2002 Ford Explorer Suspension

ON NEW YEARS EVE 2005-2006 THE WHEEL BEARING ON THE DRIVER'S REAR BROKE WHILE I HAD MY FAMILY WITH ME. THE WHEEL BEARING HAD TO BE REPLACE. THE VEHICLE IS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT V6 WITH 80000 MI. ON IT. NO WARRANTY. ON 5/21/06 WHILE DRIVING INTERSTATE SPEEDS, THE PASSENGER REAR WHEEL BEARING BROKE AND STEERING WHEEL JERKED TO THE RIGHT. I WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL AND GET OFF THE INTERSTATE. I REMOVED THE WHEEL AND FOUND ALL BUT ONE STUD HAD BEEN SHEARED OFF. THE WHEEL NEARLY FELL OFF A 65 MPH. I HAD HEARD A NOISE EARLIER AND STOPPED TO CHECK, BUT FOUND NOTHING. I THOUGHT SOMETHING HAD FALLEN FROM THE ROOF. MY FAMILY WAS AGAIN WITH ME. I CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE, BUT WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING EXCEPT ENTER IT INTO THE FILE. I MADE A COMPLAINT AND REQUESTED A SUPERVISOR CALL ME BACK EVEN THOUGH I WAS TOLD REPEATEDLY THAT NOTHING MORE COULD BE DONE AND THE OPERATOR COULDN'T EVEN GIVE ME ANOTHER PERSON WHOM I COULD TALK WITH CONCERNING THE MATTER. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND OBVIOUSLY A FORD PROBLEM. I PAID $150 FOR A TOW AND I'M WAITING FOR THE WHEEL TO BE FIXED. *NM

MAJOR NOISE FROM REAR END ESCALATED QUICKLY REQUIRING SERVICE. INDEPENDENT SERVICE GARAGE DIAGNOSED AND REPLACED RIGHT REAR WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY AND LEFT REAR TIE ROD. THIS WAS THE THIRD OF THE FOUR WHEEL HUBS REPLACED ON THIS VEHICLE BETWEEN 70,000 AND 86,000 ACTUAL ODOMETER MILES. THE OTHER TWO WERE BOTH THE FRONTS. VERY HONEST MECHANIC SHOWED ME FAILED PARTS AND THREE OTHER EXPLORERS IN THE SHOP THAT SAME DAY WITH THE SAME WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY REPLACEMENT REQUIREMENT. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECTIVE DESIGN ON THIS VEHICLE. VEHICLE IS A HIGHWAY DRIVEN CAR ONLY, NOT OFF ROAD. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 30 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BEGAN TO WOBBLE. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND THE CONTACT NOTICED THE WHEEL BEARINGS IN THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE WHEEL BEARING AND HUB WAS REPLACED.

2002 FORD EXPLORER REAR COIL SPRING WAS DEFECTIVE, CONSUMER WANTS TO BE REIMBURSED. *TS *NM

AFTER 60,000 MILES TWO WHEEL BEARINGS NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *NM

WHILE DRIVING MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER WITHIN THE CITY, I WAS STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN WHEN I HEARD A POPPING SOUND AND THE CAR'S RIGHT REAR TIRE DEFLATED. I MOVED OUT OF TRAFFIC, CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE RIGHT COIL SPRING HAD BROKEN OFF AND PUNCTURED THE REAR TIRE (WHICH BY THE WAY WAS BRAND NEW). IT WAS VERY FORTUNATE THAT I WAS NOT TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED WHEN THIS OCCURRED. THE FORD DEALER REPLACED THE RIGHT SPRING, BUT SAW NO NEED TO REPLACE THE LEFT. SOUNDS LIKE DEFECTIVE HEAT TREATING TO ME. *NM

2002 FORD EXPLORER'S REAR SPRINGS CRACKED. *TS *NM

DT: THE VAN WAS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD AND ONLY HAD 32,000 MILES ON IT AND THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL BEARING HAS ALREADY FAILED. IT WAS MAKING A ROARING NOISE EVERY SINCE PURCHASING THE CAR. TOOK IT TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND THEY TOLD HER THE BEARING WAS BAD. *AK

DT: CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE HAS DEFECTIVE WHEEL BEARINGS, MAINLY IN THE REAR, BUT HE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE ONE ON THE FRONT. THE VEHICLES WHEELS STARTED GRINDING AND THEY BECAME LOOSE ON THE AXLE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT ALL OF THE WHEEL BEARINGS ON THIS PARTICULAR MODEL WERE GOING BAD. THE CONSUMER TRIED TO NOTIFY THE MANUFACTURER BUT THEY WERE UNRESPONSIVE.*AK *JB

1) COULD HEAR HIGH PITCH NOISE WHILE DRIVING. 2) JACKED UP REAR OF EXPLORER AND REAR WHEEL(S) COULD WOBBLE ON THE AXLE. 3) BY 70,000 MILES, BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARINGS HAVE NOW FAILED AND HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY A FORD DEALER. I NOW HAVE 77000 MILES ON THE EXPLORER AND I AM BEGINNING TO HEAR THE HIGH PITCH SOUND AGAIN. *JB

BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS BROKE ON BOTH SIDES OF FORD EXPLORER. *TS *JB

1. INSPECTION OF VEHICLE 2. REAR COILS SPRINGS BROKEN 3. REPALCEMENT

WE RECENTLY LEARNED FROM HTTP://WWW.NHTSA.GOV/ THAT FORD COIL SPRING PROBLEMS MAY NOT BE LIMITED TO WINDSTAR MINIVANS. " FORD COIL SPRING PROBLEMS MAY NOT BE LIMITED TO WINDSTARS WASHINGTON, JAN. 31, 2001 -- THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRANSPORTATION SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) HAS UPGRADED ITS INVESTIGATION OF 926,000 FORD WINDSTAR MINIVANS AFTER REPORTS THAT A SPRING IN THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM CAN BREAK AND PUNCTURE A TIRE. " WE OWN A 2002 FORD EXPLORER, [XXX], WHICH HAS TWO (2) BROKEN REAR COIL SPRINGS, BOTH OCCURRING AT THE SAME TIME. THE SPRINGS BROKE FOR NO APPARENT REASON AND THE TRUCK IS SELDOM USED FOR HAULING; HAS NEVER BEEN OVERLOADED. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP ADMITTED HE HAS SEEN THIS BEFORE ON WINDSTAR AND OTHER FORD VEHICLES, BUT WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT, OTHER THAN REPAIR IT AT MY COST. THE COST FOR THE REPAIRS & REPLACEMENT COIL SPRING(S) WAS $ 535.00. THE TRUCK WAS OUT OF COMMISSION FOR THREE DAYS. THE FORD DEALERSHIP IS: IRWIN MOTORS UNION & BISSON AVENUE LACONIA, NH 03246 THANK YOU FOR ACCEPTING THIS INFORMATION AND FOR ANY ASSISTANCE YOU MAY PROVIDE IN FORCING THE MANUFACTURER TO STAND UP TO THIS ISSUE, AN ISSUE WORTHY OF A RECALL DUE TO THE SAFETY HAZARD - THE BROKEN COILS CAN CUT THE TIRES DURING TRAVEL. [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] . *NM UPDATED 07/18/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS ARE BROKEN - MILEAGE 50,000. JUST NOTED WHILE DOING UNDERCARRIAGE INSPECTION. *JB

BROKEN REAR SPRINGS

DT: VEHICLE HAD TO HAVE THE REAR END BREPLACED 3 TIMES , VEHCILE HAD TO BE TAKEN BACK AGAIN A 4TH TIME, DEALERSHIP WILL NOT HELP WITH PAYMENT, CONSUMER HAD TO PAY TWICE FOR REPAIRS. *AK

