This is the continuing story of hubcaps that keep falling off my new 03 E-150 cargo van. To date 4 caps and one wheel have all been replaced on the right front wheel. Last week,hubcap number 4 arrived at the dealer and when the shop foreman attempted to put it on he noticed that the new rim had a defect, the same defect that was detected on the factory rim. The ' nubs ' that held the cap to the wheel rim were not allowing the aluminum hubcap to hold tight.
This was odd since I figured the tech who replaced the wheel rim and put on a new cap should have noticed it and even odder why the replacement rim had the same type of defect the factory rim had?
So now I am waiting on a second new wheel to arrive. In the meantime light cupping on the outside of the tire is beginning to appear looking strangely like the wheel is out of alignment. I pointed this out to the service manager who agreed it was odd and ordered a wheel alignment for the van to be done when the second new rim is replaced.
I finally got a phone reply from Ford Customer Service to my earlier email request for help. "Sandra", I had to ask her name, stated the problem needed to be taken care of right away and would contact my local Ford Dealer. When I spoke to my local dealer yesterday, they said they had no knowledge of any communication from Sandra regarding the issue. I guess Sandra got busy and forgot.
Overall the vehicle has had no problems, mechanical or otherwise. I'm sure the rim replacement and wheel re-alignment and/or front end parts replacement if necessary, will eventually resolve the problem.