1999 Ford F-350 Complaint Log

PILOT BEARING WENT OUT COMPLETELY, PILOT SHAFT WENT INTO PILOT BEARING. CONSUMER WAS NOT ABLE TO SHIFT GEARS, IT WAS NOT DRIVEABLE. CONSUMER REPLACED PILOT BEARING. CURRENTLY, IT WENT OUT AGAIN. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY REPLACED PILOT BEARING AND PILOT SHAFT. *AK

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20-25MPH, SLOWED DOWN WHEN A VEHICLE FROM OPPOSITE DIRECTION HIT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HEAD-ON WITH A 40 MPH IMPACT, AND DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING SEVERE INJURIES . BOTH VEHICLES WERE TOTALED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE HAD A BLOWOUT WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO VEER OFF THE ROADWAY TO THE RIGHT, THEN STRUCK SEVERAL TREES AND ROLLED ONTO IT'S LEFT AND TOP AREAS, THE VEHICLE CAME TO REST ON IT'S TO. (TEXAS PEACE OFFICER'S ACCIDENT REPORT). NLM

ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A 1999, F350, LT215/85R16 SIZE. TREAD ON THE LEFT INSIDE REAR FIRESTONE STEELTEX SEPARATED AND BLEWOUT . OWNER HAS REPLACED ALL OF THE TIRES.*AK DOT# W10P1XNZ494. *SLC

THIS TIRE EXPERIENCED TOTAL AND COMPLETE INTANTAINOUS FAILURE (BLEW UP AND RIPPED TO SHREADS ISTANTAINOUSLY) CAUSING A COMPLETE LOSS OF CONTROL AND NEARLY A FATIAL CRASH. TIRE PRESSURE AND LOAD WAS CHECKED 11 MILES EARLIER, THIS TIRE WAS INFLATED TO MAXIMUM COLD PRESSURE AS STATED ON THE SIDE OF THE TIRE (NO AIR WAS ADDED, IT WAS FOUND TO BE INFLATED PROPERLY AT THAT TIME). DAMAGE TO VEHICLE WAS CAUSED BY THE LOOSE TRED FLAPPING AGAINST THE BODY. (DOT NUMBER: VNW8IXL TIRESIZE: LT26575R16) (DOT NUMBER: VNW8IXL TIRESIZE: LT26575R16)

SPARE TIRE ASEMBLY CABLE SNAPPED - TIRE FLEW OFF TRUCK AND ALMOST STRUCK 2 OTHER CARS

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 35MPH ON HIGHWAY AND BRAKES LOCKED UP IN FRONT OF AN INTERSECTION. HE WENT TO APPLY BRAKES AND VEHICLE DIDN'T STOP. HAS ABS BRAKING SYSTEM. ALSO, ALL FOUR TIRES WERE TURNING.*AK

BLOWOUT ON RIGHT FRONT TIRE DUE TO TREAD SEPARATION (TIRESIZE: LT26575R16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: LT26575R16 )

FUEL PUMP HAD BEEN BLOWING FUSES. DEALERS CONTACTED STATED PART (FUEL PUMP) WAS ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER WITH A 4 TO 6 WEEK DELAY. FUEL PUMP DIED COMPLETELY AT NIGHT WHILE ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY IN OKLAHOMA. FORD THEN REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP THE NEXT DAY.

RIGHT REAR FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRE BLEWOUT DUE TO TREAD SEPARATION TRAVELING AT 60MPH. VEHICLE HAS SOME DAMAGES. THE TIRES SIZE LT265/75R16 DOT#VNW81XM. SPARE TIRE WAS USED FOR REPLACEMENT.*AK *SLC

THERE ARE HUNKS OF TREAD COMING OFF MY TIRES, SOME THE SIZE BETWEEN A QUARTER AND A HALF DOLLAR.*AK (DOT NUMBER: VNW8 1XL TIRESIZE: LT26575R16)

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 30PMH ON HIGHWAY. AS HE WAS APPROACHING THE LIGHT, WENT TO APPLY BRAKE THE PEDAL, AND PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO FLOOR. THERE WERE NO BRAKES, AND CONSUMER RAN INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC TOLD CONSUMER THAT THE BRAKE LINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

