NHTSA Complaint #769183 — 1998 LINCOLN MARK VIII

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER CONDITIONS, I NOTICED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS GETTING CLOUDED OVER. TURNED ON MY HA/C TO DEFOG THE WINDSHIELD BUT ONLY COLD AIR CAME OUT ADDING GREATLY TO THE WINDSHIELD FOGGING. I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR BEFORE RUNNING INTO OPPOSITE LANES OF TRAFFIC SINCE I COULDN'T SEE OUT THE WINDSHIELD. I GOT A CLOTH AND WIPED IT CLEAR TO PROCEDE. TOOK TO LOCAL DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM TO THESE CARS ASWELL AS TOWN CARS IN THAT THE BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR CAUSES THE DOOR'S ARM TO BREAK IN A SET POSITION. THUS IF BROKE ON HOT SETTING YOU GET ONLY HEATED AIR- VICE VERSA ON A COLD SETTING. IT WAS AN APPARENTLY POORLY DESIGNED PLASTIC ITEM; HOWEVER THE CHARGE TO FIX IT WITH ANOTHER SIMILAR ARM WOULD BE OVER $500 BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO TAKE THE DASH OFF THE CAR MAKE THE REPAIR, THOUGH THE PART IS LSS THAN $35.00. I COULD NOT AFFORD THE REPAIR AT THAT TIME, SO A TECHNICIAN SHOWED ME HOW TO LAY UNDER THE DASH AND MANUALLY PULL THE DOOR TO EITHER HOT OR COLD. DT