What 50 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Ford F-350 Super Crew

WHILE USUALLY TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND HITTING SMALL BUMPS SUCH AS EXPANSION JOINTS ON BRIDGES THE TRUCK WILL SHAKE VIOLENTLY. IT HAS DONE THIS WITH VARYING DEGREES, AND MOST RECENTLY HAS GOTTEN WORSE. THE MOST EXTREME AND RECENT EPISODE WAS HAVING TO SLOW DOWN TO ABOUT 10 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE BEFORE IT STOPPED, AND IN PROCESS NEARLY BEING HIT FROM BEHIND BY A TRACTOR TRAILER. THIS HAS BEEN CALLED THE "DEATH WOBBLE" IN SEVERAL ONLINE POSTS. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD F-350 SUPER DUTY. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND AN UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, EGT SENOR #4 CIRCUIT OPEN, EGT SENSOR WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,451.

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MICHELIN TIRE FAILURE. CATASTROPHIC TIRE BLOWOUT-FRONT TIRE. FORD F350 TRUCK PULLING A 5TH WHEEL TRAILER. 3 VEHICLES INVOLVED ON CALIFORNIA INTERSTATE HIGHWAY 101. WHILE TOWING A 5TH WHEEL TRAILER I HAD A FRONT LEFT TIRE BLOW. THE TIRE BLEW DURING A RIGHT TURN/BEND IN THE HIGHWAY. I COULD ONLY MAINTAIN THE VEHICLE IN A STRAIGHT LINE UNTIL WE STOPPED. THE TIRE CAUSED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE TOW VEHICLE AND A COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY. WE ALMOST ENDED UP IN A DITCH. *TR

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MICHELIN TIRE FAILURE. CATASTROPHIC TIRE BLOWOUT-FRONT TIRE. FORD F350 TRUCK PULLING A 5TH WHEEL TRAILER. 3 VEHICLES INVOLVED ON CALIFORNIA INTERSTATE HIGHWAY 101. WHILE TOWING A 5TH WHEEL TRAILER I HAD A FRONT LEFT TIRE BLOW. THE TIRE BLEW DURING A RIGHT TURN/BEND IN THE HIGHWAY. I COULD ONLY MAINTAIN THE VEHICLE IN A STRAIGHT LINE UNTIL WE STOPPED. THE TIRE CAUSED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE TOW VEHICLE AND A COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY. WE ALMOST ENDED UP IN A DITCH. *TR

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2011 FORD F-350. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SEVERE STEERING WHEEL OSCILLATION PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HE MUST BRING THE VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP, TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP SHAKING. IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. ON TWO OCCASIONS, THE SHAKING WAS BAD THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, AND NOTHING WAS DONE, EXCEPT ROTATING THE TIRES AND CHECKING THE AIR PRESSURE. IN FEBRUARY 2014, THE DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING DAMPER. THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY FOR ABOUT FIVE MONTHS. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THE VEHICLE NEEDS NEW TIE RODS, FRONT DRIVE LINK, A FRONT TRACK BAR AND AN ALIGNMENT. *JB

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD F-350 EQUIPPED WITH MICHELIN M+S ALL SEASON TIRES, SIZE LT 275/65 R20, DOT B70T003X2211. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE HAD MALFUNCTIONED. WHILE CHANGING THE TIRE THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE INSIDE SECTION OF THE TREAD HAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT 3 DAYS LATER WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE AND THE CONTACT STOP THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE OUTER SECTION OF TREAD ON THE DRIVER SIDE TIRE HAD TOO SEPARATED. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO DRIVE AT SLOW SPEEDS FOR A SHORT DISTANCE BEFORE TIRE EXPERIENCED A BLOWOUT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000.

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**2011 F350 SD 4X2. FIRST NOTICED THIS PHENOMENON AT 65MPH ON THE THRUWAY. WHEN HITTING CERTAIN ROUGH ROAD SURFACE, OR BUMPS, OR CONCAVITIES ETC., FRONT WHEELS "HOP" TO ONE SIDE, STEERING THE VEHICLE INTO THE SHOULDER, IF "HOPPING" TO THE RIGHT, OR INTO THE LEFT LANE OF TRAFFIC IF BUMP CAUSES A LEFT SIDE "HOP". CAN "HOP" EITHER WAY DEPENDENT UPON WHICH WHEEL STRIKES THE ROUGH SURFACE. IF BOTH WHEELS STRIKE THE ROUGH SURFACE THEN IT CAN GO EITHER WAY. THIS HAPPENS AT LOWER SPEEDS AS WELL. CAN HOP 12" OR MORE. I AM FRIGHTENED BY THIS VEHICLE AS I COULD EASILY STRIKE A CONCRETE BARRIER OR CONCRETE CURB OR A PEDESTRIAN OR ANOTHER VEHICLE. I HAVE DRIVEN OTHER MANUFACTURERS VEHICLES OF SIMILAR GVWR, OVER THE LAST 35 YEARS, AND THIS PROBLEM IS PARTICULAR TO THIS MAKE AND MODEL ONLY. I COMPARED WITH A 2015 FORD, SAME VEHICLE, AND THAT DOES THE SAME THING. FORD CLAIMS ITS NORMAL. FORD CLAIMS IT IS NORMAL UNTIL YOU "LOAD IT" TO CAPACITY, JUST OVER 2 TONS. "ONCE ITS LOADED, YOU WILL BE OK", SAYS FORD. SO THEIR THEORY STATES ITS OK TO BE AN UNSAFE VEHICLE WHILE YOU'RE TRAVELING TO PICK UP YOUR 4000LB LOAD, THEN ONCE YOU'RE LOADED ITS OK. SO IF YOU HAVE NO LOAD FOR 50% OF THE TIME THEN ITS OK TO HAVE A VEHICLE THAT IS UNSAFE 1/2 THE TIME YOU DRIVE IT! THIS IS OBVIOUSLY AN ENGINEERING PROBLEM AND I DOUBT FORD WILL ADMIT IT, BUT IT CERTAINLY IS UNSAFE AND SOMEBODY HAD BETTER LOOK INTO THIS BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. **INCIDENTALLY, THIS IS A 2011 THAT I BOUGHT BRAND NEW IN 2014. IT SAT ON THE LOT FOR 3 YEARS. THIS HAS NO BEARING ON THE ISSUE HOWEVER SINCE THE 2015 DISPLAYS THE SAME TENDENCIES. *TR

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I HAVE A 2011 FORD F350 THAT CAME WITH MICHELIN LTX A/T2 - LT275/65R 20 TIRES. IT HAS JUST OVER 28,000 MILES, HAS ONLY BEEN SERVICED BY A FORD DEALER, WITH EACH SERVICE REPORT INDICATING NO PROBLEMS WITH RESPECT TO TIRE ISSUES. TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY I EXPERIENCED A SHAKING IN THE FRONT END LIKE A WHEEL HAD THROWN A WEIGHT. PULLING OFF THE ROAD I DISCOVERED A TREAD SEPARATION BUBBLE APPROXIMATELY 12-13" LONG ON THE OUTER PORTION OF A FRONT TIRE. AFTER CHANGING TO THE SPARE WE CONTINUED THAT DAY'S DRIVING. THE NEXT DRIVE IN THE TRUCK WAS TOWING OUR 5TH WHEEL HOME AND I AGAIN EXPERIENCED THE SAME SHAKING. I PULLED OVER AGAIN AND FOUND THE OTHER FRONT TIRE HAD SEPARATED IN THE SAME MANNER AND SIZE BUBBLE. THE TWO SEPARATIONS OCCURRED WITHIN 300 MILES OF EACH OTHER. IT WAS ONLY MY RECOGNITION OF THE VIBRATIONS IN THE STEERING WHEEL THAT ALERTED ME TO PULL OVER TO INSPECT THE TIRES BEFORE THEY BLEW OUT CATASTROPHICALLY. A CATASTROPHIC TIRE FAILURE UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES IS DIFFICULT ENOUGH, BUT WHILE TOWING IS AN IMMINENTLY GREATER HAZARD. I FOUND THE CLOSEST FORD DEALERSHIP AND HAD TO PURCHASE TWO NEW TIRES TO GET HOME. ONCE THERE I WENT TO MY FORD DEALER AND TOLD THEM I WANTED THE OTHER TWO TIRES OFF THE TRUCK BEFORE THEY FAILED. THEY HAVE CONTACTED MICHELIN ON MY BEHALF AND AS YET I HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM THEM, ALTHOUGH IT'S ONLY BEEN A WEEK. I HOPE MICHELIN STEPS UP AND REPLACES ALL FOUR TIRES. THE ONLY OTHER PIECE OF INFORMATION THAT MAY BE A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IS THAT ALTHOUGH THE TIRES ARE WARRANTED FOR 60,000K MILES, THEY WERE WORN TO (7/32-5/32-10/32) ON THE BUBBLE, 180 DEGREES (7/32-5/32-9/32) ON ONE TIRE AND (8/32-7/32-10/32) AND 180 DEGREES ACROSS (10/32-7/32-10/32) ON THE OTHER. I FILED THIS REPORT BECAUSE I SEE THAT MICHELIN HAS HAD A VERY SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH THEIR LTX M/S2 TIRE AND HAS OR IS CONDUCTING A VOLUNTARY RECALL. THIS TIRE IS SO SIMILAR TO THE A/T THAT I HAVE TO WONDER IF IT'S JUST A DIFFERENT TREAD PATTERN ON THE SAME TIRE CARCASS. *JS

