NHTSA Complaint #709843 — 1992 FORD RANGER

I WAS PREPARING TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY WHEN I HEARD A LOUD POP AND MY TRUCK PULLED HARD TO THE RIGHT AND THE FRONT RINGHT SIDE DROPPED DOWN. I PULLED OVER AS SOON AS I COULD AND LOOKED UNDER IT ONLY TO FIND THAT THE SPRING SADDLE HAD DETERIORATED AWAY TO NOTHING! IT ACTUALLY FELL APART INTO FLAKES OF METAL IN MY HAND! I CHECKED THE OTHER SIDE AND IT WAS FINE. I EASED IT DOWN THE RAMP AND ONTO THE LOT I WORK AT (I WORK FOR MODOT, RIGHT NEXT TO THE RAMP)I CALLED TO ASK THE DEALER ABOUT IT AND I ALSO CALLED FORD. NEITHER SEEMED VERY INTERESTED. I HAVE TALKED TO SIX DIFFERENT MECHANICS AND NONE OF THEMHAVE EVER SEEN THIS PART FAIL UNLESS THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN WRECKED OR DRIVEN VERY ROUGHLY! MY TRUCK LOOKS LIKE NEW AND IT HAS NOT BEEN DAMAGED LIKE THAT. I WASH IT REGULARLY, SO RUST IS NOT A PROBLEM. ONLY THE ONE PART FAILED, NOT BOTH OR SEVERAL OTHER PARTS OF THE SUSPENSION! I EXPLAINED TO THE DEALER THAT I HAD TOLD THEM IT PULLED TO THE RIGHT WHEN I HAD HAD IT IN FOR SERVICE BEFORE BUT THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. IT IS MY BELIEF THAT THIS PART WAS DEFECTIVE ALL ALONG AND WHEN IT DISINTEGRATED, I WAS LUCKY THAT NOONE WAS HURT OR KILLED WHEN THE TRUCK JERKED TO THE RIGHT! THERE'S NO EXCUSE FOR A PART LIKE THIS FAILING UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. I HAVE THE PART AND PICTURES OF IT. I INTEND TO HAVE IT TESTED IN A LAB AT ONE OF THE LOCAL COLLEGES. THANK YOU.