NHTSA Complaint #10156447 — 1997 FORD EXPLORER

I RETURNED FROM A TRIP TO NOTICE THAT THE SPARE ON MY 1997 FORD EXPLORER HAD "DISAPPEARED". SEEMS THAT THE CABLE THAT HOLDS IT HAD RUSTED OUT AND GIVEN WAY DROPPING THE SPARE WHO KNOWS WHERE. I HAD NEVER USED THE SPARE AND HAD ONLY NOTICED THINKING I HAD SEEN FLUID UNDER MY CAR. I HAVE THE CAR INSPECTED FOR STATE PURPOSES AND NOTHING WAS EVER SAID TO ME. I MENTIONED THE OCCURRENCE TO AN ONLINE BUDDY AND HE SAID THE SAME HAD HAPPENED TO HIM. ANOTHER ACQUAINTANCE SAID HE HAD IT HAPPEN WITH HIS PICK UP TRUCK. I CALLED MY FORD DEALER AND WAS TOLD THEY HAD A REPLACEMENT "WINCH & CABLE" IN STOCK SO I THOUGHT WHAT HAPPENED TO ME WAS NOT A RARE OCCURRENCE AND WAS RECALL WORTHY. IT CERTAINLY IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND I HAVE NO CLUE WHAT HAVOC MY SPARE MAY HAVE CREATED ON THE HIGHWAY OR WHEREVER IT DROPPED. *JB