Warning, your spare tire will fall off when you least expect it

[awanker]

My spare tire flew off out from under my 1993 Ford Exporer XLT nearly causing a major accident as other vehicles swerved to avoid the tire bouncing all over the road. It seems the geniuses in engineering decided to hold on this heavy spare with a metal cable, which as we all know will rust with the rest of the vehicle after 7 years in Canadian weather. Thanking my lucky stars nobody was hurt or damage done to anybody's vehicles, I picked up my spare out of the ditch where it had safely rolled with the help of witnesses and brought it to the nearby Ford Dealership in Ottawa on Ogilvie Rd.
Much to my amazement this product in not under recall. What type of preventive maintenace could I have possibly done to avoid this from happening? It clearly rusted off, even with yearly oil sprays to stop rust. I was appalled to find out that I would be expensing this bill, and aghast that this is happened, happening and continuing to happen to every Ford built with this spare tire under the trunk held by a measly cable. How many accidents/deaths/tragedies will it take before Ford will do something about it.
I asked the mechanic, there, if this was the first time he has seen it and he said 'No, but keep your receipt'. Hasn't Ford learned since dealing with troubled Firestone tire fiasco to risk more deaths when these spares start falling off in the next couple of years or longer everywhere?
Help me bring this to Ford's and the public's attention for everybody's safety.
Sincerely,
Scott Wennekes
email me directly at awanker@hotmail.com if this has happened to you!

 

[toad]

Just after I bought mine I lowered the tire to look at the cable , halfway down it broke and dropped . Yea kinda scary , anyway its fixed and now I just use a heavy grease on the cable every fall.(until I build the rear carrier!)

 

[Jim F]

As added security and now possible retainer after a broken cable, check out this lock I use on my spare:

Dead Link Removed

This wont help the cable issue, but I think it would at least keep the tire under the vehicle if or when the cable breaks.

 

[91'explorer 2wd]

shoot mine fell off when my rear hit ground.

 

[Goober]

In addition to Ford's security method, I use a plastic coated strap with a lock on it, just in case.

 

[Brian1]

I also use a cable to lock my spare since it is a brand new bfg at, it wraps around the rim and then around the crossmember under the rear. If the stock cable breaks, the spare will still be attached to my xplor.

 

[awanker]

Spare tire lock

thanks for the replies. i think I will buy the lock as extra measure besides greasing. I wonder if this lock will also ensure the tire wont bust up the back of my truck or increase the chances of a more serious accident if cable snaps?

Later
Scott

 

[leenjen]

that's really scary. i'm going to look at mine tomorrow. i haven't seen the spare since i bought the explorer....

 

[JHolben]

As added security and now possible retainer after a broken cable, check out this lock I use on my spare:

Dead Link Removed

This wont help the cable issue, but I think it would at least keep the tire under the vehicle if or when the cable breaks.

Jim,
It would seem that your link is either broken or incorrect.
Regards,
James

 

[swshawaii]

Jim,
It would seem that your link is either broken or incorrect.
Regards,
James

Changes are known to happen after 13 years.

 

[arco777]

Changes are known to happen after 13 years.

What sound does the spare tire cable make? OH SNAP!