NHTSA Complaint #10253812 — 2008 FORD E-SERIES

WE ORDERED A NEW 2008 ECONOLINE E-350 XLT AND AFTER DRIVING WE DISCERNED THE STEERING WAS VERY LOOSE; IT HAD AN UNUSUAL AMOUNT OF "PLAY"; IT FLOATED AROUND THE ROAD. IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL ON THE HIGHWAYS ESPECIALLY AT HIGHER SPEEDS. WE BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND BOTH SERVICE MANAGER AND GENERAL MANAGER TOOK IT FOR A TEST DRIVE AND CONFIRMED THERE WAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. VAN WAS BROUGHT IN FOR ANOTHER APPOINTMENT TO INVESTIGATE THE ISSUE. THEY "TIGHTENED" SOME PARTS (?) AND ASKED FOR ME TO DRIVE IT HOME AND REPORT BACK IF IT WERE ANY BETTER. CONTACTED THEM AGAIN AND INFORMED THEM THE PROBLEM REMAINED THE SAME. THEY SCHEDULED THE VAN AGAIN FOR ANOTHER APPOINTMENT/DIAGNOSIS AND THEY CONTACTED FORD TECH HOT LINE. FORD HOT LINE INFORMED THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS AND THERE MUST BE A FAULTY ENGINEERING DESIGN IN THE STEERING SYSTEM. THE FORD DEALER INFORMED US THAT THE VAN REQUIRED YET ANOTHER APPOINTMENT AND THAT THE BRAND NEW VAN THAT WAS JUST BUILT REQUIRED A RE-ALIGNMENT AT A SPECIALTY ALIGNMENT FACILITY. THE VAN WAS BROUGHT IN AGAIN AND WAS "REALIGNED" OR MAJOR ADJUSTMENTS WERE MADE TO THE STEERING SYSTEM. UPON OUR TEST DRIVE AFTER THE LAST "REPAIR" WE DETERMINED IT WAS WORSE THAN BEFORE, THE VAN FLOATED ACROSS THE ROAD AND PULLED TO THE LEFT SIDE. WE INFORMED THE FORD DEALERSHIP THAT THE VAN REPAIR WAS NOT ACCEPTABLE, WE CONTACTED FORD CORP. HOT LINE AND INFORMED THEM WE WILL BEGIN LOOKING INTO THE STEPS TO TAKE REGARDING OUR STATE'S "LEMON LAWS." SIMULTANEOUSLY, AN ENGINEER FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE EAST COAST IS SCHEDULED TO INSPECT AND DIAGNOSE THE VAN'S STEERING ISSUES IN JANUARY. THE DANGERS ARE NUMEROUS AND OBVIOUS. OUR POSITION IS IT IS A BRAND NEW VEHICLE THAT HAS AN ENGINEERING FAULTY DESIGN; IT WAS INCORRECTLY BUILT AND/OR DESIGNED AND WE ARE CONCERNED AS TO WHAT OTHER VEHICLE COMPONENTS HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THE FAULTY DESIGN. *TR