1977 Truck Equipment Truck Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA TUNDRA EQUIPPED WITH A SNUGTOP CAMPER SHELL. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE SNUGTOP'S WINDOW DETACHED FROM THE SHELL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR WINDOW MALFUNCTIONED DUE TO LOOSE SCREWS AND HINGES. THE CAMPER WINDOW NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CAMPER WAS REPAIRED. TWO YEARS LATER, THE SNUGTOP'S WINDOW SHATTERED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE.

A FLEET OF E-250 FORDS ARE BEING USED FOR STRETCHER TRANSPORT VEHICLES. THE POTENTIAL PROBLEM IS THE REAR BUMPER IS MADE TO RAISE SO THAT WHEN OFF LOADING OF THE STRETCHER AND PATIENT THE WHEELS AND LEGS OF THE STRETCHER HAVE ADEQUATE ROOM TO EXTEND TO THE DOWN POSITION. HOWEVER, PART OF THE BUMPER THAT DOES NOT RAISE HAS A HOLDER ON EACH SIDE THAT IS USED TO HOLD THE BUMPER AS IT LOWERS. IT IS TOO EASY FOR THE STRETCHER'S WHEELS TO CATCH THESE HOLDERS CAUSING THE STRETCHER AND PATIENT TO COME FLYING DOWN WHEN THE EXTENDING PLUS BUTTON IS ENGAGED. WHAT HAPPENS IS IF A WHEEL HITS THE TAB PROTRUDING FROM THE BUMPER IT CAUSES THE STRETCHER TO PUSH OFF THE BACK OF THE TRUCK AS THE LEGS BEGIN TO EXTEND. THIS PROBLEM COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY TO AN ALREADY HURT PATIENT. TO ELIMINATE THIS PROBLEM THE PATH OF THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY SHOULD BE CLEAR OF THIS OBSTACLE. THE WIDTH OF THE OPENING COULD BE INCREASED AS WELL. IT IS NOT POSSIBLE FOR SOMEONE TO SEE BOTH SIDES OF THE BUMPER AT THE SAME TIME WHEN PULLING OUT AND ENGAGING THE LEG LOWERING OF THE STRETCHER. ALTHOUGH ITS RARE SUCH AN ACCIDENT OCCURS IT COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS FOR A SERIOUSLY INJURED PATIENT TO SUSTAIN THE SHOCK OF A STRETCHER BEING DROPPED 2-3 FEET OFF THE GROUND. THERE ARE RETRACTABLE GUIDE WHEELS THAT HOLD THE STRETCHER ON THE VAN, BUT IF THE WHEELS CATCH AN OBJECT WHILE THEY OPEN THIS CAN CAUSE THE STRETCHER TO BE PUSHED PREMATURELY OUT OF THE VAN BEFORE THE LEGS AND WHEELS HAVE A CHANCE TO FULLY EXTEND. IN MY OPINION THIS IS A BAD FLAW IN THE DESIGN. THE PROTRUDING HOLDING CLIPS SHOULD HAVE BEEN ATTACHED TO THE RAISED PART OF THE BUMPER THAT IS MOVED OUT OF THE WAY INSTEAD OF BEING IN THE WAY DURING THE OFF LOADING. *TR

O/D LIGHT SPONTANEOUSLY CAME ON. CAN NOT BE TURNED OFF. TRANSMISSION TAKES OFF SLOW. FIRST GEAR SLAMS INTO SECOND, WITH SLOW TAKEOFF CAUSES CARS BEHIND ME TO STOP SHORT BECAUSE MY TAKEOFF IS VERY SLOW. *TR

I OWN A 2004 FORD EXPLORER ON 7/14/2008 I TOOK IT TO THE FORD DEALER SHIP DUE TO MY O/D LIGHT FLASHING. I WAS TOLD I WOULD NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION $3,200.00 DOLLARS SO THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION,I PICKED UP MY EXPLORER ON 7/28/2004 AND ONLY DROVE IT 30 MILES AND THE O/D LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING AGAIN AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT PASSING GEARS. NOW THIS IS A NEW TRANSMISSION THE DEALER SHIP WAS CONTACTED AND THEY NOW HAVE MY VEHICLE AGAIN SO NOW I WILL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE WHAT THE OUT COME IS AGAIN. *TR

