2001 Ford Explorer Suspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL SEIZED AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO HEAD TOWARDS ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THERE WAS NO CRASH INVOLVED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE DRIVEN AND WAS TOWED. IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL BEARING DISINTEGRATED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE WHEEL BEARING WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,600.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,699.

FOUND THAT AFTER APPROX.80,000 MILES THAT ALL THE BODY SUPPORT BUSHING HAD DRIED OUT AND CRUMBLED.. THIS CAUSE SEVER LACK OF CONTROL. CORNERING WAS ACCOMPANIED WITH LOUD BODY METAL BANGING. THE TRUCK WAS TAKEN OUT OF SERVICE AND REPAIRED. THE BODY WAS RAISED OFF THE FRAME AND ALL BUSHING WHERE REPLACED AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. FORD WOULD NOT COMPLETE THIS WORK UNDER WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH IT IS A GROSS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO BUSHING PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE BUSHINGS DISINTEGRATED. THE COST TO REPLACE THEM, WAS $2000. *JB

VEHICLE BODY MOUNTS HAVE DRIED OUT AND CRUMBLES WHEN TOUCHED. THIS DETERIORATION CAUSES THE BODY TO RIDE ON TOP OF THE FRAME WHICH COULD EVENTUALLY RESULT IN OTHER VEHICLE DAMAGE AND POSSIBLE SAFETY ISSUES. THE WORSE I HAVE SEEN ON A FORD. *TR

AS MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THE FORD EXPLORER SPORT HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT, THERE IS A VERY LOUD BANGING COMING FROM THE REAR END OF MY SUV WHENEVER I DRIVE OVER EVEN THE SLIGHTEST BUMP OR ROUGH ROAD. I HAVE REPLACED THE SHOCKS BUT IT DID NOT MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE TO THIS PROBLEM. IT STILL IS SO LOUD AND THE RIDE REMAINS VERY ROUGH. I NOW UNDERSTAND THAT THE BODY MOUNT BUSHINGS HAVE DETERIORATED AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED TO IMPROVE THE RIDE AND MAKE THE VEHICLE SAFE TO DRIVE AGAIN. *TR

A CLUNKING NOISE UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT. IN LOOKING AT IT, IS SEEMS THERE IS A WORN BODY BUSHING. INVESTIGATION ON THE WEB SHOWS SEVERAL INCIDENCES OF SOMETHING LIKE THIS. THE NOISE HAS GOTTEN WORSE, THE VEHICLE NOW HAS 54000 MILES ON IT.I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. *TR

FORD EXPLORERS MANUFACTURED IN 2001 WERE EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE ENGINEERED BODY TO FRAME BUSHINGS WHICH HAVE COMPLETELY DETERIORATE AND JUST AS EASILY CRUMBLED IN YOUR HAND, NOW, BUT BEGIN DETERIORATING ONLY A FEW SHORT YEARS FROM WHEN NEW. FORD STOPPED USING THIS STYLE MANUFACTURED MOUNT BUSHINGS AFTER THESE FEW MANUFACTURING YEARS BECAUSE THEY KNEW THEY WERE DEFECTIVE. I'VE SPOKEN TO MANY EXPLORER OWNERS WHO HAVE THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM , AND THOSE I ASK TO LOOK UNDER THEIR VEHICLES, WHICH ARE NOT A VISIBLE DEFECT UNLESS UNDER THE CAR AND HANDS-ON INSPECTION, ALSO FOUND THIS PROBLEM. MY VEHICLE IS IN LIKE-NEW CONDITION OTHERWISE AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN GARAGED IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. THESE BODY TO MOUNT BUSHINGS, WHEN DETERIORATED CAUSE SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEMS TO EXPLORER DRIVERS AND ALL OTHERS DRIVING IN OTHER VEHICLES, DUE TO UNEXPECTED SWAYING AND OR BOUNCING POSSIBLY CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH AND CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY TO ANYONE DRIVING NEAR THE EXPLORERS. I BELIEVE, AND AM SURE, THAT THE MATERIAL MIX OF THE RUBBER/SILICONE BUSHINGS WAS COMPROMISED DURING MANUFACTURING AND THESE VEHICLES SHOULD IMMEDIATELY RECALLED TO REPLACE THESE BUSHINGS WHICH SHOULD LAST THE LIFETIME OF THE VEHICLE. CARS 40 PLUS YEARS OLD HAVE BODY TO FRAME BUSHINGS STILL IN GOOD CONDITION. FOR THESE BUSHINGS TO START DETERIORATING AFTER ONLY A FEW YEARS AND BEING COMPLETELY USELESS AT THIS AGE AND CONDITION OF VEHICLE IS UNHEARD OF. NOW IS THE TIME TO MAKE SURE ALL EXPLORER SPORT OWNERS IN THE 2001 PLUS OR MINUS VICINITY BE NOTIFIED BY FORD OF THIS DEFECT. PLEASE LOOK UNDER ANY EXPLORER SPORT MADE IN 2001 , AND YOU CAN CONFIRM MY FINDINGS. ALSO, HAVE A PRIVATE ENGINEER TEST THE BUSHING RUBBER/SILICONE MATERIALS USED IN THIS YEAR RANGE, AND I ASSURE YOU THEY WILL BACK MY CLAIM. *TR

FOR SEVERAL YEARS, THE BODY MOUNTS ON MY TRUCK HAVE BEEN CRUMBLING DUE TO POOR MATERIALS USED AT THE FACTORY. I KNOW OF MANY OTHERS WHO HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM, AND SINCE THE MOUNTS ARE DIFFICULT AND EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE I KNOW MANY HAVE AVOIDED DOING SO. FORD SHOULD BE MADE TO RECALL THESE VEHICLES (WHICH RANGE FROM 2001-2005) AND REPLACE THESE SHODDY PARTS (IF THEY HAVEN'T CRUMBLED COMPLETELY AWAY LIKE MINE) BEFORE SOMEONE IS INJURED. *TR

HEARING NOISE BOTH DOWN THE DRIVERS SIDE AND THE FRONT I TOOK MY TRUCK TO THE KNOWN TOP NOTCH SHOP FOR SUSPENSION. IT WAS THERE THAT I WAS TOLD THAT MY BODY/CAB MOUNT BUSHINGS (INSULATORS) WERE SHOT. THEY CRUMBLE IN YOUR HAND IF YOU TOUCH IT. THE QUOTE TO FIX $1100.00 ! ! ! I CALLED THE DEALER AND TO MY SHOCKING SURPRISE JUST THE PARTS (FOUR SETS) DIRECTLY UNDER THE CAB ARE $550....UNBELIEVABLE. THE REASON THE LABOR IS SO HIGH - BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO PULL THE INTERIOR TO GET TO THE BLOTS..FORD IN ALL THEIR WISDOM PUT THEM IN TOP SIDE DOWN ! MY BROTHER LOOKED AT IT FURTHER AND FOUND I WAS MISSING THE DRIVERS BACK BOLT ALL TOGETHER (LOOK INSIDE THE STORAGE BEHIND BACK SEAT)...NEVER THERE. I TOOK MY TRUCK INTO TO SEE WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY ABOUT THE NOISE FRONT AND SIDE. THE MECHANIC WAS PASSIVE ABOUT THE BODY BUSHINGS, CHUCKLED WHEN I ASKED ABOUT PUTTING IN THE MISSING BOLT AND COULD NOT FIND THE FRONT END NOISE. ASKED IF IT COULD BE THE STRUT HE TOLD ME I DID NOT HAVE THEM...ONLY TO CRAWL UNDER THE TRUCK AFTER WE RETURNED FROM THE TEST DRIVE AND SAID OOPS I LIED YOU DO HAVE THEM ! FORD REALLY NEEDS TO GET BETTER MECHANICS AND BETTER MATERIALS. THEY SCREWED UP BY BREAKS THE LAST TIME I WAS THERE SO NEEDLESS TO SAY I WILL NEVER TRUST THEM AGAIN. ANYWAY, WHEN I ASKED WHAT WAS THE BUSHINGS MADE OF, I WAS TOLD ..RUBBER...ONE OF THEIR OWN PART GUYS CONTACTED THE MFG....HE TOO WAS TOLD RUBBER. FOUND ON THE INTERNET...IT IS ACTUALLY.. RUBBER FOAM. ARE YOU KIDDING ME..NO WONDER IT CRUMBLES ! I WAS TOLD THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO FOR ME. I AM AFFRAID EVERY TIME I GET IN MY TRUCK BUT HAVE NO OTHER MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION NOR CAN I BUY ANYTHING. SAME ON FORD ! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *TT

THE BODY MOUNT BUSHINGS BEGAN DETERIORATING SEVERAL YEARS AGO. THE REAR FOUR ARE COMPLETELY DETERIORATED AND CAUSING SAFETY/HANDLING PROBLEMS AND SAFETY CONCERNS ARE BEGINNING TO BE AN ISSUE. FORD MECHANICS SAY THERE IS NO RECALL AND WERE NOT AWARE THAT THIS WAS A PROBLEM. THIS IS HARD TO BELIEVE SINCE I'VE LOCATED SIMILAR REPORTS ALL OVER THE INTERNET AND I ALSO LOCATED MORE THAN 5 SIMILAR COMPLAINTS IN THIS WEBSITE (10331811, 10220625, 10243054, 10248006, 10193852). PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF FORD WILL BE ISSUING A RECALL. *TR

BODY BUSHING DISINTEGRATED CAUSING INSTABILITY AND RIDE LIKE IN A COVERED WAGON ON A COBBLE STONE STREET. *TR

UPPER BALL JOINTS WORN PREMATURELY. *TR

LOWER BALL JOINTS HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 46000 MILES. TOTALLY CUPPED AND RUINED THE TIRES THAT THEY HAD JUST PUT ON THE VEHICLE FROM THE TIRE RECALL. *TR

REAR PASSENGER SIDE LEAF SPRING WAS FOUND TO BE CRACKED AROUND BUSHINGS FRONT AND REAR WHEN REMOVED FOR REPLACEMENT. 3 FORD DEALERS AND 3 OTHER SHOPS COULD NOT SEE THIS OVER A PERIOD OF 90,000 MILES. IT WASN'T TILL THE BUSHINGS ON THE OTHER SIDE STARTED TO WEAR AND I DECIDED TO REPLACE THE ALL THE COMPONENTS THAT IT WAS FOUND WHEN THE LEAF SPRING SUDDENLY FELL OUT AFTER REMOVING THE U-BOLTS. *TR

I HAVE A 2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC AND THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT WHEEL BEARING HAS GONE OUT SEVERAL TIMES AND NO ONE KNOWS WHAT THE PROBLEM IS WHY DON'T THEY PUT SEALED BEARINGS SO YOU DON,T HAVE TO CHANGE THEM EVERY 6 MONTHS. *TR

2001 FORD SPORT TRAC 49,000 MILES HAVE HAD LOWER BALL JOINTS REPLACED TWO YRS AGO AND YESTERDAY 12-17-2008 HAD THE UPPERS REPLACED. ALL FOUR WERE PERM SEALED TYPE. I AM 64YRS OLD AND HAVE NEVER BEFORE HAD BALL JOINT PROBLEMS. PLEASE FORCE CAR COMPANIES TO GO BACK TO GREASE FITTINGS ON SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART OF A VEHICLE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. WHILE DRIVING OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD AT ANY SPEED, IT FEELS AS IF THERE ARE NO SHOCK ABSORBERS ON THE VEHICLE. TWO DIFFERENT MECHANICS STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE BUSHINGS WERE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000. UPDATED 10/30/08. *LJ UPDATED 10/30/08.*JB

