1997 FORD EXPLORER Suspension Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE ABNORMALLY, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE IN 4 WHEEL DRIVE. THE CONTACT STATED THE CHECK GAUGE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH THE FRONT DRIVE SHAFT, THE CONTROL ARMS, THE FRONT OXYGEN SENSOR, AND THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTROL ARMS WERE REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 147,000.

MY LIGHTS DON'T WORK STABILIZING BAR IS BAD,SPEED CONTROL DOSE NOT WORK SECURITY KEY CODE NOT WORKING,DOOR CONTROLS DO NOT WORK.WIPER WORK SOMETIMES.BALL JOINT ARE BAD, TIRES WEARING BAD,,BUSHINGS ARE VERY BAD.TRANSMISSION IS STARTING TO SLIP,ALL WHEEL DRIVE DOES NOT WORK, IT GRINDING SOUND.HEAF LIGHT ONLY BRIGHTS WORK.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35-40 MPH OVER A ROAD BUMP, THE VEHICLE WOULD SWAY FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO ADVISED THAT THE FRONT STABILIZER BAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED THREE TIMES HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER EACH REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE AND OFFERED NO OTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 135,000.

SINCE THE EXPLORER WAS 5 YEARS OLD THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE TRUCK WAS STARTING TO SETTLE/ BE LOWER THAN THE PASSENGER SIDE. UNTIL IT WAS SO BAD THE SHOP STATED WE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE REAR SPRINGS, SHOCKS AND STABILIZER AND *** THE REAR WAS ALSO LOWER THAN THE FRONT. SO WE HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT SHOCKS AND SEVERAL SUSPENSION PARTS TO TRY TO LEVEL THE VEHICLE BACK TO NORMAL. NOW WITH THE ENGINE BLOWN THE TRUCK AGAIN WAS SETTLING TO THE PASSENGER SIDE AND TOWARD THE REAR!!!!! *TR

MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH VEHICLE WHEN TURNING EITHER RIGHT OR LEFT VEHICLE COMES TO A COMPLETE STOPS THEN A VERY LOUD BANG IS HEARD, TOLD IT WAS HUB BUT REPLACED HUB AND STILL HAPPENS, WAS ALSO TOLD IT WAS U-JOINT ON DRIVE SHAFT HAVE YET TO REPLACE IT HAVE NOT NOTIFIED DEALER AS OF YET. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPLORER. WHEN SHE STARTED THE VEHICLE THERE WAS A CLICKING SOUND AND THE VEHICLE BEGIN SWAYING FROM BACK AND FORTH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RIGHT FRONT SWAY BAR LINK WAS BROKEN AND SHEARED. A MECHANIC LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND OBSERVED THAT THE BAR WAS BROKEN. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT RECALL# 00V402000 COMPONENT: SUSPENSION IS RELATED; HOWEVER, THE VIN DOES NOT APPLY TO THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,000.

LETTER ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT SEEKING INFORMATION IDENTIFYING RECALLED OF DEFECTIVE SWAY BARS IN CERTAIN 1997 FORD EXPLORER VEHICLES. *NJ THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 00V40200, HOWEVER THE RIGHT AND LEFT SWAY BAR LINKS FAILED EXACTLY AS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL. *JB

THE RIGHT REAR LEAF SPRING IS BAD AND THIS CAUSES THE TIRES TO WARE WHICH HAS CAUSED US SEVERAL DOLLARS TO REPLACE TIRES. I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT LEAF SPRINGS DON'T GO BAD BUT MINE HAS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING VIBRATED AND THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND THEY DISCOVERED THAT THE SWAY BAR LINK FAILED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V402000 (SUSPENSION). THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000. UPDATED 03-04-08 *BF

