The defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE NOT TIGHTENED TO SPECIFICATIONS WHEN THEY WERE ATTACHED TO THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS.
The risk
IF THE BALL JOINT ATTACHING NUTS ARE NOT ADEQUATELY TIGHTENED, THEY CAN LOOSEN AND, ULTIMATELY, RESULT IN FRACTURE OF THE BALL JOINT STUD. IF THE BALL JOINT FRACTURES, CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE COULD BE AFFECTED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TORQUE ON THE TWO BALL JOINT ATTACHING NUTS. VEHICLES WITH LOOSE BALL JOINT ATTACHING NUTS WILL EITHER HAVE THE FASTENERS TIGHTENED TO SPECIFICATION, OR IF NECESSARY, THE BALL JOINTS WILL BE REPLACED.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Lincoln LS | 2000, 2001 |
Components: SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln LS | 2000 | 354 | 1 |
| Lincoln LS | 2001 | 240 | 1 |
Other suspension recalls in 2000
49 of the 541 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2000 concerned the suspension; FORD MOTOR COMPANY filed 963 campaigns in all.
| 00V426000 26 Dec 2000 | POLARIS INDUSTRIES, INC. |
| 00V358010 26 Dec 2000 | TRAVEL SUPREME, INC. |
| 00V358004 22 Dec 2000 | SOONER TRAILER |
| 00V358009 21 Dec 2000 | SUNNYBROOK RV INC. |
| 00V358003 20 Dec 2000 | PETERSON INDUSTRIES, INC. |
| 00V358011 19 Dec 2000 | PERFORMANCE FIRST, INC. |
| 00V421002 18 Dec 2000 | DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION |
| 00V358007 18 Dec 2000 | MO TRAILERS |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2000