VEHICLE VEERED OFF THE ROAD AND INTO A TREE. *PH THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING THE ACCIDENT. NHTSA DID SOME TESTING BUT COULD NOT PIN POINT THE PROBLEM. A RECALL WAS INITIATED WHICH THE CONSUMER RECEIVED AUGUST 24, 2003, 30 DAYS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS TO BE OUT OF SERVICE FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS THE CONSUMER WAS IN THE PROCESS OF REARRANGING HIS SCHEDULE TO COMPLY WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. FIVE DAYS AFTER THE CONSUMER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE THE BRAKE UNIT FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER REPLACED THE UNIT AFTER SOME INSTALLER/MANUFACTURER DISAGREEMENTS. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE NEVER WORKED PROPERLY. *NM
1997
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
DT: CONTACT HAD BALL JOINTS PUT ON THE TRUCK WHEN IT WAS STAKEN TO TO THE DEALER FOR ALIGNMENT. . WHEN DEALER WENT TO ALIGN VEHICLE THEY FOUND A CRACK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FRAME, ALL THE WAY FROM WHERE THE DRIVE BOX WAS TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. ON THE CROSS MEMBER THAT HELD THE FRAME TOGETHER, THE RIVET WAS OUT OF THE FRAME. HE NOTICED THIS ON JULY 1, 2005. HE CALLED FORD TWICE, AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT SEND ANYONE TO LOOK AT VEHICLE BECAUSE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. HE TOOK VEHICLE TO 2 AUTO BODY FRAME SHOP AND HAD IT REPAIRED. BOTH BODY SHOPS SAID THE CAR WAS NOT HIT, AND THAT HE SHOULD CONTACT FORD. HE CALLED THE DEALER, AND THEY HAD NOT CALLED HIM BACK.*AK