1998 FORD EXPEDITION Suspension Problems

PARKING ON THE STREET IN IS GONE

WHEN WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IT HAD 22 INCH CHROME WHEELS AND TIRES. IT ALSO WANDERED ALL OVER THE ROAD. WE BOUGHT NEW STOCK SIZED RIMS AND NEW STOCK SIZED TIRES. IT STILL WANDERS ALL OVER THE ROAD. WE HAD IT ALIGNED. IT STILL WANDERS ALL OVER THE ROAD. GOOGLE SHOWS MANY, MANY COMPLAINTS REGARDING THESE VEHICLES' SUSPENSION, BLAMING RUSTING REAR LOWER TRAILING ARMS AND IN ONE CASE A LEFT STABILIZER LINK BROKE. I HAVE NOT CRAWLED UNDER THE CAR AS IT IS MY SISTER'S AND SHE LIVES A WAYS AWAY, BUT SHE WANTS TO SELL IT AND IS WORRIED IF IT IS SOMETHING MAJOR SOMEONE MAY GET HURT. WE CAN BE DRIVING STRAIGHT DOWN THE ROAD FROM 25MPH TO 60MPH AND THE VEHICLE JUST SORT OF FEELS LIKE THE BACK END IS NOT IN LINE WITH THE FRONT OR SOMETHING AND IT JUST TRIES TO CHANGE LANES ON ITS...

I GOT IN MY 1997 EXPEDITION AND THE BRAKE WENT TO THE FLOOR WHEN HAVING THE BACK BRAKES INSTALLED THE MECHANICS NOTICED THE LOWER ON TROLL ARM WAS RUSTED OUT. HE THE LOOKED AT MY 1998 AND IT IS THE SAME WAY. HE SAID I CANNOT DRIVE THEM LIKE THIS. I DRIVE ON THE INTERSTATE DAILY.

THE REAR LOWER AND UPPER CONTROL ARMS HAVE RUST HOLES AND OR COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A VERY BIG PROBLEM WITH ALL EXPEDITIONS AROUND THE SAME YEARS. COMPLAINTS FROM HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF OWNERS ON FORUMS HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. THIS WILL CAUSE A CRASH AND OR FATALITIES IF NOT CORRECTED OR FOUND BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE. I FOUND MINE TO BE VERY RUSTY WITH HOLES AND ALSO ONE RUSTED ALL THE WAY THROUGH AFTER A 400 MILE HIGHWAY TRIP WITH MY FAMILY. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT FORD SHOULD STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND RECALL AND FIX FOR FORD OWNERS. THIS IS A REPORTED PROBLEM AND NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED BY FORD ASAP. *TR

AS I WAS EXAMINING THE REAR BRAKE PADS ON MY TRUCK, I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE RIGHT REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM. FURTHER EXAMINATION SHOWED THAT THE PROTECTIVE COATING ON THE CONTROL ARM HAD NOT ONLY FAILED BUT WAS HOLDING MOISTURE AND SALT AGAINST THE METAL OF THE CONTROL ARM. THEREFORE THIS LOWER CONTROL ARM IS ALSO QUITE THIN IN ONE SPECIFIC AREA AND APPEARS TO BE IN DANGER OF IMMINENT FAILURE. LIKEWISE I FOUND A HOLE AND THIN SOUND METAL ON THE LEFT REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM. IF DRIVEN, THIS VEHICLE COULD EASILY HAVE A MAJOR LOSS OF CONTROL AND A CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENT WITH LOSS OF LIVES. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT BECAUSE THE COATING THAT WAS DESIGNED TO PROTECT THIS VULNERABLE PART HAS ACTUALLY HASTENED ITS FAILURE. *TR

WHILE DRIVING THROUGH A PARKING LOT THE DRIVE SHAFT DROPPED OUT. IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THE REAR LOWER TRAILING SUPPORT ARMS ON BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE HAD RUSTED THROUGH CAUSING THEM TO BREAK APART. THIS RESULTED IN THE REAR AXLE SHIFTING AND THE DRIVE SHAFT SNAPPING AWAY FROM THE REAR AXLE. IF THIS HAPPENED AT A HIGH SPEED THIS INCIDENT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN LOSS OF LIFE, SEVERE INJURIES AND PROPERTY DAMAGE. *TR

YEARS AGO WHEN PURCHASED THE EXPEDITION I NOTICED THE SHIFT GEAR OUT OF ALIGNMENT. I TRY TO CONTACT THE DEALER AS I HEARD THAT THIS WAS A RECALL; I WAS TOLD THAT THE RECALL IS NOT FOR MY VEHICLE. IT HAS KNOW BEEN A FEW YEARS SINCE I BOUGHT THE TRUCK AND I'M NOW EXPERIENCING WHAT I'VE NOTICED MANY OTHERS WITH AN EXPEDITION WHICH IS TRUCK IS NOT ENGAGING INTO PARKING POSITION AND ROLLS. THIS IS A CONCERN TO ME AS MY DRIVE WAY IS ON A SLIGHT UP HILL. THIS IS AN ENDANGERING TO THE PUBLIC, THE ISSUE HAPPENS UNEXPECTEDLY. I WOULD NOT LIKE TO SEE SOMEONE HURT BECAUSE OF A ROLL BACK OR FORWARD DUE TO WHAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE A MANUFACTURE DEFECT FROM THE MANY CASES I'VE READ UP ON SO FAR. FORD DEALER NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AS WELL AS THE COIL AND SPARK...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN SHE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A RUSTED HOLE IN THE REAR SUSPENSION SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED A LOUD BANG. THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY COLLAPSED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE REAR TRAILING ARM WAS FRACTURED DUE TO EXTENSIVE RUST AND CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

REAR LOWER TRAILING ARMS RUSTED COMPLETELY THRU GAS TANK STRAPS RUSTED THRU. *TR

TL *THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK SUSPENSION LAMP WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUSPENSION CONTROL MODULE AND THE AIR COMPRESSOR WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED HER TO NHTSA. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 166,805.

WHILE SITTING AT THE RED TRAFFIC LIGHT ,WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN TO GO UPON TAKING OFF AT NORMAL SPEED THE DRIVE SHAFT FELL COMPLETELY OUT AND BROKE AT THE DRIVE SHAFT UNIVERSAL EARS OF THE SHAFT AND THE RIGHT LOWER REAR CONTROLLING/TRAILING ARM BROKE AT COUPLER BECAUSE IT WAS VERY BADLY CORRODED WITH RUST FROM WEAK MATERIAL AND DRIVERS SIDE REAR LOOKS THE SAME WAY . ALSO MY EXPEDITION IS NOT A RUST BUCKET, IT IS DRIVEN VERY LITTLE IN THE WINTER. THE DRIVE SHAFT EARS THAT HOLD THE UNIVERSAL JOINT IS MADE OF CAST STEEL,WHICH IS VERY UNSAFE, IF FORD WOULD SEND THE PAIR OF TRAILING/CONTROLLING ARMS WE WILL HAVE THEM PUT ON AT MY COST. WITH THE DRY SHAFT MADE OUT THE OF THAT KIND OF MATERIAL THE VEHICLE CAN FLIP OUT OF CONTROL AND CAUSE DAMAGE, HARM OR DEATH. SOUNDS TO ME THAT ONE DAY FORD...

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH OR MORE VEHICLE COMMENCED TO LOSE STEERING CONTROL. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. DEALER REPLACED COMPRESSOR PUMP TWICE, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

AUTO TENDS TO VIBRATE CONSTANTLY AT OR BETWEEN 65/75 MPH HAVE SPENT NUMEROUS TIMES GETTING IT ALIGNED BUT DOESN'T SEEM TO HELP PROBLEM. *JB

WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN DRIFTING, CONSUMER THEN MADE A CORRECTION AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, ONE PERSON WAS INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT, SHORTLY AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE DEALER FOUND SOME ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS. *SLC

CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE WAS PULLING TO THE RIGHT, DEALER PERFORMED AN ALIGNMENT.*JB *YH

VEHICLE DID A 180 DEGREE TURN ON THE RIGHT WING OF AN INTERSECTION, CONSUMER LOSS CONTROL AND VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A CURB, THE REAR AXLE WAS BROKEN WITH IMPACT ON THE REAR LEFT WHEEL, THE ROADS WERE WET AT THE TIME OF OCCURANCE.*JB

THE VEHICLE EASILY LOSES CONTACT WITH THE ROAD. REAREND FREQUENTLY BREAKS LOOSE AND CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO FISHTAIL OR SPIN AROUND. OCCURS AT LOW SPEEDS WITH PASSANGERS AND GEAR. OCCURS MOST FREQUESNTLY ON WET OR SNOWY PAVEMENT, BUT ALSO IN GRAVEL. OCCURS AT SPEEDS WELL BELOW THOSE OF OTHER VEHICLES THAT ARE DRIVING ON THE SAME CONDITIONS WITH NO PROBLEMS. RESULTED IN SEVER SINGLE CAR ACCIDENT (REPORTED ABOVE) ON A FREEWAY. LUCKILY NO INJURIES. DOES NOT CORNER WELL AND RIDES EXTRMELY ROUGH, EVEN FOR A TRUCK. HAVE REPORTED PROBLEM TO DEALER WITH NO POSITIVE OUTCOME OR RESPONSE. DEALER EVASIVE WHEN ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT WHY HANDLING IS SO POOR. FELT THEY WERE HIDING INFORMATION ABOUT THE SUSPENSION AND HANDLING OF THE VEHICLE. TIRES ARE IN EXCELLENT CONDITON WITH LESS THAN 3/4 TREAD WEAR. *AK

AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS VEHICLE VIBRATES EXCESSIVELY. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, AND HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK

EXCESSIVE SUSPENSION PROBLEMS. CROSS MEMBER BOLTS FOR PROPER TORQUE WERE NOT TIGHT AND THE CROSS MEMBER AND LOWER CONTROL ARM BOLTS WERE OUT OF THE TORQUE SPECS.

MY EXPEDITION HAS A STRANGE VIBRATION AT 65 TO 75 MILES PER HOUR.

MY WIFE AND I WERE HIT FROM A SIDE IMPACT VEHICLE INTO OUR FORD EXPEDITON ON MONDAY NOVEMBER 16, 1998. ONE EYE WITNESS SAID THAT WE ROLLED OVER 2 1/2 TIMES AND SLID OVER 150 FT. UPSIDE DOWN. WE ARE THANKFUL TO BE ALIVE. MOST OF THE EMERGENCY PERSONEL BELIEVED THAT WE WERE TO BE DEAD FROM THIS ACCIDENT. SINCE OUR ACCIDENT, WE HAVE HEARD OF OTHER FORD EXPEDITIONS ROLLING DURING SIDE IMPACTS. JUST ABOUT 9 MONTHS AGO, MY WIFE AND I SAW AN EXPEDITION UPSIDE DOWN. WE THOUGHT THAT IT WAS JUST A FLUKE ACCIDENT. DURING OUR STAY IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM, THE STATE PATROLMAN TOLD US THAT HE HAD SEEN SEVERAL FORD EXPEDITIONS THAT HAD TURNED OVER DURING CRASHES. I BELIEVE THAT THERE MAY BE OTHERS THAT WE DO NOT KNOW ABOUT. IT IS MY CONCERN THAT YOU MAY USE MY REPORT THAT MAY ASSIST IN YOUR RESEARCH...