DT: CONTACT STATES THERE WAS A HUMMING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL BEARING WAS BAD, THE SERVICE DEALER STATED THIS WAS A SAFETY CONCERN, AND TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN RIGHT AWAY. THE WHEEL BEARING HAS BEEN REPLACED. *AK

DT: CONTACT TOOK VEHICLE TO A SERVICE DEALER, AND THEY INFORMED HIM THAT THE REAR COIL SPRING BROKE. *AK

ON ROUTINE INSPECTION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE LEFT REAR SPRING ON MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER WAS BROKEN. THIS VEHICLE HAS 55,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. FORTUNATELY, IT WAS PROBABLY NOT BROKEN LONG SINCE I INSPECT MY VEHICLES REGULARLY. WHEN I WENT TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER, THEY INITIALLY WANTED ME TO PAY THE FULL REPAIR BILL FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE SPRING; HOWEVER, AFTER NEGOTIATION, THEY OFFERED REPLACEMENT IF I PAID HALF OF THE BILL, OR $78.00. I AGREED TO THIS OFFER, AND HAD THE SPRING REPLACED. I FEEL, AND EXPRESSED THIS OPINION TO THE FORD AGENCY, THAT THIS SPRING SHOULD NOT BREAK AFTER ONLY 55,000 MILES. IN ADDITION, I AM NOW CONCERNED ABOUT THE OTHER REAR SPRING, AND WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF I WAS TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND IT BROKE. *JB

BOUGHT THE CAR IN JULY 2004 AT AROUND 50,000 MILES. HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM REAR OF THE TRUCK. CURRENTLY, THE NOISE HAS PROCEEDED TO THE FRONT. I HAVE NOT REPLACED ANYTHING BECAUSE I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT I AM GOING TO HAVE TO CHANGE. I WAS WONDERING IF THERE IS GOING TO BE A RECALL ON THIS TRUCK. *AK

I TOOK MY 2002 EXPLORER IN FOR RECALL ON REAR DOOR. THEY TOLD ME THAT BOTH REAR SPRINGS BROKE. THIS VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 44,000 MILES ON IT, AND HAS THE TOW PACKAGE ALTHOUGH NOTHING WAS EVER TOWED. THE SPRINGS THAT BROKE ARE AT THE VERY TOP AND HARD TO FIND. MECHANIC WOULD HAVE HAD TO KNOW TO LOOK THERE TO FIND IT. THIS LED ME TO BELIEVE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.*AK

AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS OF HEARING A "WHOOSHING" TIRE SOUNDS FROM THE BACK OF THE 02 FORD EXPL XLT, AND DEALERS TELLING US THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG, TOOK VEHICLE TO A LOCAL SERVICE CENTER AND HAD TO HAVE REAR SUSPENSION/AXLES REPLACED (4/04) AND ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE 2 BACK TIRES BECAUSE OF THE DAMAGE. NOW, 1/05, SAME NOISE IS PRESENT AND WEAR ON BACK TIRES, WE ARE NOW BEING TOLD THAT THE BACK SUSPENSION/AXLES ARE BAD AGAIN AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. LESS THAN ONE YEAR AND WE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. OBVIOUSLY FORD NEEDS TO LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM. VEHICLE HAD 78K MILES ON IT. *AK

2002 FORD EXPLORER BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS BROKE. *JB

REAR BEARING FAILURE OF 2002 FORD EXPLORER. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER BECAUSE OF REAR END NOISE AND WAS TOLD THE BEARING WAS ABOUT TO EXPLODE AND COULD HAVE LOST AN AXLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 30 TO 40 MPH A CRUNCHING SOUND WAS HEARD. THE DEALER STATED THE FRONT WHEEL BEARING FAILED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB THIS IS THE SECOND FRONT WHEEL BARING FAILURE. *TC