# 1997 FORD F-150 — POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT
> NHTSA complaint `214100` · 2000-05-31 · Ford Motor Company
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 0
- **Fire:** No
- **Crash:** Yes
- **Police report:** No
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** FORD
- **Model:** F-150
- **Year:** 1997
- **Manufacturer:** Ford Motor Company
- **Component:** POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT
## Narrative
WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 68 GOING UP A MOUNTAIN AND TOWING A RV, UPON REACHING  TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN HEARD A LOUD NOISE. STARTED SLOWING DOWN, PASSED THE GUARDRAIL, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN VEHICLE JACK KNIFED OUT OF CONTROL.  RV IMPACT  FORCED TRUCK OFF THE ROAD.  SHATTERED THE REAR CAB.  WHEN THEY TOWED VEHICLE TO DEALER, WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM BECAUSE   BEARINGS FAILED  DUE TO  BEARING SPINS IN THE HOUSING UNIT FREEZING UP.  *AK
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*