NHTSA Complaint #10173468 — 2000 FORD F-250 SD

I HAVE A 2000 FORD F250 SUPER DUTY 4X4 7.3 DIESEL. WHILE DRIVING OVER A MOUNTAIN PASS ON 11-4-06 THE FRONT END STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY AND I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I MANAGED TO STEER IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE I DISCOVERED THE LEFT FRONT HUB ASSEMBLY/ WHEEL BEARING HAD FAILED AND THE TIRE AND WHEEL WERE FALLING OFF THE VEHICLE. THE TRUCK WAS TOWED TO A LARGE DEALER WHERE BOTH FRONT HUB ASSEMBLIES WERE REPLACED. THESE HUB ASSEMBLES ARE A SEALED UNIT WITH NO WAY OF SERVICING THEM. THIS REPAIR IS VERY EXPENSIVE( 450.00) PER SIDE FOR PARTS + LABOR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THESE TRUCKS AND COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY FORD HASN'T RECALLED THE PROBLEM,AS THEY ALONE HAVE REPLACED CLOSE TO 65 UNITS AND THIS IS JUST ONE DEALER. NEEDLESS TO SAY FORD WOULDN'T STAND BEHIND THE REPAIR AND I HAD TO PAY IT MYSELF. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION IN THAT IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IT WOULD MOST CERTAINTY CAUSED TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I HAVE 4 FRIENDS AND MY BROTHER WHO ALL HAVE HAD THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM AND ONE,MY BROTHER, HAD DAMAGE TO HIS VEHICLE WHEN HE LOST CONTROL. THIS IS THE 2ND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME AND AM PERPLEXED WHY FORD DOESN'T ADDRESS THIS SAFETY PROBLEM. *NM