2000 Ford Excursion Suspension Problems

2000 FORD EXCURSION, UNIT 1 WAS DRIVING EASTBOUND ON THE OHIO TURNPIKE IN THE MIDDLE LANE WHEN THE LEFT FRONT AXLE BROKE CAUSING THE WHEEL TO COME OFF. VEHICLE CAME TO FINAL REST ON THE SOUTH SIDE SHOULDER. *BF THE LEFT FRONT AXLE HAD BROKEN OFF, THE LEFT FRONT ROTOR TO THE WHEEL WAS DAMAGED AND THE LEFT FRONT SIDE OF THE BUMPER WAS SLIGHTLY DENTED INWARD TOWARD THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0303-90)*JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE SUSPENSION: FRONT CONTROL ARM: UPPER BALL JOINTS AND THE SUSPENSION: FRONT CONTROL ARM: LOWER BALL JOINTS HAD PREMATURELY WORN OUT. THE OLD PARTS WERE NOT MANUFACTURED WITH GREASE FITTINGS AS WERE THE REPLACEMENT PARTS. THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED.

2000 FORD EXCURSION HAS AN OCCASIONAL VIBRATION COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. *MR THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE HAD A CUT IN THE SIDEWALL WHEN THE CONSUMER FIRST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER AGREED TO REPLACE ALL OF THE TIRES. THE CONSUMER NOTICED A VIBRATION THAT SEEMED TO BE COMING FROM THE RIGHT REAR, WITH AN OCCASIONAL VIBRATION IN THE FRONT. IT STARTED AT ABOUT 55 AND CONTINUED UNTIL ABOUT 70. THE DEALER THEN REPLACED THE REAR TIRES AGAIN. THEY REBALANCED ALL FOUR TIRES. THE VIBRATION WAS STILL THERE. THEY FOUND THIS PROBLEM IN ANOTHER EXCURSION BUT WORSE. *SC *JB

BALL JOINT FAILURE ON 2000 FORD EXCURSION. THE VEHICLE HAS 67000 MILES WITH NO TOWING OR SEVERE USE. FORD HAS NO GREASE JOINTS AVAILABLE. I DETECTED DUE TO VIBRATION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *AK

BOTH SPRING OF SUSPENSION BOTTOMED OUT, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SWERVE WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. *AK

MY EXCURSION HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP 8+ TIMES SINCE PURCHASE IN 12-2002. THE BRAKES AND SUSPENSION ARE THE TOP RECURRING PROBLEMS. I DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH ROOM TO CONCLUDE ALL PROBLEMS. BRAKES HAVE BEEN SERVICED 3 TIMES AT DEALERSHIP, I HAVE ASKED THEM TO LOOK AT THE BRAKES TWO TIMES IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS BECAUSE OF DIFFICULTY STOPPING, THEY FIND NO PROBLEMS. I DON'T SEE HOW THEY CAN TELL WHEN MY MILEAGE IN IS THE SAME AS MY MILEAGE OUT. I DON'T THINK FORD WANTS TO DEAL WITH THIS PROBLEM. THEY ARE WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO DIE, AND IN THIS HUGE VEHICLE IT IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE A MAJOR ACCIDENT FOR THAT TO OCCUR. WHY DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE BEFORE THIS VEHICLE IS RECALLED. I AM AFRAID FOR MY AND MY FAMILY'S LIFE. I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE FOR SAFETY AND COMFORT, AND I AM AFRAID OF IT. I HAVE TRIED TRADING IT IN BUT WORD MUST BE OUT BECAUSE NO ONE WANTS TO GIVE ME ANYTHING FOR IT. WHAT DO MYSELF AND SO MANY OTHERS HAVE TO DO TO GET THIS PROBLEM TAKEN CARE OFF. *AK

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, VEHICLE PULLS SIGNIFICANTLY INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC OR TO THE LEFT. DEALER NOTIFIED, BUT UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *YH

