NHTSA Complaint #10073308 — 1999 FORD EXPLORER

1999 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER EDITION... WE HAD GONE OUT TO DINNER AND WHEN LEAVING THE PARKING SPACE IT SOUNDED AS IF WE RAN OVER A GLASS BOTTLE. MY HUSBAND LOOKED AROUND THE VEHICLE AND COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING. I GOT IN THE DRIVERS SEAT AND IT FELT AS IF THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ON (WAS NOT) AND WAS VERY HARD TO MOVE. WE RETURNED TO THE PARKING SPACE, TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE GETTING READY TO CALL AAA FOR SERVICES. WE BOTH HEARD A "RELEASE" SOUND. HE TURNED ON THE VEHICLE, BACKED UP AND WE DROVE HOME VERY CAREFULLY. THE NEXT MORNING THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP TO LOOK INTO THIS MYSTERY. THE BRAKES WERE FINE; HOWEVER, THEY FOUND THE FOLLOWING TO REPAIR: *SEALS TO BRAKES *REAR AXLE PINION SEAL *BOTH LOWER BALL JOINTS ON THE FRONT END I WAS TOLD THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE BALL JOINTS WERE COMPLETELY WORN DOWN AND THE TIRE WAS JUST WOBBLY HELD ON BY THE LUG BOLTS. WE RECENTLY PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE AND WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR HELP IN REVIEWING THE PAST RECALLS ON THIS TYPE VEHICLE. THIS COULD AND WOULD HAVE BEEN AN EXTREME HAZARD WITH PROBABLY EXTREME INJURY TO THE PERSONS INVOLVED. ALSO, IF YOU CAN PLEASE CHECK THE PAST HISTORY OF THE OWNERS TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE KEPT THE VEHICLE MAINTAINED WITH ANY SUGGESTED RECALL ITEMS. THANK YOU, MARLENE MORGAN *LA *SC *JB