NHTSA Complaint #10279672 — 2005 FORD F-150

1. AS I WAS LEAVING THE WAL-MART PARKING LOT THE RIGHT FRONT UPPER BALL JOINT ON MY 1995 FORD F-150 4X4 BROKE APART AND DISABLED THE VEHICLE. THE BALL JOINT MANUFACTURER APPARENTLY DID NOT PUT GREASE IN THE JOINT WHEN IT WAS MANUFACTURED. 2. I DO NOT KNOW HOW OFTEN THIS PART FAILS ON THE FORD F-150. IT FAILED ON MY VEHICLE AT 62K MILES DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFICIENCY. FORTUNATELY THE FAILURE WAS AT PARKING LOT SPEED. HAD IT OCCURRED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS I COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN KILLED AND POSSIBLY KILLED OTHERS AS THE VEHICLE WAS UNCONTROLLABLE WHEN THE PART FAILED. 3. I HAD THE VEHICLE HAULED TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER AND THEY REPLACED IT AT A COST OF OVER $500. FEARING THAT THE LEFT FRONT MIGHT ALSO FAIL I HAD IT REPLACED FOR A TOTAL COST $1,071.94. I REQUESTED THAT ALL PARTS BE SAVED AND PROVIDED TO ME AND HAVE ALL THAT WERE PROVIDED. I DISCOVERED UPON EXAMINATION THAT THEY DID NOT INCLUDE THE RUST PITTED BALL JOINT IN THE PARTS THEY PROVIDED ME BUT THE TORN OPEN JOINT ASSEMBLY AND REST OF THE PARTS ARE INCLUDED. THE FORD DEALER WHO MADE THE REPAIRS AND THE PRESIDENT OF FORD MOTOR COMPANY THROUGH HIS REPRESENTATIVE HAVE REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY WARRANTY ON THIS DEFECTIVE PART AS THERE IS CURRENTLY NO RECALL IN PLACE ON THIS VEHICLE FOR THIS PART. I DO NOT KNOW IF THIS OCCURS OFTEN BUT THEY HAD THE PARTS IN STOCK FOR THE RIGHT FRONT REPAIR. WHEN I ASKED FOR THE LEFT FRONT TO BE REPAIRED THEY HAD TO ORDER THOSE PARTS IN. I HAVE DOCUMENTATION OF THIS MATTER AND MY ATTEMPTS TO GET THE REPAIRS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVE DRIVEN MANY FORD VEHICLES OVER THE PAST 45 YEARS IN EXCESS OF 100K MILES (ONE OVER 200K MILES) AND HAVE NEVER HAD UP UPPER BALL JOINT FAIL. THIS IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND CONSTITUTES A DANGER TO ANY DRIVER OF THE F-150. *TR