Subject:  1998 Ford F-150 Pick-up (Disgusted)

Mr. Grigsby,

I hope you can help.  I am writing to complain about the quality of my
husbands 1998 Ford F-150 Pick-up.  We bought the truck at the end of 1997 on
a lease and since the end of 1999  the rear end started vibrating badly and
then broke down.

Something called the pumpkin is always falling apart.  My husband had it
repaired the first time and paid over $1000 plus the cost of a rental for
two weeks $600 (We did not get the extended warranty and there was over
36,000 miles on the truck so we had to pay).

The mechanic found a piece of defective metal in the casing that looked like
it had a stress fracture.  I saved that piece of metal just in case we have
to sue Ford.

2 months later the same part broke down and the mechanic repaired it again
but there is something wrong with the axle and that is the reason why the
pumpkin and all the parts in it keep falling apart.(What a nightmare!!!!)

Here we are now and the truck is at the dealership with the same problem
again.  My husband had to get towed this morning at a cost of $70.00 and the
service man at the dealership said that they won't be able to get to it for
about one week.  The lot was full of cars waiting for repair.
He also said that they have to run a diagnostics check on the truck and that
will cost $158.00 without any work being done.

I have called the Ford 800# but they just say it is our problem now.  It is
very clear to me that Ford just wanted our money and does not care what
happens after that.  We will never buy Ford again and we are telling
everyone we meet about the nightmare we have had to deal with.  We are a
hard working couple who just gets by and to have to spend all this money
plus keep paying the monthly payment on the truck is bankrupting us.
(AaaHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! I am at the end of my rope!)

Do you have any suggestions?

Kind regards,
Fran