1996 Ford F-250 Complaint Log

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD F-250. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. A NEIGHBOR INFORMED THE CONTACT OF THE VEHICLE FIRE AND CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE FIRE DESTROYED THE VEHICLE, AND WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN THE SIDE PANELS FOR THE TRUCK BED. THE MANUFACTURERWAS CURRENTY INVESTIGATING THE VEHICLE FIRE. HOWEVER, THE CONTACT HAD NO INFORMATION ON THE STATUS OF THE INVESTIGATION. THE CONTACT COULD PROVIDE PICTURES OF THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. *AK

REAR RIGHT FEAMALE PORTION OF SEATBELT LATCH BECAME DETATCHED FROM BELT. IT APPEARS THE STITCHING THAT BINDS THE BELT TO ITSELF AFTER IT PASSED THROUGH THE LATCH BODY FAILED. THERE WAS MINIMAL STRESS ON BELT AT TIME OF FAILURE, MY DAUGHTER HAD PULLED UP ON LATCH BODY TO SECURE BELT MALE END IN TO FEMALE BODY WHEN BODY SEPRATED FROM BELT.

DT: CONSUMER REPORTED FORD F250 SUPER DUTY 1996 CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE TOOK PLACE OUTSIDE THE HOUSE WITH THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. FIRE ORIGINATED FROM THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DID INVESTIGATED AND DETERMINED THAT CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH CAUSED THE FIRE. *AK

THE CRUISE CONTROL WILL BE CANCELLED BY TURNING ON THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL ONLY, NOT THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL. CAUSING A LOSS OF VEHICLE SPEED. THE CRUISE CONTROL OTHERWISE FUNCTIONS NORMALLY. ALSO, IF I AM AT A STEADY SPEED IN HIGH GEAR [OVERDRIVE] , THE TRUCK WILL DOWNSHIFT, AND THE RPM'S WILL INCREASE 300-500 IF I UTILIZE THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL. THIS PHENOMENON DOES NOT OCCUR WHEN STOPPED IN GEAR OR IN PARK. I RECENTLY REPLACED THE TACHOMETER WHICH HAD BEEN STICKING. THE WHILE OBSERVING THE NEW TACH, I NOTICED THE RPM CHANGES. CANCELLING THE OVERDRIVE CAUSES A SIMILAR, BUT MORE DRAMATIC INCREASE IN RPM AND THE ASSOCIATED DOWNSHIFTING.*AK

1996 FORD F250 PICKUP WITH DUAL GAS TANKS HAD MALFUNCTIONING CHECK VALVE IN FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY IN ONE TANK WHICH CAUSED UNUSED FUEL TO BE RETURNED TO SECOND TANK WHICH CAUSED CONSTANT OVERFLOW AND FUEL SPILLAGE. FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED WHICH CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. THIS SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED IN 1989 TO 1993 FORD F250 PICKUPS AND RESULTED IN A RECALL TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *NM

WHILE DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED VEHICLE WILL COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. THERE IS NO WARNING. CONTACTED THE DEALER. WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. *AK

AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE CONSUMER WENT HOME, PARKED THE VEHICLE FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS. AFTER RETURNING TO THE VEHICLE,HE SMELLED SMOKE, LIFTED THE HOOD, AND DISCOVERED THAT CRUISE CONTROL WAS SMOKING. HE DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY, AND THE SMOKING CEASED. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS LATER REPLACED. *AK

WHILE PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY MY FORD F-250 WITH TWO GAS TANKS BURST INTO FLAMES AND TOTALED THE PICKUP. FORTUNATELY, THE TRUCK WAS BACKED INTO THE DRIVE WAY BECAUSE OTHERWISE THE HOUSE WOULD HAVE BURNED DOWN AND THE HOTWATER HEATER WOULD HAVE BEEN IGNITED. AS IT WAS, WE WERE LUCKY THAT THE FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS RESPONDED SO QUICKLY AND PREVENTED THE GAS TANKS FROM EXPLODING. BOTH LANES ON HWY 412 WERE SHUT DOWN, MANY PEOPLE GATHERED , ETC. THE MEDIA WAS THERE TAKING PICTURES. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS MAYBE A WIRING DEFECT THAT COULD BE A COMMON PROBLEM IN OTHER FORD PICKUPS. I ALSO OWN A FORD F-360 DIESEL. I THINK THE PROBLEM SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED TO AVOID HAVING POSSIBLE FATALITIES. I HAVE INSURANCE, HOWEVER, IT WILL NOT PUT ME BACK WHERE I WAS. THE VEHICLE WAS EXTREMELY WELL MAINTAINED AND I PLANNED TO RETAIN IT FOR 20 OR MORE YEARS. MY CHILDREN WERE HOME, WHEN A PASSERBY POUNDED ON THE DOOR HYSTERICALLY TO TELL THEM THAT THE PICKUP WAS ON FIRE AND COULD BE A BOMB. MY 18 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER GOT THE OTHER CHILDREN OUT AND PHONED 911. THEN, SHE WENT BACK IN TO WAKE THE INDIVIDUAL WHO LIVES IN OUR BASEMENT AS SHE HEAR EXPLOSIONS. (THE FRONT TIRES EXPLODED AND IT COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE.) PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU FIND OUT! THANK YOU, [XXX]. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

DT: THE CONTACT STATED ON FEBRUARY 27, 2004 THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. IT STARTED IN THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH. FORD F250 1996. THERE WAS NO FOREWARNING, THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED TEN TO TWELVE HOURS. FORD REPAIRED THE VEHICLE AT CONTACT'S EXPENSE. HOWEVER, THE INSURANCE COMPANY COVERED A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF IT. *AK

THE CPS ON MY 1996 FORD F-250 WITH 7.3 LITER DIESEL FAILED WHILE TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE 77, WITH FAMILY ABOARD. COASTED TO STOP WITH DIFFICULTY STEERING. SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED ON NC HWY 115, AND WOULD NOT RESTART. COASTED TO STOP ON SIDE OF ROADWAY, TO BE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. *NM

THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT, LOCKING BUCKLE WILL NOT LOCK AND HOLD.*AK

THE VEHICLE TIRE TREAD HAS BEGUN TO SEPARATE. *NLM

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED, POSSIBLY DUE TO FUEL TANK PROBLEMS. TS *JB

WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT VEHICLE SUDDENLY MADE A 45% TURN AND REAR ENDED ANOTHER CAR. STEERING COLUMN SPLIT IN HALF. CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, WENT INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC BEFORE SLAMMING ON BRAKES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS LEFT IN THE "ON" POSITION WHILE VEHICLE WAS NOT RUNNING FOR APPROXIMATELY SEVEN HOURS, APPARENTLY THE FUEL PUMP WAS NOT TOLD BY PRESSURE REGULATOR OR COMPUTER TO TURN OFF. FUEL PUMP PUMPED APPROXIMATELY FIFTEEN GALLONS OF FUEL INTO MOTOR, BY NOT KNOWING THIS AT THE TIME OF TRYING TO START VEHICLE A FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, WITHIN MINUTES THE ENTIRE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES, VEHICLE WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED, LUCKILY NO ONE WAS HURT OR KILLED. FIRE DEPT. POLICE ON THE SCENE OF INCIDENT, PLEASE PURSUE THIS ISSUE SO THAT IT WILL NOT HAPPEN TO OTHER INNOCENT PEOPLE AND POSSIBLY CAUSE FATALITIES, I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED, AND ALSO MY FAMILY, I ALSO LOST A VERY NICE TRUCK AS THE RESULT OF THIS INCIDENT, I FEEL THAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS INCIDENT. THEY ARE ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LOSS OF MY VEHICLE WHICH SHOULD BE REPLACED BY FORD MOTOR CO. I ALSO FEEL THAT A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE DONE ON THE VEHICLE, TO REPAIR AND/OR REPLACE DEFECTIVE PARTS SO THAT FATALITIES WILL NOT HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE. FORD MOTOR CO. WAS CONTACTED, AND THEY WROTE ME A LETTER STATING THAT THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE AND THAT ALSO NOTHING WOULD BE DONE TO SOLVE THIS MATTER AND NOTHING TO REPLACE MY VEHICLE. PLEASE CONTACT ME SO THAT THIS MATTER CAN BE INVESTIGATED THOROUGHLY. MY FIRST CONTACT WITH FORD MOTOR CO. WAS THAT FORD WANTED ME TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO SEND MY TRUCK TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TO INVESTIGATE THE CAUSE, THEN A SHORT TIME LATER I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM FORD MOTOR CO. STATING THAT THEY WERE FINISHED AND DID NOT WANT TO EVEN SEE THE VEHICLE. PLEASE RESPOND , AS THOUGH YOU SEE THAT FORD MOTOR CO. IS NOT ! THANK YOU,. ROBERT ROBINSON III. 2958 CEMETERY RD. XENIA, OHIO 45385. MR

WHILE TRAVELING 65 MPH FRONT LEFT TIRE BLEWOUT BUT DRIVER DID NOT LOSE CONTROL, OWNER NOTICED THAT A 4'WIDE-6'EDGE CHUNK HAD PEELED AWAY. THESE WERE THE ORIGINAL TIRES. *AK *NLM

THE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED (FELT VIBRATION) I TRAVELED APPRX 200 YARDS AND THEN THE TIRE BLEWOUT, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE EXHAUST PIPES /WHEEL WELL/ WHEEL LINER/BED, AND WHEEL WELL TRIM.*AK

FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BELT BUCKLES WILL NOT LATCH. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED MANUFACTURER, WHO TOLD CONSUMER THAT SINCE THERE WAS NO RECALL THEY HAVE NO LIABILITY.*AK *YH

WHILE PULLING HIS 5TH WHEEL TRAILER, THE TIRE BLEW OUT ON THE RIGHT REAR TIRE OF THE TOW VEHICLE. THE BLOW OUT HAPPENED ACROSS THE TREAD AREA. *CB

UNIT WAS PARKED AND SHIFTER PLACED IN THE "PARK" POSITION. THE TRUCK ROLLED BACK ACROSS THE PARKING LOT AND CAME INTO CONTACT WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. WITNESSES ON THE SCENE VERIFIED THAT THE SHIFTER WAS IN PARK BUT THAT TRANSMISSION WAS NOT ENGAGED IN THAT POSITION. AFTER THIS INCIDENT, IT WAS DETERMINED, BY EXPERIMENT, THAT THE INDICATOR ON THE SHIFTER DID NOT SHOW THE ACTUAL GEAR. WHEN IN "PARK" THE TRUCK WAS ACTUALLY IN EITHER REVERSE OR NEUTRAL. ACCORDING TO OTHER SOURCES, THIS PROBLEM, OF EITHER JUMPING OUT OF PARK OR NOT BEING IN THE GEAR INDICATED, HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH FORD AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS IN THE PAST.

THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK AND IT WAS SITTING FOR 15 MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WENT FROM PARK TO DRIVE ALL BY IT'S SELF. I WAS TOLD BY MY MECHANIC THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS PARTICULAR TRANSMISSION, THE TRANSMISSION IS ELECTRONIC AND HE SUSPECTT A SELONIDE CAUSED THE PROBLEM. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFTY ISSUE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE RIGHT REAR TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE EXHAUST PIPES AND WHEEL WELL OF THE VEHICLE, THE TIRE HAD 30774 MILE ON IT AT THE TIME OF FAILURE, THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE TIRE AND DAMAGES BUT WAS DECLINED BY THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THE SERVICE MANAGER FOUND EVIDENCE THAT THE TIRE WAS OPERATED FOR AN UNKNOWN PERIOD OF TIME WITH INSUFFICIENT AIR PRESSURE, THE CONSUMER (FIRESTONE STEELTEX AT TIRES, SIZE LT 235/85R16, DOT#VDORRAA507, SET OF FOUR TIRES WAS PURCHASED 24-JUL-1999). NLM

THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT KEEPS FLASHING AND YOU CAN RESET THE COMPUTER AND THE TRANSMISSION WILL SHIFT FINE UNTIL THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT COMES ON. IT HAS BEEN TESTED AND IT SHOWS THERE IS NO REASON FOR IT TO BE FLASHING. HAVE HAD IT IN THE SHOP NOW 15 TIMES AND EVEN SPECIAL TECHNICIANS LOOKING AT IT AND CAN'T FIGURE IT OUT. I DON'T WANT TO LOOSE MY TRANSMISSION. *AK

RECALL 93 V 125 000/FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY: PORTION OF UNUSED FUEL FROM ONE TANK HAD TO BE RETURNED TO THE SECOND TANK, THE SECOND TANK EXCEEDED, CAUSING FUEL SPILLAGES. SPILLING COULD RESULT IN A FIRE WHEN EXPOSED TO A SOURCE OF IGNITION. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL DUE TO VIN. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

AFTER LEAVING VEHICLE PARKED OVERNIGHT, NEXT DAY VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE EVEN BEFORE CONSUMER GOT CLOSE TO VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

TRAILER HITCH SIDE PLATES RECEIVER WAS ATTACHED BY 6 BOLTS OF WHICH FOUR ATTACHMENT PARTS BROKE, WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF TRUCK AND TRAILER. IF OTHER TWO BROKE, TRAILER WOULD HAVE SEPARATED. OWNER REPAIRED AND REINFORCED ATTACHMENTS FROM PARTS 9085087 RIGHT AND 9085088 LEFT THAT MANUFACTURER SENT. EAZLIFT TRAILER HITCH. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE ATTACHMENT POINTS ON REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE APPROXIMATELY 1/2 INCH WIDER THAT THE BROKEN PARTS. *SLC

EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS BREAKING AND NOT GASKET ON EXHAUST MANIFOLD. *AK

FIRESTONE STEEL TEX TIRES R4S LT235/85R16, DOT VDORTWC415; WHILE TRAVELING IN A FORD, F250 VEHICLE AT 60MPH CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION. PULLED VEHICLE OVER AND NOTICED TIRE HAD A BLOWOUT WHICH CAUSED DAMAGE TO WHEEL WELL. *AK DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE QUARTER PANEL AND WHEEL WELL, THE STEEL BRAID PULLED TAILPIPE FORWARD DAMAGING THE PIPES AND WHEEL HOUSING, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THESE TIRES WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *JB

WHILE TOWING RV ON STRAIGHT SECTION OF INTERSTATE RIGHT REAR TIRE EXPLODED. FORCE PUSHED UP RHT REAR 1/4 PANEL, TAIL PIPE, WHEEL HOUSING, CANOPY. VEHICLE DID NOT HIT ANY DEBRIS IN ROAD TO CAUSE TIRE FAILURE.*AK (DOT NUMBER: VDOR1WT TIRESIZE: LT235/85R1)

TIRE TREAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE, JUST LIKE THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT.*AK (DOT NUMBER: VDOR 1W1 TIRESIZE: LT23585R16)

FUEL PUMPS FROM REAR TANK TO FRONT TANK, CAUSING OVERFILLING AND SPILLAGE RESULTING IN FIRE HAZARD.*AK

WHEN FILLING FUEL TANK FUEL IS BEING PUMPED FROM FRONT TO BACK TANK, TANK WILL OVERFLOW AND SPILL FUEL. CONSUMER ONLY FILLS TANKS HALFWAY TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 10 MPH POWER STEERING WENT OUT, MECHANIC FOUND RETAINING RING THAT HOLDS THE PRESSURE SIDE OF THE POWER STEERING FLUID HOSE IN PLACE HAD SNAPPED. HE CHANGED A COUPLE OF THEM PER WEEK. VEHICLE HAS STANDARD POWER BOOSTER.*AK *SLC