SHAFT ASSEMBLY PART #8L32-3B676-B ON FORD F-150 NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MECHANIC TOLD ME THERE WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB) . STEERING WHEEL WOULD STICK BADLY WHEN MAKING TURNS CAUSING TWO NEAR ACCIDENTS. *TR

WHEN I PURCHASED THE TRUCK, I TOOK THE TRUCK TO GET A DOT INSPECTION, WHICH IT PASSED BY WHEN THE COMPANY'S MECHANIC DID HIS INSPECTION FOR ME TO GO OVER THE ROAD WITH THEIR MATERIAL. HE FOUND A LIST OF FAULTS WITH THE TRUCK, I THEN CONTACTED THE DEALER IN WHICH HE STATES HE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE TRUCK ANY MORE. *TR

SPARE TIRE IS NOT PROPERLY SECURED WHICH CAUSES YOU TO LOOSE YOUR SPARE TIRE WHICH HAS HAPPENED TO ME CAUSING DAMAGE TO OTHER PARTS CAUSE CABLE IS NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO SECURE YOUR TIRE PROPER AND NOW I AM LIKE OTHERS I HAVE SPOKEN TO WITH THE SAME TRUCKS HAS HAPPENED TO THEM ALSO. NOW I HAVE TO LOOK FOR ANOTHER SPARE AND REAR BUMPER DUE TO DAMAGE DONE AND DENT TO REAR CORNER PANEL. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED TO DODGE SO IT CAN BE REPAIRED RIGHT SO IT IS NOT A SAFETY HAZARD TO ALL OTHER PEOPLE ON THE ROAD. *TR

WHEN I PURCHASED THE TRUCK, I TOOK THE TRUCK TO GET A DOT INSPECTION, WHICH IT PASSED BY WHEN THE COMPANY'S MECHANIC DID HIS INSPECTION FOR ME TO GO OVER THE ROAD WITH THEIR MATERIAL. HE FOUND A LIST OF FAULTS WITH THE TRUCK, I THEN CONTACTED THE DEALER IN WHICH HE STATES HE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE TRUCK ANY MORE. *TR

WHEN I PURCHASED THE TRUCK, I TOOK THE TRUCK TO GET A DOT INSPECTION, WHICH IT PASSED BY WHEN THE COMPANY'S MECHANIC DID HIS INSPECTION FOR ME TO GO OVER THE ROAD WITH THEIR MATERIAL. HE FOUND A LIST OF FAULTS WITH THE TRUCK, I THEN CONTACTED THE DEALER IN WHICH HE STATES HE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE TRUCK ANY MORE. *TR

