NHTSA Complaint #10191878 — 2000 FORD EXPEDITION

I PURCHASED A 2000 FORD EXPEDITION EDDIE BAUER SUV NEW FROM A LOCAL DEALER IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA. CURRENT MILEAGE IS 127,300. THIS CONCERNS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM THAT HAS HAPPENED TWICE SINCE WE HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE IS ONLY USED TO COMMUTE TO WORK, NEVER OFF-ROAD OR ABUSED IN ANY MANNER. A FEW MONTHS INTO OUR OWNERSHIP, WE WERE TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY AND GOING OVER A OVERPASS AT 60 MILES AN HOUR THE SPARE TIRE DROPPED OFF THE SUV AND ROLLED ACROSS FOUR LANES OF TRAFFIC AT NIGHT. LUCKILY, IT DID NOT KILL SOMEONE. THEN ABOUT 8 OR 9 MONTHS AGO IT HAPPENED AGAIN JUST BACKING OUT OF OUR DRIVEWAY. INSPECTING THE PROBLEM IT IS CLEAR THE STEEL CABLE HOIST HOLDING THE TIRE UP UNDER THE REAR IS BREAKING UNDER STRESS. IT IS CLEAR THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT AND A VERY REAL SAFETY ISSUE. WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND I HAVE CALLED THEIR 800 NUMBER. THEY CLAIM THE VEHICLE IS OUTSIDE THE WARRANTY PERIOD. I SAY THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT FORD SHOULD NOT ONLY FIX BUT SHOULD REDESIGN THE WHOLE MOUNTING SYSTEM TO BETTER SUPPORT THE TIRE. THE TIRE AND RIM SHOULD HAVE A POSITIVE LOCKING DEVICE THAT SECURELY HOLDS THE TIRE IN PLACE SO THE STEEL CABLE HOIST IS USED ONLY TO RAISE AND LOWER THE TIRE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS AT REST. FORD WILL NOT PUT THIS IN WRITING. I HAVE FILED COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE HERE IN CALIFORNIA WITH THE DMV AND OTHER AGENCIES - THEY ARE REFERRING ME TO MEDIATION BOARDS TO SETTLE IT FINANCIALLY. BUT THE FORD FIX OF INSTALLING ANOTHER STEEL CABLE HOIST SYSTEM IS NOT SAFE. I AM CONSIDERING A THIRD PARTY MOUNTING SYSTEM TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE BECAUSE I DO NOT WANT THIS TO HAPPEN AGAIN. PRESENTLY, I AM DRIVING WITHOUT THE SPARE TIRE BECAUSE WE DO NOT WANT ANOTHER FORD FIX AND IT WOULD BE UNSAFE CARRYING IT INSIDE THE VEHICLE. YOU ARE MY LAST CHANCE OF RESOLVING THIS SAFETY ISSUE. MY NEXT STEP WILL BE TO PURSUE THIS COMPLAINT DIRECTLY WITH THE PUBLIC MEDIA. THAT IS HOW SERIOUS I AM TAKING THIS PROBLEM. *TR