Originally posted by John Reece:
01M08 - Caution: may not need repair; service only if concern is present. Please refer to Dealer letter for program coverage.
Front Springs - coverage will be in effect for 10 years or 150,000 miles from warranty start date - Please note: SVT vehicles are not eligible.
You know, this bugs me. My dealer put the stupid spring guards on my car without asking me, then I had to have them take them off because they clunked under high spring compression (like going over a speed bump). So OASIS obviously showed the spring guard program on my VIN. But I've seen a few times that SVTs are not covered under the "replace if broken" part of the program.
[topic]
My opinion is that the guards are a half-@ss way to attempt to fix the problem without recalling the springs flat out. And many people have reported the same problem as me with them. The 01M08 program will replace your springs if they break. That's nice. :rolleyes:
[/topic]
Anyway, I go to
www.nhtsa.gov and check the recalls on a 1998 Contour and find the following:
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 01V255000
Component: SUSPENSION:I-BEAM:SOLID:FRONT SPRING:COIL
Year: 1998 Make: FORD Model: CONTOUR Recall Date: 08/23/2001
Type of Report: Vehicle
Potential Number of Units Affected: 108000
Manufactured: 09/1996 - 04/1998
Defect Summary:
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES BUILT AT THE KANSAS CITY ASSEMBLY PLANT AND CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, AND WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS MAY FRACTURE AS A RESULT OF CORROSION IN HIGH CORROSION ENVIRONMENTS. DEPENDING ON THE LOCATION OF THE FRACTURE, A BROKEN SPRING COULD MOVE PAST THE SPRING SEAT AND CONTACT A FRONT TIRE.
Consequence Summary:
SOME TIRES HAVE DEFLATED DUE TO CONTACT WITH A BROKEN SPRING.
Corrective Summary:
DEALERS WILL INSTALL SPRING CATCHER BRACKETS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN OCTOBER 23, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332
Check my build date and where I'm from. Obviously this shows that I should have the spring guard (if it actually worked). However, Ford states that I am
NOT eligible for a free spring replacement if they break. I was under the impression that my springs are no different from the springs on a 98 SE (correct me if I'm wrong). I just don't get how OASIS shows I require the guards but not the free springs to replace broken ones.
[BIG RANT]
Want to get even more frustrated? Search the NHTSA list of Technical Service Bullitens for a 1998 Contour (presumably different from Ford TSBs). Check the ones listed under "Engine". Three or four for the water pump (even one stating there is an owner notification program, ever heard of one? didn't think so), one or two about "premature engine failure", and three or four about NHTSA investigations regarding the supply of 2.5L 4V (Duratec) FQR engines (i.e. so many are being replaced that Ford has run out at times). What is NHTSA actually doing? "Oh, better open a file on all these engine and water pump failures. No need to require the manufacturer to actually do anything about it except rake in the $$$ from the customers that are looking to replace their broken and defective parts. No need to require a recall to install the single part Ford designed to actually address this problem for new European Duratecs." I mean really, does NHTSA actually do anything about the obvious patterns of inferior parts on our cars? Nope, just makes sure there is a file to dump the complaints into. Maybe for posterity's sake or something. Or to justify their existence when it comes time to make budget appropriations. WITH MY MONEY (well, maybe not right now, but when I'm working). Arrrgh!
[/BIG RANT]
