1998 Ford F-150 Suspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A SNAPPING SOUND FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER COMING TO A STOP THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE BRACKET THAT CONNECTED TO THE LEAF SPRING ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE MILEAGE WAS 146,000. UPDATED 5/11/12 *CN THE SHACKLE ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 05/15/12

LEFT REAR SPRING HANGER BROKE AND CAME LOSE FROM FRAME AND WENT UP HITTING THE TRUCK BED UNDERSIDE. THIS PART HOLDS THE REAR END IN PLACE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS CONCERNED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT SAFE SINCE THE REAR AXLE COULD BRAKE AS A RESULT OF THE SALT TREATMENTS USED IN THE CITY WHERE HE RESIDES. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED ON RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V385000 (SUSPENSION, REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY). THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 164,951.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F150. WHILE DRIVING THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE AT THE VEHICLE FRONT END. WHEN HE EXAMINED THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THE FRONT SUSPENSION SWAY BAR WAS MISSING EIGHT BUSHINGS. THE CONTACT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WERE 42,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT SMELLED BURNING RUBBER COMING FROM HIS VEHICLE. THE SMELL WAS THEN REPLACED BY A RATTLING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR LEAF SPRING FRACTURED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. HE JACKED THE VEHICLE UP, REPOSITIONED THE SPRING, TIED IT DOWN WITH WIRE, AND DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME. HE REMEMBERED A RECALL HE HAD SEEN AND CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO INFORMED HIM THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 153,000.

I STEPPED INTO MY VEHICLE TO GO TO WORK, AND THE TORSION BAR BROKE. SNAPPED INTO TWO PIECES. WAS THANKFUL I WAS NOT DRIVING. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER AND THE MECHANICS, THAT THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS BEFORE, AND THAT A PIECE OF 1" ROUND STEEL SHOULD NOT JUST SNAP. *AK

THE R/H TORSION BAR BROKE AT LOW SPEED TURNING INTO A PARKING LOT. THE BAR IS BEING REPLACED AT THE DEALERSHIP. THEY SAY THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS BEFORE. AFTER SEEING ALL THE REPORTS ON LINE, I FIND THIS HARD TO BELIEVE.

CONSUMER REPLACED TIRES FIVE TIMES BEFORE IT WAS DISCOVERED THERE WERE TWO PIECES MISSING FROM THE SWAY BAR. CONSUMER STATED THAT DEALER FOR VEHICLE COULD NOT FIND THE DEFECTS. HOWEVER , THE DODGE DEALER FOUND THE DEFECT.*AK *TC

WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH AND WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD POPPING SOUND. THEN, LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE DROPPED DOWN. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CONSUMER'S HOME. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER EXPLAINED THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE WORN OUT, AND THE AXLE BROKE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE JERKED AND VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE ,AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT BOTH UPPER BALL JOINTS FAILED.*AK

FRONT RIGHT TORSION BAR SNAPPED WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY. *AK

ON DECEMBER 30, 2003, I SENT THE FOLLOWING LETTER TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND AS OF YET HAVE NOT RECEIVED A REPLY. HOPEFULLY YOU CAN GIVE ME SOME POINTERS ON HOW I SHOULD PROCEED. THANK YOU, [XXX]. [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] ENCLOSED ARE PICTURES OF THE TORSION BAR FROM MY 1998 FORD F-150 PICKUP. VIN# [XXX]. IT HAS 56,000 MILES. THE PORTION THAT IS PICTURED IS THE FRONT. THE BAR BROKE WHILE SITTING IDLE IN MY GARAGE. I HAD BEEN OUT OF TOWN FOR THE WEEKEND SO THE PICKUP HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN FOR TWO DAYS. I FOUND THE CENTER PIECE ON THE GARAGE FLOOR. FROM RUST SPOTS IN THE BROKEN AREA, IT APPEARS THAT IT HAD BEEN CRACKED FOR SOME TIME. I HAVE OWNED THE PICKUP FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS. ALMOST ALL OF MY DRIVING HAS BEEN HIGHWAY DRIVING. DURING THAT TIME IT HAS VERY LITTLE OFF ROAD DRIVING. I AM NOT A HUNTER OR LAND OWNER. IT HAS BEEN USED FOR HAULING CARGO, BUT NOT EXTENDED USE. IT WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND I HAVE ALSO ENCLOSED THE REPAIR RECORDS FROM THAT. THE DAMAGE WAS TO THE RIGHT SIDE. THERE WAS NO SUSPENSION DAMAGED NOTED. I HAVE LOOKED TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS ON IT, AND HAVE FOUND NONE. THE MECHANIC WHO REPLACED IT FOR ME SAID HE HAD NEVER SEEN A TORSION BAR BREAK LIKE THIS. THIS IS A REPAIR THAT I DONT THINK I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR. I HAVE ENCLOSED MY STATEMENT. I AM JUST THANKFUL THAT I WAS NOT DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHEN IT BROKE. IT CONCERNS ME THAT THERE MAY BE OTHER SUSPENSION PROBLEMS. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IS WHAT CAN BE DONE? IS THIS A FLAW IN THE PICKUP THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED? I AM ALSO WRITING TO THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION TO ASK FOR THEIR HELP IN WHAT PROCESS I SHOULD FOLLOW. I CAN BE REACHED DURING WORKING HOURS AT[XXX], AT MY ADDRESS AT [XXX] OR BY E-MAIL AT [XXX]. I WILL BE WAITING YOUR REPLY. [XXX] *CB *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

