NHTSA Complaint #10198761 — 2000 FORD F-250 SD

FRONT HUBS ON 4WD FORD F-250 PICKUP WERE STUCK IN LOCKED, EVEN THOUGH SET TO AUTOMATIC. CAUSED FAILURE OF CV JOINT ON FRONT DRIVE SHAFT, WHICH RESULTED IN CRACK CASE AND TRANSMISSION EXPLODING (LITERALLY, AS IN PARTS FLYING ALL OVER I-80). TRANSMISSION SHOP OWNER (ACTION TRANSMISSION, ROCK SPRINGS, WY) INDICATED HE'S SEEN SAME OCCUR BEFORE. ONE PART DENTED SUPPORT ON PONTOON BOAT BEING TOWED -- IF NOT THERE, COULD HAVE GONE THROUGH SOMEONE'S WINDSHIELD. A VERY DANGEROUS FAILURE, IN MY OPINION. I HAVE KEPT AND PHOTOGRAPHED THE PARTS REPLACED BY SHOP (EXCEPT WHAT WAS LEFT OF THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH WAS REQUIRED TO AVOID CORE CHARGE) AS WELL AS SEVERAL PIECES I PICKED UP OFF HIGHTWAY. THE HUBS HAD PROBLEMS IN THE PAST AND WERE REPLACED LESS THAN 11,000 MILES BEFORE INCIDENT, YET WERE OUTSIDE FORDS 12-MONTH "WARRANTY" PERIOD. THEY HAVE REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS. FORD DEALER IN ROCK SPRINGS HAD SEVERAL WEEK BACKLOG ON TRANSMISSION WORK SO I HAD IT REPAIRED ELSEWHERE ($5,818). *TR