AT SPEEDS OF 40 MPH AND OVER VEHICLE SHAKES/VIBRATES AND PULLS TO THE SIDE. DEALER IS UNABLE TO REMEDY. *AK

STEERING WHEEL COLUMN PULLED TO LEFT, AND WHEN APPLYING BRAKES VEHICLE WANDERED AWAY. *AK

AUGUTS 7, 2001 - TRAVELING ON A HIGHWAY WITH SPEED LIMIT OF 65MPH AND THE TEMPERATURE WAS 101. APPROXIMATELY 25 MINUTES INTO MY DRIVE I NOTICE VIBRATION IN MY STEERING WHEEL AND THE VEHICLE FELT LIKE IT HAD A SCUTTLE SHAKE WHICH CONTINUED TO GET WORSE. I STOPPED AND LOOKED AT MY FRONT TIRES AND UNDERNEATH THE FRONT END FOR ANY OBVIOUS DEFECTS. DIDN'T LOOK AT THE BACK TIRES CLOSELY BECAUSE I ASSUMED IT WAS A FRONT END PROBLEM DUE TO THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION. WHEN I GOT BACK ON THE HIGHWAY THE PROBLEM WAS GETTING WORSE (SHAKING HARDER) SO I STOPPED ONCE AGAIN TO LOOK AT THE FRONT END. I HAPPENED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE REAR TIRES WHILE STANDING A DISTANCE AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE. MY DRIVER'S SIDE REAR TIRE TREAD WAS SEVERLY WARPED. FIRESTONE DEALER REPLACED TIRE IMMEDIATELY. I FEEL THAT IF I HAD IGNORED THESE OBVIOUS WARNING SIGNS AND KEPT ON DRIVING, I WOULD HAVE HAD A BLOW OUT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE HIGH TEMPERATURE WAS MOST LIKELY A FACTOR IN THE TIRE'S FAILURE.*AK (TIRESIZE: LT26575R16)

AT FOUR THOUSAND MILES A POPPING NOISE COULD BE HEARD COMING FROM ENGINE. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER FOR THIS PROBLEM. VEHICLE WAS DEEMED UNSAFE, AND WAS TRADED FOR A 2001 MODEL. CONSUMER BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 65 AND 75 MPH T VEHICLE WOULD START VIBRATING. DEALER COULD NOT FIND OUT WHERE VIBRATION WAS COMING FROM. THEY BELIEVED IT WAS MANUFACTURER'S FRAUD. *AK

RUBBER MOUNT ATTACHED TO BOTTOM OF FRAME IS TOUCHING THE SPRING, CAUSING VEHICLE TO BOTTOM OUT, AND FRONT END TO SHIFT FROM SIDE TO SIDE ON A GRAVEL ROAD. THERE IS ONLY APPROXIMATELY LESS THAN 1/8 OF A INCH OF CLEARANCE WHICH IS NOT ENOUGH TO ABSORB SHOCK. OTHER FORD HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS HAVE 3 TO 3 1\2 INCH OF CLEARANCE. *AK *SLC

IT WILL NOT PULL 10,000 POUNDS. IT HAS A STABILITY PROBLEM. PULING 5000 POUND CAUSE ROLLOVER. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOVE 45 MPH AND MAKING A STOP VEHICLE GOES TO THE LEFT WHICH MAY CAUSE A CRASH. FORD IS AWARE OF PROBLEM, BUT HAS NO SOLUTION. *AK

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, VEHICLE PULLS SLIGHTLY AT SLOWER SPEEDS 15-40 MPH AND VIOLENTLY AT SPEEDS ABOVE 55 MPH, THE PULLING WOULD OCCUR TO BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDES AND INTENSIFY AS THE BRAKES GET HOTTER, DEALER REPLACED DISC BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS, ALIGNED FRONT END AND ROTATED TIRES, HOWEVER REPAIRS DID NOT REMEDY PROBLEM, TECH STATES THAT ENGINEERS ARE WORKING ON REPAIR SOLUTION. *TT

WHILE DRIVING AND WHEN MAKING A RIGHT OR A LEFT HAND TURN CONSUMER HAS NOTICED A VERY LOUD KNOCKING NOISE WHEN TURNING. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. *AK SWAY BAR REPAIRED. MOUNTS, BUSHINGS, BOLTS AND SPRINGS WERE MISSING. STEERING WAS LOST TWICE. THE DEALER HAD TRIED TO REPAIR BUT THE PROBLEM STILL CONTINUED. *YH

MY SUV DRIVES VERY UNSTABLE AT ANY SPEED. IT SEEMS TO BOUNCE WHILE GOING DOWN A FLAT SMOOTH ROAD. BOB BELL FORD HAD IT FOR 1 WEEK AND FINALLY FOUND THE PROBLEM WHEN I WROTE A LETTER DEMANDING THAT THEY EITHER FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM OR GIVE ME A NEW TRUCK. 1/2 HOUR AFTER MY TELEPHONE CALL TO THEM WHERE IN THEY ADVISED ME THEY HAD NO IDEA WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS BUT THAT THEY HAD THE ENTIRE TRUCK TORE APART, AND 1/2 HOUR AFTER RECEIVING MY LETTER MAKING A DEMAND, THEY FIGURED OUT THE SO-CALLED PROBLEMS. THE SWAY BAR WAS UPSIDE DOWN AND THEY SAID SOMETHING ABOUT BOLTS NOT BEING PUT IN AT THE ASSEMBLY LINE AND THAT IS WHY WE WERE GETTING A CLANKING NOISE. WE PICKED UP THE TRUCK, ONLY TO HAVE IT BEGIN AGAIN THE NEXT DAY. IF YOU GO OVER A SPEED BUMP SLOWLY OR GO UP A DIP, ETC. THE TRUCK BOUNCES YOU ALL OVER THE PLACE, AS IF IT IS GOING TO ROLL. WHEN YOU PUT THE BRAKES ON IT SHAKES VIOLENTLY, AND BOUNCES TO THE POINT IT IS AS THOUGH THE BRAKES ARE BEING BOUNCED FROM STOPPING THE TRUCK. I AM SCARED SOMETHING IS WRONG AND IT IS GOING TO COST MY FAMILY, ME OR SOMEONE ELSE THEIR LIFE. FORD HAS NO IDEA WHAT THE HECK IS WRONG, THEY TELL US ALL SORTS OF OFF THE WALL REASONS. AT FIRST THEY EVEN SAID OH WE DON'T SEE A PROBLEM, BUT THEN AFTER SAYING THEY DID NOT SEE A PROBLEM THEY TORE MY TRUCK APART. EXPLAIN THAT, WHY WOULD YOU TEAR MY TRUCK APART IF YOU DON'T SEE A PROBLEM. IT TOOK THEM ONE WEEK AND IT STILL IS NOT FIXED. I PURCHASED A $38,000.00 SUV THAT VIBRATES ALL OVER THE PLACE, IS VERY DIFFICULT TO STOP BECAUSE OF THE VIBRATION AND BOUNCES WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, IN OTHER WORDS I AM DRIVING A ROLLER COASTER ON WHEELS THAT IS GOING TO COME OFF THE TRACK AND KILL PEOPLE. IF NHTSA CAN HELP, WE WOULD BE TRULY GRATEFUL. SOMEONE HAS TO FIND OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH MY TRUCK BEFORE IT KILLS US OR SOMEONE ELSE. I WANT AN EXCURSION, BUT I AM REALLY VERY SCARED OF THIS ONE. PLEASE HELP US, VELMA AND KEITH DIETZ. THANK YOU. *AK

THE TIRE FAILURE WAS A BLOWOUT. THE WHOLE SIDEWALL SHREDDED. FIRESTONE SAID IT WAS A ROAD HAZARD EVEN THOUGH WE DID NOT HIT ANYTHING. FORD WOULD NOT REPLACE BECAUSE THEY DON'T COVER TIRES. THE FUEL GAUGE WAS REPLACED TWICE BY THE DEALER. THE FIRST TIME, THE GAUGE READ 1/4 TANK LEFT AND IT WAS DRY. THE SECOND TIME THE GAUGE READ 1/4 TANK AND IT WAS MORE THAN 1/2 FULL. THE FRONT STABLIZER ASSEMBLY WAS POPPING SO HARD YOU COULD HEAR AND FEEL IT. THE DEALER REPLACED IT. IT SEEMS TO BE POPPING AGAIN BUT I HAVEN'T TAKEN IT BACK IN YET. I'M GETTING TIRED OF TAKING IT IN. THE REAR SIDE WINDOW MOTOR WAS DYING SO I HAD IT REPAIRED. DURING REPAIR, THEY NOTICED THE GLUED PIECE THAT THE MOTOR ATTACHED TO WAS COMING OFF AND HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE WINDOW. WHEN DOES THE LEMON CLAUSE COME INTO EFFECT???( DOT NUMBER: 008102 TIRE SIZE: LT26575R16 )

WHEN DRIVING FRONT END BOUNCES UP AND DOWN/ UP AND DOWN. CONSUMER HAS TO SLOW DOWN TO KEEP CONTROL. CONSUMER STATED IT WAS FRONT END, MAY BE POOR SHARKS. *AK