2001 Ford Expedition Suspension Problems

THE CHECK SUSPENSION LIGHT IS ON AND I NOTICED EVERY EXPEDITION IN THIS YEAR RANGE HAS SUSPENSION PROBLEMS AND THE WIREING SOMETIMES THE RADIO WILL GO OFF AND THE LIGHTS ON DASH AND SPEEDOMETER LIGHTS WILL SHUT OFF.

REAR UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT, RESULTING A DANGEROUS DRIVING SITUATION. I HAVE VEHICLE SERVICED REGULARLY AT A FORD DEALER AND WAS NEVER INFORMED OF SUCH A HAZARD. WHILE DRIVING, HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND FELT A BAD JERK, REAR-END JUST FELL DOWN. HAD SEVERE MEDICAL ISSUES AS RESULT. FORD NEEDS TO ALERT CONSUMERS OF THIS PROBLEM AND IMPLEMENT A RECALL, BEFORE A FATAL OCCURS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR LOWER CONTROL ARMS/TRAILING ARMS WERE COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE CONTACT WAS A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 208,000. UPDATED 4/30/15*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS RUSTED TOO, BUT WAS STILL INTACT. UPDATED 05/07/15*JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED, HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE SUSPENSION WAS CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 59,000.

I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEARD THIS LOUD CRASH AND BANG, AND WAS JERKED FORWARD. THOUGHT THE PICK UP TRUCK BEHIND ME REAR-ENDED ME. THAT DRIVER PULLED UP ASIDE OF ME AND TOLD ME YOU JUST DROPPED YOUR DRIVESHAFT. SINCE IT WAS DARK AND MY VEHICLE WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AT AN INTERSECTION I CALLED THE POLICE. WHEN THEY ARRIVED THEY TOLD ME WE CAN'T WAIT FOR YOUR TOW TRUCK DRIVER TO GET HERE, IT'S TO DANGEROUS, SO THEY CALLED ANOTHER TOWING COMPANY. WELL AFTER A LONG HASSLE AND THE 1ST TOW OF $150.00, I GOT MY VEHICLE TOWED TO MY HOUSE. AFTER MAKING SEVERAL PHONE CALLS I FINALLY GOT IT TOWED TO THE REPAIR SHOP ON 7/8/13 AND HAD TO PAY ANOTHER TOW OF $75.00. FINALLY GOT THE CALL ON 7/10/13 WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO MY ROTTED OUT EXPEDITION, ALL 4 CONTROL ARMS WHERE RUSTED OUT, 2 OF THEM ACTUALLY BENT AND BROKE, DAMAGING MY DRIVESHAFT. COSTING ME ANOTHER $559.14 FOR THE REPAIR. THAT'S ONLY FIXING THE 2 LOWER CONTROL ARMS. THEY HAVE TO FIND THE 2 UPPER AND REPLACE THEM. WHICH WILL BE AT LEAST ANOTHER $350.00 THIS ISN'T EVEN MENTIONING THE $1,000.00 I SPENT ON THE RUSTED OUT ROTTED RADIATOR BRACKETS NOT EVEN A YEAR AGO. I WAS TOLD AND EXPECT RUST BUT THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS, AND ALSO TOLD FORD COULD HAVE COATED THIS PARTS OR MADE THEM STRONGER TO AVOID THESE SERIOUS RUST PROBLEMS. LUCKILY I ONLY GOT MUSCLE SPASMS IN MY BACK, SHOULDER, AND LOWER NECK FROM THIS. BUT I DON"T FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE ANY MORE. THIS IS MY LAST FORD I WILL EVER PURCHASE AGAIN !!!!!!!!!! FORD = FOUND ON ROADSIDE DEAD !!! THIS STORY IS ALSO SHORTENED BUT THE TRUTH OF WHAT HAPPENED, I DIDN'T MENTION THE HEAT, THE ASTHMA ATTACK I HAD, AND THE HASSLE I WENT THROUGH WHILE ALL THIS OCCURRED. *TR

