2003 FORD E-250 Complaints

DT: CALLER BOUGHT A USED VEHICLE FROM AN ARMORED CAR COMPANY. THE AIR CONDITIONER HAD A BAD COMPRESSOR. FORD OFFERED NO HELP BECAUSE THEY DID NOT WORK ON VAN CONVERSIONS. THE COMPANY CONSUMER BOUGHT THE VAN SENT HIM TO AN AIR CONDITIONING COMPANY. THEY SAID THE ENTIRE AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK 12 TIMES BECAUSE IT BLEW HOT AIR. THE AIR CONDITIONER COMPANY RETURNED THE MONEY THE ARMORED CAR COMPANY PAID TO FIX IT, AND WILL OFFER NO MORE HELP. THE ARMORED CAR COMPANY REFERRED THE CALLER TO ANOTHER AIR CONDITIONER COMPANY, AND THEY REPAIRED THE NEW SYSTEM. NOW THE AIR CONDITIONER IS BROKEN AGAIN. THEY HAVE REPLACED THE COMPRESSOR. THE CALLER HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. MANUFACTURER HAS OFFERED NO HELP.*AK

THE VAN WAS PARKED AN DIT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VAN WAS TOWED AND TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *AK

A FORD 2003 VAN, WITH 30,000 MILES EXPERIENCES A STEERING FAILURE, WHEN THE PITMAN ARM BROKE OFF THE BOTTOM OF THE STEERING BOX. IT CLEANLY SHEARED OFF A SHAFT OF METAL WHICH IS 1 1/4 INCHES OF SOLID STEEL.*AK SINCE THE DRIVER WAS OPERATING AT LOW SPEED ON THE RAMP OF MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, HE STRUCK A BARRIER WITH MINIMAL SHEETMETAL DAMAGE. THE DRIVER REPORTED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS SPINNING FREELY IN HIS HANDS AT THE TIME OF IMPACT. I REPORTED THIS TO FORD, WHO'S STAFF DETERMINED THAT THE SHAFT DID NOT FAIL DUE TO MANUFACTURING DEFECT. HAD THIS VEHICLE BEEN AT HIGHWAY SPEED ON A MAJOR ROADWAY, THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SO CLEARLY OBVIOUS. AND SURELY A FATALITY WOULD HAVE BEEN INVOLVED. I RETAINED THE BROKEN PART. I BELIEVE THIS IS AN INCIDENT WHICH SHOULD BE REPORTED. FORD DETERMINED THAT STRIKING THE BARRIER CAUSED THE METAL TO FAIL. HOWEVER THE IMPACT WAS MINIMAL AND THOUGH A CENTERED IMPACT ON THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE THE AIRBAG DID NOT EVEN DEPLOY.

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY IT CAUGHTON FIRE. ELECTRICAL/ABS SYSTEM'S WAS THE DEFECTIVE. MANUFACTURER URGED CONSUMER TO FILE A COMPLAINT. RECALL 04V444000. *AK

WHILE DRIVING FRONT END SUSPENSION CAUSED STEERING WHEEL TO VIBRATE WHEN DRIVING AND HITTING ROUGH OR UNEVEN SURFACES. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES, BUT MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE VIBRATION PROBLEM.*AK

THE FORD VAN E-250 2003 WERE PRODUCED AND SOLD WITH THE WRONG LUG WRENCH. CAN NOT CHANGE MY TIRES BECAUSE THE LUG WRENCH WILL NOT FULLY COVER THE LUG NUT BECAUSE THE WRENCH IS TO THICK AND HITS THE INER RIM. THIS IN TURN CAUSES THE WRENCH TO SLIP OFF OR STRIP THE NUT.*AK