIVE.