WELLS Complaints

Brake light switch was replaced with a WVE (Wells) brand brake light light switch part number 1S5367. This switch senses brake fluid pressure and closes (turns on brake lights) when a low level braking pressure is present. I originally bought two in 2020, both initially worked (brake lights would turn on) and then each failed within 200 miles. This is a classic vehicle that is not driven much or far. The parts were purchased through RockAuto and had a 3 year warranty, two warranty replacement WVE (1S5367) switches were sent to me. I installed one of the replacement switches early November 2022 and everything was fine, however, in early December of 2022 I went to drive the vehicle, checking my brake lights before I left, the brake light switch failed once again, no brake lights! Then while I was still in the driveway with my foot on the brake the switch profusely leaked brake fluid from an obviously very poor crimp when manufactured. My foot went to the floor as the switch leaked a puddle of brake fluid on the ground and I had no braking function, this is a single hydraulic system as most if not all vehicles built prior to 1966 had. I contacted WVE [XXX] at their customer service number [XXX] twice, I did not have a good feeling that the proper action would be taken to correct the problem if I sent the failed part to him (he kept trying to place the responsibility on his suppliers, said initially he wanted to wait for another complaint before taking action, etc. He said he had ordered a new switch for me and wanted me to send the bad one to him but I really don't want to risk another one of these parts on my car and I felt I should contact the NHTSA before I send the evidence away (note: the second replacement switch has not been installed and has the same lopsided crimp). Keep in mind that this very same part is used across many vehicle manufacturers, models and years. I was very lucky with my classic car the next guy may not be. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 55

WAS DRIVING MY 1999 FORD TAURUS AT A SPEED OF 30-35 MPH AFTER DRIVING AT 70-75 MPH STEADY FOR ABOUT AN HOUR ON THE HWY AND THEN WITHOUT ANY NOTICE WHILE DRIVING, THE SPEEDOMETER DROPPED FROM 30-35MPH TO 0-5 MPH AND STAYED AT THAT FOR ABOUT 3-5 SECONDS AND MY CAR TRIED TO DOWNSHIFT AND DEEXCELERATE AND ALSO DROP THE TRANSMISSION INTO A LOWER GEAR ALL ON ITS OWN WITHOUT ANY ATTEMPTS TO BRAKE OR SLOW DOWN FROM MY CURRENT SPEED OF 30-35 MPH. IT DID THIS TWICE WITHIN 90 SECONDS OF EACH TIME. SINCE I WAS LESS THAN A MILE FROM MY DESTINATION I MADE IT SAFELY TO MY LOCATION AND HAVEN'T DROVE IT SINCE. THIS ACTIVITY DID NOT OCCUR AT ALL WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HWY (41 NORTH) ABOUT 10 MINUTES PRIOR TO DRIVING AT CITY SPEED OF 30-35 MPH AFTER EXITING FOR ABOUT 2 MILES TO MY FINAL LOCATION WHICH DID NOT REQUIRE ANY STOP AND GO DRIVING EXCEPT WHEN I GOT OFF THE HWY AND SLOWED TO 30-35 MPH ONTO PROSPECT AVE IN APPLETON, WI. I DID NOTICE A SIMILAR THING HAPPEN TO MY CAR ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, BUT AT THAT TIME THE ONLY THING THAT HAPPENED WAS THE SPEEDOMETER DROPPED FROM ABOUT 55 MPH TO 0 A FEW TIMES WITHIN 5-10 SECONDS BUT IT DID NOT TRY TO SHIFT TO A LOWER GEAR LIKE THIS TIME WHEN THE SPEEDOMETER AND RPM INDICATORS QUIT ON ME WHILE IN OPERATION. *TR

CONSUMER PURCHASED THE WELLS MANUFACTURING CO. #Q1837 SPARK PLUG WIRE SET, THE WIRING WAS NOT LONG ENOUGH FOR APPLICATION, THEY WERE TOUCHING THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WHICH RESULTED IN VEHICLE FIRE AND DESTRUCTION OF VEHICLE. *MJS