THE CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES. THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG. A GENTLEMAN FOLLOWED HER AND TOLD HER THAT THERE WERE FLAMES SHOOTING OUT OF THE BACK OF HER VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE DROVE PERFECTLY, WITH NO SIGN OF TROUBLE. THE FIRE DEPT WAS CALLED AND THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT. THE CONSUMER WAS TAKING HER HUSBAND, WHO IS CONFINED TO A WHEELCHAIR, ON AN ERRAND. SHE BELIEVES IF IT WERE NOT FOR THE KIND GENTLEMAN WHO HELPED HER, THAT HER HUSBAND COULD HAVE BURNED TO DEATH. *NM

DRIVER SIDE TORSION BAR SNAPPED ,CAUSING FRONT LEFT CORNER OF VEHICLE TO DROP UNEXPECTEDLY POSSIBLY DAMAGING SWAY BAR, SHOCK ABSORBER AND RELATED BUSHINGS. FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE STATED THERE IS NO COVERAGE, RECALLS OR SERVICE BULLETINS THAT COVER DAMAGE/DEFECT. THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS OF SIMILAR ISSUES WITH EXPEDITION AND FORD MODELS. *AK

CONSUMER HEARD A BANGING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE CONSUMER STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND A PIECE OF METAL FELL OFF ONTO THE GROUND. CONSUMER PICKED IT UP, TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MECHANIC WHO STATED THE LEAF SPRING FAILED. *AK *TS *JB

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY 4-WHEEL DRIVE PICKUP TRUCKS. IF THE VEHICLE IS OVERLOADED, THE REAR LEAF SPRINGS CAN BE OVERSTRESSED. A FATIGUE FRACTURE OF THE SPRING CAN OCCUR. THE CENTER LEAF OF THE SPRING CAN FRACTURE AT THE FORWARD EDGE OF THE SPRING SEAT AND, IN SOME CASES, CONTACT THE FUEL TANK. CONSUMER HAS THE SAME PROBLEM.*AK

THE TORSION BAR HAD BROKEN WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. PH THE TORSION BAR WAS REPLACED AND THE FRONT END WAS ALIGNED. SCC

THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, WHEN THE LEFT TORSION BAR FAILED. *JB

RIGHT SIDE TORSION BAR SNAPPED IN TWO GOING ACROSS PARKING LOT.

WHILE PULLING OUT OF PARKING LOT THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE CONTROL ARM FELL OFF. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *NLM

DRIVER SIDE TORSION BAR BROKE DRIVING 60 ON FREEWAY. MADE TRUCK VEER HARD TO LEFT ALMOST HITTING GUARD RAIL. THANK GOD MY SON DIDN'T HIT IT. BROUGHT THE TRUCK USED AND OF COURSE DEALER SAID IT WASN'T UNDER WARRANTY THAT WE HAD. ONLY THE 60 DAYS OR 2500 MILES FROM TIME OF PURCHASED. ONLY HAD IN 25 DAYS. *NLM

THE FRONT TORSION BAR BROKE. *JB THE TORSION BAR HAD EXPERIENCED A BRITTLE FRACTURE AT THE HEXAGON TO CYLINDER INTERFACE. *SCC

PASSENGER SIDE TORSION BAR BROKE WHILE PARKED IN PARKING GARAGE. DON'T KNOW WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF OCCURED AT NORMAL DRIVING SPEEDS. SCARY DRIVE HOME AS TRUCK WAS LAYING DOWN ON RIGHT FRONT SEVERLY. TOOK TO GARAGE THIS MORNING. FIVE MINUTES LATER, WOMAN COMES IN AND SAYS SHE HAS A BROKEN TORSION BAR. YOU GUESSED IT, ANOTHER 1998 FORD F150 4X4. LOOKED AT HERS, WAS ON DRIVERS SIDE, SIMILAR SHAPED FAILURE AS MINE, SAID HERS WAS JUST PARKED IN DRIVEWAY WHEN FAILED. I AM AFRAID TO LET WIFE DRIVE MY TRUCK NOW.

TORSION BAR SNAPPED CAUSING TRUCK TO LEAN TO ONE SIDE. I WAS TOLD I WAS FORTUNATE I WASNT DRIVING IT AT THE TIME THEY HAD MANY ( OVER 50) BREAK SOME WHILE DRIVING. DEALER SHOULD REPLACE AT NO COST TO OWNER ONLY HAD 21,552 , 1998 F-150 DEALER WANTED 500.00 AT FIRST THEN CLAIMED PART WAS DEFECTIVE AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY LABOR( JACK DEMMERS IN WAYNE,MI.48185) PLEASE HELP THIS ISNT FAIR.