AT 37,741 MILES,MY 2001 FORD VEHICLE HAD TO HAVE ITS LOWER RIGHT AND LEFT BALL JOINTS REPLACED BECAUSE THEY WERE IN DANGEROUS CONDITION ACCORDING TO THE FORD REPAIR SHOP. IT SEEMS TO ME THEY HAD TO BE DEFECTIVE FROM DAY ONE IN ORDER TO BOTH FAIL AT THIS LOW MILEAGE. JEEP LIBERTY ALSO DODGE DURANGO VEHICLES HAD SIMILAR FAILURES. FORD TOLD ME THEY ARE BACKING UP THEIR PRODUCT AS NORMAL FAILURE WHILE THE GARAGE FOREMAN HAS SAID HE HAS HAD MANY SIMILAR CASES. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED SINCE OWNERSHIP, THE LOWER BALL JOINTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AT 44,159 MILES AND HAS BEEN DRIVEN 22,530 MILES SINCE PURCHASE. THE BREAKDOWN ON THE REPAIRS ARE; ON 12/13/03 AT 28,676 MILES BOTH LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED, ON 08/05/04 AT 35,260 MILES-THE LEFT LOWER BALL JOINT AND SPINDLE ARM WERE REPLACED, THIS WAS ONLY 6,584 MILES SINCE THE PREVIOUS BALL JOINT REPLACEMENT, AND ON 12/26/05 AT 44,159 MILES-BOTH LOWER BALL JOINTS AND THE RIGHT UPPER CONTROL ARM WERE REPLACED AT ONLY 9,331 MILES FROM PREVIOUS REPLACEMENT. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERNS REGARDING THE CONTINUOUS REPAIRS TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP WHO DETERMINED THE NIAGARA FALLS AREA HAS THE HIGHEST RATE OF FAILURE FOR BALL JOINTS IN THE COUNTRY. THERE WERE NO ADDITIONAL EXPLANATIONS FOR THE EXTREME RATE OF FAILURE. MOST OF THE MILES ON THE TRUCK ARE THRUWAY MILES. THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT OR DRIVEN IN A MANNER TO CAUSE OR AGGRAVATE THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM.

BOTH LOWER BALL JOINTS AND RIGHT UPPER CONTROL ARM HAVE BEEN REPLACED ON THE CONSUMER'S 2001 FORD EXPLORER ON 3 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. *TS *NM UPDATED 02/07/06

I HAVE A 2001 EXPLORER SPORT TRAC WITH 60K MILES ON IT. THE STOCK SHOCKS ARE SO BAD THAT BREAKING AND HIGHWAY TRAVEL IS DANGEROUS. THE LAST INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING I-35 SOUTH RIGHT OUTSIDE OF KANSAS CITY, MO. A CAR BROKE DOWN IN MY LINE AND I TAPPED (NOT STOMPED) THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN, THE TRUCK DID A NOSE DIVE AND THE BACK END KICKED OUT INTO THE OTHER LANE AND THE TIRES LOCKED UP.

REALIZED BOTH LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE BAD, NOT SURE OF EXACT DATE WENT BAD JUST PURCHASED VEHICLE AS "FORD CERTIFIED" BUT FORD WILL NOT COVER REPAIRS . *AK

VEHICLE: FORD EXPLORER XLS, MY 2001. PROBLEM: FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURE AT LOW MILEAGE (50000KM AND 63000 KM, OR APROX 31000MILES AND 39000MILES). THE FAILURE WAS DETECTED EARLY AND DIDNOT HAVE DRAMATIC CONSEQUENCES. ONE PART HAS BEEN CHANGED. THE OTHER WILL BE DEALT WITH SOON.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH AND TURNING RIGHT OR LEFT VEHICLE LIFTED ON ITS OWN. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK