2002 Ford Ford Truck

WHILE GOING AROUND A HAIRPIN TURN THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE FELL OFF ROTOR AND ALL, THIS INCIDENT CAUSED THE 2002 FORD LIGHTNING TRUCK TO SLIDE INTO THE CURB CAUSING THE TRUCK TO ROLL COMPLETELY OVER LANDING BACK ON IT'S 3 TIRES THAT WERE LEFT. FROM THE LOOK OF IT THE AXLE BOLT FELL OFF CAUSING THE TIRE TO FALL OFF. DRIVER WAS GOING UNDER THE SPEED LIMIT & NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE INVOLVED. ACCORDING TO A FRIEND THIS SAME INCIDENT HAPPENED TO HIS LIGHTNING TRUCK. SOUNDS LIKE A DEFECT ON FORDS PART. *TR

75400 MILES. NOISE FROM REAR END BECOMING MORE NOTICEABLE. ALSO, THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY WON'T SHIFT FROM 2ND TO 3RD. DEALER DIAGNOSED THE REAR END PROBLEM AS BEARINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND PROBABLY THE REAR HUBS WERE BAD. THE TRANSMISSION WAS BAD, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. FORD DEALER SERVICE ADVISED ME TO CONTACT FORD 800 NUMBER, AND OPERATOR AFTER PUTTING ME ON HOLD AND TALKING TO THE DEALER TURNED THE PROBLEM OVER TO THE NEXT LEVEL OF CUSTOMER CAR BECAUSE HER LIMIT OF $500 WOULD NOT BEGIN TO COVER THE REPAIRS. FORD COSTUMER CARE CALLED ME AND AFTER LETTING ME TELL MY STORY SAID THERE WAS NO PROGRAM DOLLARS AVAILABLE FOR ASSISTING IN FIXING EITHER PROBLEM, EVEN THOUGH THE REAR END PROBLEM WAS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE PREVIOUS VISIT AT 74,400 MILES PER THE DEALERS RECOMMENDATION. ALSO INFORMED ME THAT NOT EVEN THE $500 WAS AVAILABLE ,AND THE OPERATOR HAD NO RIGHT TO OFFER THAT AMOUNT. TOOK THE CAR FROM THE DEALER AFTER PAYING $120, PLUS $100 CAR RENTAL THEY WOULD NOT COVE) SINCE THE MILEAGE WAS 400 OVER WARRANTY 75000 MILEAGE LIMIT TO DIAGNOSE A PROBLEM THEY FAILED TO CORRECTLY DIAGNOSE THE FIRST 2 TIMES. *AK

I AM THE OWNER 2002 FORD EXPLORER THAT I PURCHASED FROM METRO MOTORS OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS IN AUGUST 2002. ON SEPTEMBER 17, 2004, WHILE I WAS DRIVING HOME, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL DETACHED COMPLETELY FROM THE AXIS OF THE VEHICLE. I DROVE OFF FROM THE STOP LIGHT. WHILE I WAS ACCELERATING I FELT THE STEERING WHEEL TURN SHARPLY TO LEFT AND THE WHEEL BUCKLE. A FEW MINUTES LATER, I FELT A TUG ON THE STEERING WHEEL, AND THEN I FELT THE WHEEL BUCKLE. THE VEHICLE CRASHED TO SUDDEN STOP. I EXITED THE VEHICLE AND SAW THAT THE FRONT DRIVER''S SIDE WHEEL WAS COMPLETELY DETACHED AND NOTICED THE WHEEL WAS ROLLING DOWN FROM THE POINT OF WHERE THE VEHICLE STOPPED. THE WHEEL STOPPED ABOUT TEN FEET TO FIFTEEN FEET (10 FT. TO 15 FT.) AWAY WITH THE ENTIRE DRUM ASSEMBLY AND WHEEL STILL ATTACHED. I HAVE ALSO BEEN NOTIFIED BY SEVERAL OTHER FORD EXPLORER OWNERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR DEFECT. THE LATEST OCCURRED IN MIAMI, FLORIDA ON SEPTEMBER 23, 2004 WITH THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT WHEEL DETACHING FROM THE AXIAL AND FLIPPING THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY INJURING THREE (3) AND ONE (1) OTHER DIED. THEY WERE DRIVING IN A FORD EXPLORER. A SIMILAR INCIDENT OCCURRED DECEMBER 2002 IN ORLANDO, FLORIDA WHEN A FAMILY OF FIVE FLIPPED IN A FORD EXPLORER KILLING THREE KIDS AND HER HUSBAND LOST AN EYE. ANOTHER INCIDENT OCCURRED JUST FOURTEEN (14) DAYS AFTER WITH A FORD ESCAPE WITH THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL DATACHING FROM THE VEHICLE. SINCE WRITING MY COMPLAINT TO ALL FORD OFFICES, SEVERAL OTHER AUTOMOBILE COMPANIES HAVE RECALLED SUVS FOR DETACH OF FRONT LEFT WHEEL (DODGE, HUMMERS, GMC, ETC.) LICSENCING AND CONSUMER OFFICE HAS ALSO PROVIDED INDEPENDENT MECHANICS WHO'S INSPECTION REPORTS STATE THAT THE VEHICLE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINT DETACHED WHICH CAUSED THE ENTIRE WHEEL TO DETACH. I SUBMITTED A POLICE REPORT STATING THE DAMAGES TO THE VEHICLE WAS NOT CAUSED BY COLLISION TO ANOTHER VEHICLE OR PROPERTIES.

WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, MY CAR COMPLETELY CONKED OUT FOR "NO APPARANT REASON." I PULLED OVER THE CAR (THE BEST THAT I COULD) AND STARTED IT BACK UP. I WENT HOME AND IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED MY LOCAL DEALER AND TOLD THEM OF MY PROBLEM. THE MAN AT THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME TO DRIVE MY CAR FOR A FEW MORE DAYS TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS. I ALSO HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING SOME "MISSING"/SHAKING WITH MY CAR (PERIODIC PROBLEM.) THE SHAKING IS APPARENT WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER IS ON BUT DOES OCCUR PERIODICALLY WHEN IT IS OFF. FEELING UNCOMFORTABLE WITH ALL THESE PROBLEMS, I CALLED MY LOCAL DEALER BACK AND SET AN APPIONTMENT TO HAVE MY CAR LOOKED AT. ON JUNE 3RD, MY CAR WAS LOOKED AT BUT WAS TOLD THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS. I AM VERY CONCERNED WITH THIS, ESPECIALLY WITH THE CONKING OUT SINCE IT IS INDEED A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE.*AK