Bulletins


BulletinBulletin dateReplacement BulletinItem no.SummaryAdded
SUSPENSION
1569203/01/2002636326Some vehicles may exhibit a squeak, snap, rattle, or clunk in the front end when turning or going over bumps. *tt11/07/2002
0025812/11/2000616825Some vehicles may exhibit a clunking sound on some svt lightning vehcles during parking maneuvers. *tt03/13/2001
SUSPENSION - FRONT
1550212/01/2001630612Concerns with pop/clunk/click noise from the front suspension when making low-speed turns in forward or reverse gears. *tt04/18/2002
SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM - LOWER ARM
1402901/01/2000620494Exhibiting a popping noise from the lower control arm. *tt08/13/2001
SUSPENSION - REAR
05061801/01/20050512610016789Rear axle noise repair. *sc10/07/2005
008404/17/2000613578Concerns with a chattering noise from the rear axle heard when turning or cornerning. **mr07/21/2000
SUSPENSION - REAR - SPRINGS - LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY
1777705/01/200410008552Rear leaf spring noise. *tt08/04/2004

Consumer Complaints


Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
SUSPENSION
01/03/20051
 2000 ford f150 ball joints and tie rod ends failed.***no answer required***. *mr the consumer did not give specifics about the accident. *jb
06/16/2003107/26/2000
 When a bump or pothole was hit in the road, the vehicle did not steer smooth . the dealer inspected vehicle several times and could not duplicate or correct the problem.*ak ph. the consumer also stated the vehicle drifted to the left if the steering wheel was relaxed at anytime. tires and wheels were installed, however there was no change. *jb
01/01/2002608/10/2000
 Vehicle continues to slip out of alingnment when driven over bumps and potholes dealer has realinged vehicle six times. *ak lower a arm moves and wears out tires with pull. *yh
03/16/2001
 Vehicle would vibrate while driving at 40-60 mph. vehicle been to dealer's shop on five occasion, various repairs were done and parts replaced, problem still reoccurring. feel free to provide any further information. *ak
01/15/2000
 Vehicle experiencing severe problem with wandering across the road from 30 mph. more vehicle accelerates harder it becomes to control. vehicle been in dealer shop on four occasions, and problem still goes unresolved.*ak
03/29/2000
 Steering wheel vibrates when turning left or right. *ak
01/01/2000
 Truck has vibration that i feel during acceleration and at cruise. its worse 60-70 mph and when towing .the dealer sats its a normal vibration. *ak
SUSPENSION - FRONT
05/02/2002
 Due to front end misalignment front tires had worn out. when contacting dealer , dealer stated that it was a front end design defect, but were not willing to do anything.*ak
07/01/20010
 Front end shakes and vibrates. dealership is aware of problem. *ak
01/01/2000
 Entire truck starts to shake at 70 mph. tires have been checked three times. ford says all pickups shake at speed with no load. chevrolet and dodge both say their trucks don't shake unless there is a defective tire or suspension part.*ak
07/01/2000706/01/2000
 Truck wanders as if it has a mind of its own. with the steering wheel steady it wanders from left to right . we have had it in the shop 7 times since purchased and they align it each time with no change. dealer told me at the time of purchase that he would take it back if i wasn't satisfied, but has now denied saying it.we have been through the review board process.they offered a replacement truck, but i was so afraid of getting another one that i just asked for a refund, which they refused. the gentleman that they sent to drive with me said that an alignment would not fix the problem, that it was a design problem. he said that it would be even worse if we had a heavy load in it. in his report however, he told the review board that all it needed was an alignment .the only time i drive the truck now is in an emergency situation as it is too stressful to drive on a regular basis..*ak
10/28/200010/01/2000
 Problem is constant. front end wanders, hard to keep straight. *ak
01/30/2000101/01/2000
 Severe vibration at about 65 mph on smooth, concrete highway. *ak (dot number: none tiresize: p235/70r16)
09/01/1999
 Vibration in steering @ 45-55 mph. new tires, balance & alignment didn't correct. inner side of l. front tire cupped. dealer claims vibration normal for a truck but problem not present in 3 identical trucks. dealer given 4 chances to fix.*ak
1
 Consumer experienced severe bouncing in the front end of the vehicle intermittently while driving at highway speeds, no fix has been done to remedy the problem. nlm
08/18/2000810/01/1999
 Since i purchased the front end would not stay aligned and the engine would lose power the dealership would not fix it and ford motor company did not care i put up with this for a year until ford gave me $3,5000 down for a new vehicle and i no longer have the vin indicated i traded the lemon and they ripped me off during purchase. *ak
07/24/2000403/01/2000
 Vibriation in the steering wheel at 65 mph, took to dealer at 300 miles, again at 2200 miles to another dealer again at approx 2900miles with constant vibriation in steering wheel at 70mph, ford engineer test drove vehicle and said all fords with a 5.4 engine had vibriation in the steering wheel. when i was orginially told this i thought i was getting a snow job, after having the tires balanced and rotated the vibriation was worst then it was when i first took it in. i drove another new f-150 and it vibriated worst then mine does. i do not think ford should be able to put a product out knowing that it has a vibriation built into the vehicle as from what the ford engineer said i had better get use to it and i do not think this is right at all. i also think ford should fix these vehicle or give me back the $24,000.00 i spent on it. i snet a letter to ford on 29 july 2000 and they have not answered it as of today. thanks t at all at
 While driving 60 mph with the cruise control activated, vehicle started to shake violently. cause unknown. dealer cannot identify the problem. please give any further details. *ak
SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM
01/02/2002
 Consumer states that every six months the tires are wearing. took to dealer and the dealer stated there is a problem with ball joints and can't align. nlm
08/02/20021
 Ball joints have become real loose, when getting ball joints checked, they can break at any time. dealer does not want to pay for work on vehicle.*ak *slc
05/26/2002112/01/2099
 This is not a serviceablee part as they no longer put a grease fitting on the original equipment. on the replacement part there is a grease fitting. this should a major safety issue. had i been going down the highway at 70 mph, instead of backing into a parking space at 2mph, the possible damage, and death or serious injury could have been much different. check arround, this is not an isolated incident. these ball joints have a major design defect and should be recalled.*ak
SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM - LOWER ARM
112/12/1999
 The lower control arm failed and the consumer heard thumping sound coming from suspension. nlm
 Bolt on the driver's side lower control arm is loose because the whole is to big for the bolt, causing the vehicle to sway. dealer has been notified.*ak
SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM - LOWER BALL JOINT
06/10/200555500212/18/2000
 Dt: consumer took the vehicle to dealer to be aligned, and was told the front ball joints were out and were replaced. took vehicle o another service department and was told that rack and pinion wore out in the steering box. consumer had problems with the steering and heard a popping and cracking.*ak
04/03/20051
 Vehicle was going through a drive through driver noticed that there was no ability to steer the vehicle. consumer got out of the vehicle, and noticed that the left tie rod and lower ball joints broke.*ak
01/01/2005250001
 The vehicle's lower ball joints were defective. *nm the consumer was informed that this was a common problem in this vehicle. *sc the consumer requested information on whether or not his problem should constitute a recall. *tc *jb
02/17/200460000505/01/2003
 The vehicle's upper and lower ball joints wore prematurely. the cause of the premature wear had not been determined. the consumer is concerned that the front end of the vehicle will collapse. *nm *la
06/16/20031110/23/1999
 Lower ball joint broke and truck fell to ground. *nlm
SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM - UPPER BALL JOINT
06/15/200578000109/15/2001
 Dt:the contact stated she had a problem with the upper ball joints. while driving at highway speeds the front end shimmied. also, there was excessive tire wear. she contacted the manufacturer, and there were *ak no recalls on the vehicle. the vehicle has not been repaired.
06/10/200555500212/18/2000
 Dt: consumer took the vehicle to dealer to be aligned, and was told the front ball joints were out and were replaced. took vehicle o another service department and was told that rack and pinion wore out in the steering box. consumer had problems with the steering and heard a popping and cracking.*ak
09/10/2004410005
 Tie rods and upper ball joints broke. *ak
02/17/200460000505/01/2003
 The vehicle's upper and lower ball joints wore prematurely. the cause of the premature wear had not been determined. the consumer is concerned that the front end of the vehicle will collapse. *nm *la
SUSPENSION - FRONT - SPRINGS - COIL SPRINGS
1
 The front coil spring failed, which caused the vehicle to stall.*jb
SUSPENSION - FRONT - SPRINGS - TORSION BAR
04/05/2002
 While vehicle was parked in driveway torsion bar broke. this caused the front end of vehicle to drop to the ground. please provide any further information.*ak
SUSPENSION - REAR
01/01/2009116900
 Tl*the contact owns a 2000 ford f150 xl 4x4. the contact stated that the rear suspension on the vehicle failed due to the rack and pinion. before the vehicle was diagnosed, he heard a grinding sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. the vehicle was repaired at that time. he stated that other ford f-150 owners have experienced the same issue. the contact does not want to drive the vehicle while hauling something and the rear suspension fails and causes a major crash. the current mileage was 117,000 and failure mileage was 116,900.
1
 Rear end had to be replaced. nlm
SUSPENSION - REAR - AXLE - SPINDLE
12/21/200670000102/17/2006
 Was on a slick road. i was going 15 miles an hour, when my 2000 ford f-150 spun completely around. when the truck spun around it went towards the ditch backwards. when i hit the ditch the truck flipped onto the passenger side. when the tow truck arrived on the scene he informed me that the rear tire broke off the axle. i had never heard of this happening at such a slow speed, neither had the tow truck driver, especially since it was a heavy half ton load axle . when we were looking at the axle in the light it appeared that it crystallized and snapped. i am a welder and work with metal every day and the axle look almost like cast. *nm
SUSPENSION - REAR - SPRINGS
01/01/2000208
 There are two situations: #1: multiple rear spring failures on several f150 s-cab 4wd vehicles from 1995 thru 2000 build date. the main leaf cracks at axle spring perch resulting in a puncture of bed floor on some incidents. all requiring spring replacement and recently repaired by using after market heavy duty springs on both sides. #2: multiple vehicles also experienced front fender alignment change resulting in front door forward edge binding. not caused by front bumper or fender impact. several occasions of severe bind resulting in door skin and forward lip damage when door was forced open to allow egress of operator. repairs were made by realigning front fender assembly and some door hinges needed replacement due to distortion caused when door was forced open against the rear edge of offending fender. no cosmetic repairs have been done so the door forward edges and fender rear edges remain severely bent but clearance is adequate to prevent binding after repairs are done. note: these vehicles are operated off-road and on graded gravel roads on kaho`olawe island as part of mixed fleet of vehicles in support of unexplored ordinance clearance on the former naval gunfire and bombing range. to date we have experienced no similar problems with any of the 30 or so 1985 to 1986 chevy pick-ups used in identical manner and no vehicles were over-loaded usually carrying only one to three passengers and hand-carried gear in the bed. we suspect that severe spring wrap can occur when torque transmitted by the limited slip differential is changed from tire to tire. all vehicles are v-8 auto-transmission (gasoline fueled fords and diesel fueled chevys). *la
SUSPENSION - REAR - SPRINGS - LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY - U-BOLT, LEAF SPRING TO AXLE
 While putting air in tire consumer noticed rear spring bolt sticking out under vehicle. please provide further information.ak