# 1979 FORD FORD TRUCK AND VAN — STEERING:LINKAGES:DRAG:LINK:CONNECTION
> **FATAL** · NHTSA complaint `360863` · 2002-07-06 · Ford Motor Company
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 1
- **Injured:** 1
- **Fire:** No
- **Crash:** Yes
- **Police report:** Yes
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** FORD
- **Model:** FORD TRUCK AND VAN
- **Year:** 1979
- **Manufacturer:** Ford Motor Company
- **Component:** STEERING:LINKAGES:DRAG:LINK:CONNECTION
- **Speed:** 55 mph
## Narrative
SEPT 2000 I HAD OUR TRUCK'S STEERING REPAIRED. A CENTER DRAG LINK WAS INSTALLED AT THAT TIME. A FEW WEEKS LATER WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIFHWAY, THE CENTER  LINK DRAG SOME HOW BECAME DETACHED FROM THE PITMAN ARM. THIS LEFT MY HUSBAND WITH NO WAY TO CONTROL THIS TRUCK. IT LEFT THE ROAD AND HIT A POLE. HE WAS KILLED AND THE TRUCK WAS A TOTAL LOSS. IN THE CHP VEHICAL INSPECTION REPORT, THIS  LINK DRAG WAS LISTED AS BEING DETACHED FROM THE PIT MAN ARM, WITH ALL OTHER SYSTEMS BEING OK .*AK
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*