1999 FORD EXPLORER Suspensionfront Problems

WHEN WE TOOK DELIVERY OF THE 2000 EXPLORER, THE FIRESTONE TIRES WERE INFLATED TO 20PSI. WE DISCOVERED THIS AFTER AN 800 MILE TRIP. WHEN INFLATED TO 30 PSI, THE RIDE IS TERRBLE! WHEN WE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER ABOUT THE RIDE ON THE NEXT SERVICE TRIP, THEY GAVE US PAPER WORK STATING THE TIRE PRESSURE HAD BEEN ADJUSTED TO 30 PSI. THE RIDE WAS BETTTER ON THE 10 MILE TRIP HOME. CHECKING THE TIRE PRESSURE WHEN WE ARIVED HOME SHOWED THEM TO BE INFLATED TO 20 PSI. REINFLATING TO 30 PSI CAUSED THE BONE JARRING RIDE TO REOCCUR. BOTTOM LINE: FORD HAS A SUSPENSION PROBLEM THAT THEIR DEALERS ARE FIXING BY LOWERING TIRE PRESSURE TO 20 PSI. HOW MUCH OF THE FIRESTONE TIRE PROBLEM HAVE THE DEALERS CREATED TRYING TO SOVE CUSTOME RIDE COMPLAINTS?*AK

THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT (P235/75R15-105S) TIRES ARE CONTINUALLY IN NEED OF AIR, ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK, THE FRONT END SUSPENSION WAS OUT OF ALIGNMENT CAUSING THE TIRES TO WEAR UNEVENLY. *MJS

VEHICLE PULLED TO RIGHT AT ANY SPEED. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND WAS UNABLE TO FIND A SOLUTION. *AK *SLC

WHILE TRAVELING NOTICED THAT FRONT WHEEL MADE LOUD NOISE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

THE LEFT SIDE FRONT TIRE HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR, THE RIGHT SIDE FRONT TIRE HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN ALIGNED MANY TIMES TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER THE TIRES STILL CONTINUE THE WEAR PATTERN, NO NAME OR SIZE OF TIRE WAS GIVEN, THE PROBLEM COULD BE THE TIRES OR THE SUSPENSION. *SLC

THE LEFT SIDE FRONT TIRE HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR, THE RIGHT SIDE FRONT TIRE HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN ALIGNED MANY TIMES TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER THE TIRES STILL CONTINUE THE WEAR PATTERN, NO NAME OR SIZE OF TIRE WAS GIVEN, THE PROBLEM COULD BE THE TIRES OR THE SUSPENSION. *SLC

I SAW THE RECALL ON EARLIER VEHICLES, BUT THE FORD DLR ON THIS REQUEST REPLACED THE FRONT END SUSPENSION ON MY TRUCK AFTER CLAIMING THEY HAD SEEN A LOT OF PROBLEMS LIKE THIS AND FORD CALLED IT AN "ENGINEERING FLAW". I AM HOPING THE NHTSA WILL REVIEW THIS PROBLEM AND EXPAND IT'S RECALL.

THE FIRESTONE TIRES ON THE VEHICLE WERE REPLACED DUE TO RECALL, PRIOR TO RECALL REPLACEMENT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH ROAD HANDLING AND FRONT END ALIGNMENT,AFTER TIRE REPLACEMENT THE VEHICLE STILL HAD TROUBLE WITH THE FRONT END ALIGNMENTS, CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT THE PROBLEMS ARE NOT JUST RELATED TO THE TIRES BUT THE FRONT END SUSPENSION AS WELL. *MJS

FROM NEW WE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE CAR WANDERING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS, IT FEELS LIKE YOU HAVE LIMITED CONTROL OF THE CAR. ALSO THERE IS A VIBRATION ON THE STEERING AS IF THE WHEELS ARE UNBALANCED. THE PROBLEM ACTUALLY GOT WORSE AFTER THE TIRES WHERE REPLACED AS MY CAR WAS ONE OF THE CARS WHICH HAD THE RECALLED FIRESTONE TIRES ON IT. ITS BEEN TO THE DEALER ON 4 OCCASIONS AND THEY CANNOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM, THEY ARE NOW CALLING IN THE FORD ENGINEERS TO TRY AND SOLVE THE PROBLEM. WE HAVE ALSO HAD A SUSPENSION SQUEEK WHICH OCCURS WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING NORMALLY AND ALSO ON BUMPY ROADS.THE CAR HAS BEEN IN 4 TIMES AS WELL AND THE DEALERS HAVE JUST LUBED THE SUSPENSION, THE SQUEEK IS BACK AFTER A DAY OR SO, THE DEALERS ALSO CANNOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM, AND FIND SOME LOVELY EXCUSES AS TO WHY THERE...

VEHICLE STARTED PULLING RIGHT AFTER DEALER ROTATED TIRES. DEALER ALIGNED, ROTATED TIRES BACK AND INSTALLED CAMS. NO CHANGE. HORN DOES NOT HONK ON DEMAND WITHOUT EXCESSIVE PUSHING.

CAR PULLED LEFT AND RIGHT ON HIGHWAY. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/70R15 )

WHEN ACCELERATING A RUBBING NOISE WAS HEARD ON ACCELERA AS THE CAR LIFTED ON TAKE OFF. DEALER REPLACED A LOWER BUSHING, BUT NOISE IS BACK AGAIN.*AK

ON JULY 26, 2000 I TOOK MY EXPLORER TO SHEEHY FORD SPRINGFIELD IN REFERENCE TO A VIBRATING/HUMMING NOISE COMING FROM MY LEFT FRONT TIRE. THEY CHECKED AND STATED THAT EVERYTHING APPEARED NORMAL. HOWEVER, THE VIBRATING/HUMMING NOISE STILL EXISTS. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

PE00020, ORGINIAL EQUIPMENT WITH 1999 FORD EXPLORER, TIRE SIZE P23575R15. WHILE DRIVING THE FRONT END SHAKES VERY HARD, AND ON ALL TIRES THERE ARE LUMPS FORMING AND MAKING A WHISTLING NOISE. *AK THERE WAS A CONSTANT NOISE IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, DEALER HAS REPLACED THE FOLLOWING TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM: DRIVESAHFT, LOWER CONTROL ARMS, LEFT UPPER BALL JOINT, LOWER STEERING SHAFT ON TWO OCCASIONS, FRONT SHAFT, LOWER BALL JOINTS, OUTER TIE ROD ENDS, POWER STEERING PUMP AND RACK, LEFT UPPER BALL JOINT AND FINALLY THE ARM BUSHING THAT WAS HITTING THE FRAME. BRAKES WERE PULSATING, DEALER MACHINED THE FRONT ROTORS. THERE WAS A DELAY IN STARTING THE VEHICLE, DEALER STATED THIS WAS NORMAL. RADIO HAD NO DISPLAY LIGHTS, DEALER INSTALLED A NEW RADIO. THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT BURNT OUT, DEALER REPLACED THE BULB. THE PARKING BRAKE SOMETIMES WOULD NOT RELEASE, DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE CHECK...

THE FRONT END JUST STOPS MOVING FORWARD WHEN IT WANTS TO. IT HAS SO FAR ONLY HAPPENED WHILE TURNING AT SLOW SPEEDS. WHEN THIS OCCURS WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER WHERE THE VEHICLE IS GOING. HAS BEEN INTO THE DEALERSHIP (NOT THE ONE WE PURCHASED IT FROM) 3 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. THEY CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM SO NOTHING HAS BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. I AM CURRENTLY WAITING ON THE DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF THEY CAN FINALLY DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE MALFUNCTION. *AK

FIRST OCCURRENCE 2/17/1999 WHEN SHAKING AND VIBRATION OCCURRED WHEN YOU WERE ABOVE 45 MILES PER HOUR AND DEPRESSED THE BRAKES. MY FORD DEALERSHIP REPLACED THREE TIRES AND TURNED THE ROTORS. (DOES NOT STATE HOW MANY TRUED) SECOND OCCURRENCE 04/22/2000, WHEN THE SHAKING AND VIBRATION RETURNED. SINCE MY DEALERESHIP IS NOT OPENED ON SATURDAY'S, I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER FORD DEALERSHIP. AGAIN THEY TURNED THE ROTORS AND GAVE NO EXPLAINATION TO WHY WE ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. I AM VERY CONCERNCED OF THE SAFETY AND RELIABILITY OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM. HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD THIS PROBLEM? DO I NEED TO DO SOMETHING ELSE TO GET THIS CORRECTED FOR GOOD?

FIRST OCCURRE 2/17/1999 WHEN SHAKING AND VIBRATION OCCURED WHEN YOU WERE ABOVE 45 MILES PER HOUR AND DEPRESSED THE BRAKES. MY FORD DEALERSHIP REPLACED THREE TIRES AND TRUED THE ROTORS. (DOES NOT STATE HOW MANY TRUED) SECOND OCCURRE 04/22/2000, WHEN THE SHAKING AND VIBRATION RETURNED. SINCE MY DEALERESHIP IS NOT OPENED ON SATURDAY'S, I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER FORD DEALERSHIP. AGAIN THEY TURNED THE ROTORS AND GAVE NO EXPLAINATION TO WHY WE ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. I AM VERY CONCERNCED OF THE SAFETY AND RELIABILITY OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM. HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD THIS PROBLEM? DO I NEED TO DO SOMETHING ELSE TO GET THIS CORRECTED FOR GOOD?*AK

WHEN TRAVELING UNDER ANY NORMAL BRAKING CONDITIONS, CONSUMER NOTICED VEHICLE WAS PULLING TO THE RIGHT. ALSO, DOORS LOCKED WITHOUT OPERATING THE DOOR LOCKS. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WILL PULL TO THE RIGHT. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. PROBLEM WAS UNABLE TO BE CORRECTED, LATER RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK *ML

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 60 TO 70MPH FRONT WHEELS SHAKE AND VIBRATE. ALSO THE STEERING WHEEL JERKS OUT OF THE DRIVER'S HANDS. DLR HAS SEEN VEHICLE 4 TIMES, AND CANT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE AT 70 MPH IT BEGAN TO SHAKE VIGOROUSLY, IT SHOOK SO BADLY THAT WHEN TRYING TO LOOK OUT THE REAR VIEW MIRRIOR, DRIVER COULD NOT SEE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

ALTHOUGH THIS IS NOT A FALIURE OF A PART, AT LEAST NOT YET, THERE IS AN INTERMITTANT RUBBING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WHEN SLOWLY EXCELERATING. MY VEHICLE MAKES THIS NOISE AND MY FRIEND'S MAKES THE SAME NOISE. WE PURCHASED BOTH THESE VEHICLES AT THE SAME TIME. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICE THREE TIMES AND THE PROBLEM HAS YET TO BE CORRECTED AND FORD DOES NOT HAVE A SERVICE BULLITEN FOR THIS PROBLEM.