NHTSA Complaint #10489389 — 1996 FORD EXPLORER

I REPLACED THE FRONT HUB ASSEMBLIES IN DECEMBER 2011 WITH PARTS PURCHASED FROM AUTOPARTSMIDWEST.COM. ON DECEMBER 18, 2012, THE LEFT HUB ASSEMBLY FAILED AND THE WHEEL CAME OFF. THE OUTER PORTION OF THE BALL BEARING RACE CAME OFF THE SPLINED HUB. I WAS GOING VERY SLOWLY AT THE TIME THE FAILURE OCCURRED AND THERE WAS NO INJURY OR DAMAGE OTHER THAN TO THE HUB ASSEMBLY, CALIPER BRACKET AND SOME OTHER BRAKE PARTS. THE TOTAL COST OF REPAIR PARTS NOT INCLUDING LABOR IS ABOUT $500. I HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE MANUFACTURER OF THE HUB ASSEMBLY. IT SHOULD BE REASONABLE TO EXPECT A CRITICAL PART LIKE A HUB ASSEMBLY TO LAST MORE THAN ABOUT 6000 MILES. IF THE HUB ASSEMBLY HAD COME APART TWO MINUTES OR A HALF MILE EARLIER, I MIGHT NOT BE FILING THIS REPORT. I HAVE ASKED AUTOPARTSMIDWEST TO REFUND THE PURCHASE PRICE OF THE DEFECTUVE HUB ASSEMBLIES AS WELL AS THE COST OF REPLACEMENT PARTS. THE SALE OF DANGEROUSLY DEFECTIVE PARTS BY AUTOPARTSMIDWEST AND OTHER ON LINE SELLER MUST STOP. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO INSPECT SOMETHING LIKE A HUB ASSEMBLY TO VERIFY ITS QUALITY. BUYERS MUST DEPEND ON THE SELLER AND MANUFACTURER TO PROVIDE SAFE CAR PARTS. *TR