Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUSPENSION | |||||
| 030709 | 04/01/2003 | 10002680 | Repeat air suspension compressor drier failures. *tt | 09/10/2003 | |
| 15692 | 03/01/2002 | 636326 | Some vehicles may exhibit a squeak, snap, rattle, or clunk in the front end when turning or going over bumps. *tt | 11/07/2002 | |
| 13158 | 08/01/1999 | 6091971 | Some vehicles equipped with four wheel air suspension may require a ride height adjustment procedure be performed before setting alignment. *tt | 11/17/2000 | |
| 6930 | 09/01/1999 | 6090270 | Subject regarding vehicles with four wheel air suspension may require a ride height adjustment procedure performed before setting alignment. *tt | 03/13/2000 | |
| 99157 | 07/26/1999 | 608436 | Some vehicles may exhibit vibration, shimmy and body boom at speeds above 72 km/h (45 mph). *tt | 12/01/1999 | |
| 980310 | 04/01/1998 | 603504 | Experiencing vibration at cruise over 50 mph. *yc | 02/23/1999 | |
| SUSPENSION - FRONT | |||||
| 982741 | 04/01/1998 | 603594 | Some vehicles may exhibit a low speed ( under 35mph ) clicking noise. this may be caused by a cage nut rocking on the cottor pin for front axle half shaft spindle. *ak | 02/25/1999 | |
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - SPRINGS - AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM | |||||
| 0392 | 05/12/2003 | 10002775 | Repeat air suspension compressor drier failures. *tt | 09/17/2003 | |
| 16015 | 07/01/2002 | 636202 | Some vehicles with air suspension may exhibit an initial or repeat compressor dryer failure. *tt | 11/06/2002 | |
| 15651 | 02/01/2002 | 630704 | Some vehicles equipped with air suspension may exhibit an air leak and/or overnight bleed down of the air suspension. *tt | 04/19/2002 | |
| 15362 | 11/01/2001 | 630374 | Some vehicles may exhibit air suspension malfunction. *tt | 04/16/2002 | |
| 15528 | 01/01/2002 | 630059 | Subject regarding air suspension compressor quality. *yd | 04/12/2002 | |
| 14359 | 09/01/2000 | 618633 | Subject pertaining to air suspension leaks. *jb | 04/18/2001 | |
| 7823 | 01/01/2000 | 7823 | 612214 | Expedition and navigators equipped with four wheel air suspension may require a ride height adjustment procedure be performed, before setting alignment. when adjusting ride height reference the 1990 expedition and navigator workshop manual | 06/07/2000 |
| 98254 | 12/21/1998 | 603643 | Some vehicles equipped with air suspension may exhibit an intermittent check suspension lamp on and diagnostic trouble code (dtc) c1770 and/or c1845 illuminated. *yc | 03/01/1999 | |
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - STABILIZER BAR | |||||
| 981515 | 08/03/1998 | 609555 | A clunking noise heard from front endcaused by front stabilizer bar contacting the frame. *ak | 04/04/2000 | |
| SUSPENSION - REAR | |||||
| 050618 | 01/01/2005 | 05126 | 10016789 | Rear axle noise repair. *sc | 10/07/2005 |
| SUSPENSION - REAR - SPRINGS - AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM | |||||
| 0454 | 03/22/2004 | 10008539 | Air suspension compressor noise. *tt | 08/04/2004 | |
Investigations
| NHTSA ID | Manufacturer | Date open | Date close | Subject | Recall campaign | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUSPENSION | ||||||
| PE01022 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY | 07/02/2001 | 11/09/2001 | FRONT STABILIZER LINK | ||
| Alleged that one or both front stabilizer links break contributing to vehicle oversteer and excessive body roll. | ||||||
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| SUSPENSION | |||
| 10/24/2012 | 138008 | 1 | |
| While driving through a parking lot the drive shaft dropped out. it was later determined the rear lower trailing support arms on both the left and right side had rusted through causing them to break apart. this resulted in the rear axle shifting and the drive shaft snapping away from the rear axle. if this happened at a high speed this incident could have resulted in loss of life, severe injuries and property damage. *tr | |||
| 10/24/2012 | 138008 | ||
| While driving through a parking lot the drive shaft dropped out. it was later determined the the rear lower trailing support arms on both the left and right side had rusted through causing them to break apart. this resulted in the rear axle shifting and the drive shaft snapping away from the rear axle. if this happened at a high speed this incident could have resulted in loss of life, severe injuries and property damage. | |||
| 07/20/2011 | 174000 | ||
| Years ago when purchased the expedition i noticed the shift gear out of alignment. i try to contact the dealer as i heard that this was a recall; i was told that the recall is not for my vehicle. it has know been a few years since i bought the truck and i'm now experiencing what i've noticed many others with an expedition which is truck is not engaging into parking position and rolls. this is a concern to me as my drive way is on a slight up hill. this is an endangerment to the public, the issue happens unexpectedly. i would not like to see someone hurt because of a roll back or forward due to what is supposed to be a manufacture defect from the many cases i've read up on so far. ford dealer needs to address this issue as well as the coil and spark plug which blows out of engine and air suspension problems. this vehicle has cost me thousands in repair,its not worth and can not afford the present repairs. | |||
| 07/01/2011 | 120000 | ||
| Tl* the contact owns a 1998 ford expedition. the contact stated that the vehicle was parked when she noticed that there was a rusted hole in the rear suspension system. the vehicle was not taken to have the failure diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure and offered no assistance. the failure mileage was 120,000. | |||
| 07/01/2011 | 120000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 1998 ford expedition. the contact stated that the vehicle was parked when she noticed that there was a rusted hole in the rear suspension system. the vehicle was not taken to have the failure diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure and offered no assistance. the failure mileage was 120,000. kmj | |||
| 07/01/2011 | 120000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 1998 ford expedition. the contact stated that the vehicle was parked when she noticed that there was a hole rusted through the rear suspension system. the vehicle was not taken to have the failure diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure and offered no assistance. the failure mileage was 120,000. sm. | |||
| 11/02/2011 | 98000 | ||
| Tl* the contact owns a 1998 ford expedition. the contact stated that while accelerating from a complete stop, the vehicle exhibited a loud bang. the rear end of the vehicle suddenly collapsed and the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. the mechanic stated that the rear trailing arm was fractured due to extensive rust and corrosion. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the defect. the approximate failure mileage was 98,000. | |||
| 11/02/2011 | 98000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 1998 ford expedition. the contact stated that while accelerating from a complete stop, the vehicle exhibited a loud bang. the rear end of the vehicle suddenly collapsed and the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. the mechanic stated that the rear trailing arm was fractured due to extensive rust and corrosion. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the defect. the approximate failure mileage was 98,000. kmj | |||
| 11/02/2011 | 98000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 1998 ford expedition. the contact was driving approximately 20 mph approaching a traffic stop signal and while driving from the complete stop there was a loud bang outside of the vehicle. the rear end of the vehicle suddenly collapsed and the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who stated the rear trailing arm fractured due to extensive rust corrosion. the vehicle had not been repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the defect. the approximate failure mileage was 98,000. js | |||
| 09/08/2011 | |||
| Rear lower trailing arms rusted completely thru gas tank straps rusted thru | |||
| 10/10/2010 | 166805 | ||
| Tl *the contact owns a 1998 ford expedition. the contact stated that the check suspension lamp was illuminated. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the suspension control module and the air compressor were defective and needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred her to nhtsa. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileage was 166,805. | |||
| 10/10/2010 | 166805 | ||
| Tl - the contact owns a 1998 ford expedition. the contact state that the check suspension lamp was illuminated. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the suspension control module and the air compressor were defective and needed to be replace. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure who referred her to nhtsa. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileage was 166,805. pm | |||
| 08/15/2004 | 145000 | 3 | 06/09/2001 |
| While driving 55 mph or more vehicle commenced to lose steering control. vehicle had been to the dealer on two separate occasions. dealer replaced compressor pump twice, but problem recurred. *ak | |||
| 05/01/2003 | 0 | 09/30/2002 | |
| Auto tends to vibrate constantly at or between 65/75 mph have spent numerous times getting it aligned but doesn't seem to help problem. *jb | |||
| 06/19/2001 | 1 | ||
| While driving, consumer states that the vehicle began drifting, consumer then made a correction and lost control of the vehicle, one person was injured in the accident, shortly after the accident the dealer found some alignment problems. *slc | |||
| 08/23/1999 | 1 | 08/28/1998 | |
| Consumer states the vehicle was pulling to the right, dealer performed an alignment.*jb *yh | |||
| 08/31/2001 | 1 | 10/01/1997 | |
| Vehicle did a 180 degree turn on the right wing of an intersection, consumer loss control and vehicle crashed into a curb, the rear axle was broken with impact on the rear left wheel, the roads were wet at the time of occurance.*jb | |||
| 02/01/1999 | |||
| The vehicle easily loses contact with the road. rearend frequently breaks loose and causes the vehicle to fishtail or spin around. occurs at low speeds with passangers and gear. occurs most frequesntly on wet or snowy pavement, but also in gravel. occurs at speeds well below those of other vehicles that are driving on the same conditions with no problems. resulted in sever single car accident (reported above) on a freeway. luckily no injuries. does not corner well and rides extrmely rough, even for a truck. have reported problem to dealer with no positive outcome or response. dealer evasive when asked questions about why handling is so poor. felt they were hiding information about the suspension and handling of the vehicle. tires are in excellent conditon with less than 3/4 tread wear. *ak | |||
| 10/01/1998 | 8 | 09/01/1998 | |
| At highway speeds vehicle vibrates excessively. dealer has inspected vehicle several times, and has not been able to correct the problem. *ak | |||
| 07/31/1998 | |||
| Excessive suspension problems. cross member bolts for proper torque were not tight and the cross member and lower control arm bolts were out of the torque specs. | |||
| 09/01/1998 | |||
| My expedition has a strange vibration at 65 to 75 miles per hour. | |||
| 10/01/1998 | |||
| My wife and i were hit from a side impact vehicle into our ford expediton on monday november 16, 1998. one eye witness said that we rolled over 2 1/2 times and slid over 150 ft. upside down. we are thankful to be alive. most of the emergency personel believed that we were to be dead from this accident. since our accident, we have heard of other ford expeditions rolling during side impacts. just about 9 months ago, my wife and i saw an expedition upside down. we thought that it was just a fluke accident. during our stay in the emergency room, the state patrolman told us that he had seen several ford expeditions that had turned over during crashes. i believe that there may be others that we do not know about. it is my concern that you may use my report that may assist in your research to help save other lives. | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT | |||
| 76000 | 1 | ||
| While driving lugs nuts broke, causing the front right wheel to detach from the vehicle. *ak consumer was traveling at 70 mph when lugs and nuts broke in the front wheel. taken to dealership and put the same tire and rim. when consumer left dealership, lights failed to work and experienced shaking in front end. took vehicle to a different dealership, and found out that the front end was so bad. dealership replaced shims to align front end. the failure of lights was caused by the repair from the previous dealership because when they took the dash board apart, they poked a hole in the heater which burned the wire. *la | |||
| 02/05/2002 | 1 | 07/01/1998 | |
| I understand this problem is under investigation as of sept. 2001. as stated 14 incidents reported. i have a very hard time believing that i am number 15. this is ludicrous. this is a ford defect, just like the explorer and should be immediately recalled. i was extremely lucky, as it seems the others were also. i guess the nhtsa only really cares if there are fatalities involved. people saving people, who are they kidding. they probably have the ford motor co. in their pockets. please note that we leased this vehicle brand new and just recently purchased it.*ak | |||
| 01/19/2002 | 1 | 08/01/1998 | |
| No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak | |||
| 10/22/2001 | 10/01/1998 | ||
| Caused loss of controll of suv. *ak | |||
| 07/15/2000 | 1 | 03/01/1998 | |
| No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak | |||
| 01/05/2001 | 1 | 01/01/1998 | |
| Cost for repair $366.83 excluding tax. no safety defec tlisted. *ak | |||
| 09/14/2001 | 1 | 04/01/1999 | |
| The support bolt on the left side has broken and the right side is bent and ready to break. i do have photos. the seat belts are ripping in half at a point where the belt is inside the reel. both shoulder belts on the 3rd seat have ripped and the left side 2nd seat shoulder belt has ripped aprox. 3/4 of the way through. ford will not commit to replacement, will only evaluate. | |||
| 09/05/2001 | 2 | 12/01/1998 | |
| No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak | |||
| 06/12/2001 | 1 | 01/01/2000 | |
| There was no accident involved with this part failure as our mechanic caught the problem before we had an accident. our mechanic felt since this is the exact same part used in the explorer and mountaineer and has since been recalled, this one for the expedition should be recalled as well. this is the exact same part! ford was of no help and frankly ford nor the dealership cared about this problem. no safety defec tmentioned.*ak | |||
| 09/04/2001 | 1 | 10/01/1998 | |
| No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak | |||
| 05/01/2001 | |||
| Vehicle does not handle the way it should, it acts like it's out of alignment at all times. does not go where consumer steers it, and does not handle well. vehicle not taken to dealer yet. *ak | |||
| 11/01/1998 | |||
| Engine would have severe vibration. its very noticeable when vehicle is idling. problem is intermittent. took to dealership, and was informed that vibration was normal.*ak | |||
| 11/30/2000 | 1 | 01/01/2000 | |
| No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak | |||
| 1 | |||
| Connector between sway bar and lower control arm broke, causing handling of vehicle to become diffcult. *ak | |||
| 08/25/2000 | 1 | 07/01/1998 | |
| No summary | |||
| 09/30/2000 | 07/01/1998 | ||
| When making first sharp turn going 25 mph the right area makes a loud thump. *ak | |||
| Firestone wilderness/at, size p235/75r16,standard equipment on this truck were out of round , and wobbled. tread also separated under hot weather conditions. firestone was not contacted. consumer replaced at own expense. *ak | |||
| 1 | |||
| The vehicle drifts at highway speed due to flaw in the vehicle's front end design. yh | |||
| 1 | 11/01/1997 | ||
| Vehicle requires wheel alignment and tire balancing. | |||
| 08/05/1998 | 1 | 08/05/1998 | |
| Possible suspension failed caused vehicle to vibrate. yh | |||
| 2 | 12/28/1997 | ||
| Front end suspension out of alignment. yh | |||
| 04/04/1999 | |||
| Tires wore out on the right side due to not having cams for a front end alignment.consumer contacted dealer and manufacturer. *ak | |||
| 07/01/1998 | |||
| When driving along a curve at times steering control is briefly interrupted causing a sense of loss of control of the vehicle. i took it to the dealer and explained the problem, they indicated that my vehicle was out of alignment and that my tires needed rebalancing and rotation. i paid for the alignment and they through in the rebalancing and rotation, but the problem persists. *ak | |||
| 01/17/1999 | 1 | 02/01/1998 | |
| Problem was fixed by dealer with no questions asked. while at dealership was told that 2-f150 came in with same problem, whether that was true i do not know | |||
| 01/11/1999 | 1 | 06/01/1998 | |
| On 1/11/99 i went into our garage and noticed that the front left of our expedition was noticebly lower than normal. i looked under the vehicle and saw a bar broken and hanging there. | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM | |||
| 01/03/2002 | 1 | ||
| Front wheel control arm sheared off. consumer noticed a rattle. this hooks sway bar to lower control arm. contacted dealer who stated there were no recalls. ford stated warranty expired.*ak | |||
| 05/01/1998 | 0 | ||
| There is an excessive play in the control arm. driver hears a grinding noise everytime the steering wheel is turned to the left or right during any type of weather or speed. *ak | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM - LOWER ARM | |||
| 06/01/2000 | |||
| There was a clanking noise coming from the front of vehicle. upon examination, dealership found that front lower control arm was missing. please provide any additional information / attachments.*ak | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM - LOWER BALL JOINT | |||
| 03/09/2005 | 95000 | 1 | |
| When turning the steering wheel vehicle would make a noise. consumer took the vehicle to the dealer for inspection and it was discovered that lower ball joints broke.*ak | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - HUB | |||
| Rearview exterior mirror has a reflective material that has bubbled and worn, causing the material to reflect all light, shining in it. dealer says material has to be replaced. *ak | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - MACPHERSON STRUT | |||
| 10/01/1998 | 1 | 11/01/1997 | |
| Left front shock absorber and strut failed. yh | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - SHOCK ABSORBER | |||
| 10/01/1998 | 1 | 11/01/1997 | |
| Left front shock absorber and strut failed. yh | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - SPRINGS - AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM | |||
| 03/29/2005 | 13000 | 3 | |
| The consumer parked the vehicle for approximately 10 minutes, and upon her return, smoke was coming from under the hood. the consumer checked the vehicle, and the fire smoldered itself out. the vehicle was towed to the dealer, and the wire harness was burned. *ak the problem was caused by the cruise control sensor/switch. ford stated that there was nothing they could do. the air suspension control module malfunctioned also the indicator for the gear shift had broken and were replaced. *sc *jb | |||
| 07/11/2000 | 0 | ||
| While driving truck began to bounce uncontrolable, consumer was going to take it to be looked at and vehicle was about 2inches off the ground so consumer could not get underneath. consumer had problem fixed. a week ago consumer started hearing the same sound again, went back to mech, and they said consumer had air ride suspension problems. mechanic said it was a repeated problem that has not been recalled. *ak | |||
| 07/05/2000 | |||
| While driving front and rear suspension dropped which may have caused a loss of vehicle control and crash. dealer said they need to replace the front and rear air pump automated lever ride. please provide further information.*ak | |||
| 10/01/1998 | 1 | 07/31/1998 | |
| Air compressor for suspension failed. yh | |||
| 06/01/1998 | 1 | 05/01/1998 | |
| Suspensiion air line failed. yh | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - SPRINGS - TORSION BAR | |||
| 03/16/2005 | 2 | ||
| A loud knocking noise was heard coming from the rear of the vehicle. the right front collapsed onto the ground. vehicle was unable to be moved. driver had the vehicle towed to the dealer, and mechanic determined that the front springs torsion bar needed to be replaced. *ak | |||
| 04/11/2004 | 86000 | 1 | 10/22/2001 |
| Torsion bar on driver's side of 1998 expedition broke apart causing the left side of the vehicle to lean and cause extreme difficulty controlling the car. the break looks like it happened on a seam and rust was inside-clearly pointing to a breach in the manufacture of this part.*jb | |||
| 03/20/2004 | 86627 | 1 | |
| Front torsion bar sheared off while parked, causing the right front to dip aprox 6 inches. *jb | |||
| 34500 | 1 | ||
| While driving at 40 mph the torsion bar snapped which caused the right side of the vehicle to drop to the ground. *jb | |||
| 03/21/2003 | 88315 | 1 | 04/20/2001 |
| My 1998 ford expedition's right torsion bar just snapped in half on march 21, 2003. while sitting in my garage. i had just gotten home, right before it happened thank goodness. the car had to be towed. i was told this should not have happened. i was given the torsion bar as proof to offer ford that it is indeed a defect. however, ford really does not want to hear that. this is my problem and they will do nothing. ( i was told to hold on to my receipt, just in case there is a recall) i have found over 31 complaints about this problem and nothing is being done about it. what is it going to take to have this problem addressed? no one was hurt this time, but, what about the next. i can't stand the thought of putting my children and myself back in this car knowing the left one could break just as easy as the right one did and i could be on the highway this time. *jb | |||
| 03/02/2003 | 55000 | 1 | |
| The torsion bar broke.*jb | |||
| 02/21/2003 | 55000 | 2 | |
| Front driver's side torsion bar (called a spring by my mechanic) cracked in 2 pieces causing vehicle to lean to the left. about a month later the right side bar also cracked causing vehicle to lean to the right. vehicle is barely drivable in this condition.*jb | |||
| 02/11/2003 | 1 | ||
| The front torsion bar broke.*jb | |||
| 01/04/2002 | 94000 | 09/01/1998 | |
| The right torsion bar of my 1998 ford expedition cracked in march 2001. no injuries were reported. the garage that repaired my vehicle said that there was a distinct defect in the torsion bar and gave me the bar to offer proof to ford that this was indeed and manufacturer defect. the ford motor company was contacted and notified of this problem. the company dragged correspondance out with us over the next several months. no recall was enacted. on january 4, 2003 the left torsion bar went on my 1998 ford expedition as i was exiting the highway. the truck dropped about 12 inches on the left hand side and i slammed my head on the driver window. no serious injury resulted, but i could have lost control of the vehicle and caused serious injury to the others in the car as well as myself. | |||
| 05/15/2002 | 1 | 06/01/2000 | |
| Vehicle was parked when consumer heard alarm go off, she checked vehicle and found nothing wrong. 2 hours later, she noticed driver front had lowered, vehicle was towed to dealer. torsion bar had broken.*ak *scc | |||
| 01/26/2002 | 1 | 11/01/2097 | |
| While parked left front torsion bar snapped. this item not covered under extended warranty.*ak | |||
| 03/10/2002 | |||
| Front sway bar link on left side of vehicle broke while consumer was driving. contacted dealer, and the dealer was not willing to do anything.*ak | |||
| 02/06/2001 | 2 | ||
| While driving vehicle seemed to wander, vehicle was taken into dealer and consumer was informed that the front torsion bar broke, this has since happened again the second time consumer noticed that vehicle was leaning to the left, vehicle was taken back to dealer and consumer was informed that front torsion bar had broke again.*yh | |||
| 05/28/2001 | 1 | 02/01/1998 | |
| Vehicle was in garage when i opened drivers door and stood on running board to gain entry. when i put pressure down there was a pop noise and the left front corner of the vehicle dropped down. it was towed to the dealer and diagnosed as a left torsion bar failure. i had the dealer give me the broken part and it is obvious even to my untrained eye that it had a manufacturing flaw. the end of the torsion bar had a hole init where moisture collcted causing it to corrode and eventually fail by snaping in two. i called ford customer service and they didn't seem too concerned. their only response was a customer comment card in the mail. i think this could have been a catasrophic accident as this vehicle is designed to carry eight people and pull recreational vehicles. it worries me and my wife that it could happen again and i think some research on where this part was made and if it is made with inferior meterial or workmanship. how many more expeditions are out there with torsion bars that could snap at any time?. | |||
| 06/04/2001 | 1 | ||
| While driving over speed bump at 2 mph right front of vehicle dropped. dealer replaced broken right front torsion bar. *ak *slc | |||
| 02/06/2001 | 1 | 07/01/2000 | |
| Front torsion bar snapped under normal usage, dealer claims its not a warranty item. *ak | |||
| 03/05/2001 | 1 | 01/01/1998 | |
| Front left side torsion bar, (part # f75a-ama) snapped, while traveling at 40 mph, which had i been traveling at a greater speed, may have resulted in a roll over.*ak | |||
| Front torsion bar broke while vehicle was parked , causing suspension to collapse. ford has not been contacted. *ak | |||
| 11/09/2000 | |||
| While pulling up into driveway left front torsion bar sheared off. dealer notifed, and made repairs at consumer's cost. please feel free to provide any further details. *ak | |||
| 09/18/2000 | 1 | 08/01/1999 | |
| Torsion bar broke in half while car was sitting still. loud explosion noise rthen the car shifted to the right. car was disabled and need to be towed. notified ford and they would not pay for the repair due to out of warrenty condition.*ak | |||
| 05/09/2000 | 1 | 04/01/2000 | |
| While parked in the parking lot of my place of employment the right side torsion bar cracked completely in half. this dropped the right front of the vehicle about 6 inches rendering it undrivable. the vehicle was just purchased about 1 month ago used. it had not been driven off road or no holes or curbs were hit with the vehicle. the security guard called me to tell me that my vehicle alarm was going off. when i went out to check it looked like a flat tire until i got closer and saw the tire was ok. the vehicle was leaning down to the right front. the vehicle had been sitting for more than 9 hours when the torsion bar just broke for no apparent reason. *ak | |||
| 04/06/2000 | 1 | 07/01/1998 | |
| While traveling at 40 to 45 mph left front torsion bar broke away from the suspension, flying to the other side of the vehicle, and causing a blowout of the right tires. dealer has been contacted. *ak | |||
| 03/19/2000 | |||
| While traveling on the street at 25-35 mph front torsion bar broke, causing vehicle to dip down on one side. dealer notified, and repairs made at no cost to consumer, but, dealer refused to repair the other side. provide further details. *ak | |||
| 02/02/2000 | 1 | 03/01/1998 | |
| Torsion bar cracked while backing / turning from driveway, vehicle disabled and towed to dealer for in-warranty repairs. *ak | |||
| 09/15/1999 | |||
| Torsion bar cracked. vehicle in dealer shop for repairs due to warranty. *ak | |||
| 06/01/1999 | |||
| Defective torsion bar broke, causing a loss of vehicle control.the bar may enter the vehicle and injure the occupant. please provide further information. *ak | |||
| While driving torsion bar broke, causing the vehicle to become hard to steer to the left or right. dealer has fixed the vehicle. *ak | |||
| 05/25/1999 | 1 | 11/01/1997 | |
| Driver's side torsion bar broke near rear mount. *ak | |||
| 05/25/1999 | 1 | 11/01/1997 | |
| Driver's side torsion bar broke near rear mount. *ak | |||
| 02/13/1999 | 1 | ||
| Torsion bar on passenger's side corroded, causing vehicle to drop. also, experienced problems with the steering & braking. was informed by mechanic it was a bad casting. nothing happened on the driver's side. *ak | |||
| 03/14/1999 | |||
| The driver's side torsion bar cracked, causing the torsion bar to break and puncture the tire which resulted in loss of control. dealer replaced torsion bar and wheel. please provide further information and vin#. *ak | |||
| 01/18/1999 | 2 | 07/01/1998 | |
