NHTSA Complaint #704153 — 1994 FORD AEROSTAR

ON THE DATE LISTED MY PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL/TIRE FELL OFF. THIS IS MY WIFE'S WORK CAR AND SHE THOUGHT SHE COULD HEAR SOMETHING DIFFERENT. SO I DROVE IT TO WORK THE NEXT DAY. I THOUGHT I COULD FEEL SOME ROUGHNESS SIGHTLY THROUGH MY PEDAL BUT IT WOULD COME AND GO. I THOUGHT IT COULD BE A U-JOINT PROBLEM. ANYWAY AS I WAS TURNING A SHARP TURN IN THE TOWN OF OF MEROM, IN THE WHEEL FELL OFF WITH THE BRAKE LINE STILL CONNECTED. THE SPINDLE HAD SNAPPED INTO BECAUSE THE BEARING LOCKED UP DUE TO INADEQUATE PACKING GREASE. THIS VAN IS MY FAMILY CAR AND THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTEROUS ACCIDENT IF THE WHEEL HAD COME OFF ON THE OPEN HIGHWAY. I DO HAVE THE WHEEL BEARING IN MY POSSESSION. THE OUTER COLLAR IS MISSING BUT THE INDIVIDUAL BEARING ROLLARS ARE WELDED TO THE INNER COLLAR AS IS THE PIECE OF SPINDLE SHAFT THAT SHEARED OFF. I JUST THOUGHT THIS SHOULD BE BROUGHT TO SOMEBODIES ATTENTION.