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.
2001 Ford Explorer suspension complaints
Page 2 of 3: complaints 11 to 40 of 43, newest first, as owners wrote them.
I have several more invoices 7-29-03 replaced dust seals and forgot to put brakes back together lost whole front end and braking. Had truck for 3-4 days they have replaced the water pump pulley and s belt 2-3 times. Cruise control 10-16, 12/31/02 again squeling noise 02/28/03 defrost kills truck and chirping still. 2/10/03 steering wheel snaped part falls around inside,cruise control was fixed, bearing failure in belt tensioner again. Today still having the same problem. Come get the piece of !@!@#@#. I am sick of taking this truck in every month to fix something. It is a lemon
40,500 miles, ford explorer v8. Vehicle would sway and pull side to side from front end, mostly unsafe at higher speeds on highway. Dealer (miller ford , mrt. 38 , mount holly, nj)said it needed both front ball joints replaced. I had them replaced for $700 vehicle has never driven the same and does not "feel" safe on the road at high speeds. Feels like front end driver side has a major problem waiting to happen and dealer says it is fine. Any bumps or potholes make it sound like the front driver wheel from the joint is going to come loose sometime.
While driving the engine light was flashing , suddenly the vehicle lost power. Dealer stated, spring broke over the third valve. Consumer indicated that the vehicle was not any longer under warranty so she had to pay.
Nar 05/21/2003 *mr loud popping in front end,passenger side window defective, back doors breaking from in side handles.
While driving at 45mph, the vehicle will make a vibration making hard to drive. Dealer has inspected four times. Please provide further information. As you mentioned you bought this vehicle on 10/26/2002 call 800/922-1594 state attorney general office for lemon law. Ts
The consumer stated, while traveling, the vehicle will wander into traffic. The vehicles tires, have been replace four times. Dealer has been contacted. *nlm the consumer states that she must strong arm to maintain control on the bumpy roads. The consumer has experienced an unsusual case of wandering, clunking noise-bolt missing/4 visits of repair, tire wear/noise vibrations-6 occurences, and alignment/suspension issues-5 occurences, that will not repair. The consumer has had several to many of the same opinions and suggestions of/for repair, and has tried just about everything to remedy the problem(s) and keeps getting the same problems. All with no cooperation/consideration of ford.
Customer states, the cover for door lock and window switches on the driver side and front door is loose and will not stay snapped in place, also the door hinges were replaced.*scc
While driving at 60/65 MPH vehicle will vibrate very badly,could cause loss of control. Contacted dealership.
Front end vibrated violently and jumped when any bump was hit, causing vehicle to lose control. Problem has existed for 20 months. Vehicle was getting close to not being driveable due to vibration problem progressing. Dealer and ford were notified. Please provide more information.
While driving at highway speeds on straightaway owner feels a wiggle or problem keeping truck straight. Truck is unstable. Problem appears to be getting worse. Please describe details.
Steering wheel would vibrate under 5 MPH, dealer and manufacturer were notified. Feel free to provide any further information.
Vehicle shakes violently when accelerating up to 60mph or more. Vehicle has been in for same problem appproximately 4 times. At last incident dealer found that sway bar was broken. Please provide moe information.
While driving 60mph vehicle vibrates. Vehicle pulls to the right severly. Steering wheel is crooked, pulls to the left. Dealer contacted. *ak also, consumer states that there is very bad smell from catalytic converter which ford says it is normal.
Vehicle hesitates upon acceleration and has also stalled on 5 occasions, the dealer has repaired/replaced various componets on the vehicle, however consumer still experiences the same problems.
Major side to side rocking at high-speed emergency avoidance maneuver.
Second notification! The left rear spring on my 2001 explorer has failed again. The vehicle sits cockeyed because the left rear spring is lower than the right front. The truck steering is loose and the truck wanders at high speeds, 50-70 MPH. The truck was taken to the local dealer who said they can't replace the spring until it is 1" out of tolerance. My questions are, is the leaf spring defective on ford explorers? Why does the leaf spring fail? Will the truck roll over if ther is a blow out at high speeds because the truck does not sit level? Finally, I have been driving for 40 years and have never had a leaf spring to fail. Help????
The left rear leaf spring dropped on my explorer. The left rear wheel well was 33" off the ground and the right front wheel well was 35" off the ground. The truck sat cockeyed. The truck steering was loose and the truck wandered at highway speeds, 50-70 MPH. The dealer replaced the leaf spring on 05/03/2001.
During normal operation of vehicle there is a noise coming from all four wheels. Dealership has examined vehicle but could not determine cause of problem. Please proide any additional information/attachments.
Vehicle idled up and down and up and down all the time like its was recycling. Vehicle experienced some loss of power. In may of 2001, consumer took vehicle into dealer for a sulphur smell. Dealer told consumer that vehicle was fine. On 31st of may, engine light came on, and would not go out. Took back to dealer, and the dealer stated consumer needed a new engine. Also, vehicle would not stay on raod when ground was wet. Dealer replaced stabilizer.
I am presenting two problems: first concerns the SUV handling: the vehicle feels like it is going to tip over as we make sharp curves at posted speeds. I have made ford aware of this as a "rider" issue for another problem- the climate control system. It doesn't provide median temperatures. It provides only extremely cold or extremely hot service. I have an active complaint in to the ford and have tried on several occassions to have it repaired by the dealer to no avail. I have a lingering concern about feeling that the SUV is going to tip over and the ultimate safety of the vehicle (although this has not occurred).
While driving 60 MPH vehicle severely pulls to the right or left. Also, noticed that problem becomes more pronounced when vehicle is driven on wet pavement. Dealer has identified probelm as sway bar mechaninsm failure. *ak ford dealer stated firestone tires were the problem, however tires were changed to goodyear and vehicle still felt the same, consumer has had two near accidents due to vehicle problem.
A rollover crash by traveling at 35 MPH on a gravel road. Dealer / manufacturer were notified, waiting on manufacturer's response. *ak seat belt failed.
While traveling at 45 MPH vehicle started to pull to left without warning. Consumer did not know why this happened. Vehicle went off road, and flipped over. Road conditions were good.
Consumer was driving at 35-40 MPH and going into a curve when a very strong vibration occurred in steering wheel and front end. Consumer had to apply brakes in order to keep control of vehicle. This has occurred twice.
When driving steering wheel jerked and vehicle wandered off into another direction. Dealership was aware of problem.
Vehicle was sitting still and was hit on passenger's side. Vehicle flipped over, driver was pinned in vehicle due to vehicle landing on driver's side.
Vehicle has a one inch lean on the left rear side. Communicated, online with several other people who also noticed this unbalance in their explorers. Safety concerned due to accident history of the ford explorer and the possibility that the vehicle is not too heavy on the left side.
Consumer was traveling about 80mph on highway and hit a bump. It was a solid hard hit and suspension didn't hold. Dealership was aware of problem.
Vibration felt through steering wheel, power steering unit and front end suspension experiencing vibration and noise.
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