NHTSA Complaint #10151038 — 2001 FORD EXPLORER

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED SINCE OWNERSHIP, THE LOWER BALL JOINTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AT 44,159 MILES AND HAS BEEN DRIVEN 22,530 MILES SINCE PURCHASE. THE BREAKDOWN ON THE REPAIRS ARE; ON 12/13/03 AT 28,676 MILES BOTH LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED, ON 08/05/04 AT 35,260 MILES-THE LEFT LOWER BALL JOINT AND SPINDLE ARM WERE REPLACED, THIS WAS ONLY 6,584 MILES SINCE THE PREVIOUS BALL JOINT REPLACEMENT, AND ON 12/26/05 AT 44,159 MILES-BOTH LOWER BALL JOINTS AND THE RIGHT UPPER CONTROL ARM WERE REPLACED AT ONLY 9,331 MILES FROM PREVIOUS REPLACEMENT. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERNS REGARDING THE CONTINUOUS REPAIRS TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP WHO DETERMINED THE NIAGARA FALLS AREA HAS THE HIGHEST RATE OF FAILURE FOR BALL JOINTS IN THE COUNTRY. THERE WERE NO ADDITIONAL EXPLANATIONS FOR THE EXTREME RATE OF FAILURE. MOST OF THE MILES ON THE TRUCK ARE THRUWAY MILES. THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT OR DRIVEN IN A MANNER TO CAUSE OR AGGRAVATE THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM.