2000 Ford F-350 Tires & Wheels Problems

On [XXX], I rented a Class C motorhome from Cruise America at their Duluth, Georgia branch (Reservation #[XXX]). When I picked up the vehicle, the Cruise America employee pointed to a handwritten note taped over the tire pressure warning light on the dashboard that said: “ignore tire sensor.” The note was already in place before I arrived, suggesting that other renters may have used the vehicle in that same unsafe condition. Three days later, while traveling northbound on [XXX] near Memphis, Tennessee, the RV suffered a sudden tire blowout at highway speed. We narrowly avoided a collision while maneuvering to the shoulder. Thankfully, no one was injured, but the incident was extremely dangerous and could easily have resulted in fatalities. Cruise America knowingly rented out a vehicle with an active tire pressure warning covered and concealed, depriving the driver of critical safety information. The company did not repair or document the issue, instead instructing renters to “ignore” the tire warning. This conduct may violate Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 138 (49 C.F.R. § 571.138) and 49 U.S.C. § 30122, which prohibit making safety equipment inoperative or misleading drivers about safety system status. While TPMS sensors can fail naturally, covering the warning light constitutes deliberate concealment and undermines the system’s purpose. I am concerned that Cruise America may be circulating other rental vehicles in similar unsafe condition. Please investigate whether Cruise America, Inc. is in compliance with federal vehicle-safety laws governing TPMS functionality and rental-vehicle maintenance standards. Specifically, whether any branch locations are renting vehicles with disabled, covered, or ignored tire-pressure monitoring systems or other concealed safety warnings. Reported to Cruise America Customer Relations (Case #[XXX]). INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

I had purchesed a set of Dick Cepek Extreme Country LT315/75/R16. The tires have 9/32nd left with approximately 15,000 miles. While driving on the highway the sidewall of the tire peeled off in one strip causing the tire to no longer hold its shape and blow out. Had it been a steer tire the incident could have been much worse. Twenty minutes prior to the failure all tires were inspected and confirmed to be inflated to the proper psi and without damage.

WHILE DRIVING ON THE N.Y THRUWAY. MY MICHELIN MLX TIRES TREAD SEPARATED FOR THE TIRE CAUSING A BLOW OUT AND TEARING OFF THE REAR PASSENGER DUALLY FENDER OF MY F350 . PIECES OF THE FEND AND TIRE FLEW ALL OVER THE N.Y THRUWAY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD F-350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE INSPECTING THE FRONT WHEELS ON THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT BECAME AWARE OF A FRACTURE ON ONE OF THE WHEELS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRACTURE WAS LOCATED ON THE INNER LIP OF THE WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED. VARSITY FORD (3480 JACKSON AVE ANN ARBOR MI) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 171,700.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD F-350 EQUIPPED WITH FIRESTONE TIRES, TIRE LINE: TRANS FORCE AT, TIRE SIZE: LT 265/75R16, AND DOT NUMBER: 8XW8TR7. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEENING SERVICE FOR AN OIL CHANGE, THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THE TREAD WAS SEPARATED FROM THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE. THE TIRE WAS NOT REPLACED AND WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE CONTACT CALLED FIRESTONE COMPLETE AUTO CARE, (1439 S WASHINGTON ST, GRAND FORKS, ND 58201, (701) 203-558) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO WARRANTY ON THE TIRES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THE TIRE THAT COULD LEAD TO A BLOWOUT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE WAS 271,374 AND TIRE WAS 42,200.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD F-350 EQUIPPED WITH SIX BF GOODRICH COMMERCIAL T/A ALL SEASON TIRES, SIZE: LT235/85/R16 /LRE MPLUS (NA). AFTER APPROXIMATELY 150 MILES OF USE, A BUBBLE WAS PRESENT ON THE SIDEWALL OF THE OUTER REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. AN UNKNOWN DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150. THE VIN AND VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD F-350 EQUIPPED WITH BF GOODRICH ALL TERRAIN T/A TIRES, SIZE: LT285/75R16. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THERE WAS A VIBRATION IN THE TIRES AND A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD AS IF SOMETHING HIT THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS ALSO A LOUD POPPING SOUND. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE FREEWAY AND, UPON EXITING, NOTICED THE TIRE TREAD ON THE ROADWAY ALONG WITH DAMAGE TO THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE FENDER AND RUNNING BOARD. THE CONTACT CALLED AAA TO CHANGE THE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT TIRE SHOP. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED, BUT ALL FOUR TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE AND TIRES WERE NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: 123-53467. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 218,589 AND THE APPROXIMATE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 213,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD F-350 EQUIPPED WITH ALCOA WHEELS, 16X6K FRONT (NA). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL LOST AIR DUE TO A SPLITTING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL TIRE SHOP, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPAIR THE TIRE DUE TO THE RIM FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE CONTACT RESEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND THAT THE ALCOA COMPANY VOLUNTARILY RECALLED THE WHEELS. THE VIN AND TIRE AND VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN.

MESA A/P2 TIRES, CRACKING AROUND BEAD WITH ONLY 3889 MILES ON SUPPOSEDLY NOT BIG O BRAND MESA NOT FOUND IN MENU

FORD F-350. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE TIRE INFLATION PRESSURE PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE TIRE WAS INFLATED TO 55 PSI TO SOFTEN THE RIDE. LATER, WHILE HAULING TRACTOR THE TREAD ON ONE OF THE TIRES PEELED OFF. THE CONSUMER PUT THE SPARE ON THE TRUCK. THE CONSUMER WAS ADVISED TO RUN THE TIRES AT THE MAXIMUM INFLATION PRESSURE FOR THE BEST WEAR, MAXIMUM LOAD CAPACITY, BEST MILEAGE AND LONGEST LIFE. EACH OF THE TIRES EVENTUALLY FAILED ONE AT A TIME. WHEN THE CONSUMER PURCHASED NEW TIRES, THEY WERE INFLATED 60 PSI FOR THE FRONT AND 50 PSI FOR THE REAR, INSTEAD OF 80 PSI. EVERYTHING WAS FINE FOR A WHILE, UNTIL THE CONSUMER STARTED TO EXPERIENCE ROUGH RIDING AND NOISY TIRES AS A RESULT OF IMPROPER INFLATION. THE RETAILER STATED THE INFLATED THE TIRES ACCORDING TO WHAT WAS PRINTED ON THE DOOR STICKER. THE UNDER INFLATION CAUSED EXCESSIVE SIDEWALL FLEX, REDUCED MILEAGE, SHORTENED LIFE AND SEVERAL TIRE FAILURES. *JB *CN

AS WE WERE RETURNING HOME FROM A ROAD TRIP, WE HEARD A SCREECHING NOISE COMING FROM THE LEFT WHEEL WELL AREA WHEN WE MADE WIDE SWEEPING TURNS AND HIGHWAY CURVES. WE PULLED OVER AND, UPON INSPECTION, SAW OUR ORIGINAL ALLOY WHEEL ON OUR TRUCK WAS CRACKED. ONE OF THE WHEELS WAS DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO COMING OFF THE HUB. PHOTOS DOCUMENT HOW SEVERE THE CRACKING OF THE WHEELS WAS - THREE OF FOUR WHEELS WERE FOUND TO HAVE CRACKS AND CHUCKS OF METAL MISSING,COMPROMISING THE INTEGRITY OF THE WHEELS AND THE SAFETY OF OUR VEHICLE. WE HAD TO PURCHASE NEW WHEELS AT A COST OF ALMOST $1,300.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD F-350. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE SPARE TIRE DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN. UPDATED 10/30/14*CN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD F-350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, HE HEARD A POPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE ALLOY WHEELS WERE FRACTURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. *TR

MY 2000 F350 SD RIGHT REAR SINGLE WHEEL 4X4 ALUMINUM RIM CRACKED ON SEAM NOT AT BOLT HOLES CALLED FORD WAS TOLD THEY NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM THAT'S FUNNY CALLED JUNK YARD AND WAS TOLD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM I THINK FORD NEEDS TO RECALL THEM DUE TO COULD CASE DEATH IF DRIVING AT BREAKS APART TODAY I TOOK TIRE OFF RIM IT IS CRACKED WHOLE WAY THRU I STILL HAVE RIM TO SHOW OR SEND PICTURE THEY ARE FACTORY FORD RIMS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD F-350 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL WAS CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 224,430 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE 224,455.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A SET OF YOKOHANA LT TIRES, SIZE: 265 75R 16 (N/A). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE EXPLODED, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE HOOD AND FENDER. SEVERAL WEEKS LATER THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE IRE EXPLODED, ALSO CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE TIRES WERE ONLY 3 MONTHS OLD WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD SEND SOMEONE TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE THE TIRES. THE VEIHCLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

AFTER COMPLAINING TO BF GOODRICH ABOUT (4) CRACKING SIDEWALLS AND BEING TOLD THAT THEY WERE SURFACE CRACKS AND IF THE TIRES HELD AIR THEY WOULD DO NOTHING BECAUSE THE TIRES ARE GOOD AT (1) YEAR OLD WITH 20,000 MI. (1 1/2) YEAR LATER THE SIDEWALL AND TIRE TREAD SEPARATED WHILE SITTING IN THE DRIVE WAY. I HAVE NOW REPLACED ALL (4) TIRES WITH A DIFFERENT TIRE BRAND. *TT

2000 FORD F350, UNIT #1 WAS TRAVELING EASTBOUND IN THE LEFT LANE WHEN THE RIGHT TIRE BLEW OUT. UNIT 1 WENT OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROADWAY, STRUCK THE DITCH AND STRUCK A FENCE. BF THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0415-89)*JB UPDATED 12/10/10 *BF

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD F350 SUPER DUTY. WHILE CLEANING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE WHEEL HAD CRACKED THROUGH ONE OF THE SPOKES AND IF HE WERE TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY, IT WOULD CAUSE A CRASH. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED WHO REFERRED HIM TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER TOOK A COMPLAINT. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 220,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000. UPDATED 12/30/11 *CN

THE CAST ALUMINUM WHEELS ON THE F350 FORD SUPER DUTY DULLY CAN BREAK, AND DID ON MY TRUCK. THE WHEELS ARE NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF THE TRUCK WITH THE 7.3 LITER DIESEL ENGINE. IF THE FRONT WHEEL BREAKS ON THIS TRUCK ON THE HIGHWAY AT NORMAL SPEEDS SOMEONE IS GOING TO DIE. MY TRUCK WEIGHS JUST SHORT OF 8,000 LBS. IT HAS NEVER BEEN DRIVEN OFF ROAD AND NEVER BEEN ABUSED, SUCH AS POT HOLES, CURBS, AND THAT SORT OF THING. I DID FILE A REPORT WITH FORD MTR. COMPANY AND THEIR COMMENT WAS WE WILL PUT YOUR COMPLAINT ON FILE AND NOTIFY THE ENGINEERS. I BELIEVE THEY ALREADY KNEW THEY HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE WHEELS BECAUSE THE NEWER TRUCKS HAVE A BEEFYER WHEEL. MY TRUCK IS A 2000.*TR