NHTSA Complaint #10184072 — 2000 FORD E SERIES SUPER DUTY

AFTER BRINGING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP, I WAS UNABLE TO MOVE FORWARD. ON INSPECTING THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, I DISCOVERED THAT ALL 8 BOLTS HOLDING THE DUAL WHEELS TO THE AXLE HAD SHEARED OFF. (FORTUNATELY THE WHEELS REMAINED ON THE AXLE.) IN RETROSPECT, I HAD NOTICED A SLIGHT "CLUNK" WHEN MOVING FORWARD FROM A STOP. (THERE WERE ICING CONDITIONS AT THE TIME, AND I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE THE SOUND OF SUSPENSION COMPONENTS BREAKING FREE OF ICE.) WHILE RIDING WITH THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER, I ASKED HIM IF HE HAD EVER SEEN THIS TYPE OF INCIDENT BEFORE, AND HE HAD, ESPECIALLY WITH DUAL-WHEEL-EQUIPPED FORDS. THIS WAS THE SECOND INCIDENT IN 2 YEARS WHERE I HAD BEEN DRIVING A VEHICLE OF THIS TYPE AND LOST A WHEEL. IN THE FIRST INCIDENT, 4 OF THE 8 STUDS SHEARED OFF AND THE LUG NUTS HAD COME OFF THE OTHER 4; THE OUTER OF THE 2 WHEELS CAME OFF. (I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO A STOP WHILE THE INNER WHEEL WAS STILL ON THE VEHICLE.) IN BOTH OF THESE CASES, THE VEHICLE WAS A FORD VAN COMPLETED BY A 3D-PARTY MANUFACTURER, AND IN BOTH CASES IT WAS THE RIGHT-HAND WHEEL THAT FAILED. I HAVE LEARNED FROM SEVERAL SOURCES THAT SOME VEHICLES HAVE BEEN DESIGNED WITH LEFT-HANDED THREADS ON THE LEFT-SIDE WHEELS, TO AVOID A LOOSENING PROBLEM. (NEITHER FORD HAD LEFT-HAND THREADS ON ANY WHEELS.) I AM CURIOUS TO KNOW HOW OFTEN SUCH INCIDENTS HAVE HAPPENED, AND IF ANY RECENT RESEARCH HAS BEEN DONE ON THE ADVISABILITY OF LEFT-HANDED THREADS TO AVOID THIS PROBLEM. *JB