Complaint 932695

2003 FORD E-450 • SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:SPINDLE • incident Aug 15, 2008

Crash
No
Fire
Yes
Injuries
0
Deaths
0
Complaint ID
932695
Make
FORD
Model
E-450
Model Year
2003
Incident Date
Aug 15, 2008
Date Received
Aug 7, 2012
Data As Of
Jul 1, 2026

Complaint Summary

SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:SPINDLE

Owner Narrative

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD E-450. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE EMITTING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND MERGE TO THE SHOULDER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE SPINDLE HAD MELTED AND THE SHAFT ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE SECOND TIME THE FAILURE RECURRED, FLAMES WERE EMITTED FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTED TO THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE SPINDLE HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED ALONG WITH THE SHAFT ASSEMBLY, TIRE AND BRAKES. AFTER THE REPAIRS, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE A THIRD TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED FOR THE MOST RECENT FAILURE. REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

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

Data sources & freshness

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Census, SAFER, SMS, Licensing & Insurance (L&I), roadside inspections, crashes, and authority history.

Refreshed daily.

Vehicle recall campaigns, defect investigations, and consumer safety complaints (SCRS).

Refreshed daily.
EIA

Retail diesel and gasoline price history and state fuel-tax tables.

Refreshed weekly.

Cross-border carrier registry and Canadian recall campaigns where applicable.

Refreshed weekly.

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