I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED>>>Heres my story, In Sept. last year i leased this 05 F250 and since has given me nothing but trouble. Exhaust problems (in 3 times for that) Injector failed, and many little bugs that the dealer cant fix.
Well just this past Saturday on I-94 doin about 70mph, the engine hesitates for a second (like it cut out) then suddenly the wheels locked up and I lost control, skidding - almost hitting 3 other cars, and then the wall on the shoulder. Finally after steering on to the shoulder - Stopped, and basically had a panic attack, saw my life flash before my eyes. Sat for a couple minutes, then got out to look at the wheels and under the truck for any clues as to what had just happened. Nothing visible. So now what? I start up and stroll along the shoulder to the nearest exit the tow / haul light is flashing on and off... Drive about 30mph on a city road with my flashers on.. not but a 1/8 of a mile it locks up again and then frees up, and rolls. I am now freakin out. I pull into the nearest parking lot before it happens a third time, and now the Engine light is on and there is a ticking sound from near the fuse panel under the steering column. I park the thing and call ford roadside asssitance, but because its sat. the dealer is closed. So i tell them to pick it up on Mon at 6:00 from where i have it parked. And now i think i have some PTS - post traumatic stress. I am a wreck! I will never feel safe in that truck again. AND NEVER put my daughter in it. I could have died. What if i had my 4mo old baby with me.??? I WANT OUT OF THIS LEASE.
What am i gonna need to do ..? Probably get a lawyer.. The truck only has 4,000 miles on it . 2005 F250SD Gas Any input would be appreciated.
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scary scenario. not what you expect from a new car,
or any car, for that matter.

there will, however, always be danger associated with motorvehicles. it seems this time perhaps that your dealship has been less than helpful to this point in time.

upgrade to an '06?

 

I smell something - 3 times for your exhaust in 4k miles??? If I'm worng, my apology but something isnt right with this post

 

If I remeber right you up in MI if so I be standing at FORDs corp office or at least calling some one in charge not some stupid service writer go to the top.

I take it the truck was new when you leased it.

 

Lawyer, lawyer, and lawyer. If Ford doesn't make things right, that's what I'd do. Call a PI even to get those skid marks in file (or recorded) and go from there.

No matter what, don't put your family in that truck. I don't blame you for being scared, but keep in mind, this was an isolated incident (Like losing pressure in an airplane, it happens, but hardly ever) so don't let this keep you from driving again, especially don't let it effect your relationship with your family.

PTSD is a very real problem. Don't be ashamed to see a professional for help. You'll get thru it.

 

Watch out - don't leave that monster near a saab or volvo - those drivers tend to run into the walls of their garages after the car "went crazy" - next thing you know, your leased truck that you put less than a hundred miles a week on, will be chasing small children across the lawn - oh the humanity!

In all fairness of course I'm busting chops, but I would be wrong to say I have a hard time believing this post. Alternative, when you get an answer on the lockups PLEASE post and let us know what it is. Only thing I can think of would be the ABS going awry - maybe VLONEY can shed some light on it.

 

Its at the dealer NOW. and I am awaiting a phone call from my attorney. I will keep you all posted as to the diag. of the truck.

 

This is your firstpost on this website and you did it today according to the time stamp. No one was hurt. It's first thing Monday morning. Did you already get a bad answer from Ford regarding the truck, the lease, or a replacement? just wondering why you would be online to an Attorney - if Ford is screwing with you, I'd be interested to hear what they have (or haven't done) - and of course what would make the entire driveline bind up like that.

 

If this is real, the brakes locking up is a serious matter and I would think Ford would be all over this truck. If you were to have an accident and it could be shown or even implied that the brakes were the cause, Ford would be in for a lot of bad publicity at best and lawsuits up the yingyang are likely. The NHTSA, National Highway Transportation Safety Administration(I think I got it right) is all over this type of incident. If it is a system defect, it could be implied that all Ford vehicles with this defect are potential accidents waiting to happen, this is not something any manufacturer can take lightly.

Also most states have lemon laws where a defective vehicle must be taken back by the manufacturer. SOunds like your is qualified or nearly so.

If you actually hit the wall as mentioned, then this probably caused more than the minimum reporting requirements type of damage, so your DMV and insurance should be involved. This has nothing but bad news for Ford so unless they don't believe you, they would probably be making things right pretty quick.

I would not think a lawyer is necessary at this stage yet since this is such a serious problem for Ford, I can't imaginge them not taking care of it unless ther is reason to disbelieve your storey. No need to be hysterical, that could paint you as one of those wild raging "Volvo ran thru the garage" type people. User error is often the cause of many problems but locking the brakes up while driving would be rare unless you have big feet or are extremely clumsey.

Good Luck,

Jim Henderson

 

Alternative,
Glad to hear no one was hurt. This is one screwed up situation. I'm thankful I haven't had these issues with my 05. Good luck with the buyback bit and keep us abreast of the details.

 

Not so hard to believe that it did happen. A similar thing was happening to a friend that had an 05 F150. It almost killed him when he was towing 2, 4wheelers back to KC from Colorado. Exact thing at 65mph. It was in fact the computer sending erronious code to the ABS. Doesn't mean it is the same thing but I have knowledge that it did happen.

Funny aside, the guy it happened to worked in the KC Ford assembly plant. Now drives an 06 GMC because of the brake incident. Saw him two weeks ago, raising heck because the water pump in his GMC has already gone out at 9,000 miles. Hey, good luck getting Ford to do anything about it. My friend had a time getting anything done. Took like 3 mos to get them to even admit a problem existed.

 

I'd call a lawyer too. While you are at it you can sue yourself for being stupid enough to drive it until it happened again. If you rolled your truck and it landed on all 4 wheels again, would you keep driving?

 

No TSB's or SSM's listed for this concern.

Ed

 

ha ha ha pretty funny because it makes sense hellrazor - but I can see why he may have thought it a transient event - I'm still interested on why an attorney is more important than a call to Ford on a Monday morning for a 1st time poster who puts less than 400 miles a month on his leased vehicle but you know, I've heard of stranger things happening

 

EDITTED, i was frickin panicy, and heavy traffic. Was not about to sit on the side of a Freeway --- and i said i creeped up the shoulder to the exit about 100 yds away. Then on a city road for a 1/4 mile at 25mph or so with the flashers on.

ANYHOW, dealer called today to say the have to order a part. It s some sort of sensor for the transmission the failed. mmmmm would you drive this truck again - on any road - always having the fear the it could happen again?
I asked the service advisor if they test drove and YEP, the mechanic got about 1/2 mile and it totally locked up on him. Diagnosed some sensor for the trans.

Talked to a lawyer today who gave some good advice about trying to tell the dealer its unsafe and i dont want it. And if that doent work, then call the BBB and the have arbitrations for issues like this. -- Which is a lot cheaper than a "Lemon Law Lawyer" so he says. HE doesnt deal with cases like this, but this was his input. Tomorrow, I will go visit with my salesman and the General Manager of the dealership to see how they want to settle this. But I am not taking that truck back. NO WAY.

{PS-- even the service advisor when asked if he would drive it if it were his, and he hesitated, and said..."well it will be fixed, but I'd be nervous.
Now why would you pay over $400/mo to be nervous while driving?}