2003 FORD CVPI Complaints

THE WHEELS WERE BEING INSPECTED AND IT WAS NOTICED THAT TWO OF THE WHEELS HAD CRACKS IN THE AREA WHERE THE TIRE BEAD MOUNTS. BOTH WHEELS HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY REPLACED AS PART OF FORD RECALL #03S05. ONE WHEEL HAD TWO CRACKS IN SEPARATE LOCATIONS. THE OTHER WHEEL HAD ONE LARGE CRACK. *JB

THIS WAS A POLICE VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A PURSUIT. AT APPROXIMATELY 110 MPH, THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL CRACKED, THE TIRE FLATTENED, THE OPERATOR LOST CONTROL AND CROSSED THE MEDIAN, THE OPPOSING LANES OF TRAFFIC AND IMPACTED THE GUIDE RAIL. TROOPER WAS TREATED AND RELEASED, VEHICLE DEMOLISHED. *LA

THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN AT 10 - 15 MPH, WHEN A LOUD POPPING NOISE WAS HEARD. UPON EXITING THE VEHICLE, THE TIRES WERE EXAMINED. THE LEFT FRONT TIRE WAS VISIBLY LOW ON AIR, BUT NOT ENTIRELY FLAT. THE TIRE AND WHEEL WERE BROKEN DOWN. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT A CRACK EXTENDED ABOUT HALF WAY AROUND THE WHEEL. *AK

THE LEFT FRONT TIRE APPEARED LOW ON AIR. WHEN TAKEN TO THE GARAGE, THE TIRE WAS EXAMINED TO DETERMINE THE SOURCE OF THE LEAK. NOTHING WAS FOUND. THE TIRE WAS DISMOUNTED AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THE WHEEL WAS CRACKED. THE CRACK WAS 3 TO 4 INCHES LONG AND FOLLOWED THE WELD AROUND THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE WHEEL.*AK

LT REAR TIRE APPEARED LOW ON AIR. THE TIRE WAS INSPECTED, NO PUNCTURES. THE WHEEL WAS BROKEN DOWN AND A CRACK WAS DETECTED ON THE WHEEL.*AK

2003 FORD CROWN VICTORIA WHEELS FAIL AT THE WELD, AND THE TIRE DEFLATES. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. WE ARE AFRAID THAT WE WILL HAVE A GRAVE ACCIDENT IF THIS IS NOT CORRECTED. THIS IS AFTER THE ORIGINAL WHHELS HAD BEEN REPLACED BECAUSE OF RECALL--NEW WHEELS HAVE A PROBLEM

WE HAVE A FLEET, 18, OF FORD CROWN VICTORIA POLICE INTERCEPTORS ASSIGNED TO OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT. FORD HAS NOTIFIED USERS OF THE POSSIBILITY OF RIMS DEVELOPING CRACKS AND TIRES LOSING AIR. I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH FORD AND WITH FORD DEALERSHIPS IN OUR AREA REGARDING THE REPLACEMENT OF RIMS. FORD HAS NOTIFIED US THAT IF THE RIM DOES NOT SHOW A CRACK THEY WILL NOT REPLACE IT. WE HAVE TAKEN STEPS TO TEST THE RIM WITH A PENETRANT AND DEVELOPER, MAGNAFLUX AND ACTUAL X-RAYS. WE FEEL THAT FORD IS IGNORING A POTENTIAL SERIOUS SAFETY INCIDENT AND BRUSHING THIS OFF "UNTIL NEW RIMS COME OFF PRODUCTION". IF A FLEET STAFF RECOMMENDS THAT RIMS BE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY SEE WHAT THEY FEEL IS A DEFICIENCY FORD SHOULD HONOR THAT REQUEST. WHAT SURPRISES AND DISMAYS US IS THE ATTITUDE THEY HAVE AND THEIR FAILURE TO ISSUE A RECALL.*AK

WHEEL FAILURE ON NEW STYLE STEEL WHEELS (OEM) ON 2003 FORD CVPI VEHICLES. TWO PIECE WHEELS ARE EXPERIENCING FAILURE OF WELDING SEAMS. FAILURE EXPERIENCED ON THREE SEPARATE VEHICLES. ALSO SEE ODI ID NUMBER 10003263. FORD MOTOR CO. DEALERSHIP IS NOT AWARE OF POTENTIAL FOR WIDESPREAD FAILURE. PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION INDICATES PROBLEM MAY BE NATIONWIDE. *NLM

POLICE GARAGE MECHANICS DISCOVERED FAILED WELD ON STEEL WHEEL OF CROWN VICTORIA POLICE VEHICLE MY2003. NO COLLISION OR ROAD HAZARD DAMAGE TO VEHICLE - WELD SIMPLY FAILED. INSPECTED ALL THE WHEELS ON 15 MY 2003 POLICE CRUISERS; FOUND A TOTAL OF THREE CRACKED WHEELS.