NHTSA Complaint #10173662 — 2005 FORD E-450

METROLIFT, THE AWARD WINNING TRANSPORTATION SERVICES PROVIDED FOR THE DISABLED COMMUNITY OF HARRIS COUNTY TEXAS BY THE METROPOLITAN TRANSIT AUTHORITY OF HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS (HOUSTON METRO) HAS SUFFERED UNREASONABLE REDUCTIONS IN THE QUALITY OF DEPENDABLE SERVICE PROVIDED DUE TO THE VERY HIGH LEVEL OF ENGINE PROBLEMS IN 2004-2005 FORD E450 VANS. METRO HAS UTILIZED THE FORD E-SERIES PARA TRANSIT VAN AS THEIR VEHICLE OF CHOICE FOR TWO DECADES. UNTIL NOW, PAST USAGE HISTORY FOR THE E-SERIES VAN AT METRO HAS PROVEN TO BE GENERALLY RELIABLE. THE CURRENT VEHICLE CONFIGURATION WITH THE 6.0 LITER ENGINE HAS PROVEN TO BE MECHANICALLY UNDEPENDABLE AND PRECARIOUS. WE HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATING WITH SEVERAL DIFFERENT TRANSIT AUTHORITIES. OCTA (ORANGE COUNTY), ISLAND TRANSIT, MARTA, ETC... AND THEY HAVE EXPRESSED SIMILAR CONCERNS AS WE HAVE. ENCLOSED IS A LETTER FROM THOR INDUSTRIES ADDRESSED TO MR. WILLIAM FORD, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD AND CEO OF FORD MOTOR COMPANY EXPRESSING SERIOUS SAFETY AND OPERATING ISSUES WITH THE 6.0L DIESEL CHASSIS. WE HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT FORD ANNOUNCED, THEY WILL BE DISCONTINUING PRODUCING THE 6.0 LITER ENGINE AND REPLACE IT WITH A MORE ROBUST 6.4 LITER ENGINE. *NM