2000 Ford 7000

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH DRAG LINK ASSEMBLIES CONTAINING 24-DL MODEL BALL SOCKETS AND MANUFACTURED BY TRW. CERTAIN OF THE TIE ROD BALL-SOCKET BEARINGS HAVE A BELOW-SPECIFICATION CASE DEPTH AND/OR HARDNESS, WHICH CAN LEAD TO PREMATURE WEAR OF THE SOCKET.

Risk. IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS, THE DRIVER CAN LOSE PARTIAL CONTROL OF THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE DRAG LINKS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 12, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673 OR TRW CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-866-280-3287.

WHILE DRIVING TIRES STARTED TO SEPARATE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

BELOW IS PART OF A LETTER SENT TO BUDGET/RYDER TRUCK RENTAL EXPLAINING PROBLEMS MY HUSBAND AND I HAD WITH A TRUCK WE RENTED LAST AUGUST. IF THIS IS SOMETHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO LOOK INTO, I WILL PROVIDE COPIES OF FURTHER CORRESPONSENCE AND A PHOTOGRAPH OF THE TIRE MENTIONED IN THE LETTER. ON AUGUST 20, WE PICKED UP A 15'' BUDGET RENTAL TRUCK AND TOW DOLLY IN SAN DIEGO, CA. THE FIRST TRUCK WE WERE GIVEN HAD THE ''CHECK ENGINE'' LIGHT ON. WE ASKED FOR ANOTHER TRUCK. THE EQUIPMENT WE WERE GIVEN INSTEAD SEEMED FINE AT FIRST, BUT WE SOON DISCOVERED SEVERAL PROBLEMS. AT THE FIRST GAS STOP, A PLASTIC PIECE INSIDE THE GAS CAP BROKE. WE REPLACED THE GAS CAP OURSELVES. WE LATER NOTICED THAT A TAILLIGHT ON THE TOW DOLLY WAS NOT WORKING. WHEN WE ENCOUNTERED HEAVY RAIN NEAR HOUSTON, WE DISCOVERED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER WAS COMING APART. THE NEXT PROBLEM IS BY FAR THE MOST CONCERNING. AS WE CREPT THROUGH TRAFFIC IN HOUSTON, WE BLEW A TIRE. WE PULLED TO THE SHOULDER AND FOUND THAT OUR LEFT FRONT TIRE WAS FLAT. THE MAN WHO REPLACED IT WAS APPALLED AT THE CONDITION OF BOTH FRONT TIRES. THE MEN WHO INSPECTED THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE AT OUR DROP-OFF LOCATION IN ENTERPRISE, AL, ALSO FOUND THE CONDITION OF THE REMAINING TIRE DISTURBING AND WERE NOT SURE IT WOULD MAKE IT TO A TOWN 20 MINUTES AWAY FOR MAINTENANCE. HE ALSO NOTED THAT ONE TIRE ON THE TOW DOLLY WAS IN BAD CONDITION. HAD ONE OF THE TIRES BLOWN WHILE WE WERE AT A TYPICAL SPEED WE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED.