NHTSA Complaint #11132042 — 2011 FORD EXPEDITION

WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 78MPH, THE REAR TIRES ON OUR 2011 EXPEDITION SUDDENLY LOCKED UP, SKIDDING THE TIRES AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO FISHTAIL SHE HAD NO CONTROL OF STEERING OR ACCELERATION. WHEN THE VEHICLE REACHED APPROXIMATELY 35MPH THE TIRES RELEASED AND SHE WAS ABLE TO STEER INTO THE MEDIAN. AT THIS POINT, SHE COULD NOT MOVE THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS A PICTURE OF A WRENCH ON THE DASHBOARD. WHEN SHE WAS COMPLETELY STOPPED, SHE PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND SAT FOR A FEW MINUTES. SHE THEN ATTEMPTED TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE, BUT SHE HAD NO POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING, BUT SHE WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. SHE HAD TO CALL FOR A TOW TRUCK. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED HOME, I GOT IN IT AND STARTED IT, THEN NOTICED THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ON. I TURNED THAT LIGHT OFF ON THE DASHBOARD, AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE WITHOUT ANY PROBLEM. I DROVE IT TO A FORD DEALER, AND ALL THE MECHANIC COULD FIND WAS THAT THE REAR STRUTS WERE WORN OUT. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT OUR VEHICLE DID NOT THROW ANY HARD CODE, ONLY A SOFT CODE. HE SAID WE ARE BASICALLY DRIVING COMPUTERS NOW WITH ALL THE TECHNOLOGY. FORD MOTOR COMPANY INFORMED ME THAT THERE IS NO RECALL ON OUR VEHICLE, ONLY THE 2012 MODEL THAT HAS THE SAME ISSUE. AFTER TALKING WITH TWO DIFFERENT PEOPLE AT FORD MOTOR COMPANY, I WAS TOLD SORRY, IT IS NOT UNDER RECALL AND THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO. UPON INVESTIGATING FURTHER, WE FOUND OUT MY WIFE'S EXPEDITION WAS MANUFACTURED AT THE SAME PLANT IN KENTUCKY, MADE IN THE SAME YEAR AS THE RECALLED VEHICLES BUT 4 MONTHS EARLIER, AND HAS THE SAME TRANSMISSION (6R80) AS THE RECALLED 2012 EXPEDITIONS THAT STARTED PRODUCTION IN AUGUST OF 2011. HOPE NHTSB CAN INVESTIGATE BECAUSE WE CAN'T GET ANYWHERE WITH FORD.