NHTSA Complaint #11378135 — 2017 FORD F-350

WHILE STATIONARY OR ON TRIPS THE TIRES LOOSE AIR AND BECOME SEVERELY UNDER INFLATED REQUIRING THE TIRES TO BE INFLATED TO PROPER PSI, USUALLY BEFORE EACH TIME THE TRUCK IS USED (3-4 TIMES PER WEEK). THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE SHOULD TIRES BECOME UNDER INFLATED WHILE TRAVELING OR IF THE TRUCK NEEDS TO BE USED IN A SITUATION WHERE THERE IS NO TIME TO INFLATE TO PROPER PSI. OUR TRUCK IS USED TO HAUL HORSES AND WOULD BE DANGEROUS IF WE HAD AN EMERGENCY TO MOVE HORSES WITHOUT TIME TO INFLATE THE TIRES OR IF TIRES LOST INFLATION WHILE ON A TRIP. PROBLEM FIRST APPEARED ABOUT 10 MONTHS (MAY 2018) AFTER THE TRUCK WAS PURCHASED NEW. TAKEN TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY WOULD REPLACE LEAKING VALVE STEMS. INTERNET SOURCES SUGGEST THE PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY FORD USING STEEL VALVES ON ALUMINUM WHEELS, CAUSING CORROSION WHERE THE TWO METALS MEET. WENT TO ANOTHER FORD DEALER WHO CONFIRMED SUCH CORROSION AND RECOMMENDED I REPLACE ALL SIX WHEELS AT AN ESTIMATED COST OF $4,963.16. HOWEVER, DEALER COULD NOT CONFIRM THAT THIS WOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM OR PREVENT ITS REOCCURRENCE.