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD F-350 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AS THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DIESEL EXHAUST FLUID PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,363. UPDATED 04/29/14 MA UPDATED 05/2/2014 *JS

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FORD F350SD CREW CAB W/ 6.7 DIESEL MOTOR...VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN WHEN SUDDENLY WARNING MESSAGE CAME ACROSS DASH THAT VEHICLE WAS "SHUTTING DOWN" AND TO PULLOVER VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY. WITHIN 10 SECONDS VEHICLE BEGAN DECELERATING AND CAME TO A COMPLETE SHUTDOWN. IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER VEHICLE AS POWER STEERING AND EVERYTHING STOPPED WORKING. WITH WIFE IN A PANIC, SHE BARELY GOT THE TRUCK OFF THE HIGHWAY, BEFORE COMPLETE SHUTDOWN OF VEHICLE! CALLED LOCAL FORD DEALER, WHICH DID HAVE THE TRUCK TOWED IN TO DEALERSHIP, UNDER FORD WARRANTY. TRUCK WAS DIAGNOSED AS HAVING A "FAULTY" EGT EXHAUST SENSOR, GAVE ESTIMATE TO FIX OF AROUND $600.00. CLAIMS IT WAS NOT PART OF THE POWERTRAIN, SO NO WARRANTY COVERAGE OF THE COSTS OF REPAIR! TOTALLY FRUSTRATED WITH FORD FOR THIS INCIDENT AND LACK OF SUPPORT OR CONCERN FOR THIS FAILURE, I APPEALED TO THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPT. AND BASICALLY GOT NOWHERE! NOW AS I HAVE DONE RESEARCH ON THIS ISSUE, I FIND OUT THAT FORD HAS A RECALL GENERATED #13V535000, ON THIS VERY SAME PRODUCT FAILURE, WITH THE EXACT SAME ISSUE AS OUR TRUCK'S FAILURE. HOWEVER, FORD ONLY ISSUED THE RECALL FOR F350,450, &550'S THAT WERE UTILIZED IN AMBULANCE CHASSIS. OUR TRUCK HAS A SAME BUILD DATE AS THE RECALL INDICATES AND EVERY EXACT SYMPTOM THAT THEY CITE IN THE RECALL LETTER AND FINDINGS, YET FORD REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE SAME PROBLEM COULD HAVE EXISTED IN THE NON AMBULANCE F350'S. I HAVE ONLY ASKED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE REPS. FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF MY COSTS FOR THIS REPAIR, WHICH WAS COMPLETED ON 08/29/2013. THEY HAVE REFUSED TO ACCEPT MY CLAIM! I FIND THIS RIDICULOUS, AND THE SAFETY ISSUES OF THE PROBLEM WERE EVERY BIT AS SEVERE IN THIS PRIVATE SITUATION AS WHAT MAY HAVE BEEN IN AN AMBULANCE USE SITUATION. PLEASE HELP, ANYONE AT FORD SHOULD REALIZE THAT THE "FAULTY" SENSORS PROBABLY WERE PLACED ON MANY OTHER F350'S BUILT DURING THAT SAME TIMEFRAME. *TR

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TRAVELING ON A HIGHWAY, TURNING SLIGHTLY ALONG A CURVED SECTION OF THE ROADWAY, UPON ENCOUNTERING VERY SMALL BUMPS, MY TRUCK BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY, THE STEERING WHEEL THREATENED TO SHAKE MY HANDS LOOSE FROM IT, I HAD TO HIT THE BRAKE AND TRY TO QUICKLY SLOW THE TRUCK DOWN WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PULL OFF ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3-4 TIMES SINCE THIS ORIGINAL INCIDENT. I HAVE HAD MY TIRES ROTATED REGULARLY AND WITH PROPER PRESSURE MAINTAINED. SEEMS TO OCCUR ON CURVED SECTION OF HIGHWAY THAT IS ALSO ON AN UPHILL GRADE AT SPEEDS OVER 45MPH. *TR

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THE RADIATOR, WITHOUT DAMAGE BEGAN LEAKING ANTIFREEZE IN THE UPPER RIGHT CORNER AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TR

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WHEN I ORIGINALLY BOUGHT THE VEHICLE, SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE RIGHT REAR BRAKES HAD BEEN DRAGGING AND WHEN THE VEHICLE STOPPED, HEAVY SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE RIGHT SIDE REAR WHEEL. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE CALIPERS AND ROTORS. THE VEHICLE NOW HAS 44000 MILES ON IT NOW. PERIODICALLY THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN DRAGGING AGAIN AS I CAN SMELL THE BRAKES WHEN I EXIT THE TRUCK. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD F-350 SD. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN AND THE SHAKING SUBSIDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THE TRAC BAR, BUSHINGS, BALL JOINTS, STEERING AND TIE ROD ENDS WERE ALL REPLACED. THE TIRES ON THE VEHICLE WERE REPLACED AND BALANCED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000. UPDATED 03/05/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED HE EXPERIENCED STEERING WHEEL OSCILLATION FOR THE LAST 70,000 MILES. THE CONSUMER HAD NUMEROUS COMPONENTS REPLACED, BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE DEALER INFROMED THE CONSUMER THE OSCILLATION WAS NORMAL.

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WAS ON FREEWAY ABOUT 55 TO 65 MPH AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE TRUCK WENT INTO WHAT I WOULD CALL A DEATH WOBBLE WHERE IT SEEMED TO BE SHAKING THE TRUCK TO DEATH. ONCE I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND STOPPED AND STARTED OUT AGAIN IT WAS FINE. 2 DAYS LATER IT DID IT AGAIN ONLY THIS TIME I WAS JUST GETTING ONTO THE FREEWAY ON THE ON RAMP. IT DID IT AGAIN. DID NOT SEEM TO HIT ANY BUMP OR POTHOLE JUST STARTED SHAKING. HAD DEALER CHECK ITY OUT THE FOLLOWING WEEK AND THEY BLAMED IT ON THE TIRES, AND SAID IT NEEDED AN ALIGNMENT. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD F-350SD TDI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A TEAR IN THE REAR BED OF THE TRUCK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE WELDS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE WERE FRACTURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,500. ...UPDATED 11-18-13 *BF

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CHUNKS OF THE TREAD ARE COMING OFF OF THE TIRE. THIS DEFECT WAS NOTICED WHILE HAVING MY TRUCK SERVICED AT THE DEALERSHIP. THEY INSTRUCTED ME TO VISIT A TIRE STORE THAT SOLD MICHELIN TIRES TO GET THEM RELPACED. WHEN I WENT TO THE TIRE STORE AND THEY CONTACTED MICHELIN. I WAS TOLD THEY WOULD GIVE ME A 30% DISCOUNT ON NEW TIRES. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. I PURCHASED MY TRUCK NEW AND HAVE APPROX 23K MILES ON THESE TIRES. THIS IS NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR THERE IS A DEFECT WITH THESE TIRES. I AM AFFRAID THAT THIS MY CAUSE A BLOW OUT OR A AUTO ACCIDENT AND DONT WANT TO SEE ANYONE INJURED BECAUSE MICHELIN DOSNT WANT TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE TIRES. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD F-350 SUPER DUTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 59 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND WOBBLE VIOLENTLY, CAUSING THE CONTACT DIFFICULTY IN CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE U-BOLTS WERE REPLACED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE STEERING SHOCK ABSORBER WAS REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE TORQUE BAR AND THE TWO FRONT SHOCKS WERE REPLACED ON SUBSEQUENT VISITS. LATER, THE TIRES WERE ROTATED BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE MECHANIC THEN DEFLATED THE TIRES. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE TIRES WERE THEN OVER INFLATED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE WOBBLE WAS NORMAL AND OFFERED NO OTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 294,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 315,000.

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WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS HIT BUMP IN ROAD THE STEERING SHAKES REALLY BAD AND TO GAIN CONTROL HAD TO SLOW DOWN TO ALMOST STOP SPEED. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD 350 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WOULD DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL FOR THREE TO FOUR SECONDS BEFORE ACTUALLY MOVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD F350 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE NOTICED BOTH FRONT TIRES EXHIBITED AN IRREGULAR WEAR PATTERN IN THE EXACT SAME PLACE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ALIGNED THE TIRES BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND A CLAIM WAS FILED (CLAIM NUMBER 1512842141) BUT IT WAS DENIED BY THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

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I WAS DRIVING THE TRUCK AWAY FROM A TRAFFIC LIGHT. WHEN THE TRUCK REACHED APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH. THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY. I LOST FORWARD MOTION, STEERING CONTROL AND BRAKING POWER. I WAS ABLE TO WRESTLE THE TRUCK OFF THE ROAD AND INTO A PARKING LOT. THIS IS A FORD TRUCK POWERED BY A 6.7 FORD DIESEL ENGINE., THE TRUCK IS GENERALLY USED TO TOW A 13000 POUND FIFTH WHEEL. IF I HAD BEEN TOWING THE FIFTH WHEEL, THE OUTCOME WOULD SURELY HAVE BEEN A DISASTER. PROBLEM TURNED OUT TO BE A TOTALLY FAILED BOSCH CP4-2 HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. THE PUMP SLOWLY FAILS. AS THE PUMP TRAVELS THE PATH TO TOTAL DESTRUCTION, THE OPERATOR HAS NO WARNING THAT THE ENGINE WILL SUDDENLY DIE. WHEN THE TRUCK QUITS, THE OPERATOR HAS LOST POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES ON A 8,500 TO 23,500 POUND VEHICLE. *TR

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IN A DAYLIGHT SAFETY ZONE REQUIRING HEADLIGHTS, I NOTICED MY DASH LIGHTS WERE NOT ON, EVEN THOUGH MY LIGHT SWITCH WAS IN THE MANUAL ON POSITION. THIS OCCURRED DURING DAYTIME WHILE TRAVELING THROUGH DENSE GROVES OF TREES THAT ALLOWED ENOUGH LIGHT TO SEE THE ROAD, BUT PRODUCED ENOUGH SHADE TO DARKEN MY INSTRUMENT PANEL. ON ENTERING A TUNNEL, MY HEADLIGHTS SHOWED TO BE ON, BUT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS WERE NOT ON, CAUSING THE INSTRUMENT PANEL TO BE TOTALLY BLACKED OUT, AND CREATING A POTENTIAL HAZARDOUS CONDITION. THIS OCCURRED FOR NEARLY A HALF MINUTE UNTIL THE DAYLIGHT SENSOR DETERMINED IT WAS DARK LONG ENOUGH TO ACTIVATE THE DASH LIGHTS. I BROUGHT THE PROBLEM TO THE ATTENTION OF TWO FORD DEALERS, WHO WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM WITH THE TRUCK IN THEIR SHOP. THE THIRD DEALER I CONTACTED WAS ABLE TO VERIFY THE PROBLEM I EXPERIENCED; SPECIFICALLY, THAT WHILE THEIR TESTS SHOWED ALL SYSTEMS CHECKED OUT OKAY, DASH LIGHTS WERE INEXPLICABLY LINKED TO THE DAYLIGHT SENSOR, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH WAS PLACED IN PARK, ON, OR AUTO MODE. IF THE TRUCK WAS OUTSIDE IN THE SUN, PARK AND ON SWITCH POSITIONS DISPLAYED THE EXPECTED PARKING/HEADLIGHT/TAIL LIGHT COMBINATION, BUT NOT THE DASH LIGHTS. AUTO POSITION WORKED AS EXPECTED. ON COMPARING TRUCKS SIMILAR TO MINE, ONE WITH A COMPUTER MODULE DISPLAY AND ONE WITHOUT (AS MINE IS) THE DEALER FOUND THAT THE DISPLAY-EQUIPPED TRUCK'S DASH LIGHTS CAME ON AS EXPECTED IN DAYLIGHT WHEN THE SWITCH WAS ON, BUT THE TRUCK EQUIPPED AS MINE, WITH DO DISPLAY, FAILED AS MINE DOES. BEING STUMPED, BOTH THE DEALER AND I CONTACTED FORD FOR FURTHER INSIGHT. TO DATE, WHILE THE DEALER IS WILLING TO PURSUE THE ISSUE TO ITS SATISFACTORY CONCLUSION, FORD TELLS ME THAT IF THE DEALER CAN'T LOCATE A PROBLEM, NONE EXISTS. I ASKED FORD TO VERIFY THE PROBLEM WITH THEIR ENGINEERS AND DETERMINE WHY THE TWO MODULES DIFFER, WITH NO SUCCESS.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD F-350 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND EACH TIME THERE WAS A DIFFERENT SET OF CODES THAT WERE GENERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER REPAIRED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WERE WORKING ON A SOFTWARE UPDATE TO BE INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND A CLAIM WAS FILED. THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WERE CONTINUALLY WORKING ON NEW CALIBRATIONS AND CODES TO REINSTALL IN THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 8,500.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD F-350 SUPERDUTY. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FORWARD, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHIFT GEARS, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BE PLACED INTO NEUTRAL INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER OFFERED THE CONTACT NO ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER TOOK A COMPLAINT. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED OR INSPECTED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,783 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3.

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