1996 FORD EXPLORER Complaints

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