NHTSA Complaint #721132 — 1995 MERCURY SABLE

I BOUGHT MY 1995 SABLE IN JULY 97 WITH 30,000 MILES AND A FORD EXTENDED WARRANTY. AT 31,667 MILES THE SPEEDOMETER DIAL WOULD BUZZ AND THE NEEDLE SWING BACK AND FORTH, NOT READING PROPER SPEED. I CONTACTED A FORD DEALER, COLUMBIA FORD IN COLUMBIA, CT AND THEY REPLACED THE SPEEDOMETER HEAD IN DASH, STATING THAT FORD KNOWS THAT THE SPEEDOMETER HEADS LAST ABOUT 30,000 MILES THEN THEY DEFECT. THEY ALSO TOLD ME THAT FORD SENT OUT A TSB ON THE SPEEDO HEADS AND THAT NHTSA ALSO HAD REPORTS ON THE DEFECT. NOW AT 64,000 MILES THE SPEEDO HEAD AGAIN DEFECTED, BUZZING AND READING IMPROPER SPEED, VERY FRIGHTNING. I CONTACTED FORD ABOUT THE ISSUE AND AFTER A WEEK OF TRYING TO GET THEM ON THE PHONE I FINALLY DID. THE SERVICE REP AT FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE I TALKED TO, DORTHIA AT EXTENSION 2703, SAID IN SO MANY WORDS THAT I AM UP THE CREEK. I THEN ASKED TO TALK TO HER SUPERVISOR, NICHOL KINGS, SHE WOULD NOT LET ME, PUT ME ON HOLD, THEN CAME BACK AND NOW AFTER I TRIED TO RESOLVE THE MATTER SHE SAID IN A FIRM VOICE, "THE MATTER IS NOW CLOSED". FORD FLAT OUT REFUSED TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT, KNOWING WELL THAT THE DEFECT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE. THS COST OF REPLACING THE SPEEDO HEAD IS ABOUT $500. I CANNOT AFFORD TO REPLACE THE SPEEDO EVERY 30,000 MILES, AND IT IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE SINCE MY WIFE USES THE CAR ALSO. I BELIEVE IT IS VERY PATHETIC THAT A CONSUMER HAS TO BE SHAFTED LIKE THIS BUYING A CAR IN GOOD FAITH, THEN BEING TOLD TOO BAD FOR YOU. FORD KNEW ABOUT THIS SAFETY DEFECT ALL ALONG. PLEASE HELP BEFORE I OR SOMEONE IN MY FAMILY GETS KILLED BEING UNABLE TO READ THEIR PROPER SPEED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *AK