2001 Ford Explorer Suspension Problems

THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER ON ITS SIDE ON DRY PAVEMENT ON THE FWY AT THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT IN GOOD WEATHER CONDITIONS. NO OTHER VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED, THE CAR SKIDED WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE LANES. I WENT INTO A SKID AND THE CAR TURNED ON ITS SIDE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL SEIZED AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO HEAD TOWARDS ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THERE WAS NO CRASH INVOLVED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE DRIVEN AND WAS TOWED. IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL BEARING DISINTEGRATED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE WHEEL BEARING WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,600.

MAIN PROBLEM AT THE MOMENT IS A CLICKING, KNOCKING NOISE THAT SOUNDS LIKE IS COMING FROM UNDERNEATH TRUCK IN THE MIDDLE. YOU CAN FEEL TRUCK SHAKE/VIBRATE WHEN YOU HEAR THE NOISE. PREVIOUS PROBLEMS LUG BOLTS CAME LOOSE AND ALMOST CAUSE TIRE TO FALL OFF. OTHER PROBLEM TRUCK STARTED OFF SOUNDING LIKE THE BRAKE PADS WERE GOING THEN THE TRUCK STARTED MAKING A HORRIBLE GRINDING NOISE . FELT LIKE THE ENGINE WAS GOING TO FALL OUT. ENDED UP BEING FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. RIM HAD STATTERED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,699.

VEHICLE BODY MOUNTS HAVE DRIED OUT AND CRUMBLES WHEN TOUCHED. THIS DETERIORATION CAUSES THE BODY TO RIDE ON TOP OF THE FRAME WHICH COULD EVENTUALLY RESULT IN OTHER VEHICLE DAMAGE AND POSSIBLE SAFETY ISSUES. THE WORSE I HAVE SEEN ON A FORD. *TR

2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. DURING NORMAL DRIVING, A REAR RATTLE/ BANGING NOISE WOULD OCCUR WHEN GOING OVER ROUGH ROAD OR OVER BUMPS. THIS HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE OVER TIME. INVESTIGATION AND INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE HAD REVEALED THAT ALL THE BODY/FRAME MOUNT BUSHINGS HAVE DETERIORATED TO THE POINT THAT THEY WERE CRUMBLING, LEAVING NO SUPPORT/CUSHION BETWEEN BODY AND FRAME. THIS COULD POTENTIALLY MAKE THE VEHICLE UNSAFE AS THERE WOULD BE NO SUPPORT FOR THE BODY, CAUSE EXCESSIVE BODY MOVEMENT AND A SHIFT IN THE VEHICLE WEIGHT DYNAMICS. THIS ISSUE HAS ALREADY BEEN REPORTED IN SEVERAL VEHICLE SAFETY COMPLAINTS PRIOR TO MINE. *TR

ALL BODY BUSHINGS WERE DEFECTIVE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE BUSHINGS WERE DESICCATED AND HAD CRUMBLED AWAY. THIS MADE THE VEHICLE UNSAFE WHEN CORNERING AS THERE WAS NOTHING TO SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF THE BODY BETWEEN IT AND THE FRAME CAUSING EXCESSIVE MOVEMENT AND COMPROMISE OF CENTER OF GRAVITY. ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC WHO REPLACED MY BUSHINGS, HE HAD SEEN THIS DEFECT ON ALL THE VEHICLES OF THIS MAKE AND MODEL YEAR. HE SAID THAT IT WAS NOT A PROBLEM ON THE 1998 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. I WENT TO A LOCAL JUNK YARD AND LOOKED AT SEVERAL FORD EXPLORER SPORTS AND NOTICED THE SAME DEFECT ON ALL THE 2001 MODEL YEARS. THE 1998 MODEL YEAR HAD BUSHINGS THAT WERE STILL IN GOOD CONDITION. *JS

2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO BUSHING PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE BUSHINGS DISINTEGRATED. THE COST TO REPLACE THEM, WAS $2000. *JB

VEHICLE BODY MOUNTS HAVE DRIED OUT AND CRUMBLES WHEN TOUCHED. THIS DETERIORATION CAUSES THE BODY TO RIDE ON TOP OF THE FRAME WHICH COULD EVENTUALLY RESULT IN OTHER VEHICLE DAMAGE AND POSSIBLE SAFETY ISSUES. APPEARS THE PRODUCT WAS MADE OF SUBSTANDARD MATERIAL AND HAS BEEN WORN OUT FOR QUITE A FEW YEARS. *TR

FORD EXPLORERS MANUFACTURED IN 2001 WERE EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE ENGINEERED BODY TO FRAME BUSHINGS WHICH HAVE COMPLETELY DETERIORATE AND JUST AS EASILY CRUMBLED IN YOUR HAND, NOW, BUT BEGIN DETERIORATING ONLY A FEW SHORT YEARS FROM WHEN NEW. FORD STOPPED USING THIS STYLE MANUFACTURED MOUNT BUSHINGS AFTER THESE FEW MANUFACTURING YEARS BECAUSE THEY KNEW THEY WERE DEFECTIVE. I'VE SPOKEN TO MANY EXPLORER OWNERS WHO HAVE THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM , AND THOSE I ASK TO LOOK UNDER THEIR VEHICLES, WHICH ARE NOT A VISIBLE DEFECT UNLESS UNDER THE CAR AND HANDS-ON INSPECTION, ALSO FOUND THIS PROBLEM. MY VEHICLE IS IN LIKE-NEW CONDITION OTHERWISE AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN GARAGED IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. THESE BODY TO MOUNT BUSHINGS, WHEN DETERIORATED CAUSE SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEMS TO EXPLORER DRIVERS AND ALL OTHERS DRIVING IN OTHER VEHICLES, DUE TO UNEXPECTED SWAYING AND OR BOUNCING POSSIBLY CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH AND CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY TO ANYONE DRIVING NEAR THE EXPLORERS. I BELIEVE, AND AM SURE, THAT THE MATERIAL MIX OF THE RUBBER/SILICONE BUSHINGS WAS COMPROMISED DURING MANUFACTURING AND THESE VEHICLES SHOULD IMMEDIATELY RECALLED TO REPLACE THESE BUSHINGS WHICH SHOULD LAST THE LIFETIME OF THE VEHICLE. CARS 40 PLUS YEARS OLD HAVE BODY TO FRAME BUSHINGS STILL IN GOOD CONDITION. FOR THESE BUSHINGS TO START DETERIORATING AFTER ONLY A FEW YEARS AND BEING COMPLETELY USELESS AT THIS AGE AND CONDITION OF VEHICLE IS UNHEARD OF. NOW IS THE TIME TO MAKE SURE ALL EXPLORER SPORT OWNERS IN THE 2001 PLUS OR MINUS VICINITY BE NOTIFIED BY FORD OF THIS DEFECT. PLEASE LOOK UNDER ANY EXPLORER SPORT MADE IN 2001 , AND YOU CAN CONFIRM MY FINDINGS. ALSO, HAVE A PRIVATE ENGINEER TEST THE BUSHING RUBBER/SILICONE MATERIALS USED IN THIS YEAR RANGE, AND I ASSURE YOU THEY WILL BACK MY CLAIM. *TR

REAR END OF CAR THUMPED EVERY TIME YOU WOULD GO OVER THE SMALLEST SEPARATION IN THE ROAD AND ALSO ON A BUMPY ROAD. REPLACED REAR END SHOCKS. STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM OF THUMPING. SOME TIMES IT FEELS LIKE I'M GOING TO LOOSE THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE. I WAS TOLD POSSIBLY NOW THAT BACK BUSHINGS HOLDING THE BODY TO THE FRAME MAY BE DISINTEGRATED. VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND GARAGED. I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THERE HAVE BEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS OCCURRING NOW WITH THIS 2001 MODEL. YOU WOULD THINK THERE WOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL BY FORD TO FIX THESE BUSHING PROBLEMS. *TR

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND HEARD BANGING/BUMPING NOISE COMING FROM REAR OF VEHICLE. INITIALLY THOUGHT THAT JACK HAD CAME LOOSE FROM HOLDER LOCATED IN FENDER WELL COMPARTMENT. UPON INSPECTION JACK WAS FOUND TO BE TIGHT IN HOLDER. NOTICED THAT YOU COULD HEAR THE BANGING NOISE WHEN ROCKING THE VEHICLE UP AND DOWN. CARRIED VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED IT AND FOUND THAT THE RIGHT REAR BODY INSULATOR HAD DETERIORATED AND FELL OUT ALLOWING THE EXPLORER'S BODY TO RIDE DIRECTLY ON THE FRAME. MECHANIC STATED THAT HE FELT IT WOULD BE SAFE TO DRIVE VEHICLE BUT ADVISED TOO, THAT IT COULD DAMAGE THE BODY BECAUSE IT WAS RIDING DIRECTLY ON FRAME.COST TO REPAIR = $325 ($110 LABOR + $167 FOR NEW CHASSIS BODY INSULATOR PURCHASED FROM A LOCAL FORD DEALER + 40 FOR USED BODY MOUNT SUPPORTS PURCHASED AT A LOCAL SALVAGE YARD + 8 IN TAXES). MECHANIC HAD TO ALSO TIGHTEN BOLTS ON HINGES HOLDING REAR LIFT GATE ON. MILEAGE ON VEHICLE WAS 108,000. *TR

BODY MOUNTS DETERIORATE BEFORE THEIR TIME AND BALL JOINT FAIL. *TR

AS MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THE FORD EXPLORER SPORT HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT, THERE IS A VERY LOUD BANGING COMING FROM THE REAR END OF MY SUV WHENEVER I DRIVE OVER EVEN THE SLIGHTEST BUMP OR ROUGH ROAD. I HAVE REPLACED THE SHOCKS BUT IT DID NOT MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE TO THIS PROBLEM. IT STILL IS SO LOUD AND THE RIDE REMAINS VERY ROUGH. I NOW UNDERSTAND THAT THE BODY MOUNT BUSHINGS HAVE DETERIORATED AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED TO IMPROVE THE RIDE AND MAKE THE VEHICLE SAFE TO DRIVE AGAIN. *TR

FOUND THAT AFTER APPROX.80,000 MILES THAT ALL THE BODY SUPPORT BUSHING HAD DRIED OUT AND CRUMBLED.. THIS CAUSE SEVER LACK OF CONTROL. CORNERING WAS ACCOMPANIED WITH LOUD BODY METAL BANGING. THE TRUCK WAS TAKEN OUT OF SERVICE AND REPAIRED. THE BODY WAS RAISED OFF THE FRAME AND ALL BUSHING WHERE REPLACED AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. FORD WOULD NOT COMPLETE THIS WORK UNDER WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH IT IS A GROSS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

CPSC#I12A0111A. 2001 FORD EXPLORER. CONSUMER STATED THAT A DAY AFTER SHE BROUGHT THE CAR IT BROKE DOWN. *LN THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE, AS WELL AS A HOLE IN GAS TANK, WHICH HAD RUSTED OUT, THE BEARINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, THE TIRE WERE DRY ROTTED, AS THEY KEPT GOING FLAT, THE DRIVER'S DOOR DID NOT LOCK, THE REAR DOORS DID NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE, THE REAR DRIVER'S DOOR DID NOT OPEN AT ALL, THE OUTSIDE HANDLE WAS BROKE, THE REAR HATCH WOULD NOT CLOSE, AND MOST OF THE TIME IT HAD TO BE SLAMMED SHUT.

HEARING NOISE BOTH DOWN THE DRIVERS SIDE AND THE FRONT I TOOK MY TRUCK TO THE KNOWN TOP NOTCH SHOP FOR SUSPENSION. IT WAS THERE THAT I WAS TOLD THAT MY BODY/CAB MOUNT BUSHINGS (INSULATORS) WERE SHOT. THEY CRUMBLE IN YOUR HAND IF YOU TOUCH IT. THE QUOTE TO FIX $1100.00 ! ! ! I CALLED THE DEALER AND TO MY SHOCKING SURPRISE JUST THE PARTS (FOUR SETS) DIRECTLY UNDER THE CAB ARE $550....UNBELIEVABLE. THE REASON THE LABOR IS SO HIGH - BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO PULL THE INTERIOR TO GET TO THE BLOTS..FORD IN ALL THEIR WISDOM PUT THEM IN TOP SIDE DOWN ! MY BROTHER LOOKED AT IT FURTHER AND FOUND I WAS MISSING THE DRIVERS BACK BOLT ALL TOGETHER (LOOK INSIDE THE STORAGE BEHIND BACK SEAT)...NEVER THERE. I TOOK MY TRUCK INTO TO SEE WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY ABOUT THE NOISE FRONT AND SIDE. THE MECHANIC WAS PASSIVE ABOUT THE BODY BUSHINGS, CHUCKLED WHEN I ASKED ABOUT PUTTING IN THE MISSING BOLT AND COULD NOT FIND THE FRONT END NOISE. ASKED IF IT COULD BE THE STRUT HE TOLD ME I DID NOT HAVE THEM...ONLY TO CRAWL UNDER THE TRUCK AFTER WE RETURNED FROM THE TEST DRIVE AND SAID OOPS I LIED YOU DO HAVE THEM ! FORD REALLY NEEDS TO GET BETTER MECHANICS AND BETTER MATERIALS. THEY SCREWED UP BY BREAKS THE LAST TIME I WAS THERE SO NEEDLESS TO SAY I WILL NEVER TRUST THEM AGAIN. ANYWAY, WHEN I ASKED WHAT WAS THE BUSHINGS MADE OF, I WAS TOLD ..RUBBER...ONE OF THEIR OWN PART GUYS CONTACTED THE MFG....HE TOO WAS TOLD RUBBER. FOUND ON THE INTERNET...IT IS ACTUALLY.. RUBBER FOAM. ARE YOU KIDDING ME..NO WONDER IT CRUMBLES ! I WAS TOLD THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO FOR ME. I AM AFFRAID EVERY TIME I GET IN MY TRUCK BUT HAVE NO OTHER MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION NOR CAN I BUY ANYTHING. SAME ON FORD ! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *TT

A CLUNKING NOISE UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT. IN LOOKING AT IT, IS SEEMS THERE IS A WORN BODY BUSHING. INVESTIGATION ON THE WEB SHOWS SEVERAL INCIDENCES OF SOMETHING LIKE THIS. THE NOISE HAS GOTTEN WORSE, THE VEHICLE NOW HAS 54000 MILES ON IT.I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. *TR

I HAVE A 2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT WHICH I BOUGHT NEW. I HAVE ALWAYS MAINTAINED IT PROPERLY AND I BABIED THE VEHICLE. I HAVE REPLACED MANY PARTS ON IT IN THE LAST THREE YEARS FROM BALL JOINTS TO HUB ASSEMBLIES MANY EXPENSIVE REPAIRS. NOW IT IS MAKING NOISE IN THE REAR END AND MY MECHANIC HAS INFORMED ME THAT THE REAR END MAY GO AT ANY TIME. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS AND FIND THAT MANY OTHER FORD OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM BUT IT IS NOT CONSIDERED A RECALL. I AM NOT IN THE FINANCIAL SITUATION AT THIS TIME TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED AND IT IS MY FEELING WITH SO MANY PEOPLE HAVING THIS PROBLEM WITH THEIR EXPLORERS IT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A RECALL. I KNOW THAT THIS WON'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO ANYONE AND I'LL JUST HAVE TO STRUGGLE ALONG WITH THE PROBLEM UNTIL I CAN SAVE THE MONEY TO HAVE IT REPAIRED BUT YOU CAN BET IF I HADN'T PAID MY PAYMENTS WHILE THE CAR WAS FINANCED THROUGH FORD MOTOR CREDIT YEARS AGO THAT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN REPOED IN NO TIME FLAT. FUNNY HOW THOSE BIG COMPANIES CAN KEEP TRACK OF THOSE THINGS BUT FORGET ABOUT THE SAFETY ISSUES OF THE PRODUCTS THEY PRODUCE. GUESS I'LL HAVE TO GO BACK TO A GRAND PRIX WHEN I MAKE MY NEXT PURCHASE. THE FIELDS TO FILL OUT ASK THE QUESTION "WERE THERE ANY DEATHS OR INJURIES" THERE IS NO WHERE TO CHECK OFF "NOT YET" GO FIGURE.............. *TR

REAR PASSENGER SIDE LEAF SPRING WAS FOUND TO BE CRACKED AROUND BUSHINGS FRONT AND REAR WHEN REMOVED FOR REPLACEMENT. 3 FORD DEALERS AND 3 OTHER SHOPS COULD NOT SEE THIS OVER A PERIOD OF 90,000 MILES. IT WASN'T TILL THE BUSHINGS ON THE OTHER SIDE STARTED TO WEAR AND I DECIDED TO REPLACE THE ALL THE COMPONENTS THAT IT WAS FOUND WHEN THE LEAF SPRING SUDDENLY FELL OUT AFTER REMOVING THE U-BOLTS. *TR