NHTSA Complaint #766100 — 2001 FORD ECONOLINE

ALTHOUGH NO ONE WAS HURT AND THE DEALER FIXED THE PROBLEM AT NO COST I WISH TO REPORT THIS INCIDENT AS A "NEAR MISS". THE PART IN QUESTION ,EXHAUST DAMPNER ASSY IS A BALANCER [7 TO10 POUND ROUND WEIGHT] ATTACHED TO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM UNDER THE VEHICLE . THE WEIGHT IS WELDED TO A BRACKET WHICH IS ATTACHED TO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE PART FELL OFF WHEN THE BRACKET BROKE FOR NO APPEARENT REASON.LUCKILY THE VEHICLE HAPPENED TO BE GOING SLOWLY AT THE TIME.SHOULD THE VEHICLE HAVE BEEN TRAVELING AT 65MPH THE PART IN QUESTION WOULD HAVE SURELY BECOME A DEADLY PROJECTILE .THE DEALER DID REPAIR THE VEHICLE BUT DID NOT SEEM OVERLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY ISSUE, AS I HAVE 5 MORE OF THESE VEHICLES AT THIS LOCATION, I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS AND I AM THEREFOR REPORTING IT TO YOUR ORGINIZATION FOR FURTHER REVIEW .......PLEASE ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT OF THIS MESSAGE,THANK YOU RICHARD B. ANDRIEN, VEHICLE SUPERVISOR AND SYSTEM SAFETY SUPERVISOR FOR COMCAST CABLEVISION OF NEW JERSEY LLC. *AK