THERE WAS NOTHING THAT LED UP TO THIS EVENT. I WAS JUST DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND THE BRACKET THAT ATTACHES THE FRONT AXEL OF MY TRUCK TO THE FRAME JUST SNAPPED OFF. THIS IS A RELATIVELY NEW VEHICLE AND HAS NOT SEEN TOO ROUGH A ROAD! IT IS QUITE PAMPERED AND WELL MAINTAINED. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECT DUE TO THE MANY COMPLAINTS OF THE EXACT THING HAPPENING. I SEARCHED ONLINE AND DISCOVERED THAT I AM NOT ALONE IN THIS EVENT AS IT SEEMS TO BE IT OCCURS QUITE FREQUENTLY TO (FROM WHAT I HEAR), 2 WHEEL DRIVE TOYOTA TACOMA'S, THAT HAVE INSTALLED A LIFT. I CANNOT IMAGINE HOW MANY LIVES HAVE BEEN LOST LET ALONE HOW MANY ACCIDENTS AND INJURIES THIS HAS RESULTED IN AS YOU LOOSE COMPLETE CONTROL OF WHERE THE VEHICLE GOES. AND IN SOME INSTANCES IT ALSO SEVERS THE BRAKE LINE LEAVING THE VEHICLE OUT OF CONTROL WITH NO BRAKES. I IMAGINE THAT MOST CRASHES ARE NOT BLAMED ON THIS DUE TO THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCING A LARGE ACCIDENT WITH IMPACT TO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. AND THE BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE FRONT AXEL TO FRAME IS MANGLED. THEREFORE, LEAVING ONE TO BELIEVE THAT THE ACCIDENT CAUSED THE DAMAGE. WHEN THE FACT IS THAT THE DAMAGE OR DEFECT IF YOU WILL IS WHAT CAUSED THE ACCIDENT WHICH IN TURN DAMAGED THE VEHICLE, DRIVER, PASSENGER(S). NOT TO MENTION THAT ACCIDENTS OFTEN INVOLVE OTHER VEHICLES AS WELL. IT SEEMS TO BE MORE PREVALENT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE SO THAT USUALLY MEANS THAT THE VEHICLE TRAVELS INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC! IE: HEAD ON COLLISIONS! HOW MANY SURVIVE A HEADON COLLISION IN A LIGHT DUTY TRUCK? FEW I WOULD IMAGINE. WELL IT ALMOST BECAME A REALITY FOR ME AS WELL AS MY PASSENGER. WE WERE JUST LUCKY THAT WE LIVE WHERE WE DO AND THERE WAS LIGHT TRAFFIC COMING THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. I HAVE HEARD THAT THIS HAPPENED TO SEVERAL OTHERS IN THE AREA AND TOYOTA TELLS THEM TO GO TO "ROCKY'S OFFROAD", TO GET IT FIXED. NO OFFER OF EXPLANATION OR REASON WHY BUT THAT IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN ALOT?! DOESN'T THAT SCREAM "MANUFACTURER DEFECT!" IT'S A *TR

O/D LIGHT SPONTANEOUSLY CAME ON. CAN NOT BE TURNED OFF. TRANSMISSION TAKES OFF SLOW. FIRST GEAR SLAMS INTO SECOND, WITH SLOW TAKEOFF CAUSES CARS BEHIND ME TO STOP SHORT BECAUSE MY TAKEOFF IS VERY SLOW. *TR

I OWN A 2001 FORD F150 LARIET TRUCK, WHICH I BOUGHT NEW, AND HAVE ONLY APX. 75000 MILES ON IT. I WASH IT REGULARLY AND EVEN SPRAY UP UNDER TRUCK TO REMOVE SALTS EVERY TIME I WASH IT. LUCKILY, OR BETTER, BLESSEDLY, WHILE POISONING MY TRUCK IN MY CAR-PORT THE CABLE HOLDING THE SPARE TIRE(FULL SIZE..ABOUT 100 POUNDS) SNAPPED AND THE TIRE, TIRE BRACKET, AND CABLE (CRIMPED) KNUCKLE FELL ONTO THE CAR PORT. THIS CABLE SHEARED EXACTLY AT THE KNUCKLE AND IT DID SO WITH-OUT ANY PROVOCATION. BY THE GRACE OF GOD, IT DID NOT STOP WHILE I WAS DOING 70 MILES AN HOUR GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. IF IT HAD I'M SURE THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN SO MUCH DESTRUCTION TO THE REAR OF MY TRUCK THAT I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO WRITE THIS. LET ME GO ON TO SAY, I REALLY LIKE THIS TRUCK, IT IS VERY SOLID, VERY RELIABLE, AND ONE OF THE BEST RIDES I'VE EVER OWNED IN MY 53 YEARS OF LIFE. I AM EITHER EXTREMELY LUCKY OR BLESSED THAT THIS HAPPENED IN MY DRIVE. IN FACT, ONLY 5 DAYS BEFORE, MY WIFE, SON AND I HAD RETURNED FROM A TRIP TO WEST VIRGINIA. THIS WAS A TRIP OF 700 MILES AND WE HAD TAKEN HER TAHOE BECAUSE IT HAS 4 WHEEL DRIVE AND MY FORD DOES NOT!!! *TR