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED WAS DRIVING 25 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTED MAKING A LOUD POPPING SOUND EACH TIME SHE MADE A RIGHT TURN, THE SOUND SEEMED AS IF IT WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE DRIVER'S SEAT AREA. THE ROAD AND WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE GREAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING IF SHE HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD THE VEHICLE WOULD MAKE THE SAME LOUD POPPING SOUND. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP ON 12/28/06, AND TOLD THE MECHANIC OF THE PROBLEM SHE WAS HAVING, AND THE MECHANIC TOLD THE CONTACT ABOUT THE RECALL CAMPAIGN # 00V402000 FOR SUSPENSION. THE MECHANIC TOLD THE CONTACT THAT SHE NEEDED SWAY BAR LINK REPLACED BECAUSE IT BROKE. THE CONTACT DID PAY $92.67 FOR THIS REPAIR. THE CONTACT FELTTHAT SINCE THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE WRONG WITH VEHICLE, THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD REIMBURSE HER FOR THE REPAIR AMOUNT. *AK UPDATED 01/30/07. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED A BURNING SMELL CAME FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE VEHICLE JERKED TO THE LEFT. FURTHERMORE, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP TO DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEMS. THERE WERE NO REPAIRS MADE EXCEPT ON THE THROTTLE BODY. THERE WERE RECALLS ON ALL THREE COMPONENTS. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, #99V062000 REGARDING THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. A NHTSA RECALL, #00V402000 CONCERNING THE SUSPENSION. ALSO, A NHTSA RECALL #00V422000 CONCERNING THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY OF THE RECALLS.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 50 MPH ON ANY ROAD CONDITION, THE VEHICLE SWAYED VIOLENTLY FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE SWAY BAR WAS REPLACED IN 2003. A FEW MONTHS LATER, THE CONTACT NOTICED THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, #00V402000, REGARDING THE SUSPENSION. THE SERVICE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND DETERMINED THAT A DIAGNOSTICS TEST NEEDED TO BE PERFORMED BEFORE ANY WORK WAS TO BE DONE. THE TEST SHOWED THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ALONG WITH THE CAMBER CASTOR KIT WERE DAMAGED. ALSO THE PASSENGER AND BOTH REAR DOORS DID NOT OPEN. THE FRONT DRIVER'S DOOR HAD DIFFICULTIES CLOSING ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE MANUFACTURER WHICH OFFERED $6000 FOR A TRADE IN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE LOCKS WERE INOPERATIVE, THE HEADLAMP SWITCH WAS BROKEN. THE VEHICLE NEEDED UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER DECLINED...

I SEE ALL OF THE RECALLS ON THE FORD EXPLORER DATE 1997 BUT I OWN A FORD EXPLORER 1997 AND THE ONLY RECALL NOTICE THAT I RECEIVED IS THE ONE FOR THE TIRES BACK IN 2000. I NEVER RECEIVED THE OTHERS AND I KNOW THE FORD COMPANY IS AWARE OF ME OWNING THIS VEHICLE FOR I GET NOTICES IN THE MAIL CONSTANTLY ABOUT SELLING IT BACK TO FORD. WHY ARE NOT MY SUSPENSION LINES OR GAS LINES BEING REPAIRED LIKE THE OTHER FORDS WITH THE 4.0 LITER ENGINE? *JB

REGARDING RECALL 00V402000 ON SWAY BAR PROBLEMS I ALSO WAS TOLD MY VEHICLE WAS BEYOND THE RECALL DATE HOWEVER THE SAME PARTS HAVE BROKEN JUST AS THE RECALL STATES. *JB

THE VEHICLE STABILIZER BOLT SNAPPED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, WHEN TURNING IN EITHER DIRECTION THE VEHICLE ROLLS. A RECALL(00V-402000) WAS ISSUED, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE'S VIN NUMBER IS OUTSIDE OF THE REMEDY SCOPE. *LA *SC

