NHTSA Complaint #767134 — 2000 MERCURY SABLE

I PURCHASED NEW, AND STILL OWN THIS VEHICLE. AT 27083 MILES, THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS STUCK IN THE ON POSITION. BILL DUBE FORD OF DOVER, NH REPLACED THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FREE OF ALL COSTS TO ME UNDER RECALL NOTICE # 01S08. AT 45395 MILES THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS AGAIN STUCK IN THE ON POSITION. HOWEVER, BRIGHTON FORD-MERCURY OF BRIGHTON, MI REFUSED TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE SWITCH UNDER THE RECALL NOTICE CLAIMING THAT, SINCE THE SWITCH HAD ALREADY BEEN REPLACED UNDER THE RECALL NOTICE, FORDS ONLY RESPONSIBILITY WAS TO WARRANT THE REPLACED SWITCH FOR A PERIOD NOT TO EXCEED 12000 MILES OR 12 MONTHS. AS A CONSEQUENCE, I PAID $63.33 TO HAVE THE SWITCH REPLACED. BASED ON THE FACT THAT ALL THREE SWITCHES, IE., THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT SWITCH, AND BOTH REPLACEMENT SWITCHES HAD IDENTICAL PART NUMBERS (YF1Z*13480*AA) HOW CAN I BE ASSURED THAT: 1) FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND/OR THE SUPPLIER OF THE SWITCH EVER MADE ANY ATTAMPT TO REDESIGN THE SWITCH. WITH THE SAME PART NUMBER, THERE COULD BE THOUSANDS OF DEFECTIVE SWITCHES STILL IN THE MARKETPLACE. 2) THE REPLACEMENT SWITCH, CURRENTLY INSTALLED, WILL NOT FAIL IN APPROX. 25000 MILES JUST AS THE FIRST TWO SWITCHES FAILED. 3) THE LIVES OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS, INCLUDING MYSELF, WILL NOT BE IN JEOPARDY EVERY 27000 MILES BECAUSE OF A REAR-END COLLISION RESULTING FROM SOMEONE'S MISTAKEN IDENTITY OF THE CONSTANTLY ON BRAKE LIGHTS FOR RUNNING LIGHTS, 4) WHY FORD MOTOR COMPANY, OR ANY AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURER, IS NOT HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COSTS OF REPLACING PARTS INVOLVED IN A RECALL UNTIL A PERMANENT FIX IS FOUND? NLM