VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MEDIUM DUTY TRUCKS AND CHASSIS-CABS. AN AUTOMATIC LOCKING FRONT WHEEL BEARING ADJUSTING NUT WAS DAMAGED DURING INSTALLATION OR REMOVAL BY INCORRECT TOOLS OR AN INCORRECT TORQUE SPECIFICATION WAS USED.
Safety risk
THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE NUT TO ROTATE FREELY AND LOSE TORQUE. IT COULD ROTATE UNTIL IT IS NO LONGER CONNECTED TO THE FRONT SPINDLE AND ALLOW THE FRONT WHEEL TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT WHEEL BEARING ADJUSTING NUTS WITH CASTLE NUTS AND COTTER PINS.
Power train: automatic transmission: gear position indication (PRNDL)
Manufacturer
FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Vehicles affected
2,400
Reported to NHTSA
1997-05-28
Owners notified
1997-06-11
Defect description
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MEDIUM DUTY TRUCKS AND SCHOOL BUS CHASSIS-COWLS EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. THE WELDS THAT ATTACH THE KEY TO THE TOP OF THE STEERING COLUMN MOUNTED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT LINKAGE MAY NOT ADEQUATELY RETAIN THE KEY, ALLOWING THE TRANSMISSION TO BE IN A GEAR OTHER THAN THAT INDICATED ON THE "PRNDL", OR IN SOME CASES, "RNDL."
Safety risk
THE DOMESTIC SPECIAL ORDER (DSO) PARK BRAKE MAY NOT ENGAGE WHEN THE SHIFT LEVER IS PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION, OR IN THE VEHICLE MOVING IN AN UNINTENDED DIRECTION WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED. IN SOME VEHICLES THE DSO PARKING BRAKE MECHANISM ALSO MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ADJUSTED, WHICH CAN RESULT IN THE PARK BRAKE NOT ENGAGING WHEN THE SHIFT LEVER IS PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN SHIFT TUBE AND, IF SO EQUIPPED, TO HAVE THE DSO PARK BRAKE LINKAGE ADJUSTED.
Owner complaints
A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.
Component
Complaints
Median mileage
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline
1
—
Exterior lighting: brake lights
1
—
Power train
1
—
Power train: automatic transmission
1
—
Power train: clutch assembly: pedal/hand lever(motorcycle)
1
—
Steering: hydraulic power assist: power steering fluid
1
—
Vehicle speed control: linkages
1
—
The 1997 model has about half as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.
Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.