NHTSA#00-V-402-000 SWAY BAR LINK CAN FRACTURE. THE VEHICLE HANDLING COULD BE AFFECTED INCREASING THE RISKS OF A CRASH. CONSUMER STATES WHILE WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 65MPH, THE SWAY BAR LINK BOLTS WERE BROKEN, FORCING THE DRIVER TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. MR FORD STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WASN'T COVERED, IN REFERENCE TO THE RECALL, DUE TO THE VEHICLE YEAR. THE LINK BOLTS ON THE LEFT AND THE RIGHT SIDES WERE REPLACED. THE PASSENGER SIDE BOLTS WERE IN BAD SHAPE. SCC

WHILE DRIVING 20MPH HEARD GRINDING NOISE, SOUNDED AS IF IT WAS COMING FROM BOTTOM OF VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 10MPH HEARD GRINDING NOISE, SAID IT SOUNDES IS IF IT WASCOMING FROM UNDER VEHICLE. *AK

GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE BEEN TO THE DEALER ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM REOCCURRING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT AND THE CONSUMER NOTICED A MAJOR SHIMMY WHICH CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO SHAKE RESULTING IN FRONT TIRES MAKING NOISE. THE CAUSE WAS DISCOVERED TO BE A MISSING PART CALLED A CAMBER KIT. THE CONSUMER WANTS A REFUND FROM THE MANUFACTURER OF THE VEHICLE FOR FIXING THIS PROBLEM. *YH

VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT 40 TO 50MPH, WHEN IT WAS REARENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. VEHICLE COMPLETELY ROLLED OVER, AND LANDED UPSIDE DOWN. CONSUMER HAS YET TO CONTACT DEALER. NONE OF AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WERE FOUR INJURIES.*AK

WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT VEHICLE IS MAKING A HUMMING. WHEN MAKING A TURN FEELS LIKE VEHICLE IS GOING TO TURN OVER. WHEN TAKING OFF CONSUMER CAN FEEL A HARD BANG ON DRIVERS SIDE. *AK

CONSUMER WENT TO DEALER BECAUSE WHEN MAKING TURNS VEHICLE FELT SHAKY, LIKE IT WOULD ROLL OVER. CONSUMER HAD TO MAKE TURNS AT CRAWLING SPEED. DEALER FOUND SWAY BAR MISSING FROM VEHICLE. THERE IS A RECALL ON SWAY BAR, BUT THIS VEHICLE NOT AFFECTED. *AK RECALL NUMBER IS 00V402, CONSUMER STATES SWAY BAR BLEW OUT FROM VEHICLE CAUSING A HUGE BANG AND VEHICLE TO SWAY TO THE RIGHT ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS DRIVER CHANGED LANES, AND STREERING WHEEL WENT TO THE RIGHT, RESULTING IN A COLLISION/ MINOR INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

VEHICLE LEANS TO THE LEFT, VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP, ADJUSTMENT TO TORSION BAR MADE, DID NOT APPEAR TO CORRECT PROBLEM, VEHICLE TAKEN BACK TO DEALERSHIP, OWNER WAS TOLD BAR OR UNDERLYING SPRINGS NEED TO BE REPLACED. CJ

WHILE DRIVING COULD HEAR POPPING NOISE COMING FROM BOTTOM OF VEHICLE. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO REPAIR SHOP, AND THEY SAID IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH SUSPENSION.*AK

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES (P235 75 R15) EXPERIENCED ABNORMAL WEAR, CONSUMER REPLACED TWO OF THE TIRES, EVEN WITH THE REPLACEMENTS THE FIRESTONE TIRES WERE WEARING PREMATURELY, THE CONSUMER REPLACED ALL TIRES WITH A DIFFERENT BRAND AND HAS HAD NO FURTHER PROBLEMS, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPLACEMENT TIRES, THE FRONT AND REAR BEARINGS ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 35000 MILES. *SLC

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES (P235 75 R15) EXPERIENCED ABNORMAL WEAR, CONSUMER REPLACED TWO OF THE TIRES, EVEN WITH THE REPLACEMENTS THE FIRESTONE TIRES WERE WEARING PREMATURELY, THE CONSUMER REPLACED ALL TIRES WITH A DIFFERENT BRAND AND HAS HAD NO FURTHER PROBLEMS, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPLACEMENT TIRES, THE FRONT AND REAR BEARINGS ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 35000 MILES. *SLC

SUSPENSION PROBLEM. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 50 MPH EXPLORER BEGAN TO SWAY BACK AND FORTH, BECAME AIR BORNE AND FLIPPED OVER 4 TIMES. DRIVER DID NOT GO INTO ANY OTHER LANE, AND DID NOT HIT OTHER VEHICLE. DRIVER AND ONE OTHER PASSENGER WERE IN THE EXPLORER. BOTH WERE INJURED. TIRES WERE FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS AT. PLEASE PROVIDE TIRE SIZE AND DOT # AND ANY OTHER INFORMATION.*AK

MY WIFE AND I WERE TRAVELING WEST ON THE INTERSTATE IN THE RIGHT LANE AT APP. 75 MPH WHEN WE HEARD A STRANGE SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR RIGHT TIRE. AT THAT MOMENT, I COULD FEEL THE BACK END OF THE VEHICLE SLIDING OUT FROM UNDER US TO THE RIGHT, TURNING THE VEHICLE TO THE LEFT TOWARD THE CENTER MEDIAN. WE WENT INTO THE MEDIAN AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL. AFTER ROLLING APP. 3 COMPLETE TIMES, WE ENDED UP FACING EAST IN THE RIGHT LANE OF EASTBOUND TRAFFIC - RIGHT SIDE UP. MIRACULOUSLY, NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE INVOLVED IN THE ACCIDENT. MY WIFE ESCAPED WITH SEVERAL BUMPS AND BRUISES AND I HAD CUTS AND SCRAPES WHICH REQUIRED STITCHES. BOTH OF US WERE WEARING SEAT BELTS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, WHICH IS THE PRIMARY REASON WE WERE NOT MORE SEVERELY INJURED OR KILLED. WE WERE BOTH TAKEN TO...

I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 60 MPH, WHEN THE I HEARD A POP, I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND ROLLED OVER ONCE AND I LANDED UPSIDED DOWN. THERE WAS 2 OTHER PEOPLE BESIDES ME IN THE VEHICLE. WE WERE ALL WEARING ARE SEATBELTS AND NOTHING HAPPEN TO US. EVERYDAY I THANK GOD I DID NOT HAVE MY TWO GIRLS WITH ME AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. WE WERE NOT HURT, BUT WE WERE SURE TERRIFIED. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

WHILE CONSUMER WAS COMING BACK FROM THE AIRPORT SHE HEARD VIBRATING NOISES COMING FROM INSIDE OF VEHICLE . SHE GOT OUT OF VEHICLE TO CHECK THE TIRES. GOT BACK INTO VEHICLE, DECREASED SPEED, AND NOTICED MORE TREMBLING AND VIBRATING NOISES. SHE PROCEEDED TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER, AND NOTICED THAT TREAD CAME OFF PASSENGER'S TIRE. ALSO, THE TIRE TREAD DAMAGED METAL PART OF THE BUMPER. *AK

CAR MAKES A RATTLING NOISE WHEN DRIVEN. ALSO, VEHICLE HAS SCRATCHES/CUTS ON ITS BODY. *AK

VEHICLE VIBRATES WHILE DRIVING.

VEHICLE EXPERIENCES ONGOING VIBRATION AT HIGH SPEEDS.

HISSING/WHISTLING NOISE UNDER VEHICLE.

DRIVING 35 MPH ON GRAVEL ROAD, TURNING CORNER WHEN VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER TWICE. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER WEARING SEAT BELT. VEHICLE THEN FLIPPED BACK ONTO 4 WHEELS. VEHICLE TOWED TO RENTAL AGENCY DUE TO BEING TOTALED. DRIVER HAS BROKEN RIBS. *AK