NHTSA Complaint #10934412 — 2015 FORD F-550 SD

THE VEHICLE IS A MOTOR HOME MANUFACTURED BY THOR MOTOR COACH THAT THEY ADDED TO A MODIFIED 2015 FORD F550 CHASSIS. ALTHOUGH THOR MODIFIED THE CHASSIS, REPLACED THE FRONT BUMPER AND QUARTER PANELS AND ADDED THE COACH BODY TO THE FRAME, THEY FAILED TO DO ANY ALIGNMENT PROCESS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE BODY AND THE FRONT WHEELS WERE PROPERLY ALIGNED. THIS FAILURE HAS LED TO SEVERE WEAR TO THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE CREATING A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD. ON PAGE 121 OF THE OWNER'S MANUAL IT STATES THAT THE FRONT SUSPENSION AND STEERING SYSTEM WAS FACTORY ALIGNED PRIOR TO DELIVERY TO THE DEALERSHIP. HOWEVER, THE HAVE FAILED TO SUPPLY ANY DOCUMENTATION REGARDING THIS AND THE ANTIDOTAL INFORMATION FROM FORD AND OTHERS IS THAT THOR DOES NOT DO THE NEEDED ALIGNMENT AFTER SUCH A SEVERE MODIFICATION. WHILE THEY TRY TO PASS THIS OFF TO THE CONSUMER, THERE IS ONLY ONE SENTENCE REGARDING THIS IN A 151 PAGE MANUAL. ALTHOUGH I HAVE OWNED OTHER MOTOR HOMES PREVIOUSLY THE PROCESS OF LEARNING EVERYTHING ABOUT A NEW MOTOR HOME IS QUITE OVERWHELMING. SECONDLY I AM NOT AWARE THAT VEHICLE MANUFACTURE PASSES THIS SAFETY CONCERN ON A NEW VEHICLE TO THE CONSUMER. LASTLY MOTOR HOMES ARE THE LARGEST, HEAVY VEHICLES WITH CHALLENGING HANDLING CHARACTERISTICS DRIVEN BY NON-PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS, MANY OF WHOM ARE SENIORS. THE MANUFACTURES SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING SURE THAT THE VEHICLES ARE PROPERLY ALIGNED FOR SAFE OPERATION AND TIRE WEAR. THE FAILURE TO PROPERLY ALIGN THE VEHICLE AS A FINAL MANUFACTURING PROCESS HAS LEAD TO SEVERE TIRE WEAR CAUSING A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND SIGNIFICANT EXPENSE FOR THE OWNER TO REPLACE THE FRONT TIRES AND HAVE THE PROPER ALIGNMENT DONE IN ORDER TO MAKE FOR SAFE OPERATION. ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS NEW WHEN PURCHASED IT HAD 2,598 MILES ON IT. THE DAMAGED TIRE WAS NOTED AFTER A CROSS COUNTRY TRIP OF NEARLY 10,000 MILES.