Table 1 shows one common wheel related problems of the 2024 Ford E-450.
| Problem Category | Number of Problems |
|---|---|
| Wheel problems |
On two separate occasions, the vehicle's left rear wheel studs have broken off clean with the hub and both rear dual wheels departed the vehicle while in motion. This issue was reported to the local Ford dealer and they reported that they do not know why this is happening. This has happened to five (5) of our other vehicles as well. I am a fleet manager for an ems service and we have a total of ten (10) of these Ford chassis. The wheels coming off present a hazard to oncoming traffic not to mention the safety of our team members and patients being transported on our ambulances. We sent the vehicle to kilgore Ford in kilgore, texas and they advised they are not sure how this keeps happening. There were no warning lamps that gave the driver a warning that something was wrong until the truck started vibrating and the wheels came off. All of our vehicles, including these Ford chassis', undergo preventative maintenance every 5,000 miles and we check torque on these Ford chassis' because of these continued failures. Our torque wrenches are checked annually for calibration and we utilize the Ford diagnostic software and Ford torque specification which are followed on every preventative service.