1989 FORD F350 Recalls, Complaints & Safety

I WAS RETURNING HOME FROM PHOENIX. I WAS TRANSITIONING FROM THE 101 FREEWAY,TO THE 60 EASTBOUND. ALMOST WHERE THE CONCRETE BARRIERS COME TO A POINT AND END, MY LEFT FRONT TIRE CUT LOOSE OF IT'S TREAD. I BRIEFLY SAW THAT IT WENT TOWARDS, AND IN BETWEEN THE CONCRETE BARRIERS. THE TIRE DID NOT GO FLAT. WHEN THE TREAD LEFT, IT TORE UP THE INNER FENDER PLASTIC, BENT THE QUARTER PANEL RIGHT BEHIND THE WHEEL WELL, DESTROYED THE FOOTSTEP BOLTED ON UNDERNEATH THE DRIVERS DOOR. THE VEHICLE IS A 1989 F350 4-DOOR LONGBED 4-WHEEL DRIVE TRUCK. THIS EPISODE IS NOT THE FIRST. THE FIRST HAPPENED IN 2003. THE SECOND TIME HAPPENED TO MY 20 YR OLD SON WHILE ON HIS WAY TO SCHOOL. THAT ONE WAS THE LEFT REAR. IT RIPPED OUT BOTH SUPPORTS THAT THE BED HAS IN FRONT AND IN THE REAR OF THE WHEEL WELL. IT SMASHED THE REAR FUEL TANK FILLER TUBE, PULLED IN THE OUTSIDE DOOR TO THE "GAS" CAP,MANGLED THE PORTION OF THE BED THAT IS BEHIND THE WHEEL WELL, INSIDE AND OUT. I WAS IN IRAQ WHEN THAT HAPPENED. THEY SAID THAT I HAD THE WRONG TIRE PRESSURE ON BOTH ACCOUNTS, 1ST AND 2ND TREAD SEPARATIONS. WITH A TRUCK THAT BIG,I DON'T LET MY TIRES GET NEGLECTED FROM HAVING THE PRESSURE CHECKED ON A REGULAR BASIS,AND ADJUSTED ACCORDINGLY. I HAD MY WIFE TELL THEM THAT WAS A BUNCH OF BULL!#*^,AND I WANTED SOMETHING DONE. THEY TOLD MY WIFE THAT I HAD PEPBOYS PUT THE WRONG KIND OF TIRE ON MY TRUCK. THAT IS WHEN I FIRST STARTED TRYING TO FIND SOMETHING OUT ALONG THE LINES OF A LAWSUIT. THEY HAD PLENTY OF LAWSUITS GOING ON CONCERNING TIRES, BUT NONE WERE OF THE TIRE I HAD. I AM NOW LOOKING INTO BUYING ANOTHER BED FOR MY TRUCK BECAUSE OF WHAT COOPERS TIRES HAVE DONE TO IT. I ALSO HAVE TO PURCHASE A NEW STEP TO MOUNT UNDER THE DRIVERS DOOR. THE TIRES I HAD ON MY TRUCK WERE DAKOTA FUTURA RVT,33X12.50R16.5LT. I HAVE WENT AND PURSUED ESTIMATES ON GETTING MY TRUCK FIXED. I AM LOOKING AT ABOUT 3500.00. I NOW HAVE A DIFFERENT BRAND (MANUFACTURER) MADE TIRE S NOW. *NM

CONSUMER STATES THE CHOKE PLATE IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GETS SO HOT, IT MELTS THE FUEL LINE AND IGNITES FUEL, BURNING THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.

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ALMOST DAILY FRONT LEFT WHEEL SHIMMY AT 35-55 MPH. FIRST STARTED ABOUT 1991 AND OCCASIONALLY FIXED BY ALIGNMENT, WHEEL BALANCING, TIRE ROTATION, DUAL FRONT STEERING STABILIZERS, BUT RECENTLY THE PROBLEM HAS WORSENED. I AM UNABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AT HIGHWAY SPEED FOR FEAR OF THE WHEEL SHIMMY OCCURING AT THE 35-55 MPH RANGE. WHEN SHIMMY STARTS I CAN TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT SLIGHTLY AND THE SHIMMY WILL GO AWAY TEMPORARILY. SHIMMY ONLY OCCURS WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT, OR WHILE TURNING TO THE LEFT. AS A SIDE NOTE THE TRUCK DOES PULL TO THE RIGHT, MAKING ME COUNTER STEER TO THE LEFT, WHICH IS TEMPTING FATE WITH THE SHIMMY.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THE CHOKE PLATE IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GETS SO HOT, IT MELTS THE FUEL LINE AND IGNITES FUEL, BURNING THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.

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NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

CONSUMER NOTICED A 2 FEET SPLIT IN TREAD, WHICH EXPOSED THE TIRE CONSTRUCTION,NO AIR WAS LOST ,TIRE REPLACED BY FIRESTONE,COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A ROLL OVER, ACCORDING TO THE BERKSHIRE EAGLE GOODYEAR IS CONDUCTING A SILENT RECALL ON THIS TIRE. LOCAL DEALER SAYS AT IS A WORSE PROBLEM FOR TREAD SPLITS.*AK (DOT NUMBER: MDORNJHV TIRESIZE: LT23585R16)

VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY AT ANY SPEED. AFTER 30-45 MINUTES, IT WILL START AGAIN. MODUL RELAY SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED 9 TIMES.*AK

LARGE AREA OF TREAD SEPERATION A ROAD CONTACT SURFACE AREA. *AK (TIRESIZE: 235-85-R16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235-85-R16 )

MICHELIN TIRES P235 85 R16 EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, CONSUMER FEELS IT MAY BE A DEFECT OF THE VEHICLE INSTEAD OF THE TIRE. *SLC

PE00020- STEEL TEX R4S, REPLACEMENT TIRES ON A FORD F350 1989. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY TREAD SEPARATED ON THE DUAL INNER TIRE. *AK

THIS IS A FIRE (ATTACK) TRUCK OWNED BY REGIONAL FIRE & RESCUE IN PINAL COUNTY ARIZONA. ON TWO OCCASIONS, WE SUFFERRED TWO TIRE SEPARATIONS WITH FIRESTONE STEELTEX A/T RADIAL TIRES. THE FIRST WAS JULY 6, 2000 WHEN TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEED, WHILE ENROUTE TO A FIRE CALL ON INTERSTATE-8 SOUTH OF CASA GRANDE, AZ., ON THE LEFT REAR TIRE. THE SECOND SEPARATION OCURRED ONE MONTH LATER, ON THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE, AGAIN AT HIGH SPEED, AGAIN ON INTERSTATE-8 SOUTH OF CASA GRANDE, AZ., ON THE EARLY AFTERNOON OF AUGUST 16TH 2000. LOW TIRE INFLATION WAS NOT A FACTOR DUE TO THE CONTINUOUS TIRE PRESSURE CHECKS MADE BY FIREFIGHTER DURING MORNING APPARATUS CHECKS ON MONDAY, WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY OF EVERY WEEK. WE REPLACED THE REMAINING TWO TIRES DUE TO THE CIRCUMSTANCES. DUE TO THE POTENTIAL FOR FURTHER VEHICLE DAMAGE, EMPLOYEE INJURY OR LOSS OF LIFE. WE SHIPPED THE LAST TIRE WHICH SEPARATED, AND PICTURES, CLAIM FORMS, ETC., TO BFTS IN NASHVILLE TENNESSEE FOR THEIR INSPECTION. THIS WAS TOO IRONIC - HAVING TWO TIRES SEPARATE, ONE FRONT, ONE REAR WITHOUT ANY APPARENT CAUSE. THANK YOU. CHIEF STEVEN KERBER. *AK( DOT NUMBER: VDORRAB208 TIRE SIZE: P23575R16 )

THANKS; I NEED HELP: I AM DRIVING ALONG AND THE ENGINE JUST STOPS. I AM AT A STOP LIGHT AND WHEN I TAKE OFF I ONLY GO A FEW YARDS, AND THE ENGINE STOPS.I AM AT A STOP SIGN, AND THE ENGINE JUST STOPS. I HAVE BEEN TOWED 3 TIMES IN THE LAST 3 MONTHS BY AAA. I WAIT A WHILE MOST OF THE TIME AND THE ENGINE WILL START AGAIN AFTER ABOUT 30 MINUTES.MY WIFE IS 70 YEARS AND I AM 67. AND WE ARE TOO OLD FOR THINGS LIKE THIS TO PUT WITH THINGS LIKE THIS. WE ARE AFRAID TO LEAVE TOWN NOW. I HAVE TAKEN THE TRUCK TO A FORD DEALER,PET BOY'S,AND A AUTO REPAIR SHOP. THEY ALL WANT TO DO A LOT OF THINGS AND ONE HAD A BILL FOR OVER $800.00. NOW I FOUND OUT ON THE NEWS IT PROBABLY IS THE TFI MODULES.THAT IS IN A LAW SUIT.I HAVE SPENT OVER $500.00 ALREADY. EVERY PLACE SAID IT IS SOMETHING ELSE.WE ARE RETIRED AND ON A FIXED INCOME AND THIS IS COSTING TOO MUCH. I NEED HELP. THANKS KENNETH CONNOR

IN RESEARCHING PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET I FOUND A NUMBER OF NEWSPAPER ARTICLES INDICIATING NTSA HAD REOPENED THEIR INVESTIGATION INTO THIS PROBLEM. COULD NOT LOCATE ANY DATA ON YOUR SITE. ANY STATUS ON PROBLEM OR RECALL??

FUEL SPILLS OUT OF VEHICLE, VERY DANGEROUS. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED AFTER THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED DURING A RECALL. FORD CONTINUES TO SCREW ITS CUSTOMERS AND THE GOVERNMENT BY NOT COMING UP WITH A FIX. FOR THE STEERING COLUMN TO GET SO HOT HIGH AMPS. MUST BE SENT TO THE STEERING COLUMN. IS THERE A DEFECT IN THE WIRE HARNESS? I HAVE FOUND OVER THE YEARS THAT FORD REPAIRS ARE UNRELIABLE AND LEAVE THE CUSTOMER WITH AN UNSAFE VEHICLE. *AK

I WAS EAST BOUND ON INTERSTATE 8 EAST OF ALPINE, CA PULLING A TRAILER UP A 6% GRADE. I NOTICED SMOKE FROM THE REAR OF THE TRUCK. I PULLED ONTO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD TO INVESTIGATE. THE SPARE TIRE HAD SHIFTED IN ITS MOUNT NEAR OR AGAINST THE TAIL PIPE. THE TIRE HAD IGNITED AND WAS IN FLAMES. IT IS MOUNTED AGAINST THE BOTTOM OF THE REAR FUEL TANK. I EXTINGUSHED THE FIRE, AND REMOVED THE TIRE FROM THE TRUCK. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED OF 3 OTHER INCIDENTS OF THIS OCCURRING ON OTHER FORD PICKUP TRUCKS SINCE THIS INCIDENT. IN ALL FOUR INCIDENTS, THE TRUCKS WERE PULLING TRIALER UP HILL. MY CONCERN IS THE POSSIBILITY OF THE BURNING SPARE TIRE IGNITING THE FUEL IN THE REAR FUEL TANK. I CAN PROVIDE THE VIN NUMBER LATER IF YOU STILL NEED IT. *AK

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HEADLIGHT SWITCH MELTED THE WIRING HARNESS. CONSUMER HAS NOTIFIED THE OWNER AND MANUFACTURER. *AK

AS I TRAVEL THE COUNTRY AND ENCOUNTER OTHER FORD TRUCK OWNERS WITH DUAL FUEL TANKS I FIND MANY OF THEM ALSO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH REAR FULE TANK LEAKING. FUEL THEN FALLS ON REAR TIRE AND CAN CAUSE FIRE OR RUIN TIRE. I NOTICED WHEN SEARCHING YOUR DATABASE COMPLAINTS OF THIS NATURE WERE INVESTIGATED AND CLOSED IN 1991 WITHOUT RECALL. CASE # PE91090 (TIRE) AND PE 94004 (BRAKES). ANY WAY I CAN OBTAIN DETALIS OF THESE STUDIES? *AK

BRAKE FAILURE WHILE BEING OPERATED UNDER HOT HILLY CONDITIONS.

NO SUMMARY

1 deaths

ALTERNATOR AND WATER PUMP ARE DESIGNED TOO FAR APART; THIS CAUSES THE BELT TO MOVE UP AND DOWN, HITTING THE AIR PUMP AND WEARING THE BELT AWAY. WHEN IT BREAKS, IT TANGLES IN OTHER BELTS, CAUSING THEM TO JUMP OFF AND SHRED THEMSELVES. VEHICLE LOSES POWER STEERING/BRAKES AND WATER PUMP. *AK

STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, CAUSING A COLLISION.(OHIO POLICE REPORT)

TOTAL BRAKE LOSS WHILE BEING OPERATED UNDER HOT HILLY CONDITIONS.

GREASE ON REAR BRAKE SEALS, THEY FAILED WHILE DRIVING. OIL WOULD GET ONTO BRAKES. COULD SEE OIL DRIPPING. BRAKES WOULD LOCK UP. REAR BRAKES NOT EFFECTIVE AT ALL, ESPECIALLY WHILE TOWING A TRAILER. WILL HAVE DEALER CHECK OUT SEALS. *AK

ALTERNATOR BELT IS TOO LONG AND FLOPS AROUND, HITTING THE AIR PUMP AND EVENTUALLY IS CUT IN HALF, WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE BRAKES FAIL WITH. THE OWNER HAS REPLACED THE COMPONENT EIGHT TIMES IN THE SIX YEARS OF OWNERSHIP.

THE DRIVER SIDE FIRE WALL BROKE LOOSE AND WOULD NOT LET THE CLUTCH SAFETY SWITCH ENGAGE.

HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP EXIT COUPLING ROTTED, CAUSING FUEL TO LEAK.

WHILE DRIVING, CLUTCH PEDAL SAGGED, USED EXCESSIVE FOOT PRESSURE TO MOVE CLUTCH, DEALER NOTICED CRACKED FIREWALL (STRUCTURE) WHILE REPAIRING CLUTCH. DEALER SAYS HAVE A KIT TO REPAIR IT BUT OWNER MUST PAY. *AK

VEHICLE'S REAR DIFFERENTIAL SEALS ARE LEAKING AND OIL IS FALLING ONTO ABS, REAR BRAKE LINING CAUSING COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKES OR LOCKUP DUE TO DIRT ACCUMULATION. *AK

IGNITION SWITCH OVERHEATS.

TRAILER DETACHED FROM VEHICLE ON HIGHWAY. (NEW JERSEY POLICE REPORT)

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REAR WHEEL GREASE RETAINER SEALS FAILED SIX TIMES, CAUSING OIL TO LEAK ON REAR BRAKE SHOES.

THE REAR HOUSING SEAL REPLACED THREE TIMES WITHIN TWO YEARS, THE GAS GAUGE STOPPED WORKING , PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING DOWN ROAD AND THE TRUCK STARTED TO SMOKE AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK *SLC

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CONSUMER WAS DRIVING DOWN ROAD AND THE TRUCK STARTED TO SMOKE AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK *SLC

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SAFETY CHAINS ON THE TRAILER WERE FOUND TO HAVE BEEN ATTACHED TO THE BUMPER MOUNTED HITCH RATHER THAN TO THE CAMPER FRAME ALLOWING SEPARATION WHEN THE BUMPER SNAPPED OFF.(NEW JERSEY POLICE REPORT) *SD

CATALYTIC CONVERTER OVERHEATED FAILED 2 TIMES. *SD

HEADLIGHT SWITCH SHORTED FOUR TIMES, CAUSING LOSS OF VISIBILITY. *DH

BRAKE FAILURE, WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED, PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND EXPERIENCED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *AK

ELECTRICAL OR SHOCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE.

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