Consumer Complaint Detail

FORD / FORD TRUCK / 2002

Recalls
1 Injured
Investigations
0 Death
Complaints
No Fire
Components - Details
NHTSA Complaint Number: 004023842 Incident Date: Sep, 16 2004
Consumer's City: SAINT THOMAS Consumer's State: VI
Vehicle Transmission Type: AUTO Manufacturers Name: Ford Motor Company
Model Name: FORD TRUCK Model Year: 2002
Vehicle Involved in a Crash: No Component's Description: Suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint
Vehicle Involved in a Fire: No Persons Injured: 1
Vehicle's VIN#: 1FMZU73K22U Date added to File: May, 23 2021
Date Complaint Received: Jun, 09 2005 Complaint Type: IVOQ
Incident Reported To Police: Yes Purchase Date: Sep, 10 2001
Was Original Owner: Yes Anti-lock Brakes: Yes
Number of Cylinders: 6 Date of Manufacturer: -
Was Vehicle Towed: - Description of the Complaints: I am the owner 2002 ford explorer that i purchased from metro motors of the virgin islands in august 2002. on september 17, 2004, while i was driving home, the front driver side wheel detached completely from the axis of the vehicle. i drove off from the stop light. while i was accelerating i felt the steering wheel turn sharply to left and the wheel buckle. a few minutes later, i felt a tug on the steering wheel, and then i felt the wheel buckle. the vehicle crashed to sudden stop. i exited the vehicle and saw that the front driver''s side wheel was completely detached and noticed the wheel was rolling down from the point of where the vehicle stopped. the wheel stopped about ten feet to fifteen feet (10 ft. to 15 ft.) away with the entire drum assembly and wheel still attached. i have also been notified by several other ford explorer owners who have experienced a similar defect. the latest occurred in miami, florida on september 23, 2004 with the driver side front wheel detaching from the axial and flipping the vehicle on the highway injuring three (3) and one (1) other died. they were driving in a ford explorer. a similar incident occurred december 2002 in orlando, florida when a family of five flipped in a ford explorer killing three kids and her husband lost an eye. another incident occurred just fourteen (14) days after with a ford escape with the front driver side wheel dataching from the vehicle. since writing my complaint to all ford offices, several other automobile companies have recalled suvs for detach of front left wheel (dodge, hummers, gmc, etc.) licsencing and consumer office has also provided independent mechanics who's inspection reports state that the vehicle upper and lower ball joint detached which caused the entire wheel to detach. i submitted a police report stating the damages to the vehicle was not caused by collision to another vehicle or properties.