NHTSA Complaint #10402619 — 2000 FORD F-150

I BEGAN HEARING A SQUEAL COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND ON STOPPING I COULD HEAR THE COOLING FAN HITTING THE FAN COWLING. I THOUGHT THE SQUEAL WAS FROM ONE OF THE IDLER PULLEYS ON THE SERPENTINE BELT, AND THOUGHT THAT MAYBE THE FAN COWLING HAD LOOSENED. ON MY WAY TO THE REPAIR STATION, I LOST THE BELT, IT CAME COMPLETELY OFF. WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED WAS THE RADIATOR SUPPORT HAD COMPLETELY RUSTED AND DISINTEGRATED CAUSING THE FRONT PORTION OF THE ENGINE COMPONENTS TO FALL FORWARD. I HAD TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A BODY SHOP WHERE THEY HAD TO REMOVE THE BUMPER, FRONT END, BOTH FENDERS, AND THE HOOD TO REPLACE THE RADIATOR SUPPORT. THE OWNER OF THE SHOP KNEW OF THIS PROBLEM WHEN I BROUGHT THE TRUCK IN AND STATED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS TRUCK AND THAT HE HAS DONE APPROXIMATELY 20 OF THEM IN THE PAST YEAR. $1400.00 DOLLARS LATER MY TRUCK RIDES MUCH BETTER AND NOISE FREE. I THOUGHT THAT I HAD SOMETHING GOING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE TRUCK, FOR IT WOULD BOUNCE TERRIBLY OVER BUMPS. I THOUGHT MAYBE A BAD SHOCK. TURNS OUT AFTER THIS REPAIR, THE PROBLEM IS GONE. *TR