| Right front torsion bar broke while vehicle was parked in garage. had vehicle towed to dealership for repairs. was told they had some f-150 pickups with the same problem, but on the left side. i was told the parts were on national backorder, making me beleive that this was more than an isolated incident. took 2 1/2 weeks to get parts in. asked the dealer since it was occuring mostly on the left side of the other vehicles, i was wondering if they were going to replace the left side on mine. also. i was told only if it breaks. dealer fixed the vehicle on feb. 5, 1999. after driving for 2 days it broke again. dealer had to order another torsion bar and that was replaced on feb. 17,1999. i have numerous concerns with the safety of the vehicle since my wife is the primary driver and transports our children ages 10 and 3. what would have happened if she had been driving down the highway when the torsion bar failed. i've placed 3 calls to ford consumer relations, and received nothing, not even i'm very sorry, and no corespondence from them. as to the problem with the fuel pump, every time we got down to 1/4 of atank of gas or less and would come to a stop and step on the accelerator to proceed, the vehicle would stall in the middle of an intersection. brought it to the dealer on three occasions, only to be told they could not find anything wrong, and that we should drive the vehicle with more than 1/4 of a tank of gas. i asked them to test the fuel pump twice. then finally, on the third visit the replaced the fuel pump because they found the fuel sock on the pump was too short and pumping fuel when the tank was below 1/4 of a tank. *ak | |||
| Torsion bar broke on the driver's side, causing the vehicle to lean to the left side. please give any further details. *ak | |||
| Driver's side torsion bar broke, causing vehicle to lean to the left. cause unknown. please give any further details. *ak | |||
| 01/10/1998 | 1 | 12/01/1997 | |
| Front right torsion bar broke and fell off, causing vehicle to lean. dealer reports he has 5 ford vehicles with same problem, 3 pickups and 2 expeditions. ford has a factory backlog on this part. this impresses me that it is a common safety problem on these ford vehicles. *ak | |||
| 01/18/1999 | 1 | 01/01/1998 | |
| Right front torsion bar broke with no prior suspension abnormalities. *ak | |||
| 01/23/1999 | 1 | 08/01/1998 | |
| Torsion bar fracture causing the vehicle to limp forward and to the left. (approx. 6 inch drop). *ak | |||
| 01/15/1999 | 2 | 01/01/1998 | |
| Two front torsion bars failed by shearing, approximately 2 forward of the rear frame socket mounting. bars failed at different times, one week apart. left side failed first. dealer first advised that vehicle could be driven with care, later advised that vehicle should not be driven. broken rh side torsion bar observed during replacement of lh side torsion bar. vehicle now out of service 11 days continuously, dealer still has no parts available to replace lh side torsion bar. | |||
| 03/20/1998 | |||
| Torsion bar sheared off, causing the vehicle to lean to right,no warning. dealer replaced part. *ak | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - STABILIZER BAR | |||
| 12/21/2006 | 2 | 07/08/1998 | |
| About 3-4 years ago, the left stabilizer link broke. i noticed a loud thump when hitting bumps after pulling off the interstate. 2 weeks ago, we had a loud thump under the passenger side of the vehicle, this time the right stabilizer link was broke. this problem appears to have been investigated in the past here, however it seems to have been dismissed. this problem increases the roll of the front end when turning and can be dangerous in a quick turn to avoid an accident, etc. this vehicle is not used off road or where increased stresses are put on the suspension. this is the second occurrence on this vehicle. *jb | |||
| 08/23/2005 | 06/12/2002 | ||
| Truck was at dealer for maintenance. front suspension: stabilizer links were broken off completely. | |||
| 06/07/2005 | 1 | 03/15/2003 | |
| Dt: the front stablizer bar broke.*ak | |||
| 05/11/2004 | 120000 | 1 | |
| Stabilizer bar broke while backing out of the driveway. as a result, the front end collapsed to the ground. *ak | |||
| 03/19/2004 | 70000 | 09/18/2001 | |
| Bolt that holds front stabalizer to driver side wheel suspension assembly has either snapped or worked itself out and is missing. this causes a clunking sound when turning or travelling over bumps. concern over loss of front stability while turning. no impact or collision is responsible for this problem | |||
| 08/09/2003 | 2 | 06/15/1998 | |
| Went for tires on my 1998 ford expedition and was shown that both left and right front stabilizer links were missing. did a web search and saw many references to an investigation in 2001 into faulty stabilizer links on this model. was there a resolution? looking for reimbursement | |||
| 06/07/2003 | 1 | 08/28/2002 | |
| While vehicle was being serviced for an oil change, it was discovered that the stabilizer bar link bolts were missing from the front end. *tt | |||
| 06/02/2003 | 41875 | 1 | 03/28/1998 |
| I just had to replace the front stabilizer bar links on my 1998 expedition. my husband had to replace the links on his 1997 expedition during the past year, too. *ak | |||
| 04/26/2003 | 69600 | 1 | 11/11/1997 |
| Front right stabilizer link failed on my 1998 ford expedition. *nlm | |||
| 04/21/2003 | 1 | ||
| I have a 1998 ford expedition xlt, and i have found that both front stabilizer bar links are broken off. this is a major road hazard to my life and anyone else on the road. has this been recalled. i know someone that just had to replace theirs. if not for them i would be no wiser. *jb | |||
| 05/01/2001 | |||
| Consumer called complaining about having problems with swab bar links. also stated that because of that it causes the steering to not be the way that is supposed to be. dealer was contacted and have not found any problems. ts | |||
| 06/11/2002 | |||
| While getting other repairs done on vehicle technician pointed out that there was no stabilizer bar. dealer was notified. feel free to provide any further information.*ak | |||
| 03/01/2001 | 1 | ||
| Consumer stated the sway bar links failed on his vehicle. *jg | |||
| 04/10/2002 | |||
| Stabilizer bar broke while driving vehicle at about 35-40 mph.*ak | |||
| Vehicle would rock at any speed due to stabilizer bar bolts missing, and allowing bar to hang from vehicle. mechanic had bolts replaced. this problem also caused tires to wear uneven. *ak | |||
| 03/01/2001 | 1 | ||
| Consumer stated the sway bar links failed on his vehicle. *jg | |||
| 01/29/2002 | |||
| Vehicle would pull to the right. contacted dealer, and informed consumer that alignment might be off. problem was due to breaking of links on stablizer bar.*ak | |||
| 01/01/2001 | |||
| Front stabilizer bar fell and bolts fell off. dealer had to replace stabilizer bar link kit.*ak | |||
| 12/11/2001 | 02/01/2000 | ||
| Don't know when the stabilizer bars actually snapped, have been having shaking problems for months. had read a news article that the nhtsa was investigating other ford expedition stabilizer bar problems. felt you should know of this failure in suspension for your records and hopefully for a future ford recall. *ak | |||
| 11/23/2001 | 1 | ||
| Heard a noise coming from front end of vehicle after straightening out from a right hand turn. investigated and found the front stabilizer bar had a broken bolt on the right end link. could possibly be a hazard if swerving at high speeds.*ak | |||
| 11/10/2000 | |||
| Earlier in the month left side of front stabilizer broke while consumer was driving, and recently right side of stabilizer bar broke. contacted dealer. please provide more information. *ak | |||
| 11/07/2001 | 1 | 09/01/1998 | |
| I think that ford should pay for the cost of replacing stabilizer bar links,since no other vehicle that i know of has had this problem. i would think that if ford checked their repair record database they or you would find that a lot of these parts have been replaced but never reported to you people.*ak | |||
| 10/20/2001 | 1 | 10/01/1999 | |
| How can they put a plastic pin to hold stabilizer bar?*ak | |||
| 10/23/2001 | 1 | ||
| During inspecting of vehicle, noticed that right stabilizer bar link was broken, vehicle taken to independent repair shop. dealer/manufacturer were notified. *ak *yh | |||
| 04/01/2001 | 53 | 06/01/2000 | |
| I am writing in response to a news article i saw regarding nhtsa investigations of 1997 and 1998 ford expeditions, in particular failures of the front stabilizer bar links. i am creating this defect report because i believe my 1998 ford expedition may also suffer from a defect with the front stabilizer bar link. the stabilizer bar connects the left and right front wheel control arms and is supposed to help in controlling the pitch of the vehicle in turns. when driving, if i drive over the slightest of imperfections in a paved road, the front wheels start to vibrate and i have to slow down to regain control and to make the wheels ride correctly. also when exiting off a ramp from a highway (meaning a very gradually right exit, not a sharp right turn), there is a loud thumping sound and the wheels again seem to lose control and start to vibrate. likewise, when making a sharp left or right turn, there is a loud thumping sound and the wheel seem to lose control and start vibrating. i have to press the brakes to slow the vehicle in order to regain control. this is more than just a matter of getting my 'alignment fixed.' please note: i think this is a serious problem which needs more investigation by the nhtsa. this behavior started about april 2001. this has gradually gotten worse and worse. it now occurs every time i drive this ford expedition. this vehicle has never been in any type of accident to my knowledge. i believe this vehicle to be unsafe, yet i have no alternative mode of transportation to get to and from work. i now have to drive slowly to avoid any problems with losing control of the wheels. fyi - i called your office at 1-888-dash-2-dot and filed a complaint. but i wasn't quite sure the service representative got all my information. so i am opening this report as a follow-on. the previous dot image number is 715727, and i spoke to carol. you may contact me for further information. thank you.*ak (tiresize: p265/70r17) | |||
| 04/01/2001 | 0 | ||
| If vehicle hits a slight bump in road it will vibrate. consumer is responding to a current investigation concerning stabilizer bar. consumer has to slow down to get control of vehicle. *ak | |||
| 08/15/2001 | 3 | ||
| When making a sharp left turn stabilizer would go out. not able to control vehicle. would immediately need to straigten wheels when this happens. would not do it when making right turns. *ak | |||
| 03/01/1998 | |||
| Stabilizer light comes on intermittently, and there is a clicking sound from front of vehicle when making turns. vehicle taken to dealer 4-5 times, cannot find a problem.*ak | |||
| 06/15/2001 | |||
| Pe 01 022; front stabilizer link failure: front stabalizer bar broke during an oil change. vehicle was taken to dealer for inspection. dealer informed consumer that stabilizer bar was broken. repairs were made by the dealer. feel free to provide any further information on this matter.*ak | |||
| 03/15/2001 | 1 | 08/01/2000 | |
| Broken stabilizer link. appears to be corrosion related.*ak | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - WHEEL BEARING | |||
| 30000 | 1 | ||
| The front wheel bearing failed at a low mileage. *jb | |||
| SUSPENSION - REAR | |||
| 05/12/2011 | 160000 | ||
| It has come to my attention that the trailing arms on the rear axle are failing on the early model ford expeditions. upon inspection of my vehicle, i see where the failure is going to occur. the trailing arms are rotting out and will allow for the rear axle to twist out of place causing the drive shaft to become disloged and become a large run away compnent. these components on my vehicle will have to be replaced prior to this vehicle being placed back in service as this is a large safety concern. i am writing due to this defect being a safety isssue and is one which is virtually unknown by the consumer as it is not an inspectable item on any annual inspection. my internet reaserch has shown there are many of these vehicles where the issue is coming to light. there has not been a recall on these components at this point but should be examined very quickly due to the nature of the problem. i also find that ford has udated the components on later vehicles in materials as well as overall dimensions. my feeling is that something is known on some level and the infomation is not being passed along to the consumer. | |||
