NHTSA Complaint #10670247 — 1997 GLAVAL FORD F150

I WAS DRIVING A BUMPY ROADWAY AND THE REAR CROSSMEMBER OF MY 1997 F150 LARIAT CRACKED AND FELL AND WAS DRAGGING ON THE STREET. A 1/4 OF THE CROSSMEMBER IS STILL ATTACHED THE SHOCK AND SEPARATED FROM THE REST OF THE MEMBER AND THE FRAME. I HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD AND STRAP IT TO THE FRAME. THANK GOD MY SPARE TIRE IS NOT ATTACHED OR IT WOULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT HAD IT FALLEN WITH WHAT IS LEFT OF THE CROSS MEMBER. THE REMAINING THREE CORNERS OF THE CROSSMEMBER HAVE ALMOST SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME AND ARE SEVERELY ROTTED. THE FRAME APPEAR TO HAVE A RUST HOLE IN IT IN THE DRIVER SIDE REAR ABOVE THE WHEEL AND MANY OF THE BED MOUNTS ARE RUSTED. THIS SEVERELY AFFECTS THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE TRUCK AND WILL NOT PASS STATE SAFETY INSPECTION IN CURRENT CONDITION I AM TOLD. I SPOKE TO A EQUIPMENT TECH ABOUT REPAIRING IT AND HE TOLD ME HE KNOWS THREE OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAD THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM IN 1997 AND 2000 F150'S AND THEY ALL LIVE LOCALLY. I CANNOT AFFORD TO BUY ANOTHER VEHICLE AND LET THIS GO TO A SCRAP YARD AND I CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE THE FRAME REPLACED BY A PROFESSIONAL FRAME SHOP. *TR