NHTSA Complaint #10133478 — 2002 FORD F-250 SD

MY F-250 SUPER DUTY 4X4 PICKUP RECENTLY STALLED WHILE DRIVING OFF THE FREEWAY. THE FOLLOWING DAY THE TRUCK STALLED A SECOND TIME IN TRAFFIC AND A THIRD TIME WHILE ENTERING I15 IN BARSTOW, CA. THE TRUCK WAS TOWED TO SOUTARS FORD IN BARSTOW, CA. THE FOLLOWING MONDAY SOUTARS REPLACED A CAM SENSOR ASSEMBLY. THE CAM SENSOR WAS COVERED UNDER THE FORD 100,000 WARRANTY WITH $100 DEDUCTIBLE. TWO WEEKS AGO I RETURNED FROM A 4000 TRIP TO YELLOWSTONE AND GLACIER NATIONAL PARKS. ON THIS TRIP I TOWED A 9000 LB 5TH WHEEL WITH MY F250. HAD THE CAM SENSOR GONE OUT WHILE I WAS TOWING THE TRAILER, PARTICULARLY ON MANY MILES OF STEEP MOUNTAIN ROADS, I CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE CONSEQUENCES. WHEN THE TRUCK STALLED THERE WAS NO WARNING - NO DIFFERENCE IN ANY OF THE GAUGES TO INDICATE SOMETHING WAS WRONG. THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES QUIT WORKING WHEN THE ENGINE STALLS. LOSS OF CONTROL AND A COLLISION COULD CERTAINLY OCCUR WHEN THE TRUCK SUDDENLY STALLS. AN F250 4X4 IS A VERY HEAVY VEHICLE - IT DOESN'T MOVE WITHOUT THE ENGINE RUNNING UNLESS YOU ARE ON A HILL. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE CAM SENSOR MAY FAIL AGAIN WITHOUT WARNING. I HAVE CALLED THE 800 NUMBER FOR FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND REGISTERED MY CONCERNS. THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ANY INTEREST ON THE PART OF FORD TO TALK TO ME ABOUT THIS PROBLEMS AND THE POTENTIAL SERIOUSNESS OF THE FAILURE. I HAVE SPOKEN TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER AND HAVE FOUND THAT THEY HAVE REPLACED THIS PART ON OTHER FORD DIESELS WITH THE 7.3L ENGINE. . I AM THANKFUL THAT I AM REPORTING NO INJURIES OR DEATHS FROM THIS FAILURE. I COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN KILLED ON INTERSTATE 15 HAD I STALLED OUT IN 70 MPH TRAFFIC WHICH IS VERY HEAVY ON A FRIDAY NIGHT. I CHOSE TO CALL A TOW TRUCK INSTEAD. WHAT PROTECTION IS THERE FROM A PROBLEM LIKE THIS ONE? A VEHICLE OF OVER TWO TONS IS NOT SAFE WHEN IT CAN STOP RUNNING WITHOUT WARNING AT ANY TIME, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT IS USED FOR TOWING A TRAILER. *NM