2000 Ford Expedition Suspension Problems

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD NEEDS TO BE REPLACED MY MECHANIC TOLD ME AND IT LEAKS ANTI

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, AN UNKNOWN NOISE EMITTED FROM THE REAR DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND IT BEGAN TO SHAKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRAILING ARMS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN BOUNCING ABNORMALLY WHILE REVERSING FROM A DRIVEWAY. THE CONTACT SOON DISCOVERED THAT THE LARGE, UNKNOWN POLE WAS LYING UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

BRAKE LINE ABOVE FUEL LINE COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH. LUCKILY I WAS STOPPED FOR FUEL AND LOST BRAKE PRESSURE. UPON INSPECTION AT MY LOCAL GARAGE, ALL BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED TO THE POINT ALL WERE REPLACED. UPON CLOSER INSPECTION, THE REAR SUSPENSION PARTS ARE RUSTING UNDERNEATH THE COATING THAT COVERED THE SUSPENSION PARTS. I REALIZE THE VEHICLE IS 14 YEARS OLD, BUT I HAVE MUCH OLDER VEHICLES THAT HAVE ZERO RUST. JUST FOR THE RECORD, WE HAVE YEARS THAT WE HAVE NO SNOW, SO MY EXPOSURE TO SALT ROADS IS VERY LIMITED. ITEMS SUCH AS BRAKE LINES AND SUSPENSION PARTS SHOULD BE MADE OF A BETTER QUALITY MATERIAL. AFTER ALL, THIS VEHICLE STILL HAS THE ORIGINAL EXHAUST SYSTEM! REGARDLESS OF AGE, WITH JUST OVER 77K MILES THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

TAKING OFF FROM A STOP IN THE SUBDIVISION, MY SON WITH A FRIEND IN THE VEHICLE HEARD A SLIGHT CLUNK, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD. HE KEPT DRIVING, BUT THE VEHICLE "FELT A LITTLE STRANGE" HE REPORTED. HE PULLED OUT ONTO A MAJOR ROADWAY AND HEARD ANOTHER LOUD NOISE, BUT THE CAR KEPT GOING, SO HE PULLED OFF THE ROAD AS SOON AS HE COULD, TO DISCOVER THAT THE REAR END ALMOST FELL OFF THE CAR. THE CAR HAS 4 WHEEL DRIVE WITH AWD. THE REAR DRIVE SHAFT GOT PULLED OUT OF THE TRANSFER CASE, DROPPED TO THE GROUND STARTED TO DRAG. IT SNAPPED OFF, BREAKING THE PINION SHAFT, WHEN PULLING OFF THE ROAD. THE REAR LOWER CONTROL ARMS HAD RUSTED AWAY AND SNAPPED OFF. I LIVE IN THE RUST BELT IN THE CHICAGO SUBURBS, AND EXPECT THINGS LIKE DOORS AND FENDERS TO RUST, BUT A MAJOR PIECE OF THE SUSPENSION THAT HOLDS THE WHOLE CAR TOGETHER? REALLY? DOESN'T THAT DESERVE AT LEAST A HEADS UP MENTION IN THE SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE MANUAL, OTHER THAN AT INTERVALS HAVE THE SUSPENSION CHECKED? THE MANUAL PRETTY CLEARLY DESCRIBES CHECKING THINGS AT RECOMMENDED INTERVALS, AND I'VE ALWAYS HAD IT SERVICED AT THE LOCAL (NOW CLOSED MERCURY DEALER NEARBY). THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT, AND I'VE OWNED IT FOR 12 YEARS. I'M EXTREMELY THANKFUL NOBODY WAS INJURED. FORD CURRENTLY DOES NOT HAVE A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUED ON THIS ISSUE. IF IT HAD 200,000 MILES AND WASN'T EVER CARED FOR OR GARAGE KEPT, THEN I'D BE A LITTLE LESS SURPRISED!! AS OF THIS WRITING I STILL HAVEN'T GOTTEN THE CAR FIXED YET BECAUSE IT WILL INVOLVE GETTING THE ENTIRE DIFFERENTIAL REBUILT. I HAD PLANNED ON KEEPING THIS VEHICLE FOR A WHOLE LOT LONGER THAN 70,000 MILES. I'M BEING FORCED TO SHOP FOR ANOTHER FAMILY BUS DUE TO POOR ENGINEERING ON FORDS PART. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE TO HAVE THEM SEND AT LEAST A NOTICE TO GET THESE $100 CONTROL ARMS REPLACED BEFORE; IT NOW WILL COST $2000 TO MAKE THE VEHICLE DRIVABLE AGAIN. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND SHE NOTICED SOMETHING DRAGGING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE TRAILING ARMS FAILED AND CAUSED THE ENTIRE SUSPENSION TO FAIL. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE SUSPENSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000.

WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN ONTO A HIGH-TRAFFIC, FOUR-LANE SURFACE STREET, BOTH REAR LOWER CONTROL ARMS FAILED UNDER ACCELERATION. THIS FAILURE CAUSED THE REAR AXLE TO TWIST, THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL TO SHIFT POSITION, AND FOR THE DRIVE SHAFT U-JOINTS TO BIND. THE RESULT WAS AN EFFECTIVE LOSS OF POWER AND AN IN INABILITY TO ACCELERATE TO MATCH TRAFFIC FLOW. SEVERAL VEHICLES HAD TO BRAKE HARD OR SWERVE INTO THE ADJACENT LANE TO AVOID THE OBSTRUCTION MY VEHICLE CREATED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DETECTED THAT THE REAR LOWER CONTROL ARMS WERE COMPLETELY RUSTED AND CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHERE THE REAR LOWER CONTROL ARMS WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN OF THE POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 290,000.

I THOUGHT WHEN I BOUGHT THIS CAR THAT I WOULD HAVE A VEHICLE TO TAKE MY SON TO GET HIS CHEMOTHERAPY BUT I THOUGHT WRONG! IT STARTED WITH THE AIR SUSPENSION THAT DROPPED TO THE GROUND WHEN MY SHOCKS GAVE OUT AND THE REAR AIRBAGS COULDN'T HOLD THE WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE BUT I WAS SITTING IN THE CAR RIDER LINE AT MY SON'S SCHOOL AT A DEAD STOP WHEN THEY DECIDED TO GO. (SO MUCH EASIER TO LOOK THE FOOL) WE THEN FOUND HOSES THAT HAD CORRODED APART THAT WERE VACUUM HOSES AND THINKING THAT WAS THE PROBLEM WE FIXED THEM. IT WASN'T THE PROBLEM. I DIDN'T KNOW THEN THAT MY SHOCKS WERE COMPLETELY GONE UNTIL WE WERE JACKING UP THE CAR AND REMOVING THE BACK TIRES TO INSPECT THE AIRBAGS BETTER WHEN WE SAW THAT THE RUST HAD COMPLETELY TAKEN OVER THE WHOLE UNDER CARRIAGE. NOW I HAVE FRONT & REAR TRAILING ARMS THAT HAVE NUMEROUS HOLES FROM THE RUST EATING THROUGH THEM, ALONG WITH THE FUEL TANK STRAPS THAT HAVE ALMOST ROTTED THEMSELVES LOOSE, AND ALMOST COMPLETELY BROKEN BALL JOINTS. I WANT TO KNOW WHO IS COMING TO TAKE MY SON TO GET HIS CHEMO SINCE I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO RUN OUT AND BUY A NEW CAR? I GIVE MY CASH TO FORD TO KEEP MY CAR AFLOAT. I HAVE HAD THIS CAR FOR 10 MONTHS AND I OWE $2800 BUT THE THING IS THAT IT COST MORE FOR ME TO FIX EVERYTHING AND REPLACE ALL DRY ROTTED LINES, RUST, ECT AND BUY COIL SPRINGS WHICH I HEAR NOW HAVE AS MANY PROBLEMS. IS FORD GOING TO PAY FOR MY SON A NEW CAR SINCE IT IS LIKE THIS ONE WOULD BE TOTALED SINCE IT COST MORE TO FIX THAN IT'S WORTH? NO, THEY DON'T CARE AND I HOPE WHEN THEY GO HOME AFTER READING THIS THEY CAN LOOK THEIR OWN CHILD IN THE FACE KNOWING THAT MY SON DOESN'T HAVE A RIDE TO CHEMO 30 MILES AWAY! I GUESS IT WILL TAKE WRECKING MY CAR ACCIDENTALLY AND KILLING THE CHILD I FOUGHT FOR 10 YRS TO KEEP ALIVE FOR INSURANCE TO PAY FOR IT OR IS FORD GOING TO HAVE HEART DOING THE RIGHT THING BY RECALLING THE THINGS THEY KNOW IS THEIR FAULTS? *TR