TIRE BLOWOUT OCCURED AT 55 MPH ON STRAIGHT SECTION OF DRY SMOOTH GRAVEL COVERED HIGHWAY DURING DAYLIGHT CONDITIONS WITH OUTSIDE AIR TEMPERATURE OF APPROXIMATELY 75 DEGREES F. TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO FAILURE VEHICLE HAD TIRES INSPECTED, INFLATED (60 LBS PSI), AND ROTATED BY FIRESTONE TIRE CENTER DEALER. AFTER INCIDENT THE DESTROYED TIRE WAS TAKEN TO SAME FIRESTONE TIRE CENTER DEALER WHERE I REPORTED THE INCIDENT. DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THIS TIRE WAS NOT PART OF OTHER FIRESTONE TIRE RECALLS. DEALER REPLACED TIRE UNDER PROVISIONS OF FIRESTONE ROAD HAZARD INSURANCE PROTECTION WHICH I HAD PERVIOUSLY PURCHASED. I AM SUBMITTING THIS REPORT DUE TO LATER INFORMATION IN THE NEWS REPORTED ON 9/29/2000 THAT NHTSA HAD BEGUN AN INVESTIGATION OF THE SAME TYPE OF FIRESTONE STEELTEX AT TIRES AS USED ON MY FORD F350 PICKUP TRUCK BECAUSE OF A SERIES OF COMPLAINTS NTHSA HAS RECEIVED IN RECENT MONTHS CONCERNING TIRE FAILURE SITUATIONS WHICH SEEMED TO BE THE SAME TYPE AS I HAD EXPERIENCED. (NOTE - THIS TIRE FAILURE IS THE SECOND I HAVE EXPERIENCED SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE NEW IN SEPTEMBER 1999. THE FIRST OCCURED WITHIN THE FIRST 500 MILES OF VEHICLE OWNERSHIP BUT DID NOT RESULT IN A BLOWOUT, BUT WITH A SIDEWALL FAILURE ABOVE THE TREADLINE. THIS FAILURE WAS ALSO RETURNED TO THE SAME FIRESTONE TIRE CENTER DEALER FOR REPLACEMENT.) (TIRESIZE: 26575R16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 26575R16 )

TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE BODY.TIRE WAS PROPEELY INFLATED ACCORDING TO THE FIRESTONE DEALER. (DOT NUMBER: VDIL1XD179 TIRESIZE: LT22575R16)

CONSUMER HAS A 1999 FORD, F350. ORIGINAL TIRES THAT HAVE 27,000 MILES. TIRE SIZE P265/75R16, DOT#VNW31XL. TIRES HAVE SPLITS WERE THE CAP ATTACHES TO THE TIRES. ALSO, THERE ARE HAIRLINE CRACKS AROUND THE WALL OF THE PASSENGER FRONT TIRE.*AK THE FAILED STEEL TEX AT TIRE WAS MADE IN CANADA. *YH

PE-00-040- STEEL TEX R4S; ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A 1999 FORD F350, TIRE SIZE P265/75R16, DOT NUMBER NOT AVAILABLE, TIRE HAD 30 THOUSAND MILES ON IT. WHEN DRIVING BETWEEN 60-65 MPH DRIVER SIDE LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD MIDDLE PORTION SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE, THE TIRE STAYED INFLATED, CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON THE STEEL BELTS. *AK THE DAMAGED TIRE HAD A PRESSURE OF 80 P.S.I. *YH

THE TREAD, IN A 1 PIECE "BELT" SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE; BOTH BEADS REMAINED SEATED ON THE RIM. TIRE DEALER SAID NO TIRE DEFECT AND REQUIRED US TO BUY A NEW TIRE. THEY KEPT THE TIRE.*AK( DOT NUMBER: )

DEALER INSPECTED TIRES AND CHECKED BALANCE FOR VIBRATION AT 30+MPH SPEEDS. DEALER SAID NO OBVIOUS EXTERNAL DEFECTS VISABLE BUT VIBRATION PERSISTS THAT COULD BE AN INTERNAL DEFLECT LIKE A PLY SEPARATION CAUSING VIBRATION. (DOT NUMBER: DO 8061 TIRESIZE: 265/75R16)

WHERE WIRES PLUG IN TO HEADLIGHT, ASSEMBLEY KEEPS COMING APART CAUSING LIGHT FAILURE

BRAKE ROTORS KEEP WARPING CAUSING CYCLIC LOADING AND POSSIBLE FATIGUE FAILURE TO STEERING AND BRAKING COMPONENTS. DESIGN CHANGE HAS BEEN MADE TO RECENT PRODUCTION, OLD UNITS ARE STILL DEFECTIVE IN DESIGN AND/OR MANUFACTURE.*AK

CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE TIRE AT HIGH SPEED PRECEEDED BY LOSS OF OUTER TREAD LINING (DOT NUMBER: DA217PF13D TIRESIZE: 265/75/R16)

WHEN TRANSMISSION WAS IN PARK WITH EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE ON, WHILE LOADING VEHICLE, IT ROLLED FORWARD. EMERGENCY BRAKE DID NOT HOLD VEHICLE, IT STOPPED IN A DITCH. *AK

TREAD SEPARATED FROM SIDEWALL ON WHITE LETTERING SIDE, ALL OTHER TIRES CRACKING ON SIDEWALLS, SPOKE TO MANUFACTURER THEY SAID IT WAS NORMAL, STORE MANAGER SAID IT WAS JUST WEATHERCHECKING. HAVE PICTURES IF NEEDED.*AK (TIRESIZE: 265/75/R16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 265/75/R16 )

TREAD SEPARATION AT 60 MPH, NO WARNING!*AK (DOT NUMBER: VDIL1XL188 TIRESIZE: LT22575R16)

TIRE SIDEWALL EXPLODED -AND TWO OTHER TIRES ARE BULGING AT THE SIDE WALL( DOT NUMBER: VDW81XM419 TIRE SIZE: LT 265/75R )

TREAD SEPARETED FROM THE REST OF THE TIRE THIER WAS NO BLOW OUT AND NO PUCTURES TO THE TIRE THE TREAD DAMAGED MY RUNNING BOARD MY FENDER THE INNER FENDER AND THE HORN BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE TIRE WAS STILL INFLATEDAND IT REMAINED INFLATEDUNTILL I WAS ABLE TO LIMP DOWN THE ROAD TO A FORD DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF THEY COULD OR WOULD ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DAMAGES TO MY TRUCK SINCE THE TIRES WERE ORIGINAL EQUIPTMENT. THEY SIMPLY SAID NO AND SENT ME ON MY WAY.THIER WAS NO REASON FOR THIS TIRE TO COME APART THE WAY IT DID. IT WAS INFLATED WITH THE PROPER AIR PRESSUREAND THERE WERE NO BUMPS OR POTHOLES IN THE ROAD JUST SIMPLY POOR QUALITY FABRICATION OF THTHIER PRODUCT( DOT NUMBER: VNW8 1XL TIRE SIZE: LT26575R16 )

WHILE DRIVEING AT BETWEEN 60-65 MPH ON TWO CONSECTIVE DAYS I HAD MASSIVE TIRE FAILURES ON THE REAR OF MY TRUCK. IN BOTH CASES I WAS TRAVING ALONG AT THE LEGAL SPEED LEVEL WITH MY TRUCK EMPTY, ON A DRY ROADWAY, TEMPERATURE AROUND 100 DEGREES F. IN BOTH CASES THE TRUCK STARTED TO SHAKE REAL BAD AND THEN IMMEDIATELY THE TIRES EXPLODED. IN NEITHE CASE DID THE TIRES LOOSE AIR. THE TREAD CAME COMPLETELY OFF THE CASING. I DID NOT LOOSE CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE BECAUSE IT HAS DUAL REAR WHEELS. BOTH TIMES IT DID DAMAGE THE FENDERS, FENDER WELLS, FENDER LINERS AND FENDER BRACES. THE TIRES HAD ABOUT 4,000 MILES ON THEM AND WERE INFLATED TO 65 PSI. I HAVE CONTACTED KUMHO TIRE COMPANY AND THEY WANT ME TO SEND IN THE BLOWN TIRES AND THEY MAY REPLACE THEM AND MAY REPAIR MY VEHICLE DAMSGE. I STILL HAVE THE TWO DAMAGED TIRES AND THE TWO THAT DID NOT SEPERATE. I WILL HOLD ALL FOUR TIRES UNTIL I HEAR FROM YOU.*AK (DOT NUMBER: HZIOYCIS40 TIRESIZE: LT255/8516)

WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHIMMY. WHEN ATTEMPING TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY, DRIVER COULD NOT TURN STEERING WHEEL. WHEN OPENING THE HOOD, DRIVER SAW POWER STEERING FLUID ALL OVER THE ENGINE. ONCE THE TRUCK WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIIP, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE POWER STEERING LINE WAS BUSTED. THIS WAS DETERMINED BEFORE THE TRUCK WAS LOOKED AT. THE TRUCK WILL BE SERVICED UNDER WARRANTY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

PE00020; ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A 1999, FORD F350, TIRE SIZE P26575R16. TIRES ARE SPLITTING AT THE SIDEWALL STARTING AT THE TREAD AND GOING TO THE RIM OF THE TIRE. *AK

ON SUNDAY MORNING AT APPROXIMATELY 9:00 A.M. 2MILES WEST OF SANTA ROSA, NEW MEXICO THE RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. WE WERE TOWING A 30 FOOT 5TH WHEEL RECREATIONAL VECHICLE AT ABOUT 70 MPH. DUE TO WHERE THIS HAPPENED, I HAD TO LEAVE THE ROADWAY TO KEEP FROM BEING RUN OVER BY 18 WHEELERS RUNNING 75+ MPH. SINCE I WAS IN THE LEFT LANE, I HAD TO GO IN THE CENTER MEDIAN. THIS AREA WAS EXTREMELY SLOPED AND WE WERE BARELY ABLE TO CLEAR THE ROADWAY WITH THE RIGH SIDE OF TRUCK AND TRAILER. NEW MEXICO STATE HIGHWAY PATROL WAS CONTACTED BUT NEVER SHOWED UP. IN ORDER TO CONTINUE TO A LOCATION TO FIND A REPLACEMENT TIRE. WE HAP TO BUY A USED TIRE FOR A SPARE. IN SANTA FE, NM WE LOCATED A FIRESTONE DEALER. HE REPLACED BOTH REAR TIRES WITH THE SAME MODEL TIRE BUT A DIFFERENT TREAD DESIGN. HE DID NOT MENTION THE THERE BEING A PROBLEM WITH THESE TIRES. AFTER RETURNING HOME AND GETTING MORE DETAILS AND THE CONCERN WITH SAFETY, WE BOUGHT REPLACE TIRES FROM ANOTHER MANUFACTOR. I FEEL FIRESTONE SHOULD HAVE NTIFIED ME OF THE POSSIBLE PROBLEM BEFORE THE INCIDENT. I AM OUT OVER $800 FOR FIVE REPLACEMENT TIRES PLUS THE $1500 DAMAGE TO MY TRUCK. THE FORD DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND FORD CALLED AND ASK A FEW QUESTIONS BUT NO FUTHER CONTACT. FIRESTONE HAS MADE NO CONTACT. *AK (DOT NUMBER: VNW81XM398 TIRESIZE: LT265/7516)

WIFE WAS DRIVING IN MIDDLE LANE ON RT95 SOUTH TOWARD RICHMOND, VA FROM NO-VA ARE WHEN LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW AND ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WAS HIT!! TREAD ON OUTTER TIRE STILL IN TACT HOWEVER OUTSIDE WALL WAS TOTALL TORN APART. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS KILLED SINCE MY WIFE IS A EXCELLENT DRIVER SHE WAITED FOR TRAFFIC TO CLEAR IN RIGHT LANE AND WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TRUCK (ALONG WITH OUR 30FT CAMPER TRAILER). ALL TIRES ARE ORIGINAL EQUIP FROM FORD FOR WHICH WE SPECIAL ORDERED ON TRUCK TO ENSURE WE HAD BIGGEST TIRE AVAIL AS OPTIONS FOR TRUCK THAT YEAR WE ORDERED IT. NOW ALUM RIM IS RUINED AND FORD WILL NOT REPLACE TIRE(S) NOR RIM. CLOSEST FIRESTONE DEALER IS VERY FAR AWAY 1.5/2 HOURS. ASKED STERLING FORD TO REPLACE ALL FOUR TIRES (SINCE THEY NO LONGER FEEL SAFE AND SHOW BUBBLES ON SIDEWALLS) AND THE RIM BUT THEY WILL NOT EVEN THOUGH I HAVE BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY SAYING THAT IT IS FIRESTONE DEALER RESPONSIBLE. HOWEVER, STERLING FORD SELLS FIRESTONE TIRES BUT OBVIOUSLY DOESNOT WARRANTY ANY OF THEM!?!? ALSO, ABOUT A MONTH EARLIER VALVE STEM ON RIGHT REAR TIRE WENT BAD.. SO, I HAVE HAD TWO (2) INCIDENTS WITH FIRSTONE PRODUCE. ALSO, ALL TIRES ARE SHOWING EXCESSIVE TREAD WEAR AND THERE IS ONLY 25K MILES ON TIRES. I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE ALL TIRES BEFORE WINTER AND NO ONE CAN TELL ME HOW LONG THESE TIRES ARE WARRANTIED FOR; 50 OR 60K?? IF 60K TIRE WEARS OUT HALF WAY AND BLOWS OUT ON SIDEWALL SOMTHING IS DEFINITELY WRONG WITH THESE TIRES!!( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P265/75R16 )

