NHTSA Complaint #10448975 — 2006 FORD RANGER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHIFT SIDEWAYS ABNORMALLY. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WAS EMITTING SMOKE AND THE WHEEL WAS PARTIALLY DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE MECHANIC STATED TO THE CONTACT THAT THE WHEEL BEARING WAS FRACTURED AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE CONTACT NOTICED A WHINING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE MECHANIC WHERE THE MECHANIC STATED HAT THE FRONT WHEEL BEARING AND AXLE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT AWARE IF THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON THE DRIVER OR PASSENGER SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000.