NHTSA Complaint #10617009 — 2001 FORD F-250

WHILE I WAS DRIVING ALONG A HILLY, WINDING ROAD THE ENGINE OF MY 2001 F-250 DIESEL 4X4 TRUCK UNEXPECTEDLY SHUT OFF. I LOST STEERING AND BRAKING. THERE WERE NO LIGHTS ON THE DASH. THERE WAS NO PRIOR INDICATION OF ANY PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE OR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. I'VE HAD THE TRUCK FOR 12 YEARS AT THE TIME AND NEVER EXPERIENCED ANY PROBLEM LIKE THIS. I WAS VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET THE TRUCK TO THE ROAD'S SHOULDER. AFTER THE TRUCK STOPPED I PUT THE SHIFT INTO PARK. THE KEY WAS STILL IN THE RUN POSITION. I SIMPLY TURNED IT TO THE START POSITION AND THE ENGINE STARTED RIGHT UP. I TOOK IT IMMEDIATELY TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER WHO RAN DIAGNOSTICS ON THE TRUCK. THEY FOUND NO INDICATION OF A PROBLEM OTHER THAN ONE BATTERY'S VOLTAGE WAS SLIGHTLY LOW, BUT NOT OUT OF ACCEPTABLE RANGE. I REPLACED BOTH BATTERIES AS THEY WERE ALMOST 3 YEARS OLD. SO FAR, I'VE NOT EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM AGAIN. *JS