NHTSA Complaint #724430 — 1997 FORD EXPEDITION

PULLED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY INTO TRAFFIC WITH FAMILY IN VEHICLE AND ALMOST IMMEDIATELY LOST ALL STEERING CONTROL. TIE ROD END SNAPPED OUT (FAULTY DESIGN), REPLACED WITH MOOG BRAND PROPERLY DESIGNED OUTER TIE ROD. ALSO THE SWAY BAR SEPARATED FROM THE TRUCK. THIS VEHICLE IS NOT USED FOR ANY TYPE OF "OFF ROAD" DRIVING, THERE WAS NO WARNING BEFORE THE TIE ROD WENT. MORE THAN ONE AUTO MECHANIC HAS TOLD ME THAT FORD IS THE ONLY AUTO COMPANY THAT MAKE THEIR TIE RODS IN THIS MANNER. THERE DOES NOT SEEM TO BE ANY "SAFETY" FEATURE TO THE TIE ROD END TO KEEP IT FROM FALLING OUT. I HAD JUST BEEN TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 65 MPH TWO MINUTES PRIOR TO THE TOTAL LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. WE ARE CERTAINLY AWARE THAT THE MILEAGE ON OUR VEHICLE WARRANTS SOME WEAR AND TEAR, HOWEVER, THESE TIE RODS ARE JUST NOT MADE PROPERLY. PLEASE RESEARCH THE DESIGN USED AND COMPARE TO THE MORE APPROPRIATELY DESIGNED MOOG BRAND REPLACEMENTS. ALSO THE SWAY BAR IS COMPLETELY UNATTACHED FROM THE VEHICLE ON THE LEFT FRONT SIDE. *AK