WE HAVE A 2000 FORD EDDIE BAUER EXPEDITION WITH 111,000 MILES. WE PURCHASED NEW &IT HAS BEEN GARAGED KEPT & ALWAYS WASHED AT THE CAR WASH AFTER A SNOW STORM. TOOK THE TRUCK FOR INSPECTION ON 8/15/11 AND WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC TO STOP DRIVING THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY DUE TO FAILURE OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS. WE WHERE ADVISED IF THE CONTROL ARMS BROKE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT COULD OCCUR, ESPECIALLY @ HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE UPPER CONTROL ARMS ARE BEGINNING TO SHOW SIGNS OF CHIPPING OF THE POWDER COATING WHICH WILL MORE THAN LIKELY LEAD TO PREMATURE FAILURE. WE HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE ON LINE & FOUND THAT THERE ARE OTHERS WHO ARE ALSO EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE RUSTING OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS. THE TRUCK IS NOW SITTING IN OUR GARAGE & WE ARE WAITING FOR DELIVERY OF THE BOTH THE LOWER & UPPER CONTROL ARMS. SEEMS LIKE THERE IS SOME SORT OF RUST ISSUES W/ THEM FOR THOSE OF US WHO LIVE IN THE SNOW BELT REGION. *TR

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT 15 MPH HEARD A CLUNK UNDER THE VEHICLE. STOPPED AND WHEN TRYING TO MOVE HEARD A LOUD POPPING/GRINDING SOUND. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO FORD REPAIR SHOP. MECHANIC DOCUMENTED THAT BOTH REAR LOWER TRAILING ARMS HAD RUSTED ALL THE WAY THROUGH AND WERE BROKEN. MECHANIC ALSO NOTED THAT BOTH REAR UPPER TRAILING ARMS WERE VERY RUSTY. BOTH UPPER AND LOWER REAR TRAILING ARMS WERE REPLACED. OLD PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. *TR

THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS ON THE REAR SUSPENSION HAVE EXCESSIVE RUST AND THEY BREAK OFF WITH ENGINE TORQUE OR THROTTLE. THE DRIVE SHAFT BREAKS OFF WHEN THE REAR AXLE ROTATES AND THIS LOCKS UP THE REAR AXLE, AND ALSO SNAPS THE EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE. THE DAMAGES ARE UP TO 3500.00 DOLLARS AND CLIMBING. THIS IS HAPPENING ON ALL VEHICLES WHERE THE NEW ROAD SALT IS USED IN EXCESS. THIS SHOULD BE A MAJOR RECALL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE TRAVELING 55 MPH THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD POPPING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, AFTER EXAMINING THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT A PART OF THE VEHICLE HAD BROKEN OFF THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE TRAILING ARM WAS REPLACED. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE THE CONTACT HEARD A CLANKING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 103000.

