NHTSA Complaint #10184880 — 2004 FORD F-550 SD

THIS IS A COMPLAINT ABOUT A 2004 FORD F-550 FOUR WHEEL DRIVE WITH A ONE MAN AERIAL DEVICE INSTALLED ON IT. ON MARCH 8TH 2007 OUR LINEMEN HAD BROUGHT THIS TRUCK INTO OUR SHOP TO UNLOAD TOOLS BEFORE THE TRUCK WAS TAKEN TO OUR NEAREST FORD DEALER TO HAVE A U-JOINT FIXED, BEFORE LEAVING THE SHOP THEY NOTICED THAT THE LEFT REAR DUAL WAS ALMOST READY TO FALL OFF THE TRUCK. UPON FURTHER EXAMINATION WE DISCOVERED THAT ALL THE LUG NUTS WERE EITHER MISSING, BROKE OFF OR FINGER TIGHT. WE HAD THE TRUCK TOWED TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER , WE HAD TO HAVE BOTH RIMS REPLACED, THE REAR HUB , ALL THE STUDS AND WHEEL LUG NUTS REPLACED. THE RIGHT REAR DUAL WAS CHECKED AND FOUND TO BE LOOSE BUT NO DAMAGE WAS FOUND AT THIS TIME. LUCKY FOR OUR LINEMEN THAT THEY WERE IN THE SHOP WHEN THIS PROBLEM WAS DISCOVERED. THEY REPORTED HEARING SOME NOISE COMING FROM THE TRUCK BUT THOUGHT IT WAS THE U-JOINT GETTING WORSE. WE HAVE HEARD OF LOTS OF PROBLEMS WITH THE FORD F-550 WITH REAR DUALS AND WE FEEL THIS NEEDS TO BE CHECKED OUT MORE CLOSELY WITH FORD. *JB