Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STEERING | |||||
| 0427 | 10/07/2005 | 051715 | 10018061 | Steering shudder during low speed maneuvers - 4.0l engine. *tt | 12/14/2005 |
| 031912 | 02/09/2004 | 0427 | 10007369 | Steering shudder felt when turning, driving at slow speeds or at stop. *tt | 06/16/2004 |
| 17254 | 10/01/2003 | 10004908 | Clicking/popping noise from upper steering column area when turning. 2004 e series and explorer sport trac also included. *tt | 01/14/2004 | |
| 031912 | 09/29/2003 | 012501 | 10004041 | Steering wheel shudder during low speed turning maneuvers. 2004 explorer sport trac included. *tt | 11/14/2003 |
| 15769 | 04/01/2002 | 637460 | Some vehicles may exhibit a condition of steering wheel leather peeling. *tt | 11/26/2002 | |
| 16040 | 07/01/2002 | 636235 | Experiencing a clicking / popping noise from the upper steering column area when turning the steering wheel. *tt | 11/06/2002 | |
Investigations
| NHTSA ID | Manufacturer | Date open | Date close | Subject | Recall campaign | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STEERING | ||||||
| PE09020 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY | 04/21/2009 | 08/19/2009 | VEHICLE ROLLAWAY ALLEGATIONS | ||
| In response to an information request (ir) letter sent by the office of defects investigation (odi), ford stated consumer reports of higher than expected efforts when shifting into and out of park could be a result of a groove being worn into the swing arm ramp of the steering column. the swing arm is a component bolted to the steering column that assists in shifting through the transmission gears.an engineering evaluation conducted by ford of returned steering columns found the groove could be created over time if consumer shift more quickly from the drive or reverse to park than the brake shift interlock (bsi) solenoid pin retracts after the brake pedal is applied. in november of 2004, ford released a redesigned bsi solenoid with a shorter pin retracting time as a serviceable component. ford has noted the shorter retraction time significantly lessens the likelihood of bsi solenoid pin to swing arm contact even with rapid consumer shifts.ford also issued a technical service bulletin, tsb 04-22-12, to instruct service technicians on the proper diagnosis and vehicle repair. reviewing complaints to odi and data submitted by ford, odi has identified 200 alleged incidents of unintended vehicle movement after consumers believe they have shifted the vehicle into park, resulting in 85 alleged crashes and 32 alleged injuries.in addition to the reports of alleged incidents of unintended vehicle movement, odi has also identified 883 reports of consumers alleging difficulty or the inability to shift the vehicle into park.this preliminary evaluation has been upgraded to an engineering analysis (ea09-013) to further assess the scope, frequency and risk to motor vehicle safety of the alleged defect in the subject vehicles. | ||||||
| STEERING - COLUMN | ||||||
| PE09020 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY | 04/21/2009 | 08/19/2009 | VEHICLE ROLLAWAY ALLEGATIONS | ||
| In response to an information request (ir) letter sent by the office of defects investigation (odi), ford stated consumer reports of higher than expected efforts when shifting into and out of park could be a result of a groove being worn into the swing arm ramp of the steering column. the swing arm is a component bolted to the steering column that assists in shifting through the transmission gears.an engineering evaluation conducted by ford of returned steering columns found the groove could be created over time if consumer shift more quickly from the drive or reverse to park than the brake shift interlock (bsi) solenoid pin retracts after the brake pedal is applied. in november of 2004, ford released a redesigned bsi solenoid with a shorter pin retracting time as a serviceable component. ford has noted the shorter retraction time significantly lessens the likelihood of bsi solenoid pin to swing arm contact even with rapid consumer shifts.ford also issued a technical service bulletin, tsb 04-22-12, to instruct service technicians on the proper diagnosis and vehicle repair. reviewing complaints to odi and data submitted by ford, odi has identified 200 alleged incidents of unintended vehicle movement after consumers believe they have shifted the vehicle into park, resulting in 85 alleged crashes and 32 alleged injuries.in addition to the reports of alleged incidents of unintended vehicle movement, odi has also identified 883 reports of consumers alleging difficulty or the inability to shift the vehicle into park.this preliminary evaluation has been upgraded to an engineering analysis (ea09-013) to further assess the scope, frequency and risk to motor vehicle safety of the alleged defect in the subject vehicles. | ||||||
| STEERING - COLUMN LOCKING - ANTI-THEFT DEVICE | ||||||
| PE09020 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY | 04/21/2009 | 08/19/2009 | VEHICLE ROLLAWAY ALLEGATIONS | ||
| In response to an information request (ir) letter sent by the office of defects investigation (odi), ford stated consumer reports of higher than expected efforts when shifting into and out of park could be a result of a groove being worn into the swing arm ramp of the steering column. the swing arm is a component bolted to the steering column that assists in shifting through the transmission gears.an engineering evaluation conducted by ford of returned steering columns found the groove could be created over time if consumer shift more quickly from the drive or reverse to park than the brake shift interlock (bsi) solenoid pin retracts after the brake pedal is applied. in november of 2004, ford released a redesigned bsi solenoid with a shorter pin retracting time as a serviceable component. ford has noted the shorter retraction time significantly lessens the likelihood of bsi solenoid pin to swing arm contact even with rapid consumer shifts.ford also issued a technical service bulletin, tsb 04-22-12, to instruct service technicians on the proper diagnosis and vehicle repair. reviewing complaints to odi and data submitted by ford, odi has identified 200 alleged incidents of unintended vehicle movement after consumers believe they have shifted the vehicle into park, resulting in 85 alleged crashes and 32 alleged injuries.in addition to the reports of alleged incidents of unintended vehicle movement, odi has also identified 883 reports of consumers alleging difficulty or the inability to shift the vehicle into park.this preliminary evaluation has been upgraded to an engineering analysis (ea09-013) to further assess the scope, frequency and risk to motor vehicle safety of the alleged defect in the subject vehicles. | ||||||
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| STEERING | |||
| 12/31/2012 | 138156 | 1 | |
| When trying to shift car from drive into park, the gear shit lever broke off inside the steering column and fell of in my hand. the car was still in drive and i turned off the ignition. the key could not be removed and the car was towed to the dealership. to repair this linkage part, the entire steering column had to be replaced, at a cost of over $1800. i called ford to report the incident and was told that they have no record of something like this ever happening before. they said they would add the incident to their database. i told them that i felt this was a serious safety issue and that this needs to be referred to engineering or quality assurance for investigation before someone gets injured or killed. i got the impression that ford was not going to do anything with this information. *tr | |||
| 12/31/2012 | 138156 | ||
| When trying to shift car from drive into park, the gear shit lever broke off inside the steering column and fell of in my hand. the car was still in drive and i turned off the ignition. the key could not be removed and the car was towed to the dealership. to repair this linkage part, the entire steering column had to be replaced, at a cost of over $1800. i called ford to report the incident and was told that they have no record of something like this ever happening before. they said they would add the incident to their database. i told them that i felt this was a serious safety issue and that this needs to be referred to engineering or quality assurance for investigation before someone gets injured or killed. i got the impression that ford was not going to do anything with this information. | |||
| 10/10/2008 | 92000 | 1 | |
| I have a ford explorer sport 2 dr. .. i have noticed that it likes to slide alot esp. around corners. i actually went around a corner about not even 10 miles per hour and lost control luckily cars on other side stopped ahead when they saw this. i was not hurt but almost hit a tree and telephone pole.. also my hinges broke on rear window left side and they said mine was not covered under recall!!! out of pocket expense around 140.00. *tr | |||
| 10/20/2006 | 25000 | 7 | 02/02/2002 |
| Sliding problem exists in the 2002 ford explorer sport, 2 door, even though i drove 30-35 miles sometimes. when sliding the steering was out of control. fortunately, no car followed me closely when sliding happened.*ak | |||
| STEERING - COLUMN LOCKING - ANTI-THEFT DEVICE | |||
| 01/09/2004 | 1 | 05/06/2002 | |
| Steering wheel locked while driving on 495 capitol beltway, causing vehicle to loose control and collide into guardrail and utility pole. collision causing substantial damage to vehicle and injury to driver. *la | |||
| STEERING - WHEEL AND HANDLE BAR | |||
| 09/04/2011 | 90500 | ||
| I just purchased a used 2002 ford explorer sport on 08/06/2011 so that i had a vehicle that i could take the kids on camping trips. on 09/04/2011 on our way to daytona beach i noticed the car was pushing and swerving in both directions, i had just put brand new tires on it and replaced both the upper control arms and all 4 ball joints and had an alignment done, i thought that it's a bigger vehicle than what i'm used to and had been a slightly windy. on the way home on monday 09/05/2011 it was even worse, i could feel the body rolling the car pushing ect.. i pulled over and checked the front suspension. there appeared to be nothing wrong. i crawled home a nervous wreck. when we unlaode the car at home i noticed the car was sagging in the left rear.i crawled under the vechile. i noticed 2 big issuses, 1st the coil spring is broken were lucky it didn't pop out and shred a tire, and 2nd all of the body mount bushings are completely crumbling or just plain gone. talk about dangerous. i went online and there seems to be thousands of complaints for the 2002 explorers on blogs and ford forums and tons of sites for complaints for automobiles for all models of this vehicle for the exact same things. i have also seen numerous other complaints on this vehicle for other equipment failures one of them being a whining noise coming from the rearend of the car which i thought was the tires, but apparently it is an improperly engineered differential that ford will not fix or admit that there is a problem with although there are a couple of technical bulletins out on it. they are just lucky that my children were not injured. how dare they not accept any responsibility to take care of these vehicles that they engineered and sold, used or not. if you manufacture an unsafe vechile and a defective vechile you shold be responsible. is it gonna take a father and his children being killed. | |||