2004 Ford Explorer Tires & Wheels Problems

on 5/6/21 at Ramp Ford 4869 Nesconset Hwy.,Pt. Jeff.Sts.,NY at 10:00am dealer sevice Mgr. met with NYSDMV Auto Facilities Inspector on a claim against Mavis Discount Tire,556 Route 25A, Mt Sinai,NY case 1Pi-01937 on a right rear wheel. Ramp removed R/R wheel to inspect with state inspector, appears like axle nut on r/r has not been removed r/0361772. On 7/12/21 Mt. Sina Tire r/0 7828-18 when fixing a tire flat, found r/r one broken stud,one addition lug nut missing from r/r wheel. Immediately Ramo service manager denied his tech improperly reassembled r/r wheel nuts on all five wheel assembly studs. With three studs the Ford vehicle was in inimanent highway danger. Such lost of 40% of wheel nuts may have caused lost of life. Mt. Sinai tire replaced fourth missing nut, fixed flat and scheduled fifth wheel assembly stud. Ramp 's general manager was imformed of poor and dangerios service and stated he was not a mechanic! Reimbursement for 5/6/21 were denied by dealer! Dealers .denies any warantees of labor since customer signed their disclaimer. All repairs are provided by the dealer facility1520504 AS IS WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY OF GUARANTEE! This disclaimer was only signed by non-owner after inspector left dealer. Inspector has pictures and stated he did not see the reassembly of r/r brakes, calebre, wheel nuts after inspection was completed. This was a dangerious omission of not properly torquing nut to Ford Motor spec. FORD MOTOR denies any warantee of repairs by Ramp.

MICHELIN CROSSTERRAIN TIRES SUFFERING TREAD SEPARATION. THREE OUT OF FOUR SO FAR. HAD I NOT BEEN PAYING ATTENTION TO THIS PROBLEM IT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY..

WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK LAST WEEK I NOTICED A SLIGHT 'BUMPING' FEEL LIKE AN UNBALANCED TIRE, SO I TOOK A LOOK WHEN I GOT TO MY DRIVEWAY BUT FOUND NOTHING. THE NEXT DAY ON MY WAY TO WORK THE "BUMPING' WAS MUCH WORSE SO I STOPPED TO CHECK AND FOUND A LARGE BULGE ON THE TREAD OF THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. AFTER SLOWLY RETURNING HOME I REMOVED IT AND SET IT ASIDE. A FEW HOURS LATER THE THREADS WERE SEPARATING BADLY SO I LET THE AIR OUT BEFORE IT BLEW APART. I ORDERED A REPLACEMENT TIRE (DIFFERENT BRAND) BUT I'VE STILL GOT THREE MORE OF THESE ON THE VEHICLE .THEY HAVE 36K MILES ON THEM AND A 60K WARRANTY WITH ONLY MODEST THREAD WEAR BUT I STILL CHECK THEM EVERY DAY. I DON'T FEEL SAFE.*DT CONSUMER STATED HE STILL HAS A DEFECTIVE TIRE.*JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WHEEL STUDS DETACHED ON MULTIPLE TIRES WHILE DRIVING. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES ON MULTIPLE WHEELS ON DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN ONCE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE STUDS WERE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT SHE REPLACED MULTIPLE STUDS HERSELF. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000.

THE RIGHT REAR PASSENGER WHEEL CAME OFF MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER WHEN I WAS DRIVING WESTBOUND ON INTERSTATE 70 NEAR KINGDOM CITY, MO. ALL FIVE (5) BOLTS AND LUG NUTS SECURING THE WHEEL/TIRE WERE BROKEN OFF. MY WIFE AND I WERE TRAVELING AT 70 MPH IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE OF INTERSTATE WHEN THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOUD NOISE FROM THE REAR AND THE VEHICLE SWERVED VIOLENTLY TO THE RIGHT AND THEN LEFT. THE VEHICLE SPUN AND ENTERED INTO THE GRASS MEDIAN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSTATE AND THE CABLE STOPPING SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE BECAME ENTWINED WITH THE CABLE SYSTEM CAUSING IT TO FLIP ON ITS SIDE AND COME TO REST. THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, BUT THE FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT. MY WIFE AND I HAD DIFFICULTY RELEASING THE SEAT BELTS SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS LAYING ON ITS RIGHT SIDE. I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO RELEASE BOTH SEAT BELTS AND OPEN THE SUN ROOF FOR BOTH OF US TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINE AREA WAS SMOKING, BUT DID NOT CATCH FIRE. LUCKILY, MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER DID NOT COMPLETELY ROLL OVER OR THAT MY VEHICLE NOR MY LOOSE REAR WHEEL AND TIRE DID NOT HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WERE NEAR ME ON INTERSTATE 70 AT THE TIME OF THIS ACCIDENT. UPON EXAMINATION OF RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL, THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL AND TIRE WERE COMPLETELY MISSING AND THE FIVE (5) LUG BOLTS HAD ALL SHEARED. THERE APPEARED TO QUITE A BIT OF FLUID AROUND THE WHEEL WELL. IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN BRAKE FLUID. WE WERE ABLE TO FIND ONE OF THE LUG NUTS, WHICH STILL HAD A PART OF THE SHEARED BOLT REMAINING INSIDE. I WOULD NEVER HAVE THOUGHT THAT ALL FIVE LUG BOLTS SECURING THE WHEEL AND TIRE COULD FRACTURE AND SHEAR ALLOWING THE WHEEL AND TIRE TO BECOME FREE OF THE VEHICLE AXLE. THE MISSOURI STATE HIGHWAY PATROL WROTE UP AN ACCIDENT REPORT, #150733145. MY WIFE AND I WERE PRETTY SHAKEN UP BY THE ACCIDENT. HER RIGHT SIDE, ARM AND WRIST AND MY HEAD, NECK AND SIDE HURT AFTER THE ACCIDENT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER EQUIPPED WITH CAPITOL PRECISION TRAC II TIRES, SIZE: 245/65R17. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS ALERTED BY ANOTHER DRIVER THAT THERE WAS A BULGE IN THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE TIRE HAD A BULGE ON THE OUTSIDE WALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14T013000 (TIRES). THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,000 AND APPROXIMATE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,500. THE DOT NUMBER AND VIN WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

BOUGHT MY USED 2004 EXPLORER A WEEK PRIOR AND HAD TO HAVE THE BACK WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED. USED DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD HELP OUT AND NEVER FOLLOWED THRU. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, A RATTLING SOUND EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. AFTER PARKING AND INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT FOUR LUG NUTS WERE DETACHED FROM THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE AND TWO OF THE RIM SPOKES WERE CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

CAR STARTS BUT WILL GO FORWARD WHEN SHIFTED IN REVERSE. TURNED THE CAR OFF THEN BACK ON, BUT WHEN I WOULD PUT THE CAR BACK IN REVERSE OR DRIVE, IT STALLED OUT. HAD IT TOWED AND THEN IT WAS FINE AFTER THAT. NOW ITS ABOUT 6 MONTHS LATER, NOW MY ORANGE WRENCH LIGHT POPS UP AND CRUISE CONTROL SHUTS OFF AT 65MPH. THEN IT JERKS A COUPLE TIMES. HAVE HAD IT CHECKED AND CAME BACK WITH 14 CODES MAINLY FOR TRANSMISSION.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND VIBRATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPLACED THE STUDS ON BOTH FRONT WHEELS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,884.

I HAD JUST GOT ON THE FREEWAY WHEN THE REAR OF MY TRUCK STARTED SHAKING. I KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG SO I EXITED THE FREEWAY AT THE FOLLOWING EXIT. I WAS DRIVING ON THE SIDE STREETS TO GET HOME AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH. I TURNED A CORNER AND HEARD AND FELT THE REAR END OF MY TRUCK FALL. THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE FELL OFF AS I WAS TURNING THE CORNER. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION ALL THE LUGS EXCEPT ONE WERE SHEARED OFF. WE HAD THE TRUCK TOWED TO OUR MECHANIC'S SHOP. THE MECHANIC COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT HAD CAUSED THIS. WE HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE ALL THE BALL JOINTS WITH THE REAR PASSENGER BALL JOINT BEING REPLACED TWICE NOW. OUR MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO REPLACE ALL THE LUGS AND PULL THE REAR CORNER PANEL BACK OUT BUT THE INCIDENT RUINED THE RIM WHICH WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. A WEEK LATER I ASKED MY SON TO CHECK THE LUGS ON THE TIRE AND 2 WERE LOOSE AGAIN. *TR

WHILE DRIVING HOME AT 25 MPH, I HEARD AND FELT A VIBRATION FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR. SINCE I WAS ONLY A FEW HUNDRED YARDS FROM MY PARKING LOT I CONTINUED DIRECTLY INTO THE PARKING LOT (ONLY MINOR TURNS WERE NECESSARY). UPON ENTERING THE PARKING LOT, I TURNED THE CAR LEFT TO PARK IN MY SPOT. IMMEDIATELY AFTER TURNING THE WHEEL LEFT, THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE CAR COLLAPSED. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND NOTICED THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL HAD FALLEN OFF AND THE ENTIRE HUB (AND CAR FRONT END) ACTUALLY LANDED INSIDE THE WHEEL (THUS MINIMIZING SECONDARY DAMAGE). UPON CLOSER INSPECTION, I FOUND 2 LUG NUTS STILL ATTACHED TO THE STUDS ON THE GROUND NEXT TO THE WHEEL. INSPECTION OF THE HUB SHOWED THAT 4 OF THE 5 STUDS HAD SHEARED OFF FLUSH WITH THE HUB (THERE WAS ONE STUD REMAINING ON THE HUB). NEXT DAY, I REPLACED THE ENTIRE HUB ASSEMBLY AND CHECKED THE TORQUES ON THE OTHER 3 WHEELS. I HAD TO HAVE A BODY SHOP REPLACE THE FRONT FENDER (IT WAS JAMMED UP AND BACK INTO THE HOOD AND PASSENGER DOOR). I STILL HAVE THE OLD HUB ASSEMBLY. *TR

DAUGHTER DRIVING VEHICLE, RIGHT WHEEL BEARING CEASED, CAUSING REAR END OF VEHICLE TO FISH TAIL, HAD TO DRIVE HOME ON BACK ROAD (NOT HIGHWAY) AS THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE FLIPPED. CAR WAS SMOKING SO BAD, COULD NOT BE PLACED INTO GARAGE AS IT WOULD HAVE BURNED DOWN THE HOUSE. HAD TO BE TOWED, DAMAGED FROM BEARING TO REAR AXEL AND EMERGENCY BRAKE/CABLES. IF SHE WERE ON THE HIGHWAY SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. THERE ARE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, WHAT WILL IT TAKE? ANYONE HEARD OF ANY CLASS ACTIONS TO MAKE FORD STEP UP TO BAT AND RECALL THESE UNSAFE VEHICLES? *TR

WHEN DRIVING TO WORK I BEGAN TO HEAR A NOISE IN THE FRONT END PART OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER LEAVING WORK AND DRIVING LESS THAN 1 MILE THE NOISE GOT LOUD, SO I PULLED OVER AND WAITED FOR A TOW TRUCK. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A SHOP AND FIXED. 1 YEAR AND 1 WEEK LATER IT HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. *TR

WHILE DRIVING NORTH ON US23 AT BRIGHTON MI THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL AND TIRE SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE FRACTURE OF THE 5 WHEEL LUGS. ACCORDING TO THE MSP THIS IS A COMMON OCCURANCE BECAUSE OF METAL FATIGUE CAUSED BY THE IMPROPER USE OF IMPACT AND NOT TORQUE WRENCHES WHEN THE VEHICLE IS SERVICED. THE PROBLEM IS BEING IGNORED BY THE AUTO MANUFACTURERS, AND I HAVE FOUND PUBLICATIONS ON THIS SUBJECT MATTER. THERE ARE LIKELY MILLIONS OF AFFECTED VEHICLES IN SERVICE, AND THE WHEEL LOSS WOULD PRODUCE RESULTS SIMILAR TO THE PREVIOUS FORD/FIRESTONE TIRE PROBLEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THERE WAS A VIBRATION COMING FROM THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WHEEL. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE WHEEL WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 144,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC WITH MASTERCRAFT COURSER A/T 2 TIRES (SIZE: LT265/75R16). WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE EXPLODED, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE HIGHWAY MEDIAN. THE FRONT AXLE AND TIE ROD FRACTURED DURING THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A FRACTURED BACK AND A CONCUSSION. THE CONTACT WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE. THE POLICE REPORTED TO THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08T005000 (TIRES:SIDEWALL) THAT COULD HAVE BEEN RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THE RECALL THE DOT NUMBER WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE WAS 110,000. ...UPDATED 07/19/12 *BF

WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY AND GOT OFF WENT TO TURN. THE LUG NUTS SHEARD OFF, THOUGHT IT WAS A FLAT TIRE. THIS HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES. THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS. I HAD MY KIDS IN THE VEHICLE ALL THREE TIMES. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THIS MATTER RESOLVED.

THE FIRST TIRE I HAD PROBLEMS WITH WAS THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE THAT KEPT GOING FLAT, I HAD IT CHECKED TO BE FIXED WHEN THE SERVICE MAN SHOWED ME THE DEFECT IN THE TIRE. THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE HAD A SLIT OR WHERE THE SEAM WAS SPLITTING ALL THE WAY AROUND THE TIRE, ONLY ON THE INSIDE. I HAD TO REPLACE THE TIRE AND WENT AHEAD AND REPLACED THE FRONT LEFT TIRE AS WELL. TWO WEEKS LATER DRIVING MY THREE CHILDREN AND MY GRANDMOTHER TO GO SCHOOL SHOPPING MY BACK LEFT TIRE BLEW. LUCKILY I WAS ON A DIRT ROAD AND ONLY DRIVING ABOUT 20MPH. UPON CHANGING THE TIRE I NOTICED THE SAME SEAM RIPPAGE OR SLIT ON THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE SO I IMMEDIATELY CHECKED THE RIGHT BACK TIRE AND FOUND THE SAME THING ON IT. SO I HAVE 3 OUT OF THE 4 TIRES ON MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER THAT HAVE THIS DEFECT. ITS VERY DISTURBING TO THINK WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED IF WE HAD BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND THAT BOTH BACK TIRES MIGHT HAVE BLOWN. I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING THESE TIRES AND SO FAR HAVE NOT FOUND ANY RECALLS ON THIS SPECIFIC TIRE. GOODYEAR, WRANGLER SR-A, P235/70R16 104S. *KB

REAR WHEEL STUDS SHEER OFF CAUSING WHEEL TO COME OFF WHILE DRIVING. GAVE NO WARNING, AND WAS NOT VISIBLE DUE TO WHEEL CAP COVERING. HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN 2 MONTHS, TWO DIFFERENT WHEELS. BOTH REAR. *TT HAD TO REPLACE ALL 5 STUDS, LUGS, AND ROTOR ON FIRST FAILURE. REPLACED STUDS, LUGS, AND WHEEL ON SECOND. LUGS ARE STILL INTACT WITH THE STUDS. STUDS SHOW STRESS FRACTURING PRIOR TO BREAKING OFF. HAVE THE STUDS/LUGS FROM LAST BREAK.