NHTSA Complaint #10532641 — 2003 FORD EXPLORER SPORT

SEVERE CLANKING/BANGING NOISE IN PASSENGER REAR. REPLACED SHOCKS. NOISE WORSENED. RESEARCHED AND FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING BODY MOUNTS WITH FORD EXPLORER SPORT VEHICLES. UPON INVESTIGATION - REACHING UP UNDER VEHICLE FOUND NO "BODY INSULATOR LEFT ON PASSENGER SIDE REAR AND ON DRIVER REAR THE INSULATOR CRUMBLED LIKE DIRT AND FINE POWDER. THE BODY MOUNTS APPEARED TO BE MANUFACTURED OF A FOAM LIKE MATERIAL - SUBSTANDARD AT BEST! REPLACEMENT PARTS MUST BE PURCHASED THROUGH FORD SINCE NO OTHER AFTERMARKET PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. PARTS ONLY (THAT BEING ABLE TO SALVAGE THE BOLTS AND SLEEVES) AND PURCHASE THE TWO PAIR OF INSULATORS ONLY - $680.00. THE SAME MATERIAL THAT FAILED AND SHOULD NOT. THERE ARE VEHICLES ON THE ROAD WITH BODY MOUNTS FOR 40 TO 50 YEARS. THIS IS A MANUFACTURER'S RESPONSIBILITY AND THE COST FOR THESE PARTS IS THIEVERY. IT IS UNSAFE TO OPERATE A VEHICLE WITHOUT REPAIRING DEFECTIVE BODY MOUNTS DUE TO THE POSSIBILITY OF BODY ROLL OR OTHER LOSS OF CONTROL. SINCE THE MOUNTS SHOULD NOT FAIL THROUGHOUT THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE I SINCERELY REQUEST AN INVESTIGATION BE LAUNCHED INTO THE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS BEING FILED FOR THE YEARS 2001-2003 FORD EXPLORER SPORT BODY MOUNTS. *TR