FIRESTONE TIRE 2757516,FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE TREAD CAME APART WHICH ALMOST CAUSE A CRASH. COMMON PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

THE TRUCK WAS BOUGHT IN CANADA AND SHIPPED TO GERMANY APROX. JUNE 2000. BECAUSE OF MUCH CORROSION AT THE CHASSIS I DECIDED TO REMOVE THE CHEAP BITUMEN PROTECTION AND TO COVER THE CHASSIS WITH SPECIAL PAINTS. DOING THIS, I DISCOVERED, THAT THE IRON BELTS OF THE FUEL TANK WAS COMPLETELY ATTACKED BY CORROSION. MAY BE 20 % OF IRON HAD CHANGED INTO FEO. IN THIS MOMENT, THE BELT WOULD NOT HAVE BROKEN, MAY BE 3 OR 5 YEARS LATER. IF MY REPORT IS NOT 100 % CLEAR IT'S BECAUSE ENGLISH IS NOT MY MOTHER LANGUAGE.

WE WERE TRAVELING HWY 40 AT ABOUT 60 MPH AROUND 2:00 P.M. WHEN OUR RIGHT REAR TIRE EXPLODED. AS THE TIRE TREAD WAS PEELING OFF, I TRIED TO GAIN CONTROL OF MY TRUCK/CAMPER TO AVOID GOING OFF THE SHOULDER OR A HEAD-ON CRASH. THE BLOWOUT CAUSED ABOUT $2000.00 IN DAMAGES BESIDE COMPLETE TIRE REPLACEMENT. I MADE A CLAIM THROUGH FARMERS INSURANCE AGENCY AND THE DAMAGE HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED. ADDITIONALLY, I STILL HAVE THE DAMAGED TIRE AND RIM. UPON MY RETURN FROM THIS TRIP, I IMMEDIATELY REPLACED THE TIRES BECAUSE I FELT I MIGHT NOT BE SO LUCKY IF I HAD ANOTHER BLOWOUT LIKE THIS. I FEEL THIS BLOWOUT WAS DUE TO A DEFECT IN THE TIRE BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE TREAD UNRAVELED AND THE STEEL BELTS BLEW OUT. I WOULD LIKE SOME INFORMATION HOW TO PURSUE REIMBURSEMENT FOR THESE DAMAGES. YOUR PROMPT REPLY WILL BE APPRECIATED. *AK( DOT NUMBER: VNW8 TIRE SIZE: 265/75/R16 )

WHEN CONSUMER APPROACHES A STOP SIGN VEHICLE MOVES BY ITSELF. HE HAS TO PUMP PEDAL TWO OR MORE TIMES TO STOP. PEDAL IS BLEEDING THROUGH THE SYSTEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND EVEN WHEN VEHICLE STOPPED, WOULD STEP ON THE BRAKES AND STEERING WHEEL WOULD FREEZE. CONSUMER WON'T BE ABLE TO TURN. THIS HAPPENED AT ALL TIME. DEALER CLAIMED IT WAS A NORMAL OPERATION.

A TIRE ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS, COMPLETELY DISENTIGRATED. I'VE DRIVEN A LONG TIME, AND SO HAS MY MOTHER WHO WAS WITH ME AT THE TIME, AND NEITHER OF US HAVE EVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE. LUCKILY BOTH INCIDENTS OCCURED ON MY REAR WHEELS, AND I HAVE A DUAL REAR WHEEL TRUCK SO NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED. *AK (DOT NUMBER: W10P TIRESIZE: 215/85R16)

