1999 FORD F-450 SD Complaints

WE ALSO HAVE ANOTHER TRUCK IDENTICAL TO DESCRIPTION LISTED ABOVE AND HAVE ALSO HAD A THIRD CLUTCH REPLACED ALSO. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN THE SAME PART BREAKING EVERY SINGLE TIME. THE SPRING IN THE CLUTCH PLATE IS BREAKING AND IS FALLING INTO THE TRANSMISSION CAUSING THE DRIVERS GREAT DIFFICULT IN STOPPING.

MCS HAS PURCHASED 5 1999 FORD F450 & F550 CAB & CHASSIS TRUCKS BETWEEN 4 SEPTEMBER 1998 AND 16 JUN 1999. ALL OF THESE TRUCKS HAD GENERAL TIRES MOUNTED AS STANDARD EQUIPMENT. THUS FAR WE HAVE REPLACED ALL BUT ONE SET IN THE FIRST TEN THOUSAND MILES OF USAGE DUE TO EXCESSIVE FAILURE FROM BLOW-OUTS. THESE TIRES ARE NOT ABLE TO HOLD-UP UNDER THE RATED WEIGHT OF THESE TRUCKS. WE HAVE EXPERIENCED 100% SIDEWALL FAILURE DURING OPERATION BOTH HERE IN COLORADO AND IN THE DESERT SOUTHWEST OF CALIFORNIA. THE TIRES DEVELOP BUBBLES ON THE SIDEWALL THEN SHORTLY THEREAFTER BLOW OUT. IN SEPTEMBER 98, AFTER THE FIRST COMPLETE FAILURE OF A SET OF 6 TIRES, GENERAL TIRE CO. WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY DID REPLACE THE TIRES. 100% OF THE REPLACEMENTS THAT WERE PROVIDED ALSO FAILED WITHIN THE FIRST 8000 MILES. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THESE TIRES ARE FAILING AT ROAD SPEEDS AND DURING OFF ROAD USE, UNDER LOAD( REAR AXLE AND FRONT AXLE) AND UNLOADED WEIGHT. WE CURRENTLY HAVE 10-12 TIRES WHICH HAVE BEEN BLOWNOUT IN OUT SHOP ALONG WITH ONE OTHER TIRE THAT HAS 6-8 BUBBLES ON THE SIDEWALL. OFTEN TIMES WHEN THESE TIRES BLOW OUT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE DRIVERS LOOSE TEMPERARY CONTROL OF THE TRUCKS. WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE( DOT NUMBER: A39Y1HC268 TIRE SIZE: 225/70R195 )

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PROBLEM WITH CLUTCH PEDAL LOCATED TO CLOSE TO THE FLOOR WHICH CAUSED VEHICLE TO MOVE, EVEN WHEN CLUTCH PEDAL WAS FULLY PRESSED TO THE FLOOR. ASKING NHTSA TO LOOK INTO THIS MATTER. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED DUE TO A BROKEN CLUTCH PLATE SPRING WHICH MAY CAUSE A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL RESULT IN A CRASH. TWO VEHICLES EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM EVERY 15,000- 16,000 MILES. 2ND VEHICLE VIN # 1FDXW46F4XED49. DEALER REPLACED PARTS OF THE TRANSMISSION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

AND ALSO F550 1999, VIN# [XXX], DEFECTIVE THROW BEARING ON THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY IN A CRASH. FIRST THE PROBLEM OCCURRED ON 1999, F450; AND DEALER REPLACED THAT VEHICLE WITH A 1999 F550, BUT CURRENTLY VEHICLE IS HAVING THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

DRIVER SIDE REAR DISC BRAKES, DUE TO ENGINEERING DESIGN,(CALIPERS ON FRONT OF ROTOR) WILL NOT CLEAN DEBRIS (MUD,SAND, GRAVEL) FROM SURFACE OF ROTOR, THIS HAS RESULTED IN TWO ROTORS BEING GROUNDED INTO COOLING WEB. CAN RESULT IN SHOES LOCKING ROTOR AND CAUSING MAJOR ACCIDENT. WE ALSO HAVE A 1999 FORD F550 WITH THE SAME PROBLEM , RESULTING IN 3 ROTOR CHANGES. WE OPERATE COMMERCIALLY IN SAND, MUD (OFFROAD). *AK

OTHER FAILURES 4-24 AT 55MPH STOPPED WITH ONLY TRAILER BRAKES: 4-29 AT 40MPH ABLE TO SLOW WITH GEARS

MIRROR ARMS ARE NOT LONG ENOUGH FOR CONSUMER TO SEE ALONG THE SIDE OF 8 FOOT WIDE BODY STANDARD TRUCK. THIS CAUSED A LARGE BLIND SPOT. FORD IS AWARE OF DEFECT. *AK

REAR VIEW MIRRORS DO NOT EXTEND OUTWARD FAR ENOUGH TO ALLOW FOR SAFE REAR VISION.

THE EXTERIOR REAR VIEW MIRRORS DO NOT EXTEND OUTWARD FAR ENOUGH TO ALLOW FOR SAFE REAR VISION, ESPECIALLY WHEN TOWING STANDARD 8' TRAILER. DESIGN ERROR NOT A MALFUNCTION.