Complaint 934793

Complaint Summary

STEERING

Owner Narrative

THIS VEHICLE IS THE CHASSIS FOR A 2006 PLEASURE WAY INDUSTRIES EXCEL TS MODEL CLASS B VAN CONVERSION. THE MAINTENANCE OF THIS VAN HAS BEEN EXCELLENT WITH RECORDS TO PROVE SUCH. SINCE OUR PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE IN MAY OF 2012, WHEN IT IS DRIVEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS HIGHER THAN 50 MPH, THE STEERING BECOMES "LOOSE" AND THE FRONT END WEAVES BACK AND FORTH. THE STEERING ALSO PULLS TO THE RIGHT EVEN WITH PROPER ALIGNMENT. TWICE THE DRIVER NEARLY LOST CONTROL DUE TO THE UNRESPONSIVE STEERING. THE REAR END IS TOO HEAVY FOR THE WEIGHT IT MUST BEAR THUS CAUSING A "WHEELY" EFFECT ON THE EXTREMELY LIGHT FRONT END. THIS CAUSES THE REAR END TO BASICALLY DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THIS SEEMS TO BE A DESIGN ISSUE WITH THE FORD E350 SUPER DUTY VAN. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS MADE TO PLEASURE WAY REGARDING THE MODEL YEARS FROM 2004 THROUGH 2011 AND YET THEY CONTINUE TO PRODUCE THIS PRODUCT. WE HAVE HAD TO MAKE MAJOR ADDITIONS TO THE ORIGINAL FORD SUSPENSION TO MAKE THIS VEHICLE MARGINALLY SAFER TO DRIVE. THESE INCLUDE REAR WHEEL SPACERS, REAR SWAY BAR, HEAVIER SHOCKS, NEW HARDER SIDEWALL TIRES, ALIGNMENT CAMS, STEERING DRAGLINE, ROADMASTER ACTIVE SUSPENSION KIT. WE HAVE DOCUMENTATION FROM MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THIS SAME VEHICLE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING THIS SAME PROBLEM AND ARE "SCARED TO DEATH" TO DRIVE THESE VANS ON PUBLIC HIGHWAYS. *TR

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