NHTSA Complaint #10126833 — 1997 FORD F-350

DT: CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED OF ABOUT REAR LEAF SPRINGS SPRING HANGER AND SHACKLE. CONSUMERS VEHICLE HAS EXTENSIVE RUST ON THE SPRING HANGER CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY MECHANIC THAT IT WOULD NOT BE SAFE TO HAUL ANY AMOUNT OF WEIGHT UNTIL PROBLEM WAS FIXED. CONSUMER PURCHASED THE PARTS TO FIX THE VEHICLE TODAY. FORD DEALER TOLD CONSUMER THAT THEY SELL A LARGE AMOUNT OF THESE PARTS, THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM ACCORDING TO THE FORD DEALER PARTS DEPARTMENT. CONSUMER STATED THAT THIS WAS A MAJOR STRUCTURAL ITEM, IT WAS RIVETED ON, NOT BOLTED. CONSUMER LOOKED AT SEVERAL OTHER VEHICLES LIKE HIS OWN, AND THEY HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. CONSUMER CALLED FORD TO ISSUE A COMPLAINT WITH THEM. CONSUMER ESTIMATED THAT IT WAS TO COST $500 TO FIX PROBLEM.*AK