NHTSA Complaint #10604655 — 2012 FORD F-350

I WAS TRAVELING WITH MY THREE YOUNG CHILDREN TO A TOWN APPROXIMATELY 40 MILES FROM OUR HOME. I WAS GOING ABOUT 70 MPH ON THE FREEWAY, AND JUST AS I STARTED TO EXIT AT AN OFF RAMP A WARNING TONE SOUNDED AND MY DASH FLASHED "STOP SAFELY NOW". I WAS EXITING ANYWAY AND THERE WAS NO WHERE TO PULL OVER, SO I CONTINUED UP THE RAMP. I QUICKLY TURNED INTO THE NEARBY PARKING LOT, AND JUST AS I QUICKLY PULLED INTO A PARKING SPOT THE PICKUP COMPLETELY DIED. IT WAS ONLY ABOUT 30 SECONDS FROM WHEN I WAS FIRST ALERTED TO A PROBLEM TO THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUTTING OFF. IT WAS PURE LUCK THAT I WAS ABLE TO FIND A SAFE PLACE TO PULL OVER THAT QUICKLY. I JUST KEPT THINKING ABOUT HOW DANGEROUS THAT COULD HAVE BEEN HAD I NOT BEEN ABLE TO IMMEDIATELY GET OFF THE FREEWAY. IF I HAD LOST POWER ON THE FREEWAY THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT. WE WERE THEN COMPLETELY STRANDED AND HAD TO WAIT FOR A TOW. LUCKILY THE WEATHER WAS FAIR AS WE WOULD HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO USE ANY HEAT OR AIR CONDITIONING WHILE WE WAITED FOR WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN HOURS FOR A TOW. NOT TO MENTION THAT WE LIVE IN A VERY RURAL AREA AND OFTEN TIMES DO NOT HAVE CELL SERVICE. ALSO, WE FREQUENTLY ARE TOWING OUR STOCK TRAILER LOADED WITH HORSES OR CATTLE GOING UP AND DOWN STEEP GRADES. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THE PICKUP DECIDED TO SHUT OFF AT THOSE TIMES. I WAS TRULY SHAKEN UP BY THIS INCIDENT AND THE THOUGHT OF WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED IF THE CIRCUMSTANCES HAD BEEN DIFFERENT. I AM PLEADING WITH YOU TO PREVENT CERTAIN FUTURE TRAGEDY BY FORCING FORD TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. IT'S A SIMPLE FIX (IN MY CASE IT TOOK THE DEALER LESS THAN AN HOUR) AND THERE IS NO EXCUSE. *TR