| Components - Details | |
|---|---|
| NHTSA Complaint Number: 002091668 | Incident Date: Apr, 09 2002 |
| Consumer's City: DEFIANCE | Consumer's State: OH |
| Vehicle Transmission Type: | Manufacturers Name: Ford Motor Company |
| Model Name: MARK VIII | Model Year: 1997 |
| Vehicle Involved in a Crash: No | Component's Description: Exterior lighting:headlights |
| Vehicle Involved in a Fire: No | Persons Injured: 0 |
| Vehicle's VIN#: 1LNLM92V6VY | Date added to File: May, 25 2021 |
| Date Complaint Received: Apr, 14 2002 | Complaint Type: IVOQ |
| Incident Reported To Police: No | Purchase Date: Oct, 31 2099 |
| Was Original Owner: No | Anti-lock Brakes: Yes |
| Number of Cylinders: 0 | Date of Manufacturer: - |
| Was Vehicle Towed: - | Description of the Complaints: Mark viiii's manufactured during the first months of 1997 were fitted with a headlight assembly that incorporated an integral hid "low beam". this appliance was obviously intended to last the life of the vehicle. access is provided only for replacement of the halogen "high beam" bulbs. in mid-year, ford redesigned the headlamp to also permit replacement of the hid light source. it no longer supports the earlier model. the only way to restore minimally legal headlight function to my early-1997 lincoln is replace the entire assembly with a late 1997-1998 fixture. my dealer estimates the cost, including labor, at $1,150 to $1,350 per headlamp. at that price, the headlamps represent 1/3rd the value of the vehicle. this is not the cost of the failed part. this is the cost of fords failure to support a segment of its fleet and its decision to pass the cost of correcting an obvious design flaw through to consumers. the social cost is that such corporate irresponsibility endangers the public. few will pay 1/3rd the value of a car to maintain a light bulb. if ford does not honor its responsibilities, the public will operate the cars illegally. in marketing this car, ford touted the reliability to be had for $40,000. the reality is that this cars true useful economic life is not defined by the extended-life spark plugs, anti-rust protection or anything else that ford so eagerly sold, but by the longevity of a light bulb.*ak |
