NHTSA Complaint #10192574 — 2005 FORD F-150

NO INJURIES INVOLVED. WHILE TRAVELING ALONG A LOCAL HIGHWAY AT APPROX. 45 TO 50 MPH, I EXPERIENCED A BLOW OUT OF THE LEFT REAR TIRE ON A 2005 FORD F150 XLT EXTENDED CAB-SHORTBED PICKUP. UPON INSPECTION OF THE TIRE/RIM BY THE AAA TECHNICIAN, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE OEM STEEL RIM HAD SPLIT OPEN THUS CAUSING THE "BLOWOUT" . IT WAS FURTHER DETERMINED THAT THE RIM HAD SPLIT NEARLY 2/3 OF THE WAY AROUND THE RIM. THIS IS A STOCK OEM STEEL RIM WITH A CHROME OUTER "CLAD" SURFACE. AS THE TRUCK IS OF HIGH MILEAGE ( I DRIVE NEARLY 4200 MI. MONTH), THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP WAS RELUCTANT TO REPLACE IT. I REQUESTED THAT THE RIM BE INSPECTED BY THE REGIONAL FORD REP. THAT HANDLES WARRANTY CLAIMS. THE RIM IS SCHEDULED TO BE INSPECTED ON JUNE 8, 2007 AT WHICH POINT A DECISION SHALL BE RENDERED. NO ACCIDENT WAS INVOLVED, HOWEVER IF THE WHEEL HAD BEEN ON THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, AND I HAD BEEN TRAVELING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS OF 65 PLUS MILES PER HOUR, THE POTENTIAL WOULD HAVE EXISTED FOR A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AS THE RESULT OF SUDDEN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.