NHTSA Complaint #10030440 — 1997 FORD EXPEDITION

I HAVE HAD A TOTAL OF THREE BOLTS BACK OUT THAT SECURE THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT BRAKE ASSEMBLY. THIS HAS OCCURRED ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. ONE BOLT ON ONE OCCASION WAS SUBSEQUENTLY REPLACED. THE SECOND OCCASION RESULTED IN TWO BOLTS BACKING OUT AND ALLOWING THE BRAKE ASSEMBLY TO FALL AGAINST THE INSIDE OF THE WHEEL. THIS RESULTED IN THE BRAKE ASSEMBLY BINDING AGAINST THE WHEEL AND FRACTURING THE WHEEL. ONCE THE WHEEL WAS CRACKED THE TIRE WHENT FLAT INSTANTLY, THUS RUINING THE TIRE AS WELL. I HAD BEEN TRAVELING AT 75 MPH SHORTLY BEFORE THE FAILURE OCCURRED. HAD I NOT HEARD THE BRAKE ASSEMBLY SCRATCHING AGAINST THE WHEEL AND STOPPED, THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I FEEL LIKE IF IT IS HAPPENING TO MINE, IT IS PROBABLY HAPPENING WITH OTHER FORD EXPEDITIONS AND TRUCKS AS WELL. IF THIS IS NOT CORRECTED I BELIEVE FATALITIES MAY RESULT. BY THE WAY, I'M OUT ABOUT $700 FOR TOWING, RENTAL CAR, TIRE AND WHEEL REPLACEMENT. *AK