NHTSA Complaint #10149195 — 2000 FORD EXPEDITION

IN EARLY JAN 2006, WE HAVE A POPPING SOUND AND MOVEMENT IN THE STEERING WHEEL OF OUR 2000 EXPEDITION. WE COULD FEEL IT MOVING IN THE STEERING WHEN DRIVING AND WERE CONCERNED. WE HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON OUR EXPEDITION SO WE TOOK IT TO GERMAIN FORD IN COLUMBUS, OHIO. THEY SAID THE LEFT FRONT STABILIZER LINK BOLT HAD BROKE IN HALF AND THE STABILIZER BAR WAS SLIPPING ON AND OFF CAUSING THE MOVEMENT AND SOUND. THEY TOLD ME THIS WAS NOT A WARRANTY ITEM. MY EXPEDITION HAS ONLY 51,000 MILES AND IS DRIVEN BY MY WIFE TO WORK. AT THE SAME TIME THE DEALER TOLD ME BY BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I SAID HOW CAN A STEEL BOLT IN THE STEERING LINKAGE ACTUALLY BRAKE AND NOT BE COVERED? I ASKED FOR THE SERVICE MGR AND HE ACTUALLY SAID TO ME "THEY DON'T MAKE THINGS LIKE THEY USE TO". I THEN RECALLED A SERVICE NOTICE SOME TIME BACK ABOUT SOMETHING IN THE FRONT END OF EXPEDITIONS SO I LOOKED THROUGH MY FILES. SURE ENOUGH, FORD SENT OUT A SERVICE BULLETIN IN 6-04 "TITLED TIE ROD INSPECTION PROCEDURE". WHILE THE SERVICE BULLETIN COVERS A COUPLE ITEMS IT BELIEVE IT SHOWS FORD KNEW THEY HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT ENDS AND SENT OUT A SERVICE NOTICE TO EXCUSE THEMSELVES AND TO AVOID PAYING FOR REPAIRS. WHEN THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THEY WOULD NOT COVER, I CALLED THE WARRANTY HOTLINE. THE REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME "BALL JOINTS ARE WEARING OUT SOONER THEN THEY WOULD EXPECT" BUT IT WAS NOT A WARRANTY ITEM SO I HAD TO GET THOSE REPAIRED AS WELL. IN SUMMARY, I BELIEVE THE BOLT BREAKING COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE AND THAT FOR A CUSTOMER TO SPEND $800 TO REPLACE A BROKEN BOLT IN THE FRONT LINKAGE AND BALL JOINTS ON AN EXCELLENT CONDITION VEHICLE WITH ONLY 51,000 MILES IS OUTRAGEOUS. I AM GUESSING OTHER EXPEDITION OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM AND WOULD LIKE TO FILE A COMPLAINT FOR GETTING FORD TO REIMBURSE THE $800 I HAD TO SPEND IN REPAIR. *JB