1997 FORD EXPEDITION Complaints

HEAVY VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OVER 55 MPH, VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT STRONGLY EVEN AFTER ALIGNMENT SERVICE.*AK

AFTER READING THE NEWS ABOUT NHTSA INVESTIGATING STABALIZER BAR LINKS ON 1997-1998 FORD EXPEDITIONS I JACKED MINE UP AND FOUND THE PASSENGER SIDE LINK CONNECTOR COMPLETELY MISSING. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE FORD DEALER AND SHOWED THEM THE ARTICLE. THEY SAID THE VEHICLE IS NOT UNDER A RECALL AND I WOULD HAVE TO SCEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AND PAY FOR IT MYSELF. I WENT TO THE PARTS DEPARTMENT AND BOUGHT THE REQUIRED PIECES FOR $53. NOTE THAT THESE ARE AN "UPGRADED" ITEM FROM THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT.*AK

STABILIZER BAR END LINKS WERE BROKEN IN HALF AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION AT APPROX. 60,000 MILES DURING 2000 C.Y. ALL BALL JOINTS AND TIE ROD ENDS HAD FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF OVER $1600.00. THE "LUBE-FOR-LIFE" DESIGN FOR THESE COMPONENTS IS A FARCE. THEY WERE RUSTED AND WARN OUT AND CREATED AN UNSTABLE FRONT SUSPENSION AND STEERING SITUATION. THIS VEHICLE HAS SEEN NO OFF-ROAD DRIVING. *AK

WHEN MAKING LEFT OR RIGHT TURNS THERE IS A CLICKING TINGING NOISE LIKE METAL HITTING AGAINST SOMETHING UNDERNEATH VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

STABLIZER LINKAGE WHICH WAS CONNECTED TO CONTROL ARM FELL DOWN. CONSUMER SAW LINKAGE HANGING DOWN UNDER CHASSIS. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER REPLACED STABILIZER LINKAGE. *AK

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR A ROUTINE CHECK. WHILE UP ON LIFT, CONSUMER NOTICED THAT ONE OF THE LINKS ON LEFT SIDE WAS BROKEN, AND OTHER SIDE WAS JUST HANGING DOWN. WHEN PUTTING ON BRAKES FRONT OF VEHICLE WOULD GO DOWN. THERE WAS AN OPEN INVESTIGATION BY NHTSA ON THIS PROBLEM. *AK THE FRONT STABLIZER BAR WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER, BUT THE CONSUMER WAS SEEKING REFUND BECAUSE THE PART WAS DEFECTIVE. *YH

WHILE DRIVING AT 60 HEARD FUNNY NOISE ON THE BOTTOM. PULLED OVER AND SAW THAT DRIVER'S SIDE STABLIZER BAR WAS GONE. VEHICLE SHOOK ALOT BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. CONSUMER HAS YET TO CONTACT FORD. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

BOTH SWAY BAR END LINKS FAILED-- RIGHT IN 3/01 AND THE LEFT JUST FAILED IN 8/01. HANDLING GOES BAD WITH EXCESS FRONT BODY ROLL. DESIGN IS POOR WITH A SINGLE LONG BOLT THAT IS OVER STRESSED AND CORRODES, THEN FAILS. IT IS NOT EASY FOR THE AVERAGE CONSUMER TO EVEN DETECT THAT IT HAPPENED UNLESS YOU GET UNDER THE CAR AND LOOK.

EXPEDITION FAILED INSPECTION DUE TO BOTH SWAY BAR LINKS BROKEN. CHECKED WITH FORD AND THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON EXPEDITION FOR THIS PROBLEM.*AK

WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN THE STEERING STARTED FEELING ODD AND I STARTED TO HEAR SOME NOISES COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. THE FORD REPAIR SHOP SAID THE FRONT STABILIZER BAR LINK HAD FALLEN OFF SOMEHOW.*AK