This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
Excessive tire wear due to inability to align front and rear ends of vehicle to toe, cantor, and curb. Ford says its a design flaw and all future models, including the year 2000 model of the Explorer and Expedition are using the same design. Our vehicle leaped off of the highway, nearly causing us to go airborn and leave the interstate. This would have most definitely caused serious injury if not multiple fatalities. Ford is not concerned with this defect, yet, millions of folks buy these SUV's each year. Please help affect the change. Thank you.( dot number: Tire size: P255/70R15 )
I noticed bouncing of the vehicle when traveling over dips in the road. I would imagine this problem is very wide spread but is not noticeable to many people because the of the "firmness" of the other parts of the suspension. Such as the torsion bars. I had front shocks replaced after pressuring the ditschman Ford(flemington, NJ) dealership pretty hard. I noticed the difference immediately. The problem seemed to reappear again after only 4,000 additional miles.the same problem seems to be true of the rear shocks also. This problem results in bouncing and diving of the nose of the vehicle during hard braking. I would imagine in emergency(severe)handling the vehicle would not perform as expected. I am now considering an aftermarket set of shocks.
The front tires have"cupped" within 2000 miles of purchasing the vehicle. I have been to the dealer and to Goodyear over this issue. I have noticed that braking takes longer to accomplish because of the uneven wear pattern that has developed. I've had to replace 2 tires at 46,000 mles(as compared with 70,000 miles on a 1992 Explorer that I owned that was equipped with Firestone tires). Goodyear has told me that I have to rotate my tires every3,000 miles to prevent this wear pattern. I believe this is excessive maintenance and cost to the consumer. Goodyear has also told me that these tires were not engineered for this vehicle, but Ford equpiped these vehicles with these tires as standard equipment in 1996. I've noticed that since1997, Ford has gone back to Firestone tires for Explorer. I have called the Ford consumer hot line. I spoke with the person answering the calls and explained the problem. I was told I would hear from a Ford rep, but after a year I have heard nothing. Goodyear has looked at all mechanical components, including suspension bushing and alignment that could be causing this problem and has found nothing wrong. I believe this problem may be inherent to Ford putting tires on this autmobile that are not matched to the vehical suspension.( dot number: Tire size: P235/75R15 )
Vehicle out of alignment replacement of faulty front wheel bearing did not rectify required installation of caster/camber kit to allign properly due to design of suspension system.
While driving on interstate highway and attempting to correct direction of vehicle. It rotated conter-clockwise and went into a slide. Vehicle rolled over 4 timess. In addition, during its first rotation, door latch failed, door opened and driver partially ejected. Driver died from fatal injuries and passsenger wa S injured. Driver was not informed by Ford of recall regarding door latches and locks (96V-070).
Vehicles front end has severe vibration, making vit ery difficult to control. The front wheels are wearing unevenly and both steel radials are coming out.vehicles is riding on the inside of the tire.the kits are non-adjustable.
Vehicle wanders left to right, and when owner took vehicle dealer he was told that it was set to the proper specs. He also had taken vehicle to an independent dealer.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Herndon, VA, USA