NHTSA Complaint #10970786 — 2011 FORD F-350 SD

WE WERE TRAVELING ON US23 IN WISE VIRGINIA, DOWN A MOUNTAIN. A SIGNAL AT THE BOTTOM TURNED RED; WHEN MY HUSBAND APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE ENGINE EXPERIENCED TOTAL FAILURE. THERE WAS NO ADVANCE INDICATION FROM THE VEHICLE SAFETY SYSTEM THAT ANYTHING WAS WRONG. WITH NO ENGINE POWER, MY HUSBAND HAD NO BRAKES OR POWER STEERING TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. DUE TO DRIVER SKILL AND LUCK, WE WERE ABLE TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A SAFE STOP. THE VEHICLE IS NOW AT FREEDOM FORD IN WISE, AND THEIR TECHNICIAN SAYS THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO EXCESSIVE WATER IN THE FUEL, AND THE FUEL SYSTEM IS CONTAMINATED AND NEEDS TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED. THIS INDICATES TO- VARIOUS OUTSIDE MECHANICS- THAT THE WATER AND FUEL SEPARATOR WASN'T WORKING; THUS ALLOWING THE ENGINE TO BECOME OVERWHELMED. THIS SUGGESTS FAULTY PARTS- A FAULTY SEPARATOR-WHICH SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER OUR WARRANTY. HOWEVER, FORD IS CLAIMING THAT THE FUEL SYSTEM FAILURE IS WHAT CAUSED THE COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER.