This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
Had changed brake pads a week earlier. Driving 55mph and the car crashed down on it's axle as the tire and wheel passed by us going down highway, in 37 North. Studs had all broken off. The disc brake is ruined from skidding on it. Traffic was moderately heavy. We skidded to a stop on a bridge and feel lucky not to have crashed into anyone.
While driving, the entire wheel/tire fell off of the vehicle, it is unknown if it was the tire or wheel that failed, one person was injured, claim 13-7497-974.
While making a right hand turn, front left wheel came off, vehicle dropped to the left side causing body damage and possible left front suspension damage, claim 45-8019-328.
My aluminum wheels have corroded at the tire bead seat severely. This produces tire pressure loss constantly. The wheels are not corroded at the face but at the area where the tire seals. My local tire store in Michigan says they see this same issue regularly. I am a Ford engineer and have complained about this defect to the wheel engineers and they say there is no such problem. The tire store also added that aluminum wheels combined with Michelin tires are the worst. Two of my wheels have this problem now with the original tires. This is a safety problem as they keep loosing air. I have to add air once a week.pls call me- I can show them to you. I dismounted the rears and the corrosion is severe. I take care of my cars-there is no excuse for this level of corrosion. Thanks. (tiresize: 215X70X15)
- Ypsilanti, MI, USA
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The problem is the weld on the wheel. The first one broke apart at the weld. The second one developed a pinhole at the weld. The third one also developed a pinhole at the weld. All were original Ford wheels. In all my years of driving I have never had one wheel break at the weld until I bought this van. Now I have had three in approximately 2 years. These vans are designed for carrying children so to me this is a safety issue. Ford however refuses to look into it because they have not had enough complaints theyalso refuse to reimburse me for the replacement wheels. Thank you for your time, I hope you will look in to this.
While driving inner tie rod broke, causing the front passenger's side wheel to fall off, resulting in driver's side air bag deploying. Consumer was knocked unconscious.
Driving West bound on I-94 just part menomonie, wi, the left rear wheel fell off around 7:30 pm on 1/2/99. About 40 miles before that, the ABS light came on. The brake pedal would go to the floor, but you did have minimal braking power by pumping the brakes up. The tow truck operator and my brother (who came to pick us up), thought it was a froozen wheel bearing. The patrol officer who took the rest of the family to the perkins while I waited for the tow truck found the wheel with the drum attached to it (all lug nuts were tight). Within the first couple of months of ownership of the car, the right rear wheel bearing had frooze and locked the car up. We have also had to add about 4 ounces of brake fluid each year to the system due to the brake light coming on. We have also complained that when going down a hill and braking hard that the steering wheel would shimmy pretty bad. Some other backgound on the wheel falling off is that we left gulf shores, Alabama at 2:00 pm on 1/1/99. We drove I-65 up to I-90 in Indiana. And then took I-94 heading for St. Paul, Minnesota. Due to the bad weather those days (1/1/99 and 1/2/99), we had to drive through rain, freezing, rain, snow, and high winds. As stated, the wheel fell off around 7:30 pm on 1/2/99 about 3 miles past (West of) menomonie, wi. I had to wait until about 8:50 pm for the tow truck due to other cars being in the ditch. They couldn't tow it to stillwater, Minnesota (where I leave, about 50 miles away) since they were busy that night. Northtown Ford called on 1/8/99 and stated that it would cost around $1,800 to $2,000 to fix. I've asked for the cause(s) of this failures, but they have been unable to tell me. Please contact me if more information is needed and let me know what my next steps should be. Thanks.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Morgantown, IN, USA