NHTSA Complaint #10485685 — 1997 FORD F-150

1997 FORD F-150. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE REPAIRED WITH DEFECTIVE PARTS. *SMD THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER BECAUSE OF AN A/C PROBLEM. THE A/C CLUTCH ASSEMBLY WAS MAKING NOISE WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONING WAS TURNED OFF. AS THE DEALER WAS PREPARING TO INSTALL A NEW A/C CLUTCH ASSEMBLY, THE COMPRESSOR FELL APART WHEN THEY REMOVED THE CLUTCH. SO, THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW COMPRESSOR AS WELL. THE CONSUMER GAVE APPROVAL FOR THE REPAIRS, THINKING THE DEALER WAS GOING TO USE NEW PARTS. ON JUNE 25, 2011, AS THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING 65 MPH, THE A/C COMPRESSOR SUDDENLY SEIZED AND BROKE THE SERPENTINE DRIVE BELT, WHICH TOOK OUT THE POWER STEERING. THE VEHICLE PULLED HARD TO THE LEFT AND IT ALMOST TOOK HIM HALF WAY INTO THE LANE OF ON-COMING TRAFFIC. THE NEXT THE DAY, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHERE THEY REPLACED THE COMPRESSOR AND DRIVE BELT FREE OF CHARGE. THAT IS WHEN THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED RE-MANUFACTURED PARTS HAD BEEN USED. ON JUNE 114, 2012, THE COMPRESSOR WAS REPLACED AGAIN AT NO CHARGE. ON OCTOBER 16, 2012, THE COMPRESSOR WAS REPLACED AGAIN, BECAUSE IT WAS MAKING A LOUD NOISE. *JB