NHTSA Complaint #10116141 — 2001 FORD F-350 SD

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 35-45 MPH, MY 2001 F-350 FORD CREW CAB,4-WHEEL DRIVE DUALLY PICKUP TRUCK CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP WITH A LOUD EXPLOSION. I WAS ABLE TO RETURN HOME AS I WAS ONLY ABOUT 1-1 1/5 MIIES FROM MY HOUSE, I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED, RICART FORD. LOOKING UNDER THE TRUCK, I NOTICED A LARGE, GAPPING WHOLE IN THE GEAR BOX ON THE FRONT AXLE. IT APPEARED THAT THE EXPLOSION OCCURRED IN THE HOUSING, BLOWING A WHOLE IN THE METAL. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRUCK WAS OUT OF WARRANTY (51,178 MILES) AND FORD WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIRS. RICART REPLACED THE FRONT AXLE WITH A USED ONE FROM A JUNKYARD FOR $3478.21. GIVEN THEIR EXTIMATE FOR A NEW AXLE, MY ONLY OPTION WAS TO HAVE THE REPAIR COMPLETED WITH A USED ONE. I HAD TO RENT A CAR WHICH COST $426.99. I HAVE KEPT A LOG OF MY CONTACTS WITH RICART AND THE ONLY CONTACT WITH THE FORD REPRESENTATIVE WHICH I WOULD BE HAPPY TO SUMMARIZE. I ALSO HAVE THE DAMAGED FRONT AXLE AND HAVE TAKEN SEVERAL DIGITAL PHOTOS. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I AM NOT SATISFIED WITH HOW THINGS HAVE GONE THUS FAR. FOR EXAMPLE, IT TOOK A LONG TIME TO HEAR FROM FORD. IN FACT, RICART AVOIDED GIVING ME A NAME TO CONTACT. EVEN AFTER BEING CONTACTED BY THE FORD REP, I ASKED FOR A CONTACT ABOVE HIM AND HE INFORMED ME THAT EVEN IF I CONTACTED THE PRESIDENT, IT WOULD COME BACK TO HIM FOR THE DECISION. WHEN I ASKED FOR HIS PHONE NUMBER, HE INFORMED ME THAT HE DID NOT HAVE A PHONE AND I COULD REACH HIM THROUGH THE DEALER. HAD THIS OCCURRED WITH MY WIFE AND 4 YEAR OLD TWINS IN THE TRUCK AND THE TRUCK VEERED INTO ON-COMING TRAFFIC, WE WOULD BE LOOKING AT A DIFFERENT AVENUE OF RELIEF.