1999 Ford F-350 Body & Structure Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD F-350. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE METAL SURROUNDING THE REAR LIFT GATE WINDOW WAS SEPARATING AND CAUSING A LEAK. ALSO, THE RIDGES ON THE ROOF WERE SEPARATING AND CORRODING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD F350 CREW CAB. AS HE WAS TRYING TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE THE REAR PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER HAD TO CLIMB OVER THE FRONT SEAT IN ORDER TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE CABLES ON THE DOOR. THE CONTACT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING THE REPAIR COST OF $600 SINCE THERE WERE NO RECALLS OR WARRANTIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. UPDATED 01/12/11*LJ UPDATED 03/02/11

THE DOOR HANDLE ON THE FORD SUPER DUTY AND LOCK MECHANISM ARE PLASTIC. WHICH IN TURNS BREAKS VERY EASILY.THIEVES KNOW THIS AND TARGET THESE VEHICLES AT AN ALARMING RATE. MY SUPER DUTY HAS BEEN BROKEN INTO 3 TIMES IN 4 MONTHS. FORD HAS NO FIX TO STOP THIS DESIGN FLAW. *TR

(TRUCK HISTORY: WINDSHIELD REPLACED DUE TO CRACK FROM ROAD DEBRIS). PROBLEM ENCOUNTERED: ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS IN THE TRUCK WOULD RUN WITH KEY REMOVED WHENEVER IT WOULD RAIN HARD. TAKEN SEVERAL TIMES TO DEALER TO VERIFY "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT PROBLEM WHICH WOULD COME ON AFTER HEAVY RAINS. THE TRUCK WOULD HAVE ALL KINDS OF ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT COMING ON/OFF BY ITSELF. THE MECHANIC FROM THE FORD DEALERSHIP WHOM I HAD WORKED WITH ON MY PROBLEMS, DISCOVERED THE FUSE BOX (UNDER THE DASH) SHOWED SIGNS OF ELECTRICAL ARCING AND MOISTURE AREA THE CARPET IN THE FLOOR. THE FORD DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE FUSE BOX AT MY EXPENSE. THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE AND WAS PROPERLY SEALED, THE WINDSHIELD MECHANIC STATED THE WINDSHIELD WAS NOT LEAKING BUT AROUND THE FENDER AND WINDSHIELD DRAIN TROUGH SHOWED SIGNS OF WATER STAINING. THE WATER WAS LEAKING ONTO THE FUSE BOX CAUSING HAVOC TO ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. *NM

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 30MPH ON HIGHWAY WHILE SNOWING AND INNER WHEEL WELL COLLECTED SNOW. PLASTIC CLAMP PIN THAT HOLDS PLASTIC INNER WHEEL BROKE FROM WEIGHT OF SNOW. HE HAD TO REPLACE INNER WHEEL WELL AND CLAMP PIN THREE TIMES. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*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.

WHILE DRIVING WITH DOGS IN VEHICLE, ONE OF THE DOGS' PAWS WAS RESTING ON DOOR ARMREST. IT THEN SLIPPED DOWN ON DOOR HANDLE & THE DOOR SWUNG OPEN. THEY FELL OUT OF VEHICLE WHILE IT WAS MOVING. THE DOOR WAS LOCKED AT TIME THE HANDLE WAS ENGAGED. LOCK ON DOOR AFFECTS OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE, BUT NOT INSIDE. *AK

BECAUSE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE IS BUILT INTO THE ARM REST, WHEN PRESSURE IS APPLIED TO THE HANDLE, THE DOOR WILL SLING OPEN. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK