NHTSA Complaint #10551230 — 2011 FORD F-550 SD

THIS COMPLAINT IS A FOLLOW UP TO YOUR REFERENCE #521328. IT CONCERNS AN UNDELIVERED EMERGENCY VEHICLE THAT PLASTISOL COMPOSITES, NA, 101 GERALD MOSES DRIVE, GROTON, NY IS BUILDING FOR MEREDITH HOSE COMPANY, 100 MAIN ST., CHILDS, PA 18407 AND BEING PAID WITH FEMA FUNDS UNDER A FEDERAL GRANT AND IS TRYING TO FORCE A VIBRATING DRIVE LINE PROBLEM VEHICLE ON MEREDITH OR SELL TO ANOTHER FIRE DEPARTMENT WITHOUT TELLING THAT FIRE DEPARTMENT OF THE DRIVE LINE VIBRATION SO THEY CAN EVADE THE PENALTY CLAUSE OF THE MEREDITH CONTRACT. THE VEHICLE IS NOW OVER 930 DAYS LATE DUE TO POORLY ENGINEERING THE DRIVE LINE AFTER INSTALLING A PTO IN THE DRIVE LINE TO POWER THE REAR MOUNTED PUMP. ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, PLASTISOL WORKERS BROUGHT THIS VEHICLE TO MEREDITH TO BE INSPECTED FOR ACCEPTANCE BUT ON EACH OCCASION NUMEROUS DEFECTS WERE NOTED INCLUDING COLD WELDS, LOOSE PARTS, POOR ASSEMBLY, (I HAVE PICTURES OF ALL THESE PROBLEMS FOR YOUR INVESTIGATOR) AND THE MOST SERIOUS, A DRIVE LINE VIBRATION THAT BEGINS AT 40 MPH AND GETS WORSE. PLASTISOL WORKERS ADMITTED THEYU HAVE NO ENGINEER ASSISTING THEM TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM AND DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. THEY ASKED MEREDITH MEMBERS IF WE HAD IDEAS HOW TO RESOLVE THE DRIVE LINE VIBRATION. THIS IS EQUIVALENT TO NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID # 10V092000 OF SUTPHEN VEHICLES. I WOULD LIKE YOU TO INVESTIGATE THIS VEHICLE AND DETERMINE IF THE DRIVE LINE VIBRATION IS SAFE AND THE VEHICLE IS ROAD WORTHY AND WON'T CAUSE THE FAILURE OF THE UNIVERSAL JOINTS AND A CRASH WHICH WOULD JEOPARDIZE THE LIVES OF THE FIREMEN OR THE GENERAL PUBLIC. I WOULD LIKE YOU TO INSPECT ALL WELDS OF THE VEHICLE CROSS MEMBER THE PTO IS ATTACHED TO AND DETERMINE IF THEY ARE WITHIN INDUSTRY STANDARDS OR POORLY WELDED AND UNSAFE. I WOULD ALSO LIKE YOU TO INVESTIGATE ALL TRUCKS PRODUCED BY PLASTISOL FOR POOR WELDING AND DRIVE LINE VIBRATION. *TR