NHTSA Complaint #11283157 — 2016 FORD EDGE

WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS OF THE 2016 EDGE. AT APPROXIMATELY 48,000 MILES, WE HEARD A POPPING NOISE IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION WHICH PROGRESSED TO A LOUD SQUEAKING SOUND ON BUMPS AND TURNING. THE LOCAL DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. AT 54,000 MILES, THE VEHICLE STARTED DARTING ON UNEVEN ROAD SURFACES (RAPID SHIFTS IN DIRECTIONAL STABILITY, OFTEN CHANGING LANES WITHOUT WARNING). THE LOCAL DEALER SAID THERE WERE NO TSB'S ON THAT PROBLEM AND DID NOT FIND A PROBLEM(!). I RAISED THE FRONT SUSPENSION MYSELF AND FOUND THE DRIVERS BALL JOINT ALMOST READY TO DISLODGE FROM THE CONTROL ARM. I REPLACED THE LOWER CONTROL ARM MYSELF (I AM A RETIRED AUTO INSTRUCTOR) FOLLOWING FORD'S RECOMMENDATIONS. AFTER AN ALIGNMENT, THE VEHICLE DRIVES CONSIDERABLY BETTER BUT SOMEHOW NOT PERFECT. NOTE THAT THERE IS STILL A CLUNKING IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION BUT THERE DOESNT APPEAR TO BE ANYTHING LOOSE, ALTHOUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE LOWER BALL JOINT APPEARS TO BE LOOSER THAN WHAT I WOULD EXPECT FOR THAT YEAR VEHICLE WITH THAT MILEAGE (NOW JUST AT 57,000 MILES.) THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION WHICH CERTAINLY SHOULD NOT HAPPEN ON A VEHICLE WITH THAT FEW MILES