THE PLASTIC RETAINER LOCATED WHERE THE CLUTCH PEDAL ENGAGES THE ROD FOR THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER WEARS OUT ALLOWING THE ROD TO DISENGAGE THE PEDAL ASSEMBLY WITHOUT ANY NOTICE OF INPENDING FAILURE. THIS HAPPENED TO ME IN A CROWDED PARKING LOT AT THE CANTON TRADE DAYS. LUCKILY I WAS IN 1ST GEAR AND WAS ABLE TO IDLE TO A PARKING SPACE WITHOUT HITTING ANYONE OR ANYTHING. ONCE THE PEDALS COMES LOOSE AND THE ENGINE IS STOPPED IT CANNOT BE RESTARED WITHOUT THE PEDAL ASSEMBLE BEING IN PLACE. THIS PROBLEM CAN BE AVOIDED BY RETURNING BACK TO THE OLD STYLE BALL AND SOCKET SET UP USED ON OLDER VEHICLES AND DOING AWAY WITH THE PLACTIC PIECES IN THE SETUP. HAD I BEEN BEHIND SOMEONE OR BEEN IN A DOWNTOWN DRIVING SITUATION WHERE A PEDESTRIAN BEEN IN FRONT OF ME SUCH AS A STOP LIGHT WHEN IT DECIDED TO COME LOOSE THE OUTCOME MAY HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY SERIOUS. *AK

THE LEFT REAR OUTBOARD AND THE RIGHT INBOARD FIRESTONE STEELTEX RADIAL (LT215/85R16) TIRES EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION. *MJS

SIMPLY PUT IN PHYSICS TERMS THE FRONT END GOES INTO UNWANTED RESONANT VIBRATION WHERE THE TRUNK IS OUT OF CONTROL. THIS HAS BENN REPORTED TO THE DEALER AND FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE. THEY DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT UNWANTED RESONANCE VIBRATION IS. THE TRUNK IS OUT OF CONTROL AND THE DRIVER HAS TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO SLOW THE TRUCK TILL THE VIBRATION GOES AWAY AT ABOUT 30MPH. *AK

THE ORIGINAL TIRE PROBLEM THAT I HAD WAS A 3" SLIT IN THE SIDEWALL. UPON NOTICING THIS I PURCHASED A SET OF TIRES FROM A FRIEND WHO HAD JUST PURCHASED AN F250 CREW CAB AND WANTED LARGER TIRES TO LIFT HIS TRUCK. THE FIRESTONE TIRES WE PURCHASED HAD ROUGHLY 3000 MILES ON THEM AND WERE THE ORIGINAL TIRES FORD SOLD THE TRUCK WITH. I WAS SIMPLY PULLING AWAY FROM A CURB WHEN MY TIRE COMPLETELY BLEW OUT AT THE SIDEWALL. I WAS NOT TOUCHING OR RUBBING THE CURB IN ANY WAY. I HAVE TO REPLACE THIS TIRE BUT I WILL SAVE IT IF YOU NEED TO SEE IT. I UNFORTUNATELY DO NOT HAVE THE FIRST TIRE THAT HAD A PROBLEM. THE INFORMATION ON MY SECOND TIRE PROBLEM FROM THE NEW SET IS AS FOLLOWS: FIRESTONE STEEELTEX RADIAL A/T, LT265/75R16 DO #8062 WITH A BMI 4976-1.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: LT265RX16E )

WE HAVE EXPERIENCED REPEATED TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS INCLUDING 2 TOTAL BREAKDOWNS, THE LAST ONE ON 09-07-2000 ENDANGERED EVERYONE IN THE VEHICLE. MAY 9, ERATIC SHIFTING, SPEED CONTROL SENSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED, MAY 10 - MAY 22, SHIFTING PROBLEMS CONTINUED, CONTROL MODULE REPLACED. MAY 23, TOTAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE, TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT ONJUNE 8.. JUNE 29, SHIFTING PROBLEMS STARTED AGAIN. JULY 18, FORD DEALER CHECKED, REPROGRAMED TRANSMISSION AND TOLD ME NO PROBLEMS FOUND. JULY 31, FORD DEALER LOAD TESTED TRUCK, REPLACED MODULE AND REPROGRAMED AGAIN, EVERYTHING OK. SEPTEMBER 7, TOWING TRAILER DOWN 7% - 7 MILE LEWISTON GRADE TRANSMISSION FAILED, LOST ENGINE COMPRESSION BRAKING AND HAD TO RELY ONLY ON BRAKES TO SLOW TRUCK. HAD NO TRANSMISSION IN ANY GEAR WHEN WE REACHED BOTTOM. NEW TRANSMISSION NOW BEING INSTALLED. THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM WHICH PLACED EVERYONE IN THE TRUCK IN DANGER.

