1996 FORD EXPLORER Suspension Problems

SUV SUSPENSION SWAYS LIKE ITS ABOUT TO FLIP. THE DRIVER MUST SLOW DOWN TO REGAIN STABILITY. THIS OCCURS ALWAYS WHEN INCREASING SPEED WHILE IN PASSING LANE OR DURING RAPID ACCELERATION! I FEAR THIS WILL CAUSE A WREAK IN THE FUTURE! *TR

WHEN EVER I GO OVER A BUMP OR A DIP IN THE ROAD. SOMETHING (SWAY BAR) SEEMS AS IF IT SOMETHING IS CRACKED AND THE TIRE AXES IS ABOUT TO FALL OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. *TR

I REPLACED THE FRONT HUB ASSEMBLIES IN DECEMBER 2011 WITH PARTS PURCHASED FROM AUTOPARTSMIDWEST.COM. ON DECEMBER 18, 2012, THE LEFT HUB ASSEMBLY FAILED AND THE WHEEL CAME OFF. THE OUTER PORTION OF THE BALL BEARING RACE CAME OFF THE SPLINED HUB. I WAS GOING VERY SLOWLY AT THE TIME THE FAILURE OCCURRED AND THERE WAS NO INJURY OR DAMAGE OTHER THAN TO THE HUB ASSEMBLY, CALIPER BRACKET AND SOME OTHER BRAKE PARTS. THE TOTAL COST OF REPAIR PARTS NOT INCLUDING LABOR IS ABOUT $500. I HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE MANUFACTURER OF THE HUB ASSEMBLY. IT SHOULD BE REASONABLE TO EXPECT A CRITICAL PART LIKE A HUB ASSEMBLY TO LAST MORE THAN ABOUT 6000 MILES. IF THE HUB ASSEMBLY HAD COME APART TWO MINUTES OR A HALF MILE EARLIER, I MIGHT NOT BE FILING THIS REPORT. I HAVE ASKED AUTOPARTSMIDWEST TO REFUND THE PURCHASE PRICE OF THE DEFECTUVE HUB ASSEMBLIES...

MY WIFE AND I ARE SCARED TO DRIVE OUR 96 EXPLORER ONCE WE LEARNED OF ALL THE RECALLS ( REAR SIDE GLASS, BAD SUSPENSION, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, HEADLIGHTS.) JUST TO NAME A FEW I KNOW OF. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 45-55 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN SHAKING AND COULD NOT BE STEERED. THE VEHICLE FLIPPED AND ROLLED OVER. THE CONTACT AND HER BABY RECEIVED MINOR BRUISES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES AVAILABLE. HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V402000 (SUSPENSION). THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 140,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF HER VEHICLE WHEN SHE DROVE OVER A BUMP. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE SUSPENSION (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # 00V402000) HOWEVER; THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE REPAIR WAS PREVIOUSLY PERFORMED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 164,827. UPDATED 04/11/08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE SWAY BAR LINK BROKE. UPDATED

I BOUGHT MY 1996 EXPLORER NEW ON 01/19/1996 FROM WADE FORD SMYRNA GA. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY OTHER MAILING ADDRESS OTHER THAN THE ONE WHERE I LIVED AT TIME OF PURCHASE AND I STILL LIVE THERE TODAY. FORD DID NOT SEND ME A NOTICE OF NHTSA ID # 00V402000. CAN YOU PLEASE HAVE FORD SEND A NOTICE THAT I CAN TAKE TO A FORD DEALER FOR THE SPECIFIED REPAIRS? I LEARNED OF THE RECALL 10/3/07. THANK YOU. *TR UPDATED 12-12-07. *KB UPDATED

SUDDEN TREAD SEPARATION ON LEFT REAR TIRE OF FORD EXPLORER CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL AND ON-ROAD ROLLOVER. TIRE WAS A COOPER ELDORADO RADIAL ZR1, SIZE P23575R15, DOT# 3DHLEKN2900.

WE PURCHASED OUR VEHICLE USED IN 1999 WITH 33000 MILES. 6 MONTHS AFTER THE PURCHASE WE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION, ANOTHER NEW TRANSMISSION LAST YEAR (2002), NEW BALL JOINTS, AND NOW WE ARE BEING TOLD THE RACK AND PINION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. FORD HAS NOT OFFERED ANY RECALLS ON THIS PART BUT I HAVE SEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS. MY VEHICLE IS CONSTANTLY SHAKING (FEELS LIKE I AM GOING OVER RUMBLE STRIPS) WHEN I AM OVER 30-40 MPH. WE ALSO JUST HAD OUR VEHICLE ALIGNED AND IT IS OUT OF ALIGNMENT AGAIN BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. *JB

THE RECALL COMPONET REGARDING THE FRONT SWAY BAR LINK FAILED FOUR TIMES. *JB

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTIFICATION (00V402000) CONSUMER THEN TOOK VEHICLE TO HIS OWN PERSONAL MECHANIC WHO PERFORMED THE WORK, CONSUMER THEN TOOK THE SERVICE INVOICE AS WELL AS RECALL NOTIFICATION INTO DEALERSHIP, THE DEALERSHIP THEN INSPECTED THE VEHICLE TO VERIFY THAT THE PROPER REPAIR HAD BEEN DONE, CONSUMER WAS THEN TOLD THAT THE PAPERWORK WOULD BE PROCESSED FOR REIMBURSEMENT, BUT CONSUMER NEVER HEARD BACK FROM DEALERSHIP, CONSUMER THEN CONTACTED DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT HIS REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT WAS NOT PROCESSED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT LISTED ON THE INVOICE, CONSUMER THEN WENT BACK TO HIS MECHANIC AND OBTAINED THE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT WAS NEEDED, CONSUMER WAS THEN TOLD BY DEALERSHIP THAT THEY WOULD NOW PROCESS REIMBURSEMENT REQUEST BUT WAS NOT SURE IF MANUFACTURER WOULD APPROVE REQUEST EVEN WITH THE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, CONSUMER IS SEEKING ASSISTANCE WITH REIMBURSEMENT IF DENIED. *JB

THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A ACCIDENT, THE VEHICLE WAS HIT ON THE REAR LEFT SIDE WHICH CAUSED THE DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE RESULTING IN IT ROLLING OVER 3 1/4 TIMES, THE PASSENGER WAS KILLED AND THE DRIVER SUSTAINED EXTENSIVE INJURIES INCLUDING A BROKEN NECK, THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT THE RECALL 00V-402 FOR FRONT SWAY BARS MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT AND WAS RECEIVED AFTER THE ACCIDENT OCCURED, DURING THE ACCIDENT NEITHER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. NLM

THE SWAY BAR (00S47) AND TWO FIRESTONE TIRES FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICES, WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS ATTEMPTING TO DODGE ANOTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HIS VEHICLE TWO OF THE FIRESTONE TIRE FAILED AND THE SWAY BAR BROKE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ROLLOVER 3 TIMES INTO A DITCH, THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED CUTS, BRUISES AND MUSCLE PULLS AND TEARS IN THE UPPER BODY (FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT 255/70R16). NLM

SWAY BAR LINK FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL 00V402, HOWEVER WHEEL BEARING ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED ON THE FIRST FAILURE PRIOR TO THE RECALL, CONSUMER IS QUESTIONING IF THE SWAY BAR LINK BREAKING CAUSES THE WHEEL BEARING TO GO OUT ALSO. *SLC

THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED THAT FRONT SWAY BAR LINK WAS MISSING WHICH CAUSED A BANGING NOISE IN THE FRONT END, THIS PROBLEM OCCURED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 00V-402. NLM

OWNER DEMANDED VEHICLE AFTER WAITING 2 1/2 HOURS TO HAVE RECALL (00V-402)WORK PERFORMED, OWNER WAS NOT TOLD JOB WAS COMPLETED, OWNER DROVE 31 MILES TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT RECALL WORK WAS PERFORMED BY FIRST DEALERSHIP. CJ

CONSUMER HAD FOUND A SAFETY NOTICE FROM MANUFACTURER THAT VEHICLE MAY BE AFFECTED WITH SWAY BAR PROBLEM. CONSUMER HAD EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM WHEN DRIVING OVER A POTHOLE, COULD FEEL VEHICLE WANDERING SIDE TO SIDE. THEN, HAD TAKEN VEHICLE FOR CHECK UP, AND DEALER TOLD CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE COULD NOT BE TAKEN CARE UNDER RECALL BECAUSE THEY FOUND OUT THAT VEHICLE HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN A WRECK. *AK DEALER SENT CONSUMER REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC

CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED VARIOUS SUSPENSION PROBLEMS, INSTALLATION OF THE CASTER/CAMBER KIT WAS NECESSARY TO PROPERLY ALIGN THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER CONSUMER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO POSSIBLE SUSPENSION PROBLEMS WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO FISHTAIL AND CRASH INTO A UTILITY POLE, TWO INJURIES DUE TO COLLISION. *MJS

CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED VARIOUS SUSPENSION PROBLEMS, INSTALLATION OF THE CASTER/CAMBER KIT WAS NECESSARY TO PROPERLY ALIGN THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER CONSUMER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO POSSIBLE SUSPENSION PROBLEMS WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO FISHTAIL AND CRASH INTO A UTILITY POLE, TWO INJURIES DUE TO COLLISION. *MJS THE CONSUMER NOW BELIEVES THE ACCIDENT WAS DUE TO THE ADVISIORY TO INFLATE ALL 15 INCH TIRES TO 26 PSI, THE CONSUMER HAD 45 PSI ON REAR TIRES AND THE DEALER DEFLATED THEM TO 26 PSI WHICH SHE BELIEVES CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL. NLM

I BOUGHT THIS SUV USED AND I THOUGHT I WAS GETTING A GREAT VEHICLE, BOY WAS I WRONG. IT HAS BEEN ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER WITH THIS SUV. PLEASE CHECK ALL OF MY COMPLAINTS THIS IS AN INTERIOR PROBLEM, THESE THINGS CANNOT BE CAUSED BY EVEY DAY USE. THE PROBLEMS I AM HAVING ARE, BACK SEAT DOOR HANDLES ARE BROKE, THE SPARE TIRE RELEASE BROKE THE FIRST TIME IT WAS USED, THE AIR BAG LIGHT WENT OFF AND CAUSED AN INCONVIENCE TO MY FAMILY, THE TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND THE ALINGMENT HASEN'T BEEN RIGHT SENSE I'VE OWNED IT, THE BACK SEAT DOESN'T WORK PROPERLY, IT WILL NOT RELEASE TO FOLD FORWARD, AND THE MOTOR ON THE HATCH HASEN'T WORKED PROPERLY FROM DAY ONE OF MY OWNERSHIP. PLEASE HELP ME WITH THIS MATTER. THANK FOR ALL YOU DO. MARGIE HULSEY. ML

CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE NEW MICHELIN TIRES, AND WAS SERVICED FOR THE ABS LIGHT AND TWO DAYS AFTER WORK COMPLETED VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER FOR NO KNOWN REASON (02-MAY-00), DEALER CLAIMS IT IS NO FAULT OF THE ABS, THE VEHICLE FLIPPED ON TWO OTHER OCCASIONS (07-OCT-00 AND 14-OCT-00). *MJS

NOISE WAS COMING FROM VEHICLE. BEEN IN DEALER SHOP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AND INFORMED CONSUME RTHAT NOTHING COULD BE FOUND. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER.*AK

WHILE WIFE WAS DRIVING FELT SOME VIBRATION AND STARTED TO SLOW DOWN, THEN AUTOMIBILE BEGAN TO SWAY- LATER, FOUND OUT FROM THE POLICE OFFICER THAT FIRESTONE TIRE THAT WAS ON AND TREAD HAD BEGAN TO PEEL OFF. *AK

WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN OR WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS IN THE ROAD A SQUEAKING NOISE OCCURS WITHIN THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL AREA. DEALER CANNOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING AT 50 MPH, DAY-TIME, SUNNY, DRY, WITHOUT CAUSE THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SWAY - ABOUT 50 YARDS, THEN VEHICLE ROLLED OVER THREE AND ONE HALF TIMES, SLID DOWN HIGHWAY APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET, ON ITS TOP. VEHICLE END ON ITS SIDE WITH ROOF IN TO THE STEERING WHEEL, ALL WINDOWS BROKEN, AND WINDSHIELD SHATTERED.

ACCIDENT CAUSED ALIGNMENT FAILURE.

RADIUS ARM BRACKET FAILED.

POOR SUSPENSION CAUSES VEHICLE TO LEAN TO ONE SIDE.