NHTSA Complaint #10033183 — 2000 FORD EXPLORER

MY WIFE & I EXPERIENCED A SEVERE WHEEL VIBRATION (OSCILLATION) IN THE FRONT END OF OUR 2000 FORD EXPLORER ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE SEVERITY OF THE VIBRATION ALMOST MADE THE TRUCK UNCONTROLLABLE. WHEN THE TRUCK WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN QUOTED ITS A DESIGN FLAW; YOU HAVE AIR IN THE RACK & PINION STEERING. THE AIR APPARENTLY ENTERS THROUGH THE HOUSING SEALS WHEN THE TRUCK WAS BEING SERVICED AFTER A FAN BELT TENSIONER RUPTURED AND THE TRUCK HAD TO BE MANUALLY STEERED. THE ONLY WAY TO REMOVE THE AIR FROM THE HOUSING WAS TO RUN THE VEHICLE FOR AN UNDETERMINED AMOUNT OF TIME UNTIL THE AIR CIRCULATES WITH THE POWER STEERING FLUID THROUGH THE SYSTEM AND ESCAPES AT THE RESERVOIR. THIS DESIGN FLAW KNOWN BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL. NOT ONLY DO MY WIFE AND I FEAR FOR OUR LIVES NOW WHEN WE DRIVE THIS VEHICLE, BUT MY KIDS ARE TERRIFIED TO RIDE IN THE VEHICLE AS WELL. WE RECENTLY PURCHASED THIS PRE-CERTIFIED FORD EXPLORER IN FEBRUARY OF 2003 AT PARKWAY EAST FORD IN PITTSBURGH PENNSYLVANIA. I TRULY BELIEVE WITH MY YEARS OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING BACKGROUND THAT THIS KNOWN DESIGN FLAW MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE RECENT ROLL-OVER FATALITIES OF THE FORD EXPLORER IN CERTAIN CASES. THE EXCESSIVE NORMAL LOAD STRESS AND SHEAR STRESS FORCES ENDURED FROM THE WHEEL OSCILLATION WOULD DEFINITELY CONTRIBUTE TO THE TIRE TREAD SEPARATION. THE P255-75R16 TIRE HAS A MAXIMUM LOAD OF 2271 LBS. THANK YOU, CONCERNED CONSUMERS DAVID & JULIA WEBER. *AK