RUBBERT INTAKE BOOT FROM CLEANSER TO TURBO HAS FALLEN APART. HAD TO HAVE AN UPGRADED VERSION OF INTAKE BOOT REPLACED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC.*AK

CONSUMER WAS PULLING A 5TH WHEEL CAMPER FOR 5,0000 MILES WHEN TRANSMISSION FAILED, DUE TO BURNT CLUTCHES. DEALER RECOMMEND WHEN BACKING OUT CAMPER CONSUMER SHOULD USE LOW RANGE IN 4 WHEEL DRIVE.*AK

4 WHEEL LIGHT STATED THAT IT WAS IN 4- WHEEL DRIVE, IT WAS INFACT NOT, AND I ALMOST WENT OFF OF A CLIF. PUT NEW HUBS ON AND IT FAILED AGAIN IN JUST A LITTLE BIT OF MUD. 4 WHEEL LIGHT STATED THAT IT WAS IN 4 WHEEL AGAIN.*AK

IDLER PULLEY CAME OFF OF THE MOTOR, CAUSING SERPENTINE BELT, POWER STEERING, POWER BRAKES, AND VACUUM PUMP TO FAIL. *SLC

VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH CONSUMER FEELS THE TIRES WERE THE CAUSE, HOWEVER NONE OF THE TIRES ACTUALLY BLEWOUT, PRIOR TO ACCIDENT A DEALER NOTICED STEELBELTS COMING THROUGH CENTER OF THE TREAD, FIRESTONE STEELTEX TIRES P235/85R16 DOTVD0RTWW046. *SLC

VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. CONSUMER HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID VEHICLE NEEDED A TUNE UP AND COIL PACK REPLACE. DEALER SAID THAT PLUGS WOULD NOT COME OUT BECAUSE THEY WERE STUCK. SO CONSUMER WAS NOT ABLE TO DRIVE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE PLUGS WON'T COME OUT. DEALER CHARGED A $1000 TO TAKE THEM OUT.*AK THE LIGHT AT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE FAILED. THE STARTER FAILED THREE TIMES. A/C FAILED. THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED. THE EXHAUST SYSTEM FAILED. BRAKE CALIPER AND ROTOR FAILED. WIRES UNDERHOOD RUST OUT. POWER STEERING HOSE FAILED. *YH

FRONT CALIPERS CRACKED. CONTACTED DEALER WHO COULD NOT FIND CAUSE OF PROBLEM. *AK *TT

TIRES WORE OUT IN ONE SECTION ONLY. THE REST OF TIRE TREAD GOOD FOR ANOTHER 20000 MI. DEALER SAID TIRES WERE MADE INCORRECTLY AND WERE EGG-SHAPED INSTEAD OF ROUND. I HAD TO PAY $137.69 TO REPLACE TIRES THAT SHOULDN'T HAVE NEEDED REPLACING YET IF THEY WERE MADE CORRECTLY. *AK( DOT NUMBER: VDOR1WW445 TIRE SIZE: 23585R16 )

WHEN SWITCHING FROM LOW BEAM TO HIGH BEAM, HEADLIGHTS GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY. VEHICLE NOT TAKEN TO DEALER YET.*AK *YH

ENGINE PULLEY WAS COMING OFF THE CRANKSHAFT DUE TO SHEARED OFF BOLTS. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND REPAIRS MADE AT CONSUMER'S COST. *AK THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY FAILED BECAUSE IT IS DEFECTIVE. *YH

FIRESTONE: DRIVING ON TURN PIKE WHEN TIRE BLEW OUT, TIRE DENTED REAR QUARTER PANEL. (CLAIM#38-J518-357) *MW

FIRESTONE STEELER 4RS TIRE (P235 85 R16) EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, THE BLOWOUT CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. *SLC

THE RIGHT REAR TIRE EXPERIENCED COMPLETE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE WHILE DRIVING THE HIGHWAY AT 70MPH. THE TEMPERATURE ON THE DAY OF THE FAILURE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100 DEGREES. THERE WAS SUFFICENT TREAD ON THE TIRE AND THE PRESSURE WAS MAINTAINED AT 70 PSI. THERE WAS NO DEBRIS IN THE ROAD AND THERE WERE NO SIGNS THAT THERE WERE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE TIRE. WHEN THE TIRE BLEW OUT THE TREAD SLUNG UPWARD INTO THE TAIL PIPE DRIVING IT INTO THE FENDER, CAUSING $800.00 WORTH OF BODY DAMAGE. I BELIEVE THESE TIRES ARE NOT RECEIVING THE ATTENTION OF THE TIRES ON THE FORD SUV'S BECAUSE TRUCKS DO NOT TEND TO ROLL OVER, THEREFOR FATALITIES ARE NOT REPORTED. THIS DOES NOT HOWEVER NEGATE THE FACT THAT FIRESTONE HAS PRODCUED A BAD TIRE THAT I FEEL SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED.*AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235/85 R16 )

THE TRANSMISSION GEAR INDICATOR INDICATES THAT THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK WHEN IT IS ACTUALLY IN REVERSE OR NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND IN PARK, AND IT ROLLED DOWN AN INCLINE AND STRUCK A POST. THIS IS THE THIRD 1996 FORD F250 IN OUR COMPANY THAT THE SHIFT INDICATOR LINKAGE HAD THE SCREWS BACK OUT, CAUSING THIS SAME THING TO HAPPEN.

WHEN DRIVING THROUGH A SMALL SNOW DRIFT, ON AN ISOLATED COUNTRY ROAD, SNOW DISLODGED THE SERPENTINE BELT, THUS DISCONNECTING POWER STEERING, POWER BRAKES, THE COOLING SYSTEM AND DISCHARGING THE BATTERY. LUCKILY A PASSING SNOW PLOW OPERATOR ASSISTED US OR THIS COULD HAVE HAD MORE TRAGIC RESULTS. WE HAVE ASKED FORD ENGINEERS TO ASSIST WITH A SOLUTION. SKID PLATES ARE NOT MADE FOR THIS VEHICLE NOR CAN THEY APPARENTLY BE MANUFACTURED BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM. WHILE OUR LOCAL DEALER IS HELPING TO PROBLEM SOLVE, WE CONTINUE TO HAVE NO REPLY NOR INTEREST FROM FORD, WHO CLAIMS THAT ANY SOLLUTION WOULD BE CONSIDERED AN ACCESSORY OR IMPROVEMENT RATHER THAN A REPAIR. WE FEEL THAT SINCE THIS VEHICLE IS ADVERTISED AS A RUGGED OFF-ROAD FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLE THAT IS DEPICTED BLASTING THROUGH DEEP SNOW DRIFTS ON COMMERCIALS, IT PROBABLY SHOULDN'T BREAK DOWN AND STRAND PASSENGERS WHEN THE TRUCK IS CONFRONTED WITH NORMAL WINTER DRIVING CONDITIONS. FURTHER, IT SHOULDN'T LEAVE THE PASSENGERS STRANDED WITHOUT POWER,ENGINE COOLING, POWER STEERING AND BRAKES.

2 DEFECTIVE WIRES WHICH GO OVER THE HEATER CORE SHORT CIRCUITED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL UNEXPECTEDLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THIS COULD CAUSE A CRASH. *AK

WHILE DRIVING IN SNOW CONDITIONS FAN BELT FELL OFF DUE TO SNOW HITTING THE UNDERBODY OF THE VEHICLE, ALLOWING ALL ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS TO STOP. PRIVATE MECHANIC REPLACED THE BELT AFTER DEALER WAS UNABLE TO/REFUSED TO COVER COST. *AK *ML