FORD EXPEDITION 5.4L 2001 - SUDDEN BRAKE FAILURE WHILE TRAVELING 25 MPH IN PARKING LOT. BRAKE LINES RUSTED THROUGH CAUSED SUDDEN BRAKE FAILURE. CAR HAD UNDERCARRIAGE CLEANING FREQUENTLY DURING WINTER MONTHS AND THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF ANY PROBLEMS. WHEN REPLACING THE BRAKE LINES, OWNER WAS INFORMED THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER REAR CONTROL ARMS WERE RUSTED THROUGH AS WELL AND THAT IMMEDIATE REPLACEMENT WAS NECESSARY TO AVOID THE REAR TRACK ARM FAILURE WHICH RESULTS IN DROPPING THE REAR AXLE AND COMPLETE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW IN JUNE 2001 AND MAINTAINED CONTINUOUSLY.OWNER HAS POSSESSION OF CORRODED CONTROL ARMS AFTER REPAIR FOR EVIDENCE IN NHTSA INVESTIGATION. NHTSA IS ENCOURAGED TO CONTACT THE OWNER OF VEHICLE FOR INSPECTION OF FAILED PARTS FOR INVESTIGATIVE SUPPORT.. THIS IS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT AND VEHICLES NEED TO BE RECALLED AND PARTS REPLACED TO AVOID LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, ACCIDENTS, INJURY AND FATALITIES DUE TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY NEGLIGENCE. *TR

VEHICLE IS A 2001 FORD EXPEDITION XLT 4X4 PURCHASED NEW IN APRIL 2001 AND OWNED CONTINUOUSLY BY CURRENT OWNER, ONLY SERVICED AT HUB FORD OF COLCHESTER, CT AND GIRARD FORD OF NORWICH CT. FAILURE OF SUSPENSION/DRIVETRAIN COMPONENTS OCCURRED WHILE ACCELERATING ONTO A HIGHWAY ONRAMP. BOTH REAR LOWER CONTROL ARMS HAD CORROSION THAT LED TO COMPLETE DISCONNECTION FROM REAR AXLE. WITH NO SUPPORTING LOWER CONTROL ARMS, THE REAR TRANSAXLE SHIFTED DURING VEHICLE ACCELERATION. SHIFTING OF TRANSAXLE THEN INTRODUCED EXCESSIVE FORCE ON DRIVE SHAVE UJOINT (REAR TRANSAXLE UJOINT) WHICH CAUSED COMPLETE FAILURE AND DISCONNECTION OF REAR DRIVESHAFT. VEHICLE'S 4WD SYSTEM ENGAGED, ALLOWING VEHICLE TO BE SAFELY GUIDED ONTO THE AVAILABLE OFFRAMP (CLOVERLEAF HIGHWAY INTERSECTION) AND INTO SAFE RECOVERY LOCATION FOR TOWING BY AAA TO A LOCAL FORD DEALER. GIRARD FORD REPAIR ESTIMATES COSTS FOR ALL FOUR CORRODED CONTROL ARMS TO BE APPROXIMATELY $1500. SHATTERED PARTS OR DEBRIS ALSO CUT REAR BRAKE LINE LEADING TO LOSS OF REAR BRAKING AND ALL BRAKE FLUID LOSS - CAUSING ADDITIONAL INDIRECT REPAIR COSTS. OWNER IS RECOVERING CORRODED CONTROL ARMS AFTER REPAIR FOR EVIDENCE TO BE USED IN ANY NHTSA INVESTIGATION. NHTSA IS ENCOURAGED TO CONTACT THE OWNER/COMPLAINANT OF VEHICLE FOR ACCESS TO FAILED PARTS FOR INVESTIGATION SUPPORT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD BANG AS THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SWAY ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO GAIN CONTROL AND IMMEDIATELY CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR UPPER AND LOWER TRAILING ARMS WERE FRACTURED AS A RESULT OF RUST AND CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRAILING ARMS DETACHED WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THE REPAIR SHOP STATED THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER TRAILING ARMS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 128,400 UPDATED 02/27/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED BOTH TRAILING ARMS HAD COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT AND FAILED WHICH CAUSED THE REAR END TO BECOME LOOSE. UPDATED 03/21/12

