NHTSA Complaint #747931 — 1993 LAND ROVER RANGE ROVER

WHILE DRIVING SOUTH ON I-91 AT 55MPH IN SPRINGFIELD, MA ON A CLEAR DAY WITH DRY PAVEMENT THE CAR PULLED TO THE LEFT, I CORRECTED TO THE RIGHT BUT THE STEERING FELT AS IF SOMETHING HAD "SNAPPED". THE CAR THEN BEGAN TO DRIFT TO THE RIGHT, I HAD NO STEERING RESPONSE. I SLOWED SINCE I HAD TAKEN MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELATOR. I ENTERED THE BREAKDOWN LANE AND STRUCK A CONCRETE BARRIER AT 40MPH WITH THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE CAR. WE CAME TO A STOP. ALL THREE PEOPLE WERE WEARING SAFETY BELTS. I HAD A MINOR CONCUSSION AND MY DAUGHTER (IN THE RIGHT FRONT PASSANGER SEAT) HAD A SORE NECK AND LOWER BACK PAIN. MY SON, IN THE BACK SEAT, HAD NO INJURIES. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO ROBINSON SERVICE WHERE IT WAS IMMEDIATELY NOTED THAT THE PITMAN ARM BALL JOINT HAD FALLEN OFF. MR. ROBINSON TOLD US OF UP TO 6 OTHER 1993, 1994 RANGE ROVERS (THAT HE HAD SEEN SINCE 11/00) THAT HAD SIMILAR FAILURES. IT WAS ONLY LUCK (LIGHT TRAFFIC, DRY PAYMENT) THAT I OR MY TWO CHILDREN WERE NOT MORE SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED. OTHER CARS COULD HAVE EASILY BECOME INVOLVED IN THE ACCIDENT. MR. ROBINSON HAS CHECKED WITH RANGE ROVER AND AS OF TODAY NO RECALLS HAVE BEEN ISSUED ON THIS PROBLEM. I HOPE THAT RANGE ROVER WILL ISSUE A RECALL IN ORDER TO SAVE OTHERS FROM HARM OR DEATH. PLEASE CONTACT MR. ROBINSON FOR DETAILS ON THE OTHER RANGE ROVERS HE HAS SEEN WITH SIMILAR FAILURES. *AKY