NHTSA Complaint #10608123 — 2013 FORD E-450

I AM A CONTRACTOR FOR FEDEX HOME DELIVERY AND OWN THE TRUCK IN REFERENCE. AFTER APPROX 4900 MILES, THE TRUCK FAILED SAFETY INSPECTION BY FEDEX AND NEEDED THE FRONT TIRES REPLACED. UPON INVESTIGATION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE TIRES SUFFERED MAJOR/EXCESSIVE TREAD WEAR AFTER JUST ONE MONTH ON THE ROAD. WHEN I ADDRESSED UTILIMASTER, THE BODY COMPANY, ABOUT THE ISSUE I WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY AND TO CONTACT FORD. FORD EXPLAINED THE SAME AND TOLD ME TO CONTACT UTILIMASTER. NEITHER PARTY WANTS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR DEFECTIVE TIRES THAT I HAVE NOW SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS REPLACING, TO DATE. THE WEIGHT AND DISTRIBUTION FOR THE TRUCK/CHASSIS IS IMPROPER ACCORDING TO A FORD ENGINEER. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND A RESOLUTION MUST BE FOUND BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. THE TRUCK NEEDS TO BE PROPERLY REPAIRED OR TAKEN OFF THE ROAD. UTILIMASTER BELIEVES THE FIX IS TO KEEP REPLACING TIRES AND GETTING ALIGNMENTS, YET THE ISSUE PERSISTS. I CAN NOT CONTINUE TO SPEND VALUABLE RESOURCES ON AN ISSUE THAT WILL CONTINUE INDEFINITELY UNTIL A PROPER FIX IS MADE OR THE TRUCK IS RECALLED. I KEEP NEEDING TO REPLACE THE FRONT TIRES BETWEEN 4-6 THOUSAND MILES, AND THEY ARE VERY GOOD BRAND NAME TIRES, SO THE TIRE IS NOT THE ISSUE. ALL RECEIPTS, DOCUMENTS AND COMMUNICATIONS ARE AVAILABLE. I HAVE SPOKEN TO NUMEROUS OTHER CONTRACTORS WITH SIMILAR 2012/2013 TRUCKS AND THEY ALL SUFFER THE SAME ISSUE(S). *TR