NHTSA Complaint #732229 — 2000 LINCOLN LS

MY WIFE REPORTED THIS INCIDENT YESTERDAY, BUT WITHOUT THE V.I.N. MOTOR TREND'S CAR OF THE YEAR HAD A MAJOR FAILURE WHILE I WAS DRIVING, FORTUNATELY IN A PARKING LOT, AT A VERY LOW SPEED. THERE WAS A SPONTANEOUS LOSS OF CONTROL (THERE WAS NO CONTACT WITH ANYTHING ELSE), FOLLOWED BY PARTIAL DETACHMENT OF THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL FROM THE VEHICLE. THIS OCCURRED AS A RESULT OF FRACTURE OF A BOLT SECURING THE LOWER CONTOL ARM. THE VEHICLE WAS RENDERED UNDRIVEABLE, AS THE WHEEL WAS TURNED 90 DEGREES. OBVIOUSLY, A SIMILAR INCIDENT AT A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED WOULD LIKELY HAVE RESULTED IN MAJOR INJURY. I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO REPORT THIS TO YOU BECAUSE, INCREDIBLY, IT IS FORD MOTOR CO.'S POLICY NOT TO DO SO AUTOMATICALLY!