NHTSA Complaint #739339 — 2000 FORD RANGER

DRIVING 60MPH ON INTERSTATE PHEASANT FLEW LOW IN FRONT OF VERHICLE, AS THE PHEASANT DISAPEARED IN FROM MY VIEW THE TRUCK DID AN ABRUPT SWIRVE TO THE LEFT, I HAD NO STEERING CONTROL, THE TRUCK WENT FROM THE RIGHT LANE ACCROSS PASSING LANE AND HIT HEAD ON INTO FLAT CONCRETE BERRIER, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, OVER $9,000 IN DAMAGE INCLUDING NEW FRAME. WHEN THE TRUCK WAS BEING HOISTED ONTO ROLLBACK I NOTICED THAT THE TIE ROD WAS HANGING. THE YOKE WHERE THE TIE ROD IS BOLTED TO (CAST IRON) WAS BROKEN OFF AND I NOTICED A LOT OF PHEASANT REMAINS ON THE TIEROD AND SUSPENSION. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT A SMALL BIRD AS THIS WOULD CAUSE THE CAST IRON YOKE TO BREAK, ALSO WHY MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE FRONT TIRE AND RIM DID NOT IMPACT THE CONCRETE BERRIER. WHEN I SAW THE PHEASANT I DID NOT REACT TO IT, I DID NOT TURN THE WHEEL OR HIT THE BRAKES, THIS MAY SOUND FUNNY BUT THE TRUCK SWIRVED LEFT DIRRECTLY INTO THE BERRIER. THE SEAT BELT SAVED ME FROM SERIOUS INJURY. MY MAIN CONCERN IS THE PC THAT THE TIE ROD MOUNTS TO AND NO AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT *AK