| 10/21/2007 | 1 | ||
| I took truck to napleton lincoln/mercury for repair because suspension airbags went down they checked the truck out told me it would be $1100 total because of bad pump and censors... about a year later the same airbags went down again i brought the truck back and it was determined that i need a another pump that was under warranty by them it went out again with no charge to me. less than a year's time the airbags went down again took it back to same shop they checked car out and charged an additional $800 for an airbag pump and labor. with the above warranty i feel that there should not have been a charge to me because all charges should been covered by them. *tr | |||
| 05/07/2008 | 133450 | 1 | |
| I noticed that my truck was leaning to the right side. i took it in to the dealership and they replace a connector in the lift system on april 30,2008. the lift system failed while driving. 05/06/08. since i purchased my 98,ford expedition back in 2000,the lift system has been a problem. it has been repaired several times since i 've had this truck. the truck was flatbed to the dealership. the suspension system on the truck never coded until the 8th of may at the shop. when the lift/suspension failed no indicator light never came on. the rear started to drop as i was driving it home. now i have to pay to get it convert to a coil system. *tr | |||
| 05/05/2002 | |||
| While changing the oil sway bar didn't have any rubber seals attached. rubber seal was attached to the a frame but not the sway bar. dealer was not notified. please add more information.*ak | |||
| 04/26/2002 | 1 | 05/15/1998 | |
| While driving, heard a noise under the truck as if vehicle ran over something. took vehicle to dealership, mechanic stated it was sway bar link that broke off. *ak check engine light is illuminated; dealer found hego sensors were not responding; bank 1 and 2 hego sensors were replaced. *tt | |||
| 04/03/2002 | 2 | 05/01/1998 | |
| Sway bar links broken. vehicle difficult to control, especially at highway speeds and in strong winds. this vehicle has not been off-road, nor has it been subjected to any unusual impacts. there are other similar incident reports on this site, and many reports of the same problem on web forums on the internet. given mileage and use, this does not seem like a normal failure, and the number of incidents seems to be growing. *ak | |||
| 01/08/2002 | 09/01/1997 | ||
| Sway bar connectors were broken on both sides. *ak | |||
| 09/04/2001 | 0 | ||
| Upon looking under vehicle noticed sway bar links broke, and vehicle swayed alot. consumer has contacted ford. please provide any further information.*ak | |||
| 11/23/2000 | 1 | 11/17/1997 | |
| Bolt in sway bar/ stablizer bar feel off, causing consumer to lose control when making sharp turns. *ak the left stabilizer link which broke while in motion, and the right stabilizer which was worn out were both replaced. *yh | |||
| 09/12/1997 | |||
| Rearend is making a grinding noise when decelerating. manufacturer refuses to replace rearend assembly. *ak *yc | |||
| The vehicle was bought to pull a horse trailer and weighed in at approximately 5500 pounds, owner's manual states it should be able to pull up to 7500 pounds. but when consumer was pulling the horse trailer, it fishtailed and almost flipped over because vehicle was too light in the back, and wobbled.this vehicle cannot pull horse trailer weighing about 5500 pounds. *ak | |||
| Owner states while drivng vehicle,there is noise in the rear end. dealers cannot duplicate problem. owner is very concerned of possible safety hazard. *ak | |||
| SUSPENSION - REAR - SHOCK ABSORBER | |||
| 1 | 12/04/1997 | ||
| Noise from rear suspension. *yc | |||
| SUSPENSION - REAR - SPRINGS - AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM | |||
| 01/01/2004 | 99 | 07/01/1998 | |
| Warning light for suspension system with air leveler on 4x4, suspension warning light comes on several times a week since the vehicle was new. vehicle never leveled with a load on the hitch. the air compressor runs a lot and became very noisy over the years. the vehicle rocks back and forth, in, right side goes up and down a few inches, will not level under load. never felt safe to tow anything which was the purpose for buying the vehicle. the dealer where i purchased the vehicle refuses to accept the vehicle for service. took in 3 - 4x a year for same and they refused to look at anything except the computer readout. presented list of related nhtsa reports and ford said they do not use them under warranty. purchased fords best extended warranty which will expire in 3 months and the problem still exists. compressor pump broke a week ago and they refuse to look at anything else. initial recommendation was to disconnect warning light. second recommendation was to sell vehicle if i didn't like it. no obligation for the 45,000.00 paid. cannot sell vehicle because the warning light comes on all the time and vehicle never level. *cb | |||
| SUSPENSION - REAR - SPRINGS - AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM - SPRINGS/BAGS | |||
| 09/05/2000 | 6 | 01/12/2000 | |
| The air suspension pump failed at least six times, and caused the rear suspension to fall from the vehicle onto the tires which made the vehicle difficult to control. the vehicle was taken to the dealer and the new air pump was removed and that is when the mechanic discovered there was a leak in the air bag. *ak *jb | |||