NHTSA Complaint #719859 — 1995 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL

THE FIRST HEAD GASKET FAILURE IN DECEMBER OF 1999 WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE ORIGINAL VEHICLE WARRANTY. THE SECOND HEAD GASKET FAILURE IN DECEMBER OF 1999 WAS REPAIRED AT AUTO-TRUCK SERVICE COMPANY (958 CENTRAL AVE. N.E.; MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55413; 612-379-2030; 612-379-2030; BYRAN TABATA OWNS AUTO TRUCK SERVICE COMPANY) OUT OF WARRANTY. WHEN WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AUTO-TRUCK SERVICE, WE DID NOT KNOW THAT WE HAD YET ANOTHER HEAD GASKET FAILURE. AFTER PAYING THE BILL AT AUTO-TRUCK SERVICE ($1,133.50), I WROTE TO MR. A.R. KADUK (MANAGER - VEHICLE SERVICE AND PROGRAMS; FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE DIVISION; FORD MOTOR CO.; P.O. BOX 1904; DEARBORN, MICHIGAN 48121-1904) REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE COST OF THIS 2ND HEAD GASKET REPAIR IN 86,000 MILES, SINCE I KNEW FORD HAD ENHANCED THE ORIGINAL 50,000 MILE WARRANTY TO 75,000 MILES FOR 1994 LINCOLN HEAD GASKET FAILURES. IN RESPONSE TO MY LETTER, I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM A FORD REPRESENTATIVE SAYING THAT FORD WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO REIMBURSE ME BECAUSE I HAD NOT HAD THE 2ND HEAD GASKET REPAIR DONE AT AN AUTHORIZED LINCOLN DEALERSHIP. THIS WAS A WHOLLY UNSATISFACTORY RESPONSE, AND I HAVE SINCE BEEN CONSIDERING OTHER APPROACHES FOR OBTAINING REIMBURSEMENT, SO FAR TO NO AVAIL. *AK