1997 FORD EXPLORER Suspensionfront Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 TO 40 MPH OVER A ROAD BUMP, THE VEHICLE WOULD SEEM TO SHIFT TO THE LEFT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE FRONT STABILIZER BAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 189,000.

THE FRONT SUSPENSION BAR LINKS ARE BROKEN, THE FOG LIGHTS OF THE EXTERIOR DOES NOT WORK. *TR

VEHICLE LOST STEERING CONTROL WHILE DRIVING 35-40 MPH. THIS ALMOST CAUSED VEHICLE TO RUN DOWN AN EMBANKMENT. VEHICLE TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY THE SWAY BAR LINKS WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SWAY BAR FRACTURED. RECALL 00V402000 WAS ISSUED, HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK.....SWAY BAR BROKE IN JULY 2004. CAR FELT LIKE BOAT WHEN DRIVING. VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED IN JANUARY 2005. *AK

SWAY BAR LINK FAILURE.*AK

FRONT TIRE WEAR AND ALIGNMENT. *JB

TIRES WERE CUPPING AT 29,000 MILES IN SEPT. 01. DEALER REPLACED BOTH LOWER BALL JOINTS. NEW TIRES WERE INSTALLED AND VEHICLE ALIGNED. CUPPING HAS RETURNED 12 MO AND 8,000 MILES LATER. FORD REFUSES TO ADDRESS PROBLEM WITHOUT ME HAVING TO PAY A NON-REFUNDABLE "DIAGNOSTIC" CHARGE. TS

WHILE DRIVING STEERING WAS STIFF, AND CONSUMER COULD HEAR A GRINDING NOISE IN FRONT END OF VEHICLE. WHEN MAKING A TURN FELT LIKE WHEELS WERE GOING TO LOCK UP. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A FORD DEALER, AND THEY STATED THAT FRONT AND REAR SENSOR IN TRANSFER CASE HAD GONE BAD. CONSUMER STATED THAT ON MAY 4TH PROBLEM REOCCURRED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

SQUEAKING NOISE WOULD COME FROM FRONT SUSPENSION SYSTEM WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE BEEN TO THE DEALER ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND THE PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

VEHICLE NEVER TAKEN OFF ROAD/DEALER HAS NO IDEA WHY ALL FRONT END PARTS FAILED/DEALER STATES IT NEVER SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED WITH 1997 VEHICLE/ OTHER EXPOLOER OWNERS I HAVE TALKED WITH HAVE SIMILAR FRONT END PROBLEMS / I FEEL THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH DESIGN OR PARTS USED IN FRONT END AND ABS SYSTEM

WHILE TRAVELING AT 25 MPH OR LESS I HIT A SLIGHT BUMP AND HEARD A VERY LOAD BANG. THE FRONT LEFT DRIVERS SIDE OF THE VEHICLE ABRUPTLY DROPPED, THE VEHICLE SWERVED INTO THE OPPOSING LANE AND TEND TO ROLL. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND I QUICKLY STOPPED. THE FORD DEALER REPLACED THE TORSION BAR AND ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS FAILURE. HOWEVER THEY REFUSED TO COVER THE REPAIR COST. THE REPAIR COST ME $171.67. DUE TO THEIR REFUSAL TO COVER A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE AND OTHER MEDIA COVERAGE OF EXPLORER PROBLEMS, I SOLD THE VEHICLE THIS WEEK. *AK

THE PROBLEM PERSIST AND DE DEALERS NEVER FIXES THE PROBLEM IN MY VEHICLE WHAT I'VE TO DO TO RESOLVE THAT DELICATE PRBLEM. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

CALL RED HICKEY FOR IMPORTANT CAUSE FINDING OF TIRE WEAR IN SUSPENSION 828 253 4311 HE HAS INVESTIGATED IT ON MANY EXPLORERS. AS SOON AS YOU ROTATE YOUR TIRES THE TROUBLE STARTS. THE WEAR ON OUR VEHICLE AT BOTH FRONT IS NOT THE AIR PREASURE. HICKEY SAYS IT IS A FORD DESIGN FLAW KNOWN AND IGNORED FOR YEARS AND OVERLOOKED BY MOST SHOPS. HE IS IN THE ALLIGNMENT BUSINESS THE LAST 40 YEARS AND KNOWN AS AN EXPERT IN THE AREA FOR PROBLEMS OTHERS CAN'T FIX.*AK (DOT NUMBER: W2HLIPY TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)

VEHICLE LEANS TO THE LEFT FRONT. LEFT FRONT OF VEHICKLE IS LOWER THAN THE RIGHT SIDE. MAKES TURNING TO THE RIGHT TRICKY.*AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL ENGINE PROBLEMS, CONSUMER STATED THAT THE ENGINE SOUNDED LIKE NO OIL WAS IN IT WHEN STARTED, DEALER HAS REPLACED GASKETS, UPPER INTAKE CAM TENSIONER THREE TIMES, AND THERE WAS A COOLANT LEAK. LEFT FRONT DOOR HINGE REPLACED, IT WAS MAKING NOISE. POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED, IT WAS NOISY WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL. VANITY MIRROR ON DRIVER'S SIDE WOULD NOT CLOSE ALL THE WAY AND POPPED WHEN OPENED, DEALER REPLACED IT. THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WAS LOWER THAN THE LEFT FRONT. BRAKES WERE SQUEAKY, DEALER REPLACED FRONT BRAKE PADS AND TURNED ROTORS. A TAP NOISE WAS HEARD WHILE PLAYING CD'S. VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, WHILE GOING OVER BUMPS AND RAILROAD TRACKS, TRANSMISSION JUMPED OUT OF GEAR, DEALER INTALLED OVERHAUL KIT BECAUSE THE CLUTCH HAD BURNED. 4 WHEEL DRIVE WAS INOPERABLE AND MADE A RUBBING/GROAN NOISE, WHEN REVERSING AND PUTTING INTOR DRIVE, CONSUMER HEARD POPPING...

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

SERIOUS NOISE PROBLEM AT RIGHT FRONT END DURING ANY MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE. UNSURE IF THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND CURRENTLY CONCERNED TO TRAVEL ANY LENGTHY DISTANCE.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

CONSUMER IS COMPLAINING OF THE VIBRATION THAT IS OCCURRING WHEN STEERING, PROBLEMS COULD BE DUE TO THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS HT TIRES (P225 70 R15) OR THE SUSPENSION. *SLC

I BROUGHT THIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOUR SEPARATE TIMES BECAUSE I THOUGHT THE FRONT END WAS OUT OF ALIGNMENT. THEY CHARGED ME ALL FOUR TIMES AND IT TURNS OUT THE TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE. THEY ARE NOT THE RECALL TIRES BUT I HAVE SINCE REPLACED THEM (AT MY OWN COST) AND THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO BE RUNNING FINE NOW (LAST TWO WEEKS). I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY ALL THE WILDERNESS BRAND TIRES WERE NOT RECALLED? THEY CLEARLY ARE DEFECTIVE! IF IT WAS A DESIGN PROBLEM THEN WOULD'NT EVERY PLANT HAVE THE SAME DESIGN PROBLEM? IF IT IS A QUALITY CONTROL ISSUE THAN WOULD'NT THAT ALSO BE THE SAME PROBLEM AT OTHER PLANTS, COMPANIES LIKE FIRESTONE WRITE ONE SET OF PROCEDURES FOR SAFETY AND INSPECTIONS OF TIRES. THEY DON'T HAVE DIFFERENT INSPECTION PROCEDURES FOR EACH PLANT! THEY CERTAINLY DON'T HAVE SEPARATE PROCEDURES FOR THE SAME BRAND OF TIRES. YOU GUYS...

PE00020; TIRE TREAD SEPARATION: WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, TRUCK PULLED SEVERELY TO THE RIGHT. TIRE ON THE DRIVER'S RIGHT FRONT SIDE CONTINUED TO SHEAR ON THE INSIDE. TIRES WERE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS, SIZE P23575R15, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT SOLD WITH EXPLORER. TIRES WERE ALIGNED AND SWITCHED AROUND, BUT CONTINUED TO PULL TO RIGHT, AND SHEARED THE TIRES. *AK *ML

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 75MPH ON HIGHWAY AND VEHICLE WAS VIBRATING.ALSO, REAR RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE SEPARATED FROM WHEEL, AND DRIVER LOST CONTROL, AND VEHICLE ROLLED OVER AND LANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY. *AK

I HAVE A SITUATION WITH MY 1997 FORD EXPLORER 4X4. I RECENTLY TOOK IT IN TO HAVE AN ALIGNMENT DONE. I HAVE JUST PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FROM THE DEALER ABOVE. WHEN I TOOK IT TO GET ALIGNED THE MECHANIC TOLD ME I NEEDED TO BUY A CASTER ADJUSTER KIT. THIS AMAZES ME THAT FORD WOULDN'T HAVE GOOD ENOUGH ENGINEERS TO PUT THE CORRECT SIZE CASTER ADJUSTERS ON MY VEHICLE. THERE HAS BEEN NO AFTERMARKET WORK DONE TO IT .. IT IS ALL FORD FACTORY SUSPENSION, SO IT IS NOT MY FAULT, IT IS THEIRS. THIS SEEMS LIKE AN INJUSTICE THAT I HAVE TO BUY A $100 KIT BECAUSE FORD DIDN'T GET IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME. I HAVE TALKED TO 3 OTHER DEALERS, AND THEY DON'T ACT SURPRISED, ACTUALLY I WAS TOLD BY 2 OF THE OTHER DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENTS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. I WANT MY COMPLAINT...

WHEN TRAVELING AND UPON IDLING, CONSUMER NOTICED A HIGH PITCH SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE, BUT HAS NOTICED A SIMILAR PROBLEM ON SEVERAL OTHER EXPLORERS. *AK *ML

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FRONT END VIBRATION . PROBLEM OCCURRED AT TAKE OFF OR SLOW DOWN SPEED. BEEN INSPECTED BY THREE DIFFERENT DEALERS, AND INFORMED THAT NOTHING COULD BE FOUND. ALSO RESURFACED FRONT BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS. *AK

EXCESSIVE WEAR OF MICHELIN TIRES. VEHICLE WOULD MAKE A LOUD OF NOISE. TOOK TO DEALER & WAS INFORMED THE WHEEL, LEFT FRONT, WAS OUT OF ALIGNMENT REAL BAD & NEEDED REPLACING. THE INSIDE OF TIRE WAS WORN THROUGH TO THE STEEL BELTING, WHILE THE OUTSIDE SHOWED NO WEAR. THE FRONT END WAS NOT ALIGNED PROPERLY AT THE FACTORY. *AK

ON-GOING PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE VIBRATING IN FRONT, VIBRATION WOULD COMMENCE WHENEVER TAKING OFF FROM A STOP POSITION OR WHENEVER TRANSMISSION WOULD SHIFT GEAR. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE SHOP ON FIVE OCCASIONS,CONDITION STILL UNRESOLVED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALSO ILLUMINATED, HAD DEALER CHECK VEHICLE AND FOUND THE CV SOLENOID, FTP SENSOR AND THE O2 MONITOR WERE BAD. *JG

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

VEHICLE DRIFTS OR FLOATS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.MOST NOTICEABLE IN INCLEMENT WEATHER -IT FEELS AS IF THE FRONT END WAS GOING IN TWO DIRECTIONS AT ONCE. THEN IT PULLS TO RIGHT AND IF YOU OVERCORRECT IT, THEN IT WILL PULL TO LEFT DRAMATICALLY. SITUATION IS LIKE A BALANCING ACT BETWEEN OPPOSING POLES.THIS VEHICLE HAS HISTORY OF " FRONT END" PROBLEMS FROM ORIGINAL OWNERS AND MYSELF DATING BACK TO 10-23-1996. TSB # 98-3-11 ISSUED FEB 98, SPEAKS OF DRIFT/PULL WITH TIRE WEAR AS I HAVE NOW. PROBLEM CAN POSSIBLY RESULT IN HIGH SPEED ROLLOVER ON INETRSTATE DUE TO OPERATOR ATTEMPTING TO COMPENSATE FOR DRIFT/PULL. THE CORRECTION MAY BE SUCH AS TO CREATE A CATASTROPHIC SHIFT IN CENTER OF GRAVITY, CAUSING ROLLOVER. *AK

HEARD A BANG & WHEEL WAS ON ITS SIDE. LEFT FRONT SUSPENSION CAUSED WHEEL TO TILT WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 5MPH. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. MECHANIC SAID BOLT WAS LEFT OFF OR WAS MISSING FROM THE SUSPENSION. *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED MISALIGNMENT. IN ADDITION, REPLACED FUEL GAUGE SENDIN GUNIT/AIR BYPASS VALVE/ WATER PUMP/SEAT RELEASE/PASSENGER'S DOOR AND COMPUTER. *AK

FRONT END NOISE.

WHEN VEHICLE IS IDLING OR AT A STOP LIGHT IT VIBRATES. *AK