NHTSA Complaint #10195029 — 2007 FORD F-350 SD

ON JUNE 11, 2007 AT APPROXIMATELY 11:00AM I WAS UNLOADING A PIECE OF CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT OFF THE BACK OF MY TRAILER. THE TRAILER WAS CONNECTED TO MY 2007 FORD F350 SUPER DUTY DUAL REAR WHEEL TRUCK. THE TRUCK WAS IN PARK THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS SET AND THE KEYS WERE OUT OF THE IGNITION. AS I DESCENDED OFF THE TRAILER THE TIRES OF THE TRUCK BEGAN TO ROLL WHILE I WAS INSIDE THE CAB OF THE EXCAVATOR AND ON TOP OF THE TRAILER. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON A FLAT SURFACE. IT ROLLED FOR APPROXIMATELY 195 FEET AS I WAS UNABLE TO STOP IT. THE TRAILER BEGAN TO JACKKNIFE AND EVENTUALLY THE MACHINE FELL OFF THE TRAILER WITH ME STILL IN THE CAB. THE TRUCK ONLY STOPPED AFTER IT STRUCK A SMALL CAR THAT WAS PARKED AT THE BOTTOM OF A HILL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE FORD SENT AN ENGINEER TO EXAMINE THE TRANSMISSION AND FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. HIS CONCLUSION WAS THAT HE DID NOT SEE ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION BUT THAT THE TRUCK MUST NOT HAVE BEEN IN PARK ALL THE WAY. I CONTESTED THESE FINDINGS AND HAVE ASKED FORD TO CONTINUE TO LOOK INTO THIS MATTER. IF IN FACT HIS FINDINGS ABOUT THE TRUCK NOT BEING IN THE PARK POSITION ARE ACCURATE HOW WAS I ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. AS I PREVIOUSLY STATED, AT THE TIME THE TRUCK BEGAN TO MOVE IT WAS IN PARK THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS SET AND THE KEYS WERE IN MY POCKET. IT IS MY CONTENTION SOMETHING MALFUNCTIONED IN THE TRANSMISSION OR THERE IS A DEFECT WITH THE VEHICLE THAT WILL ALLOW THE KEYS TO BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION WHEN THE TRUCK IS NOT IN A FULLY ENGAGED PARK POSITION. AFTER THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED I EXAMINED THE ROAD SURFACE DID NOT SEE ANY SKID MARKS OR NOTICE ANY FLATTENING OUT OF THE TIRES. IF THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK AND THE BRAKE WAS TRULY ENGAGED PROPERLY ONE WOULD BELIEVE THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN SOME SKID MARKS LEFT ON THE ROAD SURFACE AS I TRAVELED A TOTAL DISTANCE OF 195 FEET BEFORE HITTING THE PARKED CAR. *TR