NHTSA complaint: 1999 FORD F-350 SD — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I HAVE HAD TWO MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THIS TRUCK. MY FIRST ISSUE WAS VERY DANGEROUS IN MY OPINION. THE CAM SENSOR WENT OUT WHICH CAUSED MY TRUCK TO SUDDENLY STOP WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT. EVERY SYSTEM SHUT DOWN INCLUDING BRAKES. MORE THAN ONCE I WAS GOING 70MPH AND IT SUDDENLY STOPPED - I HAD TO GUIDE MYSELF TO THE SHOULDER AND STOP THE TRUCK WITH NO BRAKES. VERY VERY SCARY! I HAD THE TRUCK TO SEVERAL DEALERS AL TOLD ME THEY HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS WRONG. FINALLY I TALKED TO MY COUSIN, A DODGE MECHANIC, HE EXPLAINED THAT FORD KNEW OF A SERIOUS DEFECT WITH THEIR CAM SENSOR ON THAT YEAR TRUCK - HE EXPLAINED WHAT IT SHOULD COST TO FIX IT. I TOOK IT TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC AND HE FIXED IT IN HIS SHOP FOR EXACTLY WHAT MY COUSIN SAID IT WOULD COST. FORD STILL HAS NOT ACKNOWLEDGED THEY KNEW OF A PROBLEM. SECOND PROBLEM WAS WITH MY BRAKES. THE LEFT FRONT CALIPER BROKE OFF AND JAMMED IN THE REST OF THE BRAKE AND STOPPED MY TRUCK VERY SUDDENLY. I ALMOST WENT THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. I HAD THEM REPLACED WITH FORD PARTS. I HAVE HAD THE NEW BRAKES BACK INTO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AS THEY SEEM TO BE DOING THE SAME AS THE FIRST SET - PULLING TO THE LEFT AND NOT WORKING PARTICULARLY WELL. I WAS TOLD IT WAS DUE TO THE WAY I DRIVE - DOWNHILL AND STEERING TO THE RIGHT WHILE BRAKING - NONSENSE- I ANTICIPATE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AT ANY TIME AND STOPPING, DANGEROUSLY, SUDDENLY ON THE MAIN STREET OF MY SMALL TOWN JUST AS HAPPENED LAST TIME. *TR
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation