NHTSA Complaint #10000270 — 2001 FORD EXPEDITION

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC WHEN SHE SUDDENLY HAD NO BRAKES. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND FAILED TO RESPOND. SHE THEN BEGAN TO PUMP THEM WILDLY AND GOT SOME BRAKING ACTION. (THIS IS IN AN NEW FORD EXPEDITION WITH ONLY 47,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. ) SHE DROVE IN FIRST GEAR TO OUR LOCAL FORD DEALER A FEW BLOCKS AWAY. A RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BEARING HAD ALREADY WORN OUT-APPARENTLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT, CAUSING THE WHEEL TO BECOME LOOSE FROM THE AXLE. AS IT CAME LOOSE, THE BRAKE SHOE AND PISTON MECHANISM OF THE BRAKE CEASED TO FUNCTION. SHE WAS LUCKY THAT SHE HIT NO ONE ELSE AND THAT THE WHEEL DID NOT COME OFF CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO FLIP. SHE WAS FORTUNATE SHE WAS NOT ON THE FREEWAY AT HIGH SPEEDS WHEN THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID SHE WAS LUCKY TO GET IN BEFORE THE WHEEL FELL OFF THE VEHICLE. I AM APPALLED TO THINK THAT AN SUV THAT HAS ONLY HAD SOFT ON- ROAD USE AND NEVER USED OFF -ROAD COULD HAVE A WHEEL BEARING GO OUT AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE. BECAUSE OF THE HIGH PROFILE NATURE OF THE VEHICLE, THE POTENTIAL FOR FLIPPING IS EVEN GREATER WITH THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM THAN POORLY CONSTRUCTED TIRES. I AM VERY ANGRY THAT SUCH A PROBLEM OCCURRED WITH THIS VEHICLE, WHEN IT IS NOT EVEN TWO YEARS OLD.