1995 Dabryan Lincoln Towncar

Defect. IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF THE REAR BRAKE LINE AT THE POINT AT WHICH THE EXTENDED BRAKE LINE FIRST BENDS AND EXTENDS OVER THE LEFT REAR WHEEL AREA OF THE FRAME. IF NOT INSTALLED WITH SUFFICIENT CLEARANCE, CHAFING OF THE BRAKE LINE CAN OCCUR IN AN AREA ADJACENT TO THE REAR FLOOR PAN.

Risk. THE REAR BRAKE LINE CAN LEAK OR RUPTURE RESULTING IN REDUCED BRAKING CAPABILITY, LOSS OF REAR BRAKES, AND/OR LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID RESERVES IN THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE LINE FOR PROPER INSTALLATION AND/OR DAMAGE AND REPLACE AS NECESSARY. ALSO A PROTECTIVE BOOT OR SLEEVE OVER THE BRAKE LINE WILL BE INSTALLED.

I HAD MADE A LEFT TURN AND COMING OUT OF THE TURN I HEARD A LOUD BANG. I LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AND RAN INTO A RETAINING WALL. MY NECK HURT IMMEDIATELY, POSSIBLY FROM THROWING MY HEAD TO LOOK AT WHAT I THOUGHT WOULD BE ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT HAD STRUCK ME. UPON EXAMINATION I SAW THAT THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL WAS LYING FLAT ON THE GROUND AND THE CAR WAS RESTING ON TOP. BY FLAT I DON'T MEAN THAT THE TIRE WAS FLAT; I MEAN THAT THE WHEEL HAD GONE FROM PERPENDICULAR TO THE ROADWAY TO PARALLEL TO THE ROADWAY AND THE CAR WAS RESTING ON TOP OF THE WHEEL. THE CAR BEING UNDRIVEABLE, I HAD IT TOWED TO MY MECHANIC. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER COULD NOT SIMPLY DROP OFF THE CAR BECAUSE THE ONLY THING THAT WOULD HAVE HELD UP THE CAR ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WAS THE CONTROL ARM. MY MECHANIC EXAMINED THE CAR AND DETERMINED THAT THE ONE-PIECE BEARING WITHIN THE RIGHT LOWER CONTROL ARM HAD CRACKED AND THAT THE BALL AND CAP OF THE JOINT HAD TOTALLY SEPARATED. THIS HAD CAUSED THE CAR TO LAND ON THE CONTROL ARM AND COME TO GRINDING HALT. MY MECHANIC SAID AT THE TIME THAT THIS SHOULD BE A SUBJECT FOR A RECALL. ONLY RECENTLY, AFTER OBTAIN PAPERWORK FROM THE NHTSA DID I DISCOVER THAT THE 1995 LINCOLN TOWN CAR HAD BEEN RECALLED BUT THAT ONLY A RELATIVE FEW CARS HAD BEEN IDENTIFIED BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY. AFTER LEARNING THIS, AN ONLINE SEARCH REVEALED MANY DOZENS OF REPORTS OF INSTANCES OF THIS HAPPENING WITH NEARLY ALL THAT MENTIONED IT SAYING THAT THERE HAD BEEN NO RECALL FOR THIS DEFECT. SEVERAL MECHANICS EX