NHTSA Complaint #10100382 — 2004 FORD F-150

SEVERAL WEEKS AFTER PURCHASING MY 2004 FORD F-150, I NOTICED THAT THE FRONT WHEELS WERE BEGINNING TO DISCOLOR FROM A BUILD-UP OF BRAKE DUST. LESS THAN A MONTH INTO OWNING THE CAR, I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS THE RESULT OF A FORD DECISION TO REPLACE THE ORIGINALLY DESIGNED BRAKE PADS WITH QUITER ONES BECAUSE OF PREVIOUS CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS ABOUT NOISY BRAKES. THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NO ALTERNATIVE BUT TO LIVE WITH THE PROBLEM, EVEN THOUGH I WAS HAVING TO CLEAN MY WHEELS EVERY THREE WEEKS DUE TO THE CONSTANT BUILD-UP OF THE BRAKE DUST. THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVE NO LOW-DUST VERSION FOR THE F-150'S EVEN IF I WERE TO PAY FOR IT MYSELF. THEY PROVIDED NO HELP OR SUPPORT, EVEN SUGGESTING THAT WE CONSUMERS WERE AT FAULT FOR THIS NEW BRAKE DUST PROBLEM BECAUSE OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE PREVIOUS PADS' NOISE, AS IF TO SUGGEST THAT WE DESERVE OR SHOULD HAVE EXPECTED AT LEAST ONE OF THESE PROBLEMS. MY POSITION IS THAT WHEN I BUY A $40,000 NEW CAR, I EXPECT THAT ENOUGH R&D WAS DONE TO DELIVER A QUIET AND LOW DUST BRAKE PAD. IF THIS PROBLEM ISN'T REMEDIED BY THE MANUFACTURER, I GUESS MY ONLY RECOURSE IS NEVER TO BUY FORD CARS AGAIN. IT'S BEEN AROUND 6 MONTHS SINCE MY PURCHASE AND MY TRUCK HAS ABOUT 7000 MILES ON IT; YET I STILL HAVE TO WASH THE FRONT WHEELS OFF AT LEAST EVERY THREE WEEKS DUE TO THE DISCOLORATION FROM THE BUILD-UP. *JB