NHTSA Complaint #11279611 — 2012 FORD EXPLORER

07/25- HAD RECALL ORDERED- TOE LINK ON BOTH SIDES, REAR. PERFORMED AT HARRISONBURG FORD, VA. ; 09/04 DRIVING ON ROUTE 33 IN VA, MOUNTAIN ROAD. HEARD GRINDING NOISE COMING DOWN MOUNTAIN, NOISE STEADILY INCREASED AND BEGAN TO FEEL LIKE A LOSS OF CONTROL. SLOWED DOWN AND A MILE FROM SHOP THE NOISE STOPPED. WENT TO RICE TIRE IN VA AND HAD IT CHECKED. THE BOLT HOLDING TOE LINK ON RIGHT SIDE HAD DISLODGED NEARLY COMPLETELY. HAD IT REPLACED AND TOLD TO GO TO FORD TO RE TORQUE BOTH SIDES.; 09/05 WENT TO FORD. WAS INFORMED THAT MECHANIC HAD HAND TORQUED THE BOLTS, ESSENTIALLY MISREAD INSTRUCTIONS. MANAGER ACTUALLY STATED THAT THEY WERE GOING TO HAVE TO CALL MANY OTHER CUSTOMERS TO RE TORQUE THEIR TOE LINKS CORRECTLY AS WELL. I ASKED FOR ALIGNMENT AS WELL, BECAUSE THIS PROBLEM WOULD SURELY AFFECT BALANCE AND ALIGNMENT, THIS WAS PERFORMED AS WELL. THEY BILLED IT TO RECALL WARRANTY DEPT.; 11/6 DRIVING ON 25 IN COLORADO SPRINGS 65 MPH, TRAFFIC STOPS AND AS I BREAK HEAVILY I LOSE CONTROL AND VEHICLE HOPS A LANE. NO ACCIDENT.; 11/07 TAKE VEHICLE TO FORD TO CHECK TOE LINKS, WAS TOLD BOTH NUTS WERE LOOSE, LEFT AND RIGHT, THE KNUCKLE ON ONE SIDE HAS SNAPPED THE BRAKES ARE BAD, ROTORS AND BACK 2 TIRES ARE BAD..I SPECIFICALLY ASKED , SAYS THAT THIS IS ALL RELATED. THE FRONT BRAKES ARE WORN AS WELL, CLEARLY FROM COMPENSATION OF DRIVING WITH BAD TOE LINKS. I WAS TOLD SPECIFICALLY YES THIS IS ALL RELATED. FORD RECALL MANUFACTURER REFUSING TO COVER TOE LINKS AS WELL AS ALL ASSOCIATED DAMAGE, TOTALING OVER $3K. I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY ISSUES WITH VEHICLE AND PERFORM REGULAR MAINT ON TIRES BRAKES AND ROTARS, ETC. AND WITHIN 3 MONTHS OF RECALL I HAVE HAD 2 LIFE THREATENING INCIDENTS AND COMPLETE RUINATION OF MY VEHICLE SAFETY, AND ALOT OF DAMAGE INCURRED. RECEIPT OF RECALL ON 11/25 STATING EVERYTHING RELATED IS GREEN. NO WAY THIS DAMAGE IS NOT ASSOCIATED TO "NEW, SAFER" TOE LINKS.