NHTSA Complaint #10071096 — 1993 FORD F SERIES

STEEL FIXED BRAKE LINES RUPTURED AS A RESULT OF CORROSION DAMAGE, CAUSING PARTIAL BRAKE FAILURE. THIS IS THE SECOND INCIDENT WITH THIS TRUCK. THE FIRST TIME, THE LINE RUNNING FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER TO THE FITTING NEAR THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL FAILED AT THE FITTING WHERE IT ATTACHED TO THE BRAKE HOSE GOING TO THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL. I HAD AN MY NEIGHBOR WHO WORKS AS A GENERAL MECHANIC REPLACE THAT LINE, AND THE LINE RUNNING TO THE OTHER FRONT WHEEL. FORTUNATELY I WAS ON A PRIVATE ROAD ON MY PROPERTY DRIVING LESS THAN 10 MPH, AND WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE SAFELY WITH THE PARKING BRAKE. A SECOND INCIDENT HAPPENED OCTOBER 18 WHILE DOWN IN GREENBELT, MD WHICH IS ABOUT 50 MILES FROM HOME. THIS TIME I WAS IN A NEARLY EMPTY PARKING LOT WHEN I NOTICED PROBLEMS. I LIMPED TO A NEARBY GAS STATION WHERE I MORE CLOSELY INSPECTED THE BRAKES FOR THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. THIS TIME, THE FAILURE WAS NEAR A FITTING WHERE THE STEEL LINE ATTACHES TO A FITTING WHERE FLEXIBLE HOSE WHICH RUNS TO THE LINES ON THE REAR AXLE ATTACHES TO THE FIXED LINE IN THE BODY OF THE TRUCK. SAME FAILURE DIFFERENT PLACE. THE GAS STATION'S SERVICE BAYS WERE CLOSED, SO I DECIDED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO MY NEIGHBOR'S GARAGE AGAIN, WHERE WE WILL REPLACE THE REST OF THE LINES. THE ISSSUE ISN'T SO MUCH THE COST OF REPAIRING THE RUSTY BRAKE LINES, WHICH SHOULD NOT BE MORE THAN 100 DOLLARS IN PARTS AND SEVERAL HOURS OF LABOR ON THE PART OF MY NEIGHBOR AND MYSELF, BUT THE POTENTIAL THAT THE FAILURE COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A SERIOUS, IF NOT DEADLY ACCIDENT HAD THE CIRCUMSTANCES BEEN SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT. I REALIZE THIS IS AN OLDER VEHICLE NOW, BUT I HAVE NOT HEARD OF OTHER VEHICLES OF SIMILAR AGE HAVING THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM. I PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE DONE A MORE THOROUGH INSPECTION OF THE ENTIRE BRAKING SYSTEM AFTER THE FIRST RUPTURED LINE, BUT NEVERTHELESS THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT FORD NEEDS TO BRING TO THE ATTENTION OF ITS OWNERS BEFORE SERIOUS ACCIDENTS DO OCCUR.