NHTSA Complaint #11316572 — 1994 FORD E-150

ON JAN 21ST 2020, WHILE MANEUVERING AT A GAS STATION, I HEARD A LOUD POP/CRACK. THINKING I HAD HIT A STANCHION, I WALKED AROUND MY VAN BUT - NO STANCHION. NOTHING TO SEE SO I GO ABOUT MY DAY. STEERING PULLED TO THE RIGHT, I CHECKED FOR LOW TIRE PRESSURE - PRESSURE, OK. 40 MILES OF FREEWAY DRIVING LATER, I TAKE THE VAN TO THE GARAGE - STEERING FEELS LOOSE. AFTER INSPECTION, THE DANGER I WAS IN, AND THE THREAT I WAS TO THOSE AROUND ME ON THE ROAD, WAS MOST APPARENT. THE STEERING GEAR BOX WAS LOOSE FROM THE FRAME, ONE BOLT HAVING SHEERED OFF. AND THE FRAME ITSELF CRACKED. IMAGINE MY SURPRISE WHEN FINDING THAT FATIGUE FAILURE AT THIS PART OF THE FRAME WAS WELL DOCUMENTED ON THE INTERNET AND YET, AS AN ORIGINAL OWNER, I HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THIS KNOWN AND DANGEROUS DESIGN DEFECT BY FORD MOTOR CO OR LANDMARK FORD. HOW MANY VANS OF THE SAME VINTAGE ARE STILL ON THE ROAD ?? HOW MANY ARE SAFE TO DRIVE ALONG SIDE?? I GUESS I AM LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO WRITE THIS NOTE, COS HAD MY STEERING BOX BROKEN LOOSE WHILE DRIVING ACROSS THE GLEN JACKSON BRIDGE, (I 205), I COULD EASILY HAVE ENDED UP IN THE COLUMBIA RIVER ALONG WITH OTHER INNOCENTS. DISILLUSIONED CUSTOMER. 1994 FORD E150, 170,289 MLS, FRAME @ STEERING GEAR BOX.