NHTSA Complaint #10098888 — 2003 FORD E550

2003 FORD F250 6.0 DIESEL, THE HOSE BETWEEN THE TUBRO AND THE INTERCOOLER IS BLOWING OFF. THIS RESULTS IN A LOSS OF POWER AND IF THE CLAMP CUTS THE BELT IT WILL RESULT IN THE FAILURE IN THE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKING SYSTEMS. FORD HAS A UPGRADE HOSE KIT (5C3Z*6C646*AA) FOR $100.00 IF THE TRUCK HAS MORE THAN 36000 MILES.MINE HAS 41000. THE HOSE FAILED ON INTERSTATE 26 AS I WAS PULLING MY 29' TRAVEL TRAILER UP A 6% GRADE AT THE SALUDA MOUNTAINS, AFTER THE HOSE FAILURE I WAS ONLY ABLE TO PROCEED AT 20MPH, NOT GOOD ON A INTERSTATE WITH TRUCKS GOING BY AT 60-70MPH. FORD MOTOR CO. CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE DEPT. STATED THIS PROBLEM WAS A ENGINEERING PROBLEM NOT A WARRANTY ISSUE.BOTH THE DEALERS, THE DEALER THAT SOLD ME THE TRUCK AND THE ONE WHICH REPAIRED IT SAID IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 6.0 ENGINE) , THEREFORE THERE IS NO RECALL, ONLY A UPGRADE KIT AFTER FAILURE. I FEEL I SHOULD HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED OF THIS PROBLEM BEFORE FAILURE AND THE PART SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACE AT NO CHARGE. DURING REGULAR SERVICE, I HAVE 41000 MILES ON MY TRUCK.THE SELLING DEALER IS THE ONLY SERVICER. THIS SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER IN HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC CAN CAUSE SOMEONE PULLING A LOADED TRUCK TO BE REAR ENDED, WOULD BE BAD IN MY CASE WITH A 29' TRAILER AND A F-250 TRUCK SCATTERED ON THE INTERSTATE.*AK