NHTSA Complaint #737755 — 1999 FORD RANGER

ON OCTOBER 4, 2000 MY SON WAS TRAVELING AT 30 MPH ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET WHEN HIS DRIVERS SIDE FRONT TIRE ASSEMBLY CAME OFF SPINDLE CAUSING HIM TO GO OUT OF CONTROL AND HIT A VAN AND A BOAT THAT WERE PARKED IN FRONT OF A RESIDENCE HERE IN MIDLAND, TEXAS. THE POLICE REPORT THAT WAS FILED BACKS UP THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS: WHILE TRAVELING EAST ON STANOLIND STREET AT 30 MPH, IN THE 4400 BLOCK, THE 1999 FORD RANGER'S DRIVERS SIDE FRONT WHEEL DISENGAGED FROM THE SPINDLE CAUSING IT TO PULL LEFT AND ALONG SIDE A PARKED LATE MODEL CHEVY VAN. THE RANGER HAD NO BRAKES, AND SCRAPED ALONG THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE VAN, LEAVING SCRAPE MARKS AND AXLE GREASE, AND TIRE RUBBER RESIDUE ALONG THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE VAN. THE RANGER HIT THE FENDER OF THE VAN AND SINCE DRIVER WAS TRYING TO STEER AWAY FROM THE WRECK, THIS ALLOWED THE FRONT OF THE RANGER TO PULL TO THE RIGHT BACK TOWARDS THE STREET. AT THAT POINT THE ENTIRE "WHEEL ASSEMBLY" CAME OFF AND TRAVELED 4 HOUSES AHEAD OF THE NOW 3-WHEELED RANGER. AFTER THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY EXITED, THE KNUCKLE HIT THE PAVEMENT AND FORCED THE RANGER INTO THE BOAT WHICH WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF THE VAN. THE BOAT TRAILER WHEELS WERE "CHOCKED" AND THE IMPACT OF THE RANGER LIFTED THE BOAT TRAILER INTO THE DRIVEWAY NEXT DOOR TO WHERE IT WAS PARKED. WHEN THE MIDLAND POLICE ARRIVED,WE ALL STARTED DISCOVERING THE PARTS LYING IN THE STREET WELL BEFORE THE CRASH SITE. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE HUB CAP CAME OFF FIRST AND ROLLED TO THE GRASS ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE (4' NORTH) OF THE VAN. THE AXLE DUST COVER CAME OFF NEXT AND ROLLED TO THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE STREET ( SOUTH), EVEN WITH THE BOAT. THE AXLE BEARING AND SEAL WERE FOUND 20' IN FRONT OF THE VAN SO THEY PROBABLY CAME OUT NEXT. THE AXLE NUT AND KEEPER WERE FOUND BESIDE THE BOAT IN THE GRASS. THE "WHEEL ASSEMBLY" REFERRED EARLIER HAS EVERYTHING STILL ATTACHED ( BRAKE LINE, BRAKE SHOE, HUB, LUGS, CALIPER, EVERYTHING!). I HAVE KEPT THESE PARTS FOR YOUR INSPECTION IN MY HOME GARAGE.. *AK