NHTSA Complaint #10220123 — 2000 FORD F-250 SD

I HAVE A 2000 FORD F-250 SUPERDUTY. IT'S COMMON KNOWLEDGE AMONG FORD OWNERS THAT THE BALLJOINTS IN THE SUPERDUTY LINE ARE PRONG TO PREMATURE FAIURE. I'VE HEARD OF FAILURES ON VEHICLES WITH MILEAGE AS LOW AS 24,000. CHECK SOME OF THE FORD TRUCK FORUMS ON THE INTERNET, THERES ALOT OF DATA TO BACK MY CLAIMS. MINE FAILED BEFORE 50,000. REPAIRS/REPLACEMENT WILL COST $960.00. THATS EXPENSIVE, I HAD TO KEEP DRIVING MY TRUCK TILL I COULD AFFORD TO FIX. WHILE DRIVING IT WAS HARD TO STEER STRAIT AND WORE OUT MY FRONT TIRES, SO NOW I HAVE TO PUT TIRES ON TO THATS ANOTHER $300.00. THE LAST TIME I DROVE IT BEFORE IT WENT TO THE SHOP FOR REPAIRS THE FRONT TIRES STARTED TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. IT SHOOK SO HARD I ENDED UP IN THE DITCH. ALOT OF PEOPLE AGREE THAT FORD SHOULD RECALL THESE BALLJOINTS EVEN LARGE FLEET OPERATIONS. THESE ARE HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS AND SHOULD'NT FAIL WITH LESS THAN 50,000 MILES. I WORK WITH LOW INCOME PEOPLE AND THE LONGER THESE TRUCKS ARE IN SERVICE THE MORE LIKELY YOUR GOING TO SEE SERIOUS ACCIDENTS. AS THESE TRUCKS FILTER DOWN THE ECONOMIC LADDER THE LESS LIKELY THE OWNERS CAN AFFORD TO MAKE THESE REPAIRS. THESE PEOPLE WILL KEEP DRIVING THEM UNTIL THE WORST HAPPENS. I REALIZE THIS IS AN ODD WAY TO LOOK AT THIS ISSUE BUT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GET HURT, IF NOT NOW IN THE FUTURE. *TR