NHTSA Complaint #738344 — 2000 LINCOLN LS

THE LINCOLN LS IS MADE ON A EUROPEAN MODEL JAGUAR FRAME WHICH HAS ALL CONTROLS ON THE RIGHT SIDE. IN ORDER TO FIT AMERICAN STANDARDS ALL CONTROLS EXCEPT THE ABS SYSTEM HAS BEEN MOVED TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR. SINCE THE ABS SYSTEM REMAINS ON THE RIGHT SIDE, LINCOLN HAD TO RUN BRAKE LINES ACROSS THE CAR. IN DOING SO, THEY HAVE RAN THESE LINES ON TOP, BESIDE AND ALONG THE RADIATOR AND RIGHT ALONG THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THIS SHORT CUT OF RUNNING THESE LINES, INSTEAD OF MOVING THE ABS ASSEMBLY TO THE LEFT SIDE, CAUSES THE BRAKE FLUID TO GET EXCESSIVELY HOT WHICH EVENTUALLY BREAKS THE PLASTIC RESERVOIR CONTAINER CAUSING LEAKAGE OF BRAKE FLUID. THIS LEAKAGE CAN SUBSTANTIALY CAUSE BRAKE FAILURE. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY MY DEALER THAT THEY WILL NO LONGER REPLACE THIS RESERVOIR BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT FIGUERED OUT WHAT IS THE PROBLEM. I HAVE REPEATEDLY ADVISED THE LOCAL DEALER OF THIS DEFECT AND THEY HAVE NOT TAKEN IT SERIOUSLY. I HOPE THAT YOUR ORGANIZATION WILL FORWARD THIS COMPLAINT YOUR INTERNAL ENGINEERS TO ANALYZE AND INVESTIGATE MY COMPLAINT. JUST LIKE IN PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS THAT YOU MAY HAVE RECEIVED ABOUT FIRESTONES TIRE FAILURE, TIMING IS EVERYTHING. I URGE YOU TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION (LIKE A FULL RECALL ON ALL LINCOLN LS VEHICLES) BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. TO ADD FURTHER CREDIBILITY TO MY ANALYSIS OF THE PROBLEM, FORDS (MAKER OF LINCOLN) ONLY VEHICLE THAT HAS AN ABS SYSTEM ON THE RIGHT SIDE IS THE LINCOLN LS. PLEASE CALL ME IF YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OR NEED MORE DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. *AK