2009 FORD E-350

THIS CAR BASSED FOR LAST 2 SMOG CHECKS AND STILL THE LIGHT FOR CHECK ENGINE ON ? AND I HAVE VIDEO FOR THAT. / PLUS THE LAST INSPECTION 03/02/2017 IN CARFAX I SEE SOMETHING WRONG ( I SEE THAT IT WAS A RENTAL VEHICLE SO 81,963 MILES IN A LITTLE OVER TWO YEARS IS NOT UNCOMMON. WE ARE ALSO SHOWING THAT ON 7/13/2012 THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED AND AT THAT TIME THE ODOMETER READING WAS RECORDED AS 153,548 MILES. CA DMV REPORTED THAT THIS VEHICLE HAD 155,061 MILES ON 8/6/2012. BOTH THESE ODOMETER READINGS ARE HIGHER THAN 98,384 MILES AND THEY BOTH COME FROM DIFFERENT SOURCES. THEREFORE IT APPEARS THAT THE 3/2/2017 ODOMETER READING OF 98,384 MILES IS IN ERROR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD E-350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND DID NOT RESTART. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER AND THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FLY WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE MOTTO. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A KNOWN ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 159,000.

THIS IS A 2009 15 PASSENGER CHURCH VAN WITH 17000 MILES. THE VAN IS METICULOUSLY CARED FOR AND MAINTAINED INSIDE AND OUT. THE VEHICLE IS LIGHTLY USED. IT WAS DISCOVERED DURING A PRE-TRIP INSPECTION THAT THE RIGHT SIDE, 3RD ROW PASSENGER SEATBELT THAT SHOULD BE ATTACHED TO THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE (ABOVE THE PASSENGER'S SHOULDER) WAS DISCONNECTED. FURTHER INSPECTION SHOWED THAT THE THREADING OF THE BOLT AND THE THREADING TO THE CORRESPONDING NUT WELDED TO THE FRAME WAS STRIPPED SMOOTH. THERE WAS NO OTHER EVIDENCE OF DAMAGE TO THE AREA SURROUNDING THE STRIPPED PARTS (I.E. DAMAGE TO INTERIOR MOLDING, FABRIC OR THE SEAT BELT WEBBING AND HARDWARE.) THE DAMAGE SEEN ON THE BOLT IS CONSISTENT WITH A BOLT THAT HAS BEEN OVER TORQUED OR CROSS THREADED. THIS IS CLEARLY SOMETHING THAT HAS OCCURRED IN MANUFACTURING. A FORD DEALERSHIP IN HAGERSTOWN, MARYLAND HAS INSPECTED THIS AND CONCURS THAT THE BOLT WAS OVER TORQUED OR CROSS THREADED. *TR

FORD E-SERIES VANS. 2009-2012 E150, AND E350 BOTH AS VANS, AND AS PASSENGER SHUTTLES I AM A COMMERCIAL DRIVER, I'VE SPENT MY LIFE WITH FORD VANS (HAVE NOT DRIVEN 04-08) 09+ NEWER VANS OCCASIONALLY DO NOT STOP BELOW 15MPH ABS OVER SENSITIVE AND EASILY CONFUSED BY SLIGHT DOWNGRADES, POTHOLES, SAND, RR TRACKS, LIGHT SNOW OVER COMPACT SNOW, WET BRICK, OR SLIGHT ICE TOO OFTEN I MUST RELY UPON DOWNSHIFTING TO STOP BEFORE THE INTERSECTION NUMEROUS VANS, VARIOUS TIRE CONDITIONS (GREAT TO POOR), ALL HAVE THE SAME ISSUE CAN TAKE 13-20 SECONDS TO GO FROM 15MPH TO 0MPH RELYING ON ABS ALONE, WHICH OUR OTHER VEHICLES ARE JUST FINE ON THE SAME STRETCH OF ROAD (STOP IN ABOUT 3-5SECS) THE ABS IS AMAZINGLY GOOD ON LEVEL GROUND, BUT SLIGHT DOWNGRADES + A PREVIOUS LISTED ELEMENT CONFUSES THE SYSTEM AND WILL DENY THE DRIVER BRAKE PRESSURE THE ABS IS DANGEROUS IN WINTER (OCCASIONALLY) I WAS DRIVING THESE FANS OVER 40 HOURS A WEEK, EVERY WEEK SINCE WE GOT THEM IN 09'. I LEARNED TO DRIVE ON A 94, OUR WORK HAD A 95 AND AN 03, WHICH WERE FINE IN WINTER (BUT BROKE DOWN AFTER MY FIRST YEAR OF EMPLOYMENT THERE). THE 09'S AND NEWER WERE THE PROBLEM. THE TRACTION CONTROL SET A NEW LEVEL OF DANGER IN FLUFFY SNOW. SOMETIMES THESE RWD VANS WOULD UNDERSTEER, BUT THE TC WAS OVER ZEALOUS AND YOU COULD NOT CORRECT UNDER STEER. THE TC COULD NOT BE COMPLETELY TURNED OFF EITHER. SO THEY WOULD BE STUCK ON THE ICE, AND UNSTEERABLE IN THE FLUFFY STUFF I'VE BEEN DRIVING FOR 15 YEARS, NEVER HAD AN ACCIDENT, I STUDY RALLY RACING TECHNIQUES, AND I AM SHOCKED THESE NEW FORD VANS MADE SAFETY REGULATIONS "AMERICA'S DRIVERS SHOULD FEEL CONFIDENT THAT ANYTIME THEY GET BEHIND THE WHEEL THEY CAN EASILY MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THEIR VEHICLES -- ESPECIALLY IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY"-RAY LAHOOD. THESE SYSTEMS SHOULD NOT OVERRIDE DRIVER INPUTS, PROFESSIONAL, EXPERIENCED DRIVERS INPUTS. *TR

FORD E-SERIES VANS. 2009-2012 E150, AND E350 BOTH AS VANS, AND AS PASSENGER SHUTTLES I AM A COMMERCIAL DRIVER, I'VE SPENT MY LIFE WITH FORD VANS (HAVE NOT DRIVEN 04-08) 09+ NEWER VANS OCCASIONALLY DO NOT STOP BELOW 15MPH ABS OVER SENSITIVE AND EASILY CONFUSED BY SLIGHT DOWNGRADES, POTHOLES, SAND, RR TRACKS, LIGHT SNOW OVER COMPACT SNOW, WET BRICK, OR SLIGHT ICE TOO OFTEN I MUST RELY UPON DOWNSHIFTING TO STOP BEFORE THE INTERSECTION NUMEROUS VANS, VARIOUS TIRE CONDITIONS (GREAT TO POOR), ALL HAVE THE SAME ISSUE CAN TAKE 13-20 SECONDS TO GO FROM 15MPH TO 0MPH RELYING ON ABS ALONE, WHICH OUR OTHER VEHICLES ARE JUST FINE ON THE SAME STRETCH OF ROAD (STOP IN ABOUT 3-5SECS) THE ABS IS AMAZINGLY GOOD ON LEVEL GROUND, BUT SLIGHT DOWNGRADES + A PREVIOUS LISTED ELEMENT CONFUSES THE SYSTEM AND WILL DENY THE DRIVER BRAKE PRESSURE THE ABS IS DANGEROUS IN WINTER (OCCASIONALLY) I WAS DRIVING THESE FANS OVER 40 HOURS A WEEK, EVERY WEEK SINCE WE GOT THEM IN 09'. I LEARNED TO DRIVE ON A 94, OUR WORK HAD A 95 AND AN 03, WHICH WERE FINE IN WINTER (BUT BROKE DOWN AFTER MY FIRST YEAR OF EMPLOYMENT THERE). THE 09'S AND NEWER WERE THE PROBLEM. THE TRACTION CONTROL SET A NEW LEVEL OF DANGER IN FLUFFY SNOW. SOMETIMES THESE RWD VANS WOULD UNDERSTEER, BUT THE TC WAS OVER ZEALOUS AND YOU COULD NOT CORRECT UNDER STEER. THE TC COULD NOT BE COMPLETELY TURNED OFF EITHER. SO THEY WOULD BE STUCK ON THE ICE, AND UNSTEERABLE IN THE FLUFFY STUFF I'VE BEEN DRIVING FOR 15 YEARS, NEVER HAD AN ACCIDENT, I STUDY RALLY RACING TECHNIQUES, AND I AM SHOCKED THESE NEW FORD VANS MADE SAFETY REGULATIONS "AMERICA'S DRIVERS SHOULD FEEL CONFIDENT THAT ANYTIME THEY GET BEHIND THE WHEEL THEY CAN EASILY MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THEIR VEHICLES -- ESPECIALLY IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY"-RAY LAHOOD. THESE SYSTEMS SHOULD NOT OVERRIDE DRIVER INPUTS, PROFESSIONAL, EXPERIENCED DRIVERS INPUTS. *TR

ON 03/15/11 SPARK PLUG #6 BLEW OUT OF THE HEAD OF ENGINE CAUSING A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE. ON 06/01/11 SPARK PLUG #3 BLEW OUT SAME ODORS RESULTED. DEALER RETHREADED HOLE(S). METAL SHAVINGS COULD NOW BE IN THE HEAD OF THE ENGINE CAUSING MORE DAMAGE. DEALER SAYS THIS IS NOT A PERMANENT REPAIR AND MAY HAPPEN AGAIN. THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD. GASOLINE COULD IGNITE CAUSING A FIRE AND/OR IMPAIRED VISION. [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

ON 03/15/11 SPARK PLUG #6 BLEW OUT OF THE HEAD OF ENGINE CAUSING A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE. ON 06/01/11 SPARK PLUG #3 BLEW OUT SAME ODORS RESULTED. DEALER RETHREADED HOLE(S). METAL SHAVINGS COULD NOW BE IN THE HEAD OF THE ENGINE CAUSING MORE DAMAGE. DEALER SAYS THIS IS NOT A PERMANENT REPAIR AND MAY HAPPEN AGAIN. THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD. GASOLINE COULD IGNITE CAUSING A FIRE AND/OR IMPAIRED VISION. [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

SUBJECT:ESC IS NOT REALLY STANDARD ON THE FORD E350 COMMENTS: I DRIVE A 2009 E350 COMMUTER VAN THAT DOES NOT HAVE ESC. BUT YOUR WEB SITE SAFECAR.GOV INDICATES THAT ESC HAS BEEN STANDARD ON THIS VAN SINCE 2006. IN FACT, FORD SELLS CONVERSION VANS WITHOUT ESC AND THE NC DOT SPECIFIES THEM FOR PURCHASE. PERHAPS AS MANY AS 48 OTHER STATES DO THE SAME. SEE THIS STORY: HTTP://ABCLOCAL.GO.COM/WTVD/STORY?SECTION=NEWS/ABC11_INVESTIGATES&ID=7293228 I THINK THE NHTSA NEED TO CLEAN UP THEIR ACT AND START GETTING THE WORD OUT ON THIS. NC QUICKLY CHANGED THEIR POLICIES WHEN THEY LEARNED THE FACTS. PERHAPS THE OTHER STATES AND OTHER FLEET/COMMERCIAL BUYERS WOULD DO THE SAME IF YOU COULD RAISE AWARENESS ON THIS ISSUE. *TR

FORD FULL SIZE VAN WHEN YOU OPEN REAR DOORS TO LOAD OR UNLOAD , THE DOORS BLOCK ALL LIGHTS, TURN SIG , TAIL LIGHTS,4-WAY FLASHERS AND BREAK LIGHTS . THE ONLY LIGHT YOU HAVE IS DOME. SOMEBODY WILL GET HURT OR KILLED.*TR

SUSPICIOUS FIRE DETERMINED BY FIRE MARSHALL AS ORIGINATING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT/PASSENGER SIDE THAT TRAVELED THROUGH THE FIRE WALL, ALONG THE WIRING IN THE WALL TO THE GAS TANK WHICH THEN CAUGHT FIRE WHICH SPREAD TO ENTIRE VEHICLE. DAMAGE TO DRIVEWAY AND OVERHEAD TREES AND MINOR DAMAGE TO CAR PARKED IN FRONT OF VAN. VEHICLE IS ONLY 3 MONTHS OLD, NEVER HAD REPAIRS AND CAUGHT FIRE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT SITTING IN A DRIVEWAY, NOT RUNNING. FORD D-350 EXTENDED CAB. $5,000 WORTH OF PERSONAL PROPERTY AND $10,000 WORTH OF COMPANY PROPERTY WAS LOST IN THE FIRE. *TR

MARCH 30, 2009 VPSI, INC. 165-U NEW BOSTON STREET SUITE 286 WOBURN, MA 01801 ATTENTION: MELISSA ZAMPITELLA, NEW ENGLAND AREA MANAGER THE PURPOSE OF THIS LETTER IS TO MAKE YOU AWARE OF WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE 2009 E-350 FORD VANS WHICH VPSI PROVIDES TO MASSRIDES PARTICIPANTS. RECENTLY THE VAN POOL FOR WHICH I AM COORDINATOR WAS PROVIDED A 2009 FORD VAN IN EXCHANGE FOR OUR VAN THAT REQUIRED SERVICE. DURING THE RIDE TO CAPE COD I NOTICED A DISTINCT DIFFERENCE IN HANDLING FROM THE VAN WE CURRENTLY HAVE, A 2007 FORD. THE VAN SWAYED EXCESSIVELY AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND PRESENTS A CLEAR DANGER! THIS IS PARTICULARLY NOTICEABLE WHEN OTHER VEHICLES PASS. I HAD TO SLOW DOWN TO ELIMINATE THE SWAYING!! THIS WAS ALSO NOTICED BY TWO OTHER DRIVERS OF THE VAN ON SEPARATE OCCASIONS; MARCY MAENPAA AND DAVID STANFORD. BOTH FOUND THE VAN TO BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AND TOLD ME THAT THEY FELT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DRIVE THE VAN SAFELY AND THEREFORE WOULD NOT DRIVE IT IN THE FUTURE. AN INTERESTING SIDEBAR IS THAT WHILE PARKED AT NORTH STATION AWAITING TWO RIDERS, THE DRIVER WAS APPROACHED BY THE DRIVER OF AN IDENTICAL VAN ASKING IF WE HAD HANDLING ISSUES WITH THE VAN. I BELIEVE THIS ISSUE GOES BEYOND THE ONE VAN WE HAD BUT IMPLIES IT MAY BE A FACTORY DEFECT. SINCE THESE VANS TYPICALLY HAVE UPWARDS OF 14 PASSENGERS, AN ACCIDENT COULD BE LIFE THREATENING TO NOT ONLY THE MEMBERS OF THE VAN POOL BUT ALSO TO OTHERS ON THE ROADWAY. ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE VAN POOL FELT IT IMPERATIVE THAT WE PASSING OUR EXPERIENCE ALONG TO YOU CONSIDERING THE RISKS. *TR