NHTSA Complaint #10149351 — 2004 FORD F-150

REGARDING 2004 FORD F150 4X4 PICKUP: SEVERAL MONTHS AGO I EXPERIENCED STEERING PROBLEMS. OUR LOCAL DEALER FIXED A PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT BRAKES. HE STATED THAT THEY HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF 2004 4X4 PICKUPS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, THOUGH THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL. LAST WEEK THE VEHICLE CRASHED, WHICH RESULTED IN SERIOUS INJURIES (MULTIPLE HEAD FRACTURES) TO MY WIFE, AND THE VEHICLE BEING TOTALED. I WAS DRIVING ON A STRAIGHT TWO-LANE COUNTRY ROAD, UP A SLIGHT GRADED. SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE TURNED SHARPLY TO THE LEFT. IT MADE A 180 DEGREE TURN, AND SKIDDED SIDEWAYS (OVER THE CENTER CROWN) ACROSS THE ROAD AND BROADSIDED A POWER POLE. THE POLE STRUCK THE PASSENGER-SIDE DOOR, EFFECTIVELY CAVING IT IN AND CAUSING THE INJURIES. DAYS LATER I INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. I NOTICED (AND PHOTOGRAPHED) THAT THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL WAS RESTING AGAINST THE BRAKE CALIPER HOUSING. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE EVIDENT TO EXPLAIN THIS. I DID OBSERVE THAT THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL HAD A CLEARANCE BETWEEN IT AND THE RIGHT BRAKE HOUSING. NOTE THAT THERE IS NO COLLISION DAMAGE TO THE LEFT SIDE OR FRONT PORTION OF THE TRUCK. THE FACT THAT THE VEHICLE SEEMED TO PIVOT ON THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL WOULD BE CONSISTENT WITH THE BRAKE SUDDENLY GRABBING. *NM