THE MOUNTS BETWEEN THE BODY AND SUBFRAME BELIEVED TO BE CALLED THE BODY INSULATORS WHICH HOLD THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION IN PLACE FAILED DUE TO ERROSION. THE MOUNTING BOLTS PULLED THROUGH THE RETAINIG WASHER AND THE RUBBER MOUNT ALLOWING THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION TO FALL ONTO THE GROUND. BOTH REAR MOUNTS FAILED AND IN THE PROCESS DISCONNECTED THE STEERING LINKAGE AT THE SLIP JOINT UNDER THE DASH WHICH ALLOWS FOR THE TILT STEERING. THIS STEERING JOINT COMPLETLY SEPARATED BECAUSE OF THE DISTANCE ALLOWED TO TRAVEL FROM THE ASSEMBLY FALLING. ALL STEERING WAS LOSS AND THERE WAS NO CONTROL OF THE VEHICAL AVAILABLE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY RISK!!!! PEOPLE WILL BE HURT IF NOT KILLED BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM ESPECIALLY IF INCOUNTERED AT HIGH SPEEDS OR TRAFFIC. LINCOLN HAS BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM AND I HAVE FOUND PREVIOUS RECALLS FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT ONLY IN HIGH ERROSION STATES, MI, CT IL ECT..... I BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM IS LARGER THAN ONCE THOUGHT DUE TO THE WAY THE CAR WAS MANUFACTURED. THE WASHERS USED ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO RUST BECAUSE OF THE CONTOURS AND GAUGE OF THE METAL USED. IT HAS NOTHING TO DUE TO THE AREA THAT A CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN. THE FACT THERE ARE NO SAFETY CATCHES UNDER THE CAR IS SIMPLY WRONG. UNDER THE PREVIOUS RECALLS IT IS STATED THAT THE STEERING MAY BECOME HARD TO CONTROL WHEN THE MOUNTS FAIL. THE STEERING IS NOT HARD TO CONTROL BUT IS IMPOSSIBLE, IT IS NO LONGER CONNECTED. THE DIRECTION YOU ARE TRAVELING AT THE TIME OF FAILURE IS THE DIRECTION YOU CONTINUE TO FOLLOW UNTIL STOPPED OR REDIRECTED BY THE FORCES OF NATURE. THE PROBLEM IS APPARENT IN THE MERCURY SABLE, FORD TAURUS AS WELL AS THE LINCOLN CONTINENTIAL. PLEASE REEXAMINE THIS PROBLEM BEFORE PEOPLE DIE, I CANT BEGIN TO EXPLAIN HOW LUCKY I AND FAMILY WERE. THANKYOU, RC
- NHTSA ID
- 729752
- Incident
- Aug 25, 2000