NHTSA Complaint #10125125 — 1999 FORD F-150

PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT I HAD NO INDICATION OF A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING OR SUSPENSION SYSTEM. ON THE EVENING OF JUNE 9, 2005 AS I WAS BRAKING AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN INTO A PARKING LOT I NOTICED THAT MY TRUCK SEEMED TO SKID. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS THE ABS SYSTEM SINCE THE ROAD WAS WET. THERE WAS A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME, BUT I WAS ABLE TO STOP WITHOUT RUNNING INTO ANY OTHER VEHICLE. BECAUSE I DID NOT REALIZE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS AT THAT TIME I CONTINUED INTO THE PARKING LOT, AND MADE ANOTHER RIGHT TURN INTO THE PARKING SPACE. AT THAT TIME THE TRUCK DID THE SAME THING; IT FELT AS THOUGH IT WAS SKIDDING. WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE I NOTICED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER TIRES WERE POINTED IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS, SO I KNEW THAT A TIE ROD HAD COME DETACHED. AFTER TOWING THE TRUCK HOME I INSPECTED IT, AND REALIZED THAT THE PASSENGER INNER TIE ROD HAD SEPARATED AT THE BALL JOINT. INSPECTION OF THE JOINT REVEALED THAT BOTH PIECES WERE SIGNIFICANTLY RUSTED. I HAVE REPLACED THE INNER AND OUTER TIE ROD ENDS ON BOTH SIDES AS A PRECAUTION, SINCE I DID NOT KNOW IF THE OTHERS WOULD DO THE SAME THING.