1996 Ford Mustang Suspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD MUSTANG. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME RESISTANT AND LOSS POWER STEERING ASSIST. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROADWAY WHERE IT WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC MADE REPAIRS TO THE FRONT STRUTS, LOWER BALL JOINTS, STABLE BAR LINK AND THE CONTROL ARM. THE CONTACT STATED A POLICE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 169,886 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 171,702.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE COIL SPRINGS FAILED THREE SEPARATE TIMES ON THE VEHICLE. THE FIRST TIME THE REAR SPRINGS BROKE. THE SECOND TIME THE FRONT SPRINGS BROKE. THIS LAST TIME WHILE THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING 55 MPH, THE REAR SPRINGS BROKE. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED BECAUSE THE SPRINGS ARE ON NATIONAL BACKORDER.

1996 FORD MUSTANG GT CONVT. ---REAR SWAY BAR BROKEN AT ATACH POINT ON RIGHT SIDE JUST AHEAD OF REAR AXLE. CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN COLLISION, SNOW WHERE SALT MIGHT HAVE CAUSED CORROSION, DOESN'T HAVE ANY NOTICABLE CORROSION, AND SWAY BAR HAS NEVER COLLIDED WITH ANY ROAD HAZZARDS...IT JUST SNAPPED.

WHILE BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY SWAY BAR BROKE AWAY FROM VEHICLE. VEHICLE HAD 43,000 MILES AT THE TIME OF INCIDENT. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED FOR PROBLEM, BUT REFUSED TO REPAIR BAR. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING 30-35MPH SWAY BAR FOR CONSUMER'S 1996, FORD, COBRA MUSTANG BROKE IN HALF. VEHICLE HAD 43,000 MILES WHEN THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING UP A SMALL INCLINE AT DRIVE THRU, HEARD LOUD CRACKING SOUND. STOPPED TO INVESTIGATE AND NOTICED REAR SWAY BAR ON DRIVERS SIDE HAD BROKEN OFF. THIS HAS CAUSED A CLANKING SOUND WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN.*AK

CASTER ADJUSTMENT IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WAS DEFECTIVE, CAUSING TIRES TO WEAR EXCESSIVELY. DEALERHSIP EXAMINED VEHICLE,AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT AN AUTOBODY SHOP WOULD HAVE TO MAKE THE REPAIRS TO VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

REAR SWAY BAR SHEARED OFF AT BOLT HOLE ON LOWER CONTROL ARM ON DRIVERS SIDE. I REMOVED THE PART AND PLACED IN TRUCK OF CAR. SINCE THIS IS A PART THAT SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE I CALLED THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY FOR A REPLACEMENT SWAY BAR. I OFFERED TO BRING THE PART IN SO THEY COULD INSPECT IT TO MAKE SURE THE FAILURE WAS NOT CAUSED BY ABUSE. DEALER WAS UNWILLING TO HELP SO I CONTACTED FORDS CUSTOMER RELATIONS. THEY STATE SINCE THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND DOES NOT HAVE A RECALL THEY WILL NOT HELP. THEY HAVE BEEN VERY EVASIVE AND DIFFICULT TO WORK WITH. THE FIRST REPRESENTATIVE REFUSED TO LET ME SPEAK TO A SUPERVISOR WHEN I WAS NOT SATISFIED WITH HER DECISION. THE FINAL SUPERVISOR ADMITTED SHE DID NOT KNOW WHAT A SWAY BAR WAS. IF SHE DID SHE WOULD KNOW THEY LAST THE LIFE OF THE CAR. ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED. THEY HAVE MADE THIS SEEM LIKE AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. FROM LOOKING AT THE NTSA WEB SITE I SEE THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON TO HAVE THIS DEFECT.*AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE HEARD METAL CLANKING SOUND, STOPPED AND NOTICED REAR SWAYBAR WAS BROKEN ON THE RIGHT SIDE. *AK

REAR SWAY BAR BROKEN AT LEFT END. THIS IS NOT A MOUNTING FAILURE BUT AN ACTUAL BREAK! THIS PROBLEM IS SO COMMON THAT ALL DEALERS (MORE THAN FIVE) IN THIS AREA ARE OUT OF REPLACEMENT PARTS!! BECAUSE THIS IS PART OF THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM AND BECAUSE SO MUCH OF THE SWAY BAR IS HANGING LOOSE THIS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A SERIOUS SAFTY HAZARD. *AK

THIS CAR HAS HAD A SHIMMY IN THE TEERING WHEEL THAT IS FELT BETWEEN 50-55 MPH. THE ALIGNMENT HAS BEEN CHECKED, TIRES INSPECTED AND BALANCED, ROTORS TURNED. ALL HAVE FAILED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE SELLING DEALER HAD ALSO REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS IN AN ATTEMPT TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. IN ADDITION, THE PROBLEM HAS AN INTERMITTENT ELEMENT TO IT. SOMETIMES THE CAR DRIVES FINE FOR A SHORT WHILE, AND THEN IT STARTS SHAKING AGAIN.

WHILE BACKING VEHICLE INTO DRIVEWAY NOTICED A DRAGGING SOUND IN THE REAR. BELIEVES THIS CONDITION IS NOT A NORMAL WEAR FOR 40,000 MILES. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

VEHICLE WAS MAKING UNNECESSARY NOISE; THROUGH CONSUMER INVESTIGATION, FOUND SWAY BAR BROKEN. BELIEVED THIS WAS NOT NORMAL WEAR FOR VEHICLE WITH 38000 MILE OF WEAR. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *AK

VEHICLE VIBRATES AND PULLS AND PROBLEM CANNOT BE DETERMINED.

VEHICLE EXPERIENCES FRONT END VIBRATION. *AK

VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT/VIBRATES AT 65-75 MPH DUE TO MISALIGNMENT. *AK

VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT AND VIBRATES ABOVE 50 MPH, IT IS WORST AROUND 60 MPH. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE HEARD A KNOCKING SOUND; TOOK VEHICLE IN TO HAVE IT CHECKED, MECHANIC CHECKED IT, INFORMED OWNER THAT SWAY BAR WAS BROKEN. *AK