NHTSA Complaint #10096262 — 2004 FORD F-150

PURCHASE A BRAND NEW 2004 FORD F150 XLT SUPERCREW 4X4. VEHICLE HAD STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION. I WAS ASSURED BY THE SALES AND SERVICE STAFF THAT IT WAS A WHEEL BALANCE ISSUE. IF THEY COULD NOT FIX IT THEY WOULD GIVE ME A NEW TRUCK. THE TRUCK HAS BEEN BACK TO THE SHOP 6 TIMES FOR THIS VIBRATION PROBLEM AND NUMEROUS PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THE TRUCK HAS SPENT SEVERAL WEEKS AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR THIS PROBLEM. AFTER MEETING WITH THE FORD FIELD SERVICE ENGINEER HE TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS A "CHARACTERISTIC OF THESE TRUCKS" AND THEY CANNOT FIX IT BECAUSE NOTHING IS WRONG WITH IT. ALL THIS AFTER THEY REPLACED THE DRIVE SHAFT, ALL THE WHEELS, TIRES, ADDED A STEERING DAMPER, REPLACED FRONT HUB, HUNTER ROAD FORCED THE TRUCK AT LEAST 3 TIMES AND THE VIBRATION IS STILL THERE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. VERY ANNOYING, UNCOMFORTABLE TO DRIVE AND COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE FOR A BRAND NEW VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP MISREPRESENTED THEMSELVES BY TELLING ME IT WAS A WHEEL BALANCE ISSUE. NOW, FORD IS IN BREACH OF CONTRACT FOR NOT FIXING THE PROBLEM UNDER THE FACTORY WARRANTY. I GAVE THEM A FAIR CHANCE TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND STAND BY THEIR WORD AND REPLACE THE VEHICLE WITH ONE THAT DOES NOT HAVE THE VIBRATION. THEY DID NOT. NOW I WANT THEM TO BUY THE VEHICLE BACK AND PAY ALL OF THE ASSOCIATED COSTS INVOLVED WITH DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE AND OWNERSHIP.*AK