THE LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT AN APPROX. 3INCH SECTION OF THE SIDE WALL ON THE OUT SIDE OF THE TIRE, A SECTION STAYED ON THE RIM AND THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE WAS INTACT. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF TREAD SEPARATION ON THE TREAD. THE LOCA FIRESTONE DEALER INSPECTED THE TIRE AND COULD FIND NO REASON FOR THE FAILURE. THEY REPLACED THE TIRE WITH THE SAME TYPE FOR A PRORATED PRICE OF $64.78. THE TIRES WERE INSPECTED BY ME BEFORE I LEFT FOR YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK AND INFLATION AND CONDITION APPEARED OK. THE FAILURE OCCURED APROX. 35 MILES INTO THE TRIP AT ABOUT 9:30 AM PDT AND THE TEMPERATURE WASAPPROX. 60 TO 70 DEGREES. THE FAILURE OCCURED ON BUSINESS IS80, WESTBOUND , INSIDE LANE. THE PICKUP WAS EMPTY AT THE TIME OF FAILURE, IF I WOULD HAVE BEEN PULLING MY FIFTH WHEEL TRAILER WITH A GROSS COMBINED VEHICLE WEIGHT OG 18560LBS, THE RESULTS COULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AS I WAS IN RUSH TRAFFIC AND ON THE INSIDE LANE OF A SIX LANE FREEWAY. I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE TRUCK AND MOVE SAFELY TO THE OUTSIDE SHOULDER TO CHANGE THE TIRE. I AM RELUCTANT TO USE MY TRAILER WITH THESE TIRES AS I DO NOT WANT MY WIFE BECAUSE OF INACACTION BY FIRESTONE AND FORD TO REPLACE THESE ALLEDGED DEFECTIVE TIRES. I URGE YOUR AGENGY TO INITIATE AN IMMEDIATE RECALL OF THESE TIRES IF ACTION IS NOT TAKEN WITHIN THE NEXT 30 DAYS, I WILL BE CONTACTING MY CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVES FOR ACTION ON THIS SERIOR PROBLEM. THANK YOU AND I ADDED TO THE FATALITY LIST. *AK (DOT NUMBER: DO 8062 TIRESIZE: LT26575R16)

SPARE TIRE CABLE BROKE, CAUSING THE TIRE TO SEPARATE FROM VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

THE RIGHT REAR AND LEFT REAR FIRESTONE STEELTEX TIRES P265/75R16 DOT VNW81XM FAILED, THE FIRST TIRE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AND WAS DUE TO TREAD SEPARATION, CAUSING DAMAGE TO VEHICLE, THE LEFT REAR TIRE HAD A LARGE BUBBLE. *SLC

CLUTCH DID NOT SLIP AT ALL. WAS IN 5TH AND SLOWING FOR AN EXIT TO 4TH. CLUTCH WOULD NOT ENGAGE TO 4TH, TOWED TO DEALER. TOLD SPRINGS FAILED AND HAD BEEN FAILING A LONG TIME. ALSO INFORMED THAT DEALER HAS HAD FREQUENT PROBLEMS AND FORD HAS REDESIGNED CLUTCH ASSEMBLY THREE TIMES. POWER STEERING WILL JUST GO OUT USUALLY IN A TURN. EEMS TO HAPPEN WHEN ENGINE IS HOT OR RUNNING OVER HOUR OR SO. *AK

WHEN TAKING THE REAR WHEEL LUGS: NUTS OFF, THE REAR WHEELS GET STUCK AND WON'T COME OUT. DEALER SUGGESTED TO HIT WHEEL WITH A HAMMER. COMMON PROBLEM. *AK

I KNOW MANY FELLOW FORD DIESEL 6 SPD. OWNERS HAVING CLUTCH&TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. FORD DEALERS TELL US IT'S AN ISOLATED PROBLEM. I GUESS THAT'S WHY MY TRUCK IS IN DOUGLAS, WY AND I LIVE IN NEEDVILLE, TX

THE PARKING BRAKE WILL NOT HOLD THE VEHICLE AT ITS GVWR ON AN INCLINE.*AK

COURTESY LIGHTS AND THE CARGO LIGHTS WOULD COME ON INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT AND CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND REFUSED TO ASSIST BECAUSE PROBLEMS WERE NOT COVERED UNDER MANUFACTURER'S RECALLS. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE US WITH ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK