NHTSA Complaint #700312 — 1997 FORD CLUB WAGON

THIS VEHICLE'S FRONT HEAT FAILED AT 9569 MILES. THE DEALER SAID THE HEATER BOX BLEND DOOR FAILED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE HEATER BOX UNDER WARRANTY SUPPOSEDLY WITH A MANUFACTURER MODIFIED UNIT TO CORRECT A KNOWN DEFECT IN DESIGN. THIS VEHICLE'S FRONT BRAKES FAILED AT 11,780 MILES. THE DEALER SAID THAT THE CALIPERS WERE DEFECTIVE AND REPLACED THEM AND THE PADS UNDER WARRANTY. AT 14,824 MILES THE REAR BRAKES WERE GRABBING AND REQUIRED SERVICE. THE DEALER PERFORMED SERVICE AT NO CHARGE. AT 23,550 MILES THE FRONT HEAT FAILED AGAIN. THE DEALER IS AGAIN REPAIRING UNDER WARRANTY. (EXACT SAME PROBLEM.) ALSO AT THIS SAME MILEAGE (23,550, ALMOST EXACTLY DOUBLE THE MILEAGE OF THE FIRST BRAKE FAILURE), THE BRAKES FAILED AGAIN. THE DEALER SAID THE FRONT BRAKES NEED REPLACEMENT AGAIN AND THE REAR BRAKES NEED SERVICE AGAIN AS WELL. THIS TIME I WILL HAVE TO PAY MYSELF. THE DEALER ALSO STATES THAT THIS IS NORMAL MILEAGE FOR BRAKE REPLACEMENT FOR THIS MODEL VEHICLE AND I CAN EXPECT SIMILAR RESULTS THROUGHOUT MY OWNERSHIP OF THIS VEHICLE. I AM SUBMITTING THIS COMPLAINT PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF THE BRAKE SITUATION (ALTHOUGH THE HEATER IS AN ANNOYING SITUATION).BESIDES BEING AN UNDUE EXPENSE AND INCONVENIENCE FOR OWNERS OF THIS MODEL VEHICLE, MY MAIN CONCERN IS SAFETY RELATED. THE DEALER SAYS THAT THIS IS NORMAL MILEAGE FOR BRAKE REPLACEMENT FOR THIS VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER TOWED ANYTHING ALTHOUGH IT IS FACTORY EQUIPPED FOR TOWING. HOW MANY MILES COULD I EXPECT OUT OF A SET OF BRAKES IF I ACTUALLY DID TOW WITH THIS VEHICLE? 3000 - 5000? ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE. MOST OF THE MILEAGE ON THIS VEHICLE ARE HIGHWAY OR COUNTRY MILES WITH ALMOST NO CITY MILES. MOST STATES REQUIRE ANNUAL VEHICLE SAFETY INSPECTIONS. WITH THE AVERAGE DRIVER ACCUMULATING 12,000 OR MORE MILES PER YEAR, PEOPLE WITH THIS VEHICLE WILL REQUIRE BRAKES BEFORE A YEARLY INSPECTION. THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO WILL NOT KNOW THE WARNING SIGNS THAT THEIR VEHICLE NEEDS NEW BRAKES UNTIL THE VEHICLE DOES NOT STO