I HAVE A 1997 FORD EXPEDITION, I WAS DRIVING HOME THROUGH THE COUNTRY, WHEN GOING INTO A CURVE, I HEARD A POP COME FROM THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK. TRUCK WENT INTO A HARD LEAN , BUT I WAS ABLE TO KEEP UNDER CONTROL. FROM PREVIOUS OWNERSHIP OF A FORD EXPLORER, I KNEW WHAT HAPPENED. UPON INSPECTION SWAY BAR LINKS HAD BROKEN. *JB...UPDATED 02/11/15 *BF

PREMATURE TIRE WEAR DO TO EARLY SWAY BAR LINK FAILURE. *NM

TRUCK SHOCKS/ SPRINGS ARE NO GOOD. VERY SQUEECKY FRONT TIRES. HARD TO CONTROL AFTER HITTING A BUMP OR POT HOLE AT THE LOWEST OF SPEEDS. *AK

DRIVING A 2001 FORD EXPEDITION W/ TOW PACKAGE AND 2TRAILERS AT 55MPH, BACK TRAILER STARTED TO SWERVE WAS UNABLE TO BRING UNDER CONTROL DO TO THE EXPEDITIONS LACK OF SUSPENSION. TOW RATINGS FOR VECHICLE NOT REALIISTIC. LOST CONTROL OF ALL 3 VECH. AND ROLLED THEM ON 7/27/03. BOUGHT EXPEDITION WITH LARGER ENGINE AND TOW PKG. FOR THE PURPOSE OF TOWING. WILL SELL THE EXPEDITION AND GO BACK TO MY 1988 FORD E250, HAS HAULED THE SAME LOAD FOR OVER 10 YEARS NOW WITHOUT A PROBLEM.

CERTIFIED LTR REQUESTING NHTSA INITIATE A DEFECT INVESTIGATION RE SELECTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY VEHICLES LEFT FRONT INNER BEARINGS FOR ADVANCED FATIGUE CRACKS. *TS COMPLAINANT WAS RECENTLY ASKED TO CONSULT IN THE MATTER OF A FATAL HIGH SPEED HEAD ON TWO-VEHICLE COLLISION. WHILE DRIVING WESTBOUND 2001 FORD EXPEDITION VEERED INTO THE ONCOMING LANE AND STRUCK AN EASTBOUND 2000 FORD F250 LONG BED TRUCK TOWING A 5TH WHEEL TRAVEL TRAILER. THE RESULTING COLLISION KILLED THE THREE OCCUPANTS IN THE 2001 EXPEDITION AND THE TWO OCCUPANTS IN THE 2000 FORD F250 PICKUP TRUCK. METALLURGICAL ANALYSIS SHOWED THAT THE LEFT FRONT INNER BEARING FAILED ON THE EXPLORER AS A RESULT OF PROGRESSIVE FATIGUE. THE BEARING FAILURE OCCURRED AT APPROXIMATELY 30,000 MILES. PLEASE REFERENCE ODI# 10139953 TO OBTAIN INFORMATION ON THE 2000 FORD F250 PICKUP TRUCK. *NM

WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEED HEARED A NOISE. FRONT WHEEL BEARING FAILED, AND WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 66 MPH VEHICLE VIBRATES AND SHAKES, CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE THE TO DEALER, CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK CONSUMER STATES CV BOOTS FAILED CAUSING FRONT-END TO SQUEAK, THE SEAT BELT HOLD STRAP FELL OFF, DRIVERS WINDOW DOES NOT CLOSE PROPERLY AND IT MAKES NOISE AND THE PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR SHAKES WHILE DRIVING. *YD

VEHICLE EXHIBITS A VIBRATION/MOAN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *AK

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE WHEEL BEARINGS. WHEN THE WHEEL WAS REMOVED, THE SPINDLE HAD NO THREADS AND WAS PRACTICALLY WORN AWAY. ROTORS AND SPINDLE WERE REPLACED. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. JB *MR

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY AT 55-60MPH VEHICLE WILL VIBRATE, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL VEHICLE.*AK

WHILE PULLING OUT OF A STORE PARKING LOT SWERVED VEHICLE TO MISS PEDESTRIAN, LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, AND AIR BAGS DIDNOT DEPLOY. ALSO, HIT CONCRETE BUS BENCH/ FIRE HYDRANT, AND WOODEN FENCE.HAD NOT CONTACTED DEALER.*AK