Was driving down the highway, thought I had a blowout on a tire, slowed down and then the lower ball joint separated from the suspension. The car was not able to be driven. And stuck on the highway. A city crew was able to jack up the car, they found that the nut on the ball joint was still on the suspension. They reconnected the ball joint and I was able to drive away. Have since replaced the ball joint. It was now bad. You can pull up and down on it. The ball joint separated because the nut back off, there was no damage to any threads and the crew was able to reuse the same nut.

- Alamogordo , NM, USA

Ball joints on both sides are defective and need to be replaced. Car vibrates at speeds over 50mph, and clunks at lower speeds. Entire spindles need to be replaced as ball joint is part of integrated unit. Recall 00S39, 00V359 was issued for this model manufactured in Wixom plant from 8/18/1998 through 9/29/2000. This car was manufactured on 11/21/2000 prior to the recall report date of 11/1/2000. The recall should be extended to cover units manufactured after 11/1/2000.

- Rochester Hills, MI, USA

The lower ball joints separated from the controller on the left side of the vehicle. Please note the recall was submitted in 2000; during the time frame of when I purchased the vehicle the recall had expired. I have been informed by aaa that, there has been 3 vehicles with the same type of problem. I was fortunate that I was alone and not with my three sons and my new born child, and I was not on the freeway when this accident/incident occur.

- Hollister, CA, USA

The contact owns a 2001 Lincoln Ls. While driving 45 mph, the bolt that holds the tire in place detached. The contact heard a loud screeching noise that alerted her to stop the vehicle. When she inspected the vehicle, she noticed that the tire appeared to be improperly attached. The vehicle was towed to a mechanic and he advised her to contact the manufacturer to check for any recalls. The manufacturer stated that her VIN was not included. The current mileage was 130,000 and failure mileage was 129,899. Updated 04/25/08. Recall# 00V359001 the consumer stated the lower ball joint separated from the vehicle. Updated

- Hollister, CA, USA

The contact owns a 2001 Lincoln Ls. While driving 5 mph, the vehicle felt as if the tires failed. The vehicle part was taken to the dealer and they stated that the screw worked its way free of the lower ball joints, and needs to be replaced. NHTSA campaign id number 00V359001 (suspension:front: Control arm:lower ball joint) was referenced. The current and failure mileages were 90,000. Updated 04/23/08 the consumer was informed her vehicle was not included in the recall.

- Clinton, SC, USA

The contact owns a 2001 Lincoln Ls. While driving at any speed over uneven pavement, the steering would jerk, vibrate, and become difficult to control. The vehicle made a popping sound when turning in either direction. When backing up, the vehicle made sounds as if something was rotating. The noises increased during acceleration. When the contact would drive over a bump or on rough terrain, the vibrating, rattling, shaking, and noises would intensify. The vehicle has not been inspected by the dealer, but it has been inspected by a mechanic. The mechanic stated that the lower ball joint failed. NHTSA recall number 00V359001 (suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint) was referenced. The purchase date was unknown. The current mileage was 112,000 and failure mileage was 111,000.

- Harker Heights, TX, USA

Lower ball joints on lelf side, now its the right side. Its sure be on recall.

- Calabash, NC, USA

2001 Lincoln Ls with a recall for the lower ball joints. Consumer states that he was experiencing this failure but the manufacturer told him it was his problem to solve because his VIN was not included in the recall. The consumer stated he lost complete steering control of his vehicle.

- Hickory, NC, USA

The contact owns a 2001 Lincoln Ls. While driving approximately 5 mph, the contact heard a loud popping noise coming from the lower ball joints. The dealer replaced the driver side ball joints and the tie rod. Several months later, the failure recurred. The dealer stated that her VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign id number 00V359001 (suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint), although she was experiencing a similar failure. The vehicle has not been repaired. The manufacturer did not provide any assistance. The powertrain was unknown. The failure mileage was 74,567 and current mileage was 80,000. Updated 3/5/08 the consumer stated went to jones Ford and informed her that she does need repair on the vehicle. Updated 03/05/08

- Calabash, NC, USA

Last summer I started having problems with ball joints continuously coming loose on my used 2001 Lincoln Ls. I went on the internet and discovered that there were over 82300 recalss for this exact problem. I tried to get it fixed but was told the recalls were VIN specific. Obviously this exact problem coninues to reoccur on my car and I have to continuously retighten the ball joints myself. On 12-29-07 I was traveling down the interstate at 70 mph when the ball joints completely split in half causing me to loose control of the car, spun me and 3 riders around in the road and landed us in the median. But for the grace of god no one was injured or worse yet killed. I contacted Ford human relations and explained the problem an mentioned the recalls but was very rudely told that it was up to the customer to make the repairs. I don't understand what the problem is when there is a recall on this make and model of car and this has reportedly been a continuous recurring problem for me. Ford does not appear to care. Meantime the car sits, and will be sitting until this gets resolved satisfactorily and Ford stands behind it.

- Hickory, NC, USA

The contact owns a 2001 Lincoln Ls. The contact stated that the front passenger side lower ball joint fractured. While driving 35 mph, the contact heard a loud noise coming from the vehicle. The dealer performed a diagnostic that confirmed that the lower ball joint had fractured. The dealer stated that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign id number 00V359001 (suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint). He went to another dealer and the representative did not bother to enter the VIN into the system; however, they stated that there was never a recall for the vehicle. The failure mileage was 81,000 and current mileage was 82,000.

- Dothan, AL, USA

The contact owns a 2001 Lincoln Ls. While driving between 5-60 mph, the steering wheel shook. The dealer stated that the lower ball joint needed to be replaced, but did not specify the reason. The manufacturer stated that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign id number 00V359001 (suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint). The failure mileage was 60,000 and current mileage was 71,000.

- Revere, MA, USA

The contact's daughter owns a 2001 Lincoln Ls. While driving 60 mph, the vehicle veered from left to right. The tire shop stated that the nuts loosened, which reduced the ability to control the vehicle. The upper and lower control arms and ball joints were replaced. The manufacturer stated that his VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign id number 00V359001 (suspension: Front: Control arm: Lower ball joint). The current and failure mileages were 106,000.

- Newport, OR, USA

The contact owns a 2001 Lincoln Ls. While driving between 10-20 mph on an off ramp, the stud of the ball joints separated from the vehicle and caused the lower ball joints to fall to the ground. The vehicle was towed to a repair shop, but was not repaired. The cost to replace the lower ball joints is $360 for each side of the vehicle. The vehicle is currently at the contact's residence. The purchase date was unknown. The failure mileage 135622 updated 01/07/08. Updated 12/12/07

- St. George, SC, USA

The contact owns a 2001 Lincoln Ls. While driving 30 mph, the screw dislodged from the lower ball joint. The vehicle collapsed and the tire detached from the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. Recall number 00V359001 (suspension: Front: Control arm:lower ball joint) was found. The purchase date was unknown. The current and failure mileages were 104,000.

- San Francisco, CA, USA

The contact owns a 2001 Lincoln Ls. While driving 45 mph, the driver side front wheel fell on its side without warning. The contact was able to pull to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to a service shop where it was determined that the ball joint bolts sheered off. Recall number 00V359001 (suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint) was found, but the vehicle is not included. The vehicle has not been repaired. The current and failure mileages were 76,188. The consumer stated the repair was performed on 08/08/07 and provided the repair invoices. The dealer stated the air bag light was on. Updated 08/22/07

- Lee's Summit, MO, USA

The contact owns a 2001 Lincoln Ls. While driving 50 mph, the contact heard a loud scraping noise coming from the driver side front tire. He felt the vehicle shift and fall to the ground. He also noticed pieces of metal on the ground. Prior to this failure, the dealer stated that the vehicle needed new ball joints. However, the dealer has not inspected the vehicle since that time. Recall # 00V359001 (suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint) was found. The manufacturer stated that the vehicle was not included in the recall. The current and failure mileages were 100,000.

- Murrells, SC, USA

- the contact owns a 2001 Lincoln Ls. The safety recall was 00V359001concerning lower ball joints. Ford told the contact that the recall didn't exist. He was also advised that on the recall the number should have an S instead of the letter V. the vehicle was making a metal on metal grinding sound when the contact made a turn. This failure occurred when the vehicle wasn't moving, and the steering wheel was turned from left to right. Speed and weather were not factors in the failure. The service technician stated that the lower ball joints were loose, causing the vehicle to make the grinding sound, and advised him to replace the entire unit. The current and failure mileage was 64,600. The grinding has been heard on 8 occasions.

- Perryburgh, OH, USA

- the contact owns a 2001 Lincoln LX. The contact complaiined about safety recall 00V359001 concerning lower ball joint. The contact has been told that the safety recall did not apply to this vehicle due to the VIN. The vehicle currently had a broken ball joint. The contact would like to have the vehicle repaired under the safety recall.

- Omaho, NE, USA

- the contact stated that while driving tire came off of her 2001 Lincoln Ls. The contact called her insurance company and informed them of what happened. The insurance denied her claim because the car was part of a recall. When she contacted Ford Motor Co. About this failure, they informed her that her car was not covered by the recall.

- Lexington, MS, USA