Investigations
| NHTSA ID | Manufacturer | Date open | Date close | Subject | Recall campaign | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM - LOWER BALL JOINT | ||||||
| PE09031 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY | 07/13/2009 | 11/19/2009 | FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINT | ||
| On july 13, 2009, the office of defects investigations (odi) opened preliminary evaluation pe09-031 to investigate allegations of front lower ball joint separation in model year (my) 2007 and 2008 ford edge and lincoln mkx vehicles.the investigation was based on three owner complaints alleging that the front lower ball joint separated and caused the front suspension to collapse while driving.odi also identified information related to the alleged defect in early warning data submitted by ford.preliminary analysis indicated that the failures were related to the pinch bolt used to secure the front lower ball joint stud to the steering knuckle.one complaint alleged that a crash occurred which resulted in a minor injury.however, no additional information could be obtained to support this claim.information provided by ford in response to odi's information request letter for pe09-031 indicate that in early my 2007 production there were some issues with the front lower control arm ball joint assembly process.the pinch bolts used were hand started and had the potential to cross thread and not achieve proper clamp load, potentially resulting in a loose joint.in november 2007, changes were implemented to chase and clean the first six threads of the bolt to provide easier hand starting of the nut and ensure good thread engagement before tightening. ford also identified ongoing concerns with the power transmission unit (ptu) seals and front suspension hydro-bushings on the subject vehicles, which both require disassembly of the front lower ball joint to repair.if the ball joint is not properly reassembled following such service, the joint may separate in later service.ford has provided additional instructions and new pinch bolts to the ptu repair kit to improve the joint reassembly process. odi's analysis of failure data identified 31 incidents of joint separation (with 12 specifically stating that they occurred while driving).repair records for these 31 vehicles shows that 28 involve separation of the joint on the passenger (right) side, which is the side that must be disassembled for ptu service.twenty-three of these were found to have been previously disassembled for control arm bushing service, ptu service or other transmission repair. the eight claims that did not involve prior service repairs requiring joint disassembly all occurred very early in vehicle life, indicating that it is unlikely that any joints manufactured with loose pinch bolts are still in service.all of these joints failed within 6 months in service and 10,000 miles (the maximum failure mileage is 8,097 miles).there haven't been any such failures (i.e., not involving prior service/disassembly) since december 2008.the rate for incidents that did not occur following service and, thus, may be related to the manufacturing process issues identified by ford is very low (2.5 per 100,000 vehicles) and these incidents occurred very early in the life of the vehicles and are not showing a continuing failure trend.accordingly, this investigation has been closed. the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by nhtsa that a safety-related defect does not exist. the agency will continue to monitor complaints and other information relating to the alleged defect in the subject vehicles and take further action in the future if warranted. | ||||||
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| SUSPENSION | |||
| 09/03/2012 | 48000 | 1 | |
| I was going approximately 15 mph while turning right when i heard a clunking noise and the right side of my car dipped more than it should. the right wheel (looking out from the vehicle) seemed to give when it turned. i took it into a body shop and they said that the ball joint was loose and needed replacement. at the time of the incident the mileage on my car was approximately 48k. i have only highway miles and do not do any off-roading. the clunking noise and giveof the right ball joint continues to happen and a floating sensation is caused, which feels like the car will tip over when making right turns on the highway at more than 30 mph. *tr | |||
| 09/03/2012 | 48000 | ||
| I was going approximately 15 mph while turning right when i heard a clunking noise and the right side of my car dipped more than it should. the right wheel (looking out from the vehicle) seemed to give when it turned. i took it into a body shop and they said that that the ball joint was loose and needed replacement. at the time of the incident the mileage on my car was approximately 48k. i have only highway miles and do not do any off-roading. the clunking noise and giveof the right ball joint continues to happen and a floating sensation is caused, which feels like the car will tip over when making right turns on the highway at more than 30 mph. | |||
| 11/15/2011 | 55000 | ||
| Tl* the contact owns a 2007 ford edge. while driving approximately 25 mph, a loud noise emitted from the rear of the vehicle. the contact stated the failure was contributed to both rear wheel bearings. the contact planned to take the vehcile to an authorized dealer for repair. the manufacturer was notified of the problem. the approximate failure mileage was 55,000 . | |||
| 11/15/2011 | 55000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2007 ford edge. while driving approximately 25 mph, a loud noise emitted from the rear of the vehicle. the contact stated the failure was contributed to both rear wheel bearings. the contact planned to take the vehcile to an authorized dealer for repair. the manufacturer was notified of the problem. the approximate failure mileage was 55,000 . kmj | |||
| 11/15/2011 | 55000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2007 ford edge. while driving approximately 25 mph, a loud noise emitted from the rear of the vehicle. the contact stated the failure was contributed to both rear wheel bearings. the contact planned to take the vehcile to an authorized dealer for repair. the manufacturer was notified of the problem. the approximate failure mileage was 55,000 . js | |||
| 08/10/2011 | 36002 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2007 ford edge. the contact was driving 25 mph when a noise was heard from the rear tires. the contact took the vehicle to the dealer where the dealer advised that the wheel bearings were burned and needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 36,002. the vin was not available. kmj | |||
| 08/10/2011 | 36002 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2007 ford edge. the contact stated while driving 25 mph the contact heard a noise from the rear tires. the contact took the vehicle to the dealer and the dealer stated the wheel bearings were burnt and needed to be replaced. the dealer did not replaced the bearings. the contact stated the vehicle was unsafe to drive. the failure mileage was 36,002. jo | |||
| 08/22/2011 | 69000 | ||
| Tl* the contact owns a 2007 ford edge. the contact stated that the rear passenger side hub assembly would exhibit a wining noise when driving 25 mph. the rear bearings had also failed. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated that the rear hub assembly needed to be replaced and if the hub was replaced, the tension bar would also have to be replaced. they dealer advised that they would cover the costs of the rear hub assembly repairs but not for the tension bar repairs. the manufacturer was notified of the failure and offered no further assistance. the failure mileage was 69,000. | |||
| 08/22/2011 | 69000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2007 ford edge. the contact stated that the rear passenger side hub assembly would exhibit a wining noise when driving 25 mph. the rear bearings had also failed. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated that the rear hub assembly needed to be replaced and if the hub was replaced, the tension bar would also have to be replaced. they dealer advised that they would cover the costs of the rear hub assembly repairs but not for the tension bar repairs. the manufacturer was notified of the failure and offered no further assistance. the failure mileage was 69,000. kmj | |||
| 08/22/2011 | 69000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2007 ford edge. the contact stated the right rear hub assembly whines when driving at 25 mph. the rear bearings that is inside the rear hub assembly has also failed. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated the rear hub assembly needed to be replaced. if the hub was replaced the tension bar has to be replaced also. they will pay for the rear hub assembly but not the tension bar. the manufacturer was notified and offered no other assistance. the failure mileage was 69,000. mw | |||
| SUSPENSION - REAR | |||
| 09/18/2010 | 22000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2007 ford edge. while driving approximately 35 mph, a loud humming noise emitted from the rear end of the vehicle. the contact continued to drive. the vehicle was taken an independent mechanic who informed the hub bearing assembly would need to be replaced. as a result of the defect, the vehicle required an alignment and the rear passenger's tire had prematurely worn. the manufacturer was notified and they advised the service warranty expired. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 22,000. the vin was unavailable. kmj | |||
| 09/18/2010 | 22000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2007 ford edge. while driving approximately 35 mph, a loud humming noise emitted from the rear end of the vehicle. the contact continued to drive. the vehicle was taken an independent mechanic who informed the hub bearing assembly would need to be replaced. as a result of the defect, the vehicle required an alignment and the rear passenger's tire had prematurely worn. the manufacturer was notified and they advised the service warranty expired. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 22,000. the vin was unavailable. js | |||