Complaint 1451077

Complaint Summary

SUSPENSION

Owner Narrative

WHILE DRIVING MY 2007 ITASCA SUNRISE FORD CHASSIS AT SPEEDS OF 60 MPH I FELT AN INTERMITTENT SHIMMY IN THE STEERING COLUMN. I HEARD A SMALL SQUEAL SOUND THAT WENT AWAY. AFTER DRIVING I NOTICED THAT THE RIGHT WHEEL WAS RATHER WARM. I THOUGHT IT WAS THE BRAKE GRABBING THE ROTOR. I TOOK THE RV TO THE CLOSEST RV REPAIR SHOP. ONCE ON THE RV LIFT, THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT I WAS LUCKY TO BE ALIVE AS THE ONLY THING HOLDING THE WHEEL ON WAS THE BRAKE ASSEMBLY. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN TOOK OFF THE WHEEL TO DISCOVER THE WHEEL BEARING WAS VERY LOOSE. HE REMOVED THE BRAKE ASSEMBLY, THEN REMOVED THE HUB COVER, COTTER PIN AND CASTELLATED NUT TO DISCOVER THE OUTER RACE HAD NO GREASE ON IT DUE TO AN OVERSIGHT OF THE MANUFACTURER. THE INNER RACE HAD GREASE AND WAS INTACT. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT I WAS LUCK TO BE ALIVE AND THAT THE BEARING HAD WELDED ITSELF TO THE SPINDLE AT ODOMETER READING OF 22,529 MILES. THIS WAS HIGHLY UNUSUAL ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN. PICTURES WERE TAKEN. WHEN CALLING FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE THEY DID NOT WANT TO DEAL WITH THE ISSUE AT THE CUSTOMER SERVICE LEVEL AFTER REPEATED CHAT AND PHONE CALL ATTEMPTS. I ASKED THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY FOR AN EMAIL TO SEND THE PICTURES TO THEM AND THEY STATED THEY HAD NO EMAIL. I ASKED FOR THE SAFETY DEPARTMENT NUMBER AND THE CUSTOMER REPRESENTATIVE STATED THEY HAD NO SAFETY DEPARTMENT!

Owner-submitted narrative on file with NHTSA. Complaint narratives are self-reported and have not been verified.