NHTSA Complaint #752422 — 1998 FORD EXPEDITION

I AM WRITING IN RESPONSE TO A NEWS ARTICLE I SAW REGARDING NHTSA INVESTIGATIONS OF 1997 AND 1998 FORD EXPEDITIONS, IN PARTICULAR FAILURES OF THE FRONT STABILIZER BAR LINKS. I AM CREATING THIS DEFECT REPORT BECAUSE I BELIEVE MY 1998 FORD EXPEDITION MAY ALSO SUFFER FROM A DEFECT WITH THE FRONT STABILIZER BAR LINK. THE STABILIZER BAR CONNECTS THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT WHEEL CONTROL ARMS AND IS SUPPOSED TO HELP IN CONTROLLING THE PITCH OF THE VEHICLE IN TURNS. WHEN DRIVING, IF I DRIVE OVER THE SLIGHTEST OF IMPERFECTIONS IN A PAVED ROAD, THE FRONT WHEELS START TO VIBRATE AND I HAVE TO SLOW DOWN TO REGAIN CONTROL AND TO MAKE THE WHEELS RIDE CORRECTLY. ALSO WHEN EXITING OFF A RAMP FROM A HIGHWAY (MEANING A VERY GRADUALLY RIGHT EXIT, NOT A SHARP RIGHT TURN), THERE IS A LOUD THUMPING SOUND AND THE WHEELS AGAIN SEEM TO LOSE CONTROL AND START TO VIBRATE. LIKEWISE, WHEN MAKING A SHARP LEFT OR RIGHT TURN, THERE IS A LOUD THUMPING SOUND AND THE WHEEL SEEM TO LOSE CONTROL AND START VIBRATING. I HAVE TO PRESS THE BRAKES TO SLOW THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO REGAIN CONTROL. THIS IS MORE THAN JUST A MATTER OF GETTING MY 'ALIGNMENT FIXED.' PLEASE NOTE: I THINK THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WHICH NEEDS MORE INVESTIGATION BY THE NHTSA. THIS BEHAVIOR STARTED ABOUT APRIL 2001. THIS HAS GRADUALLY GOTTEN WORSE AND WORSE. IT NOW OCCURS EVERY TIME I DRIVE THIS FORD EXPEDITION. THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN ANY TYPE OF ACCIDENT TO MY KNOWLEDGE. I BELIEVE THIS VEHICLE TO BE UNSAFE, YET I HAVE NO ALTERNATIVE MODE OF TRANSPORTATION TO GET TO AND FROM WORK. I NOW HAVE TO DRIVE SLOWLY TO AVOID ANY PROBLEMS WITH LOSING CONTROL OF THE WHEELS. FYI - I CALLED YOUR OFFICE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT AND FILED A COMPLAINT. BUT I WASN'T QUITE SURE THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE GOT ALL MY INFORMATION. SO I AM OPENING THIS REPORT AS A FOLLOW-ON. THE PREVIOUS DOT IMAGE NUMBER IS 715727, AND I SPOKE TO CAROL. YOU MAY CONTACT ME FOR FURTHER INFORMATION. THANK YOU.*AK (TIRESIZE: P265/70R17)