NHTSA Complaint #10100740 — 2001 FORD F-250 SD

AFTER NOTICING DIFFERENT ELECTRICAL ITEMS REMAINING ENERGIZED AFTER THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF I BEGAN DOING SOME RESEARCH. WHAT I HAVE LEARNED THROUGH THE LOCAL FORD DEALER IS THAT THE WINDSHIELD SEALANT COMPOUND USED WAS OF POOR QUALITY FROM THE MANUFACTURER. OVERTIME THIS ALLOWS WATER TO SEEP IN AROUND THE FRONT WINDSHIELD AND DRAINS INTO THE DRIVERS SIDE DASH AREA. THIS LOCATION HOUSES THE FUSE PANEL AND GEM (GENERIC ELECTRONIC MODULE). THE WATER THAT ENTERS THE FUSE PANEL AND GEM CAUSES BOTH UNITS TO SHORT OUT, AND COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A FIRE. THE EARLY SIGNS OF A PROBLEM ARE THE AC FAN RUNNING WITH THE IGNITION OFF, THE CLOCK ON THE RADIO FLASHING WHEN IT SHOULD BE OFF (IGNITION OFF), AND THE ELECTRIC WINDOWS, DOOR LOCKS, AND POWER MIRRORS TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY. FORD DEALERS ARE VERY AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND STATE THAT THOUGH FORD MOTOR COMPANY ADMITS USING POOR QUALITY SEALANT, THEY REFUSE TO FIX ANY OF THE FUSE BOXES OR GEMS. WHILE INSPECTING THE UNDERSIDE OF MY DASH I HAVE ALSO NOTED THAT THE LINKAGE FOR THE BRAKES, PASSING THROUGH THE FIREWALL, IS EXTREMELY RUSTY. EVENTUALLY THIS RUST COULD CAUSE AN OWNER TO EXPERIENCE BRAKE FAILURE CAUSED BY A BROKEN LINKAGE. *AK