NHTSA Complaint #10239047 — 2001 FORD FORD

WE HAVE HAD THREE INCIDENTS INVOLVING TWO VEHICLES IN WHICH WHEELS HAVE COME OFF OF FORD F-550 VEHICLES DUE TO SHEARED LUG BOLTS. THE WEIGHTS OF ALL OF OUR VEHICLES HAVE BEEN RECORDED AND FALL BELOW THE MANUFACTURERS GVWR. PER A TIRE COMPANY'S RECOMMENDATION, WE HAVE ISSUED A MANDATE THAT ALL SIMILAR VEHICLES HAVE THEIR WHEELS RE-TORQUED, TO MEET THE MANUFACTURERS SPECIFICATIONS AFTER DRIVING, AFTER TRAVELING 50 MILES FOLLOWING ANY WORK DONE ON THE WHEELS. WE HAVE HAD THE WHEELS ON VEHICLE THAT DID NOT COME OFF INSPECTED AND CHECKED TO PROPER TORQUE FOLLOWING ALL INCIDENTS AND THEY HAVE BEEN TORQUED APPROPRIATELY. THE INCIDENT DATES WERE, 12/29/07 ,02/15/08, AND 07/17/08 . ON 12/29/07 AN EMPLOYEE WAS DRIVING UP A ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 20 M.P.H. WHEN THE DRIVER SIDE BACK DUAL WHEELS CAME OFF DUE TO BROKEN LUG BOLTS. THIS WAS A NORMAL USE OF THE VEHICLE ON A WELL-MAINTAINED DIRT ROAD. ON 02/15/08 TWO EMPLOYEES WERE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 84 TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 M.P.H. WHEN THE REAR PASSENGER WHEELS CAME OFF THE VEHICLE AND PASSED THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY TRAVELING MILE. THE STUDS WERE ALSO SHEARED OFF IN THIS INSTANCE. THE INTERSTATE WAS IN GOOD CONDITION AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. IT WAS VERY FORTUNATE THAT THE TIRES DID NOT STRIKE ANOTHER VEHICLE. ON 07/17/08 AN EMPLOYEE WAS DRIVING ON OREGON STATE HIGHWAY 82 AT APPROXIMATELY 55 M.P.H. WHEN THE DRIVER SIDE REAR WHEELS CAME OFF. THE WHEELS STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE DAMAGING THAT VEHICLE?S BRAKE SYSTEM. IN THIS CASE, A FATALITY COULD HAVE EASILY OCCURRED TO THE OTHER DRIVER. THAT DRIVER?S NAME IS: KEITH CULIVER - 740 11TH AVENUE NORTH, PAYETTE, ID (WORKING FOR TNT FOREST PRODUCTS). WE HAVE REPLACED THE LUG BOLTS ON ALL OF OUR FIVE VEHICLES IN THIS CLASSIFICATION AS AN ATTEMPT TO AVOID FURTHER PROBLEMS. HOWEVER, ONE ACCIDENT OCCURRED FOLLOWING THIS REPLACEMENT. *TR