THE TRAILING ARMS/LOWER CONTROL ARMS ON MY 2000 FORD EXPEDITION HAD RUSTED THROUGH & HAD TO BE REPLACED. I COULD NOT WAIT FOR THEM TO FAIL GIVEN THE HAZARDOUS NATURE OF THIS DEFECT. THESE PARTS SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN MADE SO POORLY. *TR

2000 FORD EXPEDITION 4X4. REAR LOWER TRAILING ARMS OR ( CONTROL ARMS ). PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN THE POWDER COATING FLAKES OFF EXPOSING THE BARE METAL. CONTROL ARMS RUST THROUGH AND BREAK IN HALF. WHEN THIS HAPPENS TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL CAN HAPPEN. FORD STATES THEY NEVER HAD ANY COMPLAINTS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SPORADICALLY STALL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE COIL PACK LOCATED NEAR THE AIR COMPRESSOR, COULD DEVELOP MOISTURE, WHICH WOULD CAUSE THE COIL SPRINGS TO FAIL AND THE VEHICLE TO STALL. SECONDLY, THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT IN RAINY CONDITIONS, CONDENSATION UNDER THE HOOD COULD CAUSE THE COIL SPRINGS TO FAIL SPONTANEOUSLY. AS A RESULT, THE RISK OF A CRASH IS INCREASED. THREE COIL SPRINGS NEED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $500. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 120,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO RIDE VERY HARD OVER ROUGH TERRAIN. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND NOTICED THAT THE SUSPENSION FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE TO LOWER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD PERFORM A FREE DIAGNOSTIC. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 40,000.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR SUSPENSION DID NOT ACTIVATE THE SHOCKS ACCORDINGLY AND THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE SAT LOW ON THE GROUND. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE ALERTED AND SUGGESTED PERFORMING A DIAGNOSTIC TEST TO DETECT ANY POSSIBLE FAILURE CODES.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT, IT ALSO RATTLED ON BUMPY ROADS AT ANY SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE FRONT LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. THE SHOCKS WERE ALSO LOOSE. UPDATED ON 05/30/06. *AK

ON MAY 28TH, 2005 I WAS PERFORMING A PRE-VACATION SAFETY INSPECTION OF MY 2000 FORD EXPEDITION WHEN I NOTICED THAT THE FRONT ANTI SWAY BAR ENDS WERE NOT CONNECTED TO ANYTHING ON MY VEHICLE. I CALLED SHAWNEE MISSION FORD IN SHAWNEE, KS FOR ADVICE. THEY DIRECTED ME TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR IMMEDIATE REPAIR. AFTER ARRIVAL AT THE DEALER, I STAYED WITH THE MECHANIC TO OBSERVE REPAIRS. HE SHOWED ME TWO RUSTED AND BROKEN HALVES OF LINK THAT HAD SNAPPED IN TWO FROM CORROSION AND METAL FATIGUE. HE SAID THAT HE GETS SEVERAL OF THESE EACH WEEK ON F150S, EXPEDITIONS AND EXPLORERS. HE REFERRED TO IT AS A DESIGN FLAW THAT HAS BEEN RECTIFIED BY A RECALL ON THE EXPLORER WITH A LARGER OR REINFORCED LINK, BUT NOT ON THE EXPEDITION OR THE F150. I DECIDED THIS SHOULD BE REPORTED FOR TWO REASONS. FIRST, SOMEONE COULD BE INJURED OR HAVE THEIR VEHICLE DAMAGED BY THE BOTTOM HALF OF THESE LINKS FALLING OF ONTO THE ROADWAY. SECOND, I SUSPECT THE PREMATURE AND CHOPPY WEAR OF MY FRONT TIRES IS DIRECTLY ATTRIBUTABLE TO THIS DEFECT. SOMEONE EQUIPPED THIS VEHICLE WITH THAT ITEM FOR A REASON. IT ISN'T PERFORMING ITS INTENDED PURPOSE. IT SHOULD BE RECALLED AND FIXED WITH AN ACCEPTABLE AND SAFE PART.1 *JB