1997 FORD F-250 Complaints

HIGH PRESSURE POWER STEERING HOSE FAILED AT THE QUICK CONNECTOR ON THE DISCHARGE OF THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THE CONNECTOR CAME APART AND CAUSED A RAPID LOSS OF FLUID AND LOSS OF STEERING ASSISTANCE.*AK

ALL FOUR FIRESTONE STEEL TEC RADIAL AT LT 235-85R16 TIRES WERE REPLACED DUE TO DRY ROT ON THE EXTERIOR TIRE WALLS. *MJS

FUEL SELECTOR SWITCH GOT STUCK IN DID POSITION, CAUSING ENGINE TO QUIT RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. JUST LIKE RECALL 91S39. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK SPORADICALLY. SOMETIMES THEY COME ON WITHOUT APPLICATION, AND OTHER TIMES THEY CUT OFF WITHOUT APPLICATION. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE SWITCH BEFORE, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.*AK

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES WHILE TOWING A TRAILER, TRANSMISSION KICKED OUT OF GEAR INTO NEUTRAL. THIS COULD CAUSE A BAD CRASH BECAUSE VEHICLE WAS JUST FREE WHEELING. FORD WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. AFTER TAKING VEHICLE TO TWO DEALERSHIPS, OWNER WAS TOLD THAT TRANSMISSION WAS OPERATING NORMALLY. *AK ANY TIME THE DRIVER STEPS ON THE BRAKE, THE GEAR SHIFTS AUTOMATICALLY TO NEUTRAL CAUSING SAFETY HAZARD. *YH

I HEARD A LOUD VIBRATING OR THUMPING NOISE WHILE DRIVING. STOPPED AT A FIRESTONE IN SANTA FE, WHERE THEY SHOWED ME THAT LAYERS OF THREE OF THE TIRES WERE PEELING OFF FROM THE INSIDE. I BOUGHT 4 NEW TIRES ON THE SPOT -- AT JUST 26,000 MILES ON THE TRUCK. (TIRESIZE: LT245/75R)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: LT245/75R )

PE 00 040/TIRE FAILURE: WHILE REPAIRING A TIRE AT A SERVICE STATION, NOTICED ALL FOUR TIRES WITH CRACKS AROUND THE SIDEWALLS MOUNTED. ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, LT 235/85R16, FIRESTONE NOTIFIED. *AK *SLC

THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED 2 DIFFERENT TIMES, WITH BOTH FRONT TIRES IN JULY OF 99 AND 00. BEING THAT THIS HAPPENED TWICE ON 1 VEHICLE AND HAPPENED IN SUCH A CRITICAL AREA AS THE STEERING, I FEEL THAT THERE MUST HAVE BEEN MORE THAN 1 VEHICLE TO WHICH THIS HAS OCCURRED. I FEEL OBLIGATED TO REPORT THIS AS THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL ON THESE PARTS EVEN THOUGH IT HAPPENED TO US TWICE ON THE SAME VEHICLE AT LOW MILEAGE. WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE THAT IT HAPPENED AT LOW SPEED. YOUR PROMPT ATTENTION WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED BECAUSE WE FEEL THAT THERE ARE LIVES AT STAKE.*AK

SIDE WALLS BULGING FROM BEAD TO THE TREAD AND CIRCUMFERENCE MIDWAY ON THE SIDEWALLS (TIRESIZE: LT 235/85)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: LT 235/85 )

THE FOLLOWING IS THE TEXT OF A LETTER THAT I SENT TO FIRESTONE ON 8-10-2000. ALL THAT THEY DID WAS SEND ME FORM LETTER THAT DIDN'T EVEN APPLY TO MY TIRE. CAN YOU ASSIST IN OBTAINING COMPENSATION?: IN 1997, I PURCHASED A NEW 1997 FORD F-250 EXTENDED CAB LWB DIESEL TRUCK (FROM VALLEY FORD IN ONEONTA, AL). IT CAME EQUIPPED WITH FIRESTONE "STEELTEX RADIAL A/T LT 235 85 R16 M/S" TIRES.I WAS VERY CAREFUL TO MAINTAIN THE PROPER TIRE PRESSURE AND STAY WELL UNDER THE RATED CARRYING CAPACITY AT ALL TIMES FOR SAFETY REASONS. ON 3-24-2000, APPROXIMATELY 40 MILES AFTER I HAD (COINCIDENTALLY, I SUPPOSE) CHECKED FOR THE PROPER PRESSURES AND CAREFULLY INSPECTED ALL THE TIRES, WHILE LOADED AT OVER 1 TON LESS THAN THE BED CARRYING CAPACITY, TRAVELLING AT ABOUT 50 MPH AFTER DARK IN A MOSTLY RURAL AREA, THE LEFT REAR TIRE LITERALLY EXPLODED. I NEARLY LOST CONTROL, BUT I MANAGED TO SLOW DOWN AND PULL ONTO A CONCRETE DRIVE AND CHANGE THE TIRE. THE WHEEL HUB WAS SERIOUSLY ABRADED/SCRATCHED. THERE WAS VERY LITTLE LEFT OF THE TIRE. I HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF HITTING ANYTHING AFTER THE ABOVE DESCRIBED TIRE INSPECTION.EVEN THOUGH I HAD AT LEAST 40% TREAD LEFT ON ALL TIRES, THIS SCARED ME SO MUCH THAT I WENT AND BOUGHT A NEW SET OF FOUR TIRES THE VERY NEXT DAY.I HAD NOT GIVEN IT ANY MORE THOUGHT UNTIL THE RECENT PUBLICITY OVER FAILURES OF FIRESTONE RADIAL TIRES COMING AS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON FORD TRUCKS AND SUVS DURING THIS PERIOD. SO, IN MY OPINION, A VERY CAREFULLY MAINTAINED TIRE (AS MINE WAS), WELL "UNDERLOADED" INSPECTED IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT, PROPERLY INFLATED, WORN ONLY 60%, AND SUBJECTED TO NO "INJURY" SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED, ESPECIALLY IN SUCH A DRAMATIC/DANGEROUS FASHION, AND THEREFORE MUST HAVE BEEN DEFECTIVE WHEN SOLD.I AM ASKING FOR COMPENSATION FOR AT LEAST PART OF THE COST OF MY NEW SET OF TIRES ($767.99NTBHOOVER, AL).R CRAIG BRADLEY 8-10-2000 (TIRESIZE: 235 85 R16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235 85 R16 )