1989 FORD F350 — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

I WAS RETURNING HOME FROM PHOENIX. I WAS TRANSITIONING FROM THE 101 FREEWAY,TO THE 60 EASTBOUND. ALMOST WHERE THE CONCRETE BARRIERS COME TO A POINT AND END, MY LEFT FRONT TIRE CUT LOOSE OF IT'S TREAD. I BRIEFLY SAW THAT IT WENT TOWARDS, AND IN BETWEEN THE CONCRETE BARRIERS. THE TIRE DID NOT GO FLAT. WHEN THE TREAD LEFT, IT TORE UP THE INNER FENDER PLASTIC, BENT THE QUARTER PANEL RIGHT BEHIND THE WHEEL WELL, DESTROYED THE FOOTSTEP BOLTED ON UNDERNEATH THE DRIVERS DOOR. THE VEHICLE IS A 1989 F350 4-DOOR LONGBED 4-WHEEL DRIVE TRUCK. THIS EPISODE IS NOT THE FIRST. THE FIRST HAPPENED IN 2003. THE SECOND TIME HAPPENED TO MY 20 YR OLD SON WHILE ON HIS WAY TO SCHOOL. THAT ONE WAS THE LEFT REAR. IT RIPPED OUT BOTH SUPPORTS THAT THE BED HAS IN FRONT AND IN THE REAR OF THE WHEEL WELL. IT SMASHED THE REAR FUEL TANK FILLER TUBE, PULLED IN THE OUTSIDE DOOR TO THE "GAS" CAP,MANGLED THE PORTION OF THE BED THAT IS BEHIND THE WHEEL WELL, INSIDE AND OUT. I WAS IN IRAQ WHEN THAT HAPPENED. THEY SAID THAT I HAD THE WRONG TIRE PRESSURE ON BOTH ACCOUNTS, 1ST AND 2ND TREAD SEPARATIONS. WITH A TRUCK THAT BIG,I DON'T LET MY TIRES GET NEGLECTED FROM HAVING THE PRESSURE CHECKED ON A REGULAR BASIS,AND ADJUSTED ACCORDINGLY. I HAD MY WIFE TELL THEM THAT WAS A BUNCH OF BULL!#*^,AND I WANTED SOMETHING DONE. THEY TOLD MY WIFE THAT I HAD PEPBOYS PUT THE WRONG KIND OF TIRE ON MY TRUCK. THAT IS WHEN I FIRST STARTED TRYING TO FIND SOMETHING OUT ALONG THE LINES OF A LAWSUIT. THEY HAD PLENTY OF LAWSUITS GOING ON CONCERNING TIRES, BUT NONE WERE OF THE TIRE I HAD. I AM NOW LOOKING INTO BUYING ANOTHER BED FOR MY TRUCK BECAUSE OF WHAT COOPERS TIRES HAVE DONE TO IT. I ALSO HAVE TO PURCHASE A NEW STEP TO MOUNT UNDER THE DRIVERS DOOR. THE TIRES I HAD ON MY TRUCK WERE DAKOTA FUTURA RVT,33X12.50R16.5LT. I HAVE WENT AND PURSUED ESTIMATES ON GETTING MY TRUCK FIXED. I AM LOOKING AT ABOUT 3500.00. I NOW HAVE A DIFFERENT BRAND (MANUFACTURER) MADE TIRE S NOW. *NM

CONSUMER STATES THE CHOKE PLATE IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GETS SO HOT, IT MELTS THE FUEL LINE AND IGNITES FUEL, BURNING THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.

ALMOST DAILY FRONT LEFT WHEEL SHIMMY AT 35-55 MPH. FIRST STARTED ABOUT 1991 AND OCCASIONALLY FIXED BY ALIGNMENT, WHEEL BALANCING, TIRE ROTATION, DUAL FRONT STEERING STABILIZERS, BUT RECENTLY THE PROBLEM HAS WORSENED. I AM UNABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AT HIGHWAY SPEED FOR FEAR OF THE WHEEL SHIMMY OCCURING AT THE 35-55 MPH RANGE. WHEN SHIMMY STARTS I CAN TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT SLIGHTLY AND THE SHIMMY WILL GO AWAY TEMPORARILY. SHIMMY ONLY OCCURS WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT, OR WHILE TURNING TO THE LEFT. AS A SIDE NOTE THE TRUCK DOES PULL TO THE RIGHT, MAKING ME COUNTER STEER TO THE LEFT, WHICH IS TEMPTING FATE WITH THE SHIMMY.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THE CHOKE PLATE IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GETS SO HOT, IT MELTS THE FUEL LINE AND IGNITES FUEL, BURNING THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK