Description In some of the affected vehicles, the rear right-hand axle shaft may have been manufactured without properly completing the electromagnetic induction heat treatment process, making the axle shaft susceptible to fracture. Safety Risk A fractured rear axle shaft could result in a loss of motive power while driving, or vehicle rollaway when the vehicle is placed in park and the parking brake is not applied. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash. Remedy Parts are now available to repair your vehicle. Ford Motor Company has authorized your dealer to inspect and replace your right rear axle shaft free of charge. Next Steps Contact your dealer for more information to schedule the free service.
NHTSA complaint #11744338 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE VEHICLE IS A MOTOR HOME MANUFACTURED BY THOR MOTOR COACH THAT THEY ADDED TO A MODIFIED 2015 FORD F550 CHASSIS. ALTHOUGH THOR MODIFIED THE CHASSIS, REPLACED THE FRONT BUMPER AND QUARTER PANELS AND ADDED THE COACH BODY TO THE FRAME, THEY FAILED TO DO ANY ALIGNMENT PROCESS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE BODY AND THE FRONT WHEELS WERE PROPERLY ALIGNED. THIS FAILURE HAS LED TO SEVERE WEAR TO THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE CREATING A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD. ON PAGE 121 OF THE OWNER'S MANUAL IT STATES THAT THE FRONT SUSPENSION AND STEERING SYSTEM WAS FACTORY ALIGNED PRIOR TO DELIVERY TO THE DEALERSHIP. HOWEVER, THE HAVE FAILED TO SUPPLY ANY DOCUMENTATION REGARDING THIS AND THE ANTIDOTAL INFORMATION FROM FORD AND OTHERS IS THAT THOR DOES NOT DO THE NEEDED ALIGNMENT AFTER SUCH A SEVERE MODIFICATION. WHILE THEY TRY TO PASS THIS OFF TO THE CONSUMER, THERE IS ONLY ONE SENTENCE REGARDING THIS IN A 151 PAGE MANUAL. ALTHOUGH I HAVE OWNED OTHER MOTOR HOMES PREVIOUSLY THE PROCESS OF LEARNING EVERYTHING ABOUT A NEW MOTOR HOME IS QUITE OVERWHELMING. SECONDLY I AM NOT AWARE THAT VEHICLE MANUFACTURE PASSES THIS SAFETY CONCERN ON A NEW VEHICLE TO THE CONSUMER. LASTLY MOTOR HOMES ARE THE LARGEST, HEAVY VEHICLES WITH CHALLENGING HANDLING CHARACTERISTICS DRIVEN BY NON-PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS, MANY OF WHOM ARE SENIORS. THE MANUFACTURES SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING SURE THAT THE VEHICLES ARE PROPERLY ALIGNED FOR SAFE OPERATION AND TIRE WEAR. THE FAILURE TO PROPERLY ALIGN THE VEHICLE AS A FINAL MANUFACTURING PROCESS HAS LEAD TO SEVERE TIRE WEAR CAUSING A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND SIGNIFICANT EXPENSE FOR THE OWNER TO REPLACE THE FRONT TIRES AND HAVE THE PROPER ALIGNMENT DONE IN ORDER TO MAKE FOR SAFE OPERATION. ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS NEW WHEN PURCHASED IT HAD 2,598 MILES ON IT. THE DAMAGED TIRE WAS NOTED AFTER A CROSS COUNTRY TRIP OF NEARLY 10,000 MILES.
NHTSA complaint #10934412 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STARTING OUT FROM A CAMPGROUND THERE WAS A LOUD SQUEELING FROM THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL. I STOPPED TO SEE WHAT WAS WRONG BUT OLD SAW NO PROBLEM. THERE WAS NO CELL COVERAGE TO CALL FOR HELP SO I CONTINUED ON TO STEWAT, BC, CANADA. A MECHANIC IN STEWART JACKED UP THE MOTORHOME AND THE WHEEL WOBBLED FROM TOP TO BOTTOM. REMOVING THE WHEEL, THEY FOUND THE BEARING WAS SO BAD IT CAUSED THE BEARING NUT TO BOND TO THE SPINDLE. CHECKING THE RIGHT FRONT BEARING FOUND THE BEARING GREASE TO BE FULL OF SMALL PIECES OF METAL. CLEANING THE GREASE OFF SHOWED THAT THE BEARINGS WERE EXTREMELY PITTED. THE MECH. SAID THAT IF WE HAD DRIVEN ANY FURTHER IT WAS QUITE POSSIBLE THAT THE WHEEL COULD HAVE COME OFF
NHTSA complaint #10761428 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AN FORD F-550 DRIVEN BY [XXX], AN EMPLOYEE OF WIREGRASS CONSTRUCTION USDOT-[XXX], HIT MY WIFE'S CAR PUNCTURING THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR TIRE AND RUINING RIM. UPON THE EXCHANGE AND THE VESTAVIA POLICE REPORT, DRIVER PRODUCED A PROOF OF INSURANCE OF TRAVELER'S INSURANCE THAT HAD EXPIRED. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT IN POSSESSION OF THE CURRENT PROOF OF INSURANCE AND HAS STILL NOT RESOLVED OUR CLAIM. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10467610 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F550 SUPER DUTY. THE DEALER NOTICED THAT THE LUG NUTS HOLLOWED OUT THE STEEL RIMS DURING A ROUTINE INSPECTION. THE THREE RIMS AND REAR STUDS OF THE VEHICLE WERE REPLACED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 133,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,000.
NHTSA complaint #10204691 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F550 SUPER DUTY. THE DEALER NOTICED THAT THE LUG NUTS HOLLOWED OUT THE STEEL RIMS DURING A ROUTINE INSPECTION. THE THREE RIMS AND REAR STUDS OF THE VEHICLE WERE REPLACED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 133,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,000.
NHTSA complaint #10204691 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THIS IS A COMPLAINT ABOUT A 2004 FORD F-550 FOUR WHEEL DRIVE WITH A ONE MAN AERIAL DEVICE INSTALLED ON IT. ON MARCH 8TH 2007 OUR LINEMEN HAD BROUGHT THIS TRUCK INTO OUR SHOP TO UNLOAD TOOLS BEFORE THE TRUCK WAS TAKEN TO OUR NEAREST FORD DEALER TO HAVE A U-JOINT FIXED, BEFORE LEAVING THE SHOP THEY NOTICED THAT THE LEFT REAR DUAL WAS ALMOST READY TO FALL OFF THE TRUCK. UPON FURTHER EXAMINATION WE DISCOVERED THAT ALL THE LUG NUTS WERE EITHER MISSING, BROKE OFF OR FINGER TIGHT. WE HAD THE TRUCK TOWED TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER , WE HAD TO HAVE BOTH RIMS REPLACED, THE REAR HUB , ALL THE STUDS AND WHEEL LUG NUTS REPLACED. THE RIGHT REAR DUAL WAS CHECKED AND FOUND TO BE LOOSE BUT NO DAMAGE WAS FOUND AT THIS TIME. LUCKY FOR OUR LINEMEN THAT THEY WERE IN THE SHOP WHEN THIS PROBLEM WAS DISCOVERED. THEY REPORTED HEARING SOME NOISE COMING FROM THE TRUCK BUT THOUGHT IT WAS THE U-JOINT GETTING WORSE. WE HAVE HEARD OF LOTS OF PROBLEMS WITH THE FORD F-550 WITH REAR DUALS AND WE FEEL THIS NEEDS TO BE CHECKED OUT MORE CLOSELY WITH FORD.
NHTSA complaint #10184880 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WE ARE GETTING REPORTS THAT FORD F550 TRUCKS ARE LOSING THEIR DUAL TIRES BECAUSE OF BROKEN LUG BOLTS ON THE REAR DUALS. THESE ARE APPARENTLY HAPPENING ON OLDER MODELS THAT HAVE HAD EIGHT BOLT PATTERNS. I AM FORWARDING THIS INFORMATION ON BEHALF OF SEVERAL ELECTRIC UTILITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHO HAVE BROUGHT THIS INFORMATION TO MY ATTENTION.
NHTSA complaint #10176738 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I PURCHASED A NEW MOTORHOME BUILT ON A FORD CHASSIS AND FOUND ONE OF THE WHEELS (STEEL RIM) TO BE THE WRONG SIZE. IT IS UNDER-RATED IN WEIGHT CARRYING CAPACITY FOR THE SIZE OF THE VEHICLE. FORD IS REFUSING TO CORRECT THIS SAFETY DEFECT.
NHTSA complaint #10168701 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2002 FORD F550 HAS PROBLEMS WITH OIL LEAKS, STEERING, ELECTRICAL SHORTS, BRAKE AND WHEELS FELL OFF.*MR THE VEHICLE ALSO CONSUMED EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL.
NHTSA complaint #10117314 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.