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2002 FORD FORD TRUCK — SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT

1 injured · 538933 · 2005-06-10

Vehicle

Make
FORD
Model
FORD TRUCK
Year
2002
Manufacturer
Ford Motor Company
Component
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
Miles at failure
16,000
Speed
35 mph

Severity

Deaths
0
Injured
1
Fire
No
Crash
No
Police report
Yes
Medical attention
No
Vehicle towed
No

Narrative

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 COMPLAI

Source

Authoritative
NHTSA ODI Flat-File Downloads
ODI Number
10124886
Machine
JSON-LD · Markdown