1996 Ford F-350 complaints

THE INSIDE REAR TIRE HAD A BUMP ON IT WHICH CAUSED VIBRATION IN THE DRIVETRAIN WHILE DRIVING (FIRESTONE STEELTEX P235/85R16 M/S). NLM

THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM THAT RELATES TO SPEEDOMETER THAT IS CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. ALSO, ERRATIC PERFORMANCE OF SPEEDOMETER AND INOPERATIVE GAS GAUGE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

ORIGINAL FIRESTONE TIRES ON A FORD, F350, 1996, LT2158516, UNOPTWV206. ALL SIX TIRES ARE SHOWING EVIDENCE OF TREAD BEGINNING TO SEPARATE.*AK *SLC

AN ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE,CAUSING A HOLE IN THE FUEL HEATER CORE. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

TREAD STARTED TO SEPERATE FROM TIRE,CAME APART ON OUTSIDE WALL ABOUT 10 INCHES (TIRESIZE: P235/85R16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/85R16 )

PE00040, BOUGHT USED A 1996 F350, TIRE SIZE LT235/85R16 STEEL TEX R4S. DRIVER'S REAR TIRE AND THE FRONT TIRE TREAD SEPARATED, AND HAD A BLOWOUT WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED A CRASH. 3 TIRES HAD THESE PROBLEM. *AK

PE00040, ORGINIAL EQUIPMENT ON 1996, F350 WITH DUAL REAR TIRES, TIRE SIZE LT23585R16, DOT VDOR1WW445. ALL 6 TIRES HAVE CRACKS COMING FROM THE INSIDE OF TIRES WHICH MAY INDICATE THAT TIRES ARE ABOUT TO SEPARATE. FIRESTONE IS NOT WILLING TO ASSIST CONSUMER. .*AK CONSUMER WAS ALSO UNABLE TO MAINTAIN GOOD AIR PRESSURE AND COULD FIND NO REASON AS TO THE LOSS. *SLC

LEFT FRONT FIRESTONE TIRE MAKING NOISE AND IS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL (FIRESTONE STEELTEX R4S L5215/85R16 - DOTVNOP). *ET

WHEN FRONT TIRE CAME APART , ALMOST WENT INTO A 15 FOOT DITCH .IT COULD HAVE VERY BAD!*AK (TIRESIZE: 225/75/R16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 225/75/R16 )

IT HAPPNED ON A DUAL WHEEL, SO DID NOT HAVE MUCH TROUBLE KEEPING IT UNDER CONTROL. *AK (TIRESIZE: 225/75/R16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 225/75/R16 )

I PURCHASED A SET OF BRIDGESTONE DUELER A/T 691 SIZE 33X12.50 16.5 "D" TIRES FOR MY FORD PICKUP. THEY WERE ABOUT HALF WORN WHEN WE WENT ON VACATION THIS SPRING. I CHECKED THE TIRE PRESSURE BEFORE LEAVING. WHILE DRIVING THE LEFT REAR TIRE LITERALLY BLEW APART. BY THE TIME I GOT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD I WAS ON THE RIM AND HAD SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS DAMAGE TO MY TRUCK. I HAD TO PURCHASE A USED TIRE FOR A SPARE TO GET BACK HOME. WITHIN A COUPLE WEEKS, ONE OF THE OTHER TIRES STARTED SEPARATING AND I GOT A LARGE BUBBLE IN THE TREAD. I STARTED TO THE TIRE DEALER AND YET ANOTHER TIRE STARTED SEPARATING AND ANOTHER LARGE BUBBLE. I HAD TO GO BACK HOME AT 10 MPH. I TOOK THE TIRES OFF AND TOOK THEM TO A FIRESTONE STORE IN ROSEVILLE, CA. I SPOKE TO ROYCE WISE (MANAGING PARTNER) AND HE TOLD ME THEY WOULD REPLACE THE TIRES GIVING ME AN ALLOWANCE FOR THE TREAD WEAR. I AGREED AND ALL SEEMED OK UNTIL MR. WISE FOUND THAT FIRESTONE NO LONGER MADE TIRES OF THAT SIZE. HE THEN TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD OR WOULD DO ABOUT THE TIRES. I ASKED HIM WHO I COULD CONTACT AT FIRESTONE AND HE GAVE ME THE PHONE NUMBER OF THE DISTRICT OFFICE (916) 486-3852. WHEN I CALL THE NUMBER I GET A RECORDING TO LEAVE A MESSAGE WHICH I HAVE DONE ON FOUR DIFFERENT OCCASIONS NOW AND HAVE NOT RECEIVED A CALL BACK. IT IS OBVIOUS I AM NOT GETTING ANYWHERE WITH THIS COMPLAINT. I HAD TO PURCHASE A NEW WHEEL AND SET OF GOODYEAR TIRES FOR MY TRUCK. I HAVE KEPT THE REMAINING THREE TIRES FOR EVIDENCE. I HAVE SENT COMPLAINT

PE00020; TIRE TREAD SEPARATION: WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH DRIVER HEARD A NOISE. AFTER PULLING ONTO THE SHOULDER, DRIVER NOTICED TIRE ON DRIVER'S FRONT WAS BALLOONED OUT IN THE CENTER. TIRE SIZE LT 21585R16, DOT # VD0P1WV405. ORIGINAL TIRE EQUIPMENT ON A 96, F350. TIRE MILEAGE ABOUT 48,000. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED BY A FIRESTONE DEALERSHIP FREE OF CHARGE. *AK THE RIGHT FRONT TIRES ARE BALLOONING OUT. *YH

THIS 16 INCH TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE IN AZ ON A TRIP. IT WAS ON A 1996 MOTORHOME WITH A FORD CHASSIS. THERE WAS 5/16 INCHES LEFT OF TIRE WEAR. THE TREAD PEELED OF JUST AS SHOWN ON TV. I HAVE THE TIRE. I HAVE WRITTEN TO FIRESTONE ONLY TO GET A CANNED REPLY. I KNOW THIS IS A 16 INCH TIRE AND THE RECALL IS FOR 15 INCH TIRES. BUT I FEEL THAT BECAUSE THE SAME IS HAPPENING UNDER THE SAME CONDITIONS AS THE 15 INCH, IT DESRERVES CONSIDERATION. THIS WAS A MOTORHOME AND NOT A SUV EITHER. THAT WOULD BE ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE THAT THE TIRE IS THE PROBLEM AND NOT THE CAR!*AK( DOT NUMBER: 25582URBD9 TIRE SIZE: LT225/7516 )

TIRE TREAD SEPARATED WITHOUT APPARENT CAUSE AND BALANCE OF TIRE BLEW, CAUSING ADJACENT TIRE TO BLOW OUT AS WELL. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: LT22575R16 )

VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUTS DOWN COMPLETELY WHILE IN OPERATION. TOTALLY LOST POWER.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: VDDR RAA TIRE SIZE: 235-85R-16 )

PE00020; ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON 1996 FORD, E350 CHASSIS, DUTCHMEN CLASS C, TIRE SIZE LT22575R16, DOT VD1W1XB435. PASSENGER'S INSIDE TIRE, A FOOT LONG TREAD PEELED OFF WHICH ALMOST CAUSED A CRASH. *AK WHILE TRAVELING AT 50 MPH, THE RIGHT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARTED AND THE TIRE BLEW OUT. AS THE RESULT, THE RIGHT MUD FLAP WAS TORN OFF. THE TIRE THAT BLEW WAS FIRESTONE STEEL TEX RADIAL. *YH

NO SUMMARY( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235-85R16 )

I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO GET A PHONE CALL THRU TO FIRESTONE, THE EMAIL DOESN'T SEEM TO HAVE ANY INTELLIGENCE ON THE OTHER END. I AM HOPEFUL THAT SOONER OR LATER PREF SOONER, I WILL GET MY DAY IN THE SUN. 73, NMC( DOT NUMBER: VDOR???445 TIRE SIZE: LT235/85R1 )

TWO REAR FIRESTONE STEELTEX TIRES P235/85R16 EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, CAUSING DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. *SLC

I WAS TRAVELLING EASTBOUND ON ROUTE 2 IN CONNECTICUT WHEN MY DRIVERS SIDE REAR TIRE FELL APART. THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE BODY. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS NOT ONE OF THE TIRES LISTED ON RECENT NEWS REPORTS, HOWEVER, THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED TO MY TIRE AS THE ONES SEEN ON NEWS REPORTS. I CONTACTED A LOCAL FIRESTONE DEALER IN ENFIELD, CONNECTICUT WHO STATED TO ME THAT THE A/T TIRE WAS NOT IN QUESTION AND THEREFORE THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO. I REITTERATED TO HIM THAT THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN SEEN ON NEWS REPORTS. ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 6, 2000, I PURCHASED FOUR NEW TIRES FROM SEARS. I SHOWED THE MANAGER THE TIRE IN QUESTION AND HE STATED THAT IT WAS INDEED TIRE TREAD SEPARATION AND THAT IT NEVER SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED. EVEN THOUGH THESE ARE NOT THE TIRES LISTED, I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT A DEFECT EXISTS WITH THESE ALSO AND SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. PLEASE CONTACT ME SHOULD YOU NEED FURTHER INFORMATION OR WISH TO VIEW THE TIRE. THANK YOU. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 23585R16E )

FUEL LEAK, FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR HOUSING, FUEL HEATER THERMOSTAT REPLACED 6/12/00. NEEDS FUEL INJECTOR O-RINGS AND NEW FUEL FILTER. ESTIMATE $690.00 HOOKS FORD COMMENTED THIS IS A "COMMON" PROBLEM FOR THESE TRUCKS BECAUSE OF THE POLYURETHANE SEALS. FORD IS NO LONGER USING THE POLYURETHANE SEALS. THIS PROBLEM IS CAUSING OIL TO LEAK INTO THE GAS LINE. IS THIS A DRIVING OR EPA HAZARD?

4 WD NEVER WORKED, BUT DID NOT REALIZE UNTIL WARRANTY OUT; BALL JOINTS KEPT GOING OUT, HAD TO BE FIXED TWICE, AUTO TRANSMISSION WENT OUT SHORTLY AFTER WARRANTY OUT, WERE TOLD WAS FAULTY TRANS. AND AVE. OF 1 PER DAY THROUGHOUT US WERE GOING OUT, THAT FORD WAS SWITCHING TO DIFFERENT TYPE TRANSMISSION IN FUTURE. TRANS. REPAIR CONTACTED FORD TO SEE IF THEY WOULD FIX IT SINCE IT WAS CLOSE TO WARRANTY MILEAGE, THEY REFUSED. WE HAVE SINCE HEARD MANY STORIES OF OTHER OWNERS HAVING SAME PROBLEM.*AK

ON TWO OCCASIONS REAR BRAKE SHOES HAVE EXPANDED WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED, AND STAYED IN CONTACT WITH THE BRAKE DRUMS, CAUSING EXCESSIVE WEAR AND BRAKE FAILURE. *AK

TURNED THE IGNITION, THERE WAS A DISINCT BURNING SMELL AND THE WIRING HARNESSES IN THE TRUCK WAS SHORTED. SOME OF THE WIRING AND HARNESSES ACTUALLY MELTED. THE TECHNICIAN ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE WIRING DIAGRAM WAS INCORRECT, BUT THEY HAD NOT GOTTEN AROUND TO CORRECTING IT.

WHILE GETTING INTO THE VEHICLE AND LEANING BACK SEATBACK COLLAPSED BACKWARD. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND REPAIRS WERE BEING MADE AT CONSUMER'S COST.*AK

DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S DOOR LOCKS MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING DOORS NOT TO OPEN FROM THE INSIDE. IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY OCCUPATNS MAY BE TRAPPED INSIDE OF VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

DUE TO A DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP VEHICLE STALLS UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. ALSO, IN COLD CLIMATE VEHICLE HAVE A NO START CONDITION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS CRACKED. FORD REFUSES TO ADMIT THAT THEY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH BRAKE ROTORS. *AKL

WHILE DRIVING STEERING BOX BROKE, CAUSING LACK OF STEERING ABILITY WHICH RESULTED IN A SERIOUS CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK

COMING BACK FROM ALASKA, PULLED OVER TO A CAMP GROUND, WENT TO PUT VEHICLE GEAR INTO DRIVE, AND SHIFT LEVER WENT UP AND DOWN. CONTACTED THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER, AND WAS TOLD THAT HAD ROUTED THE CABLE WRONG, CABLE WAS LYING AGAINST EXHAUST PIPE, CAUSING THE CABLE TO BURN IN HALF AND WAS NOT ABLE TO SHIFT. *AK

WHEN VEHICLE GOES OVER ROUGH PAVEMENTS IT JERKS SLIGHTY . THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

MY BRAKE LIGHTS WENT OUT. THE BRAKE LIGHT IN THE CENTER OF MY CAB STILL WORKS. I CHECKED ALL MY FUSES AND FOUND THAT THEY WERE OK. I THEN FOUND OUT FROM THE DEALER, AT COUNTRY FORD IN SOUTHAVEN, MS THAT IT WAS A FAULTY TURN SIGNAL SWITCH. THE ONLY WAY TO CORRECT IT WAS TO REPLACE IT. $400.00. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT TO BE BAD LUCK. AFTER TALKING WITH OTHERS, IT WAS FOUND TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. ALSO, UNDER THE HOOD A RADIATOR HOSE GOES OVER THE ALTENATOR AND IS HELD IN PLACE BY A CLAMP. PROLEM IS THE HOSE WERES THE PROTECTIVE COVERING OFF THREE WIRES THAT ARE UNDER THE HOSE. NO RECALL! CAN YOU HELP. $400 IS ALOT OF MONEY TO ME. THANKS

THE EMISSIONS TUBES HAVE CONSTANTLY BURNED OUT OF THIS TRUCK. THEY HAVE BEEN REPLACED NUMEROUS TIMES! THE DEALER STATED THAT THESE PARTICULAR PARTS HAVE BEEN REDESIGNED BY FORD TWICE. THIS DEFECT HAS CAUSED TWO MINOR FIRES IN THE FIREWALL. WE HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO GET A FULL ACCOUNTING OF ALL WORK DONE AT ALL THE DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS IT HAS BEEN IN. I KNOW FORD CAN PULL UP ALL WARRANTED WORK DONE BY VIN HOWEVER THEY WILL NOT DO SO. I WAS TOLD BY A FOREMAN AT A FORD TRUCK SERVICE CENTER IN CULLMAN, ALABAMA THAT THESE PARTICULAR TRUCKS WERE PRONE TO THIS DEFECT AND MOST PEOPLE DID NOT REALIZE THIS WAS A FACROTY PROBLEM AND TRADED THEM OFF. WE CANNOT AFFORD TO "TRADE IT OFF" AND WOULD BE LIABLE IF WE DID NOT LET PROPLE KNOW OF THIS PROBLEM. CURRENTLY OUR EXTENDED WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AND ALL 4 TUBES ARE BURNOUT.*AK

POWER BRAKE VACUUM PUMP FAILED, RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER BRAKES. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

AIR CONDITIONER FAILED/FROZE UP AND CONTAMINATED SYSTEM, CAUSING OVER $1000 IN REPLACEMENT COST. ASKED AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHY THE WHOLE SYSTEM WAS DESTROYED. HE SAID BECAUSE FORD IS USING ALUMINUM COMPRESSOR, AND WHEN BEARING DRIES OUT INSTEAD OF BEARING IT WEARING OUT THE CASING, CAUSING ALUMINUM POWDER TO CONTAMINATE THE SYSTEM. I FEEL THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE LACK OF SUFFICIENT OIL IN THE SYSTEM. FORD WILL NOT COVER THIS AS THE WARRANTY WAS JUST OUT. I FEEL THIS WAS THEIR FAULT FOR NOT HAVING THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF OIL. THE A/C WAS BLOWING COLD UNTIL IT FROZE UP, WHICH TELLS ME THAT IT HAD ENOUGH FREON. *AK

BRAKES WILL EITHER GRAB HARD OR WILL NOT STOP, AND CONSUMER WILL HAVE TO DOWNSHIFT.DEALER HAS REPLACED CALIPERS/ROTORS AND DRUMS ,AND STILL CANNOT DETERMINE DEFECT. *AK

OIL PUMP FAILURE.

BRAKE ROTORS CRACKED.

WHEN OUR TRANSMISSION WENT OUT, WE HAD IT FIXED, BUT HAD TO KEEP RETURNING IT TO THE SHOP BECAUSE A VALVE WOULD STICK AFTER DRIVING A COUPLE OF DAYS. I CALLED MANY FORD DEALERS, AND THEY ALL SAID THE TRANSMISSION ON THAT TRUCK SHOULD NEVER GO OUT. I CONTA

THE SERPENTINE BELT TENSIONER IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. FORD HAS PUT OUT A TSB FOR THE TENSIONER. THE FAILING PART NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. WHEN THE BELT COMES OFF THE TENSIONER, AND THE PULLEYS UP FRONT, THE TRUCK LOSES POWER STEERING CAPABILITY AS WELL AS POWER BRAKE CAPABILITY. IF FOR EXAMPLE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE TRUCK, SHE WOULD PROBABLY HAVE AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE SHE IS NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO TURN OR PRESS THE BRAKES WITH ENOUGH FORCE TO OPERATE THE TRUCK TO A SAFE STOP. SO FAR I HAVE GONE THROUGH FIVE BELTS SINCE OCT 1995. I JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT THE TSB THROUGH A FRIEND WHO ALSO OWNS A POWERSTROKE ENGINE. THE TSB IS NUMBERED 96-17-19.

THE STUDS THAT HOLD THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL SNAPPED OFF ,CAUSING THE WHEEL TO COME OFF WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK

ROTORS ARE CAUSING VEHICLE TO SHAKE AND BECOME UNSAFE. HAS SPENT OVER $100.00 BECAUSE OF BAD MATERIAL ON BRAKES. *AK

BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE.

CONSUMER WAS COMING TO A STOP WHEN A FORD RANGER REARENDED THEM. AT TIME OF IMPACT, THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SEATBACKS BROKE AND COLLAPSED, CONSUMERS' BACK LAID DOWN AND BOTH WERE INJURED. CONSUMER'S TOOK VEHICLE TO A ALL-STATE INSURANCE. PRO-SHOP CALLED TOP OF THE WORLD 518-792-2473, MECHANIC WILL REPLACE L/R SEATBACKS/ RACHET MECHANISM AND EVERYTHING ON THE BOTTOMS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD NUMEROUS TIMES, AND THEN A FIRE STARTED ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ENGINE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK

ABS BRAKES MAKE NOISE AND FEEL LIKE THEY ARE DRAGGING.

THE RIGHT AND LEFT FRONT BRAKE ROTORS CRACKED IN HALF TO THE HUB IN WHICH COULD CAUSE LOSS VEHICLE CONTROL. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. *AK

REAR BRAKE GATE AND GRAB AT LOW SPEED.

VEHICLE HAS ABS BRAKES. ON WET TYPE PAVEMENT VEHICLE FAILS TO STOP WHEN ABS BRAKES ARE APPLIED. DEALERS HAVE NOT CORRECTED PROBLEM. OWNER IS VERY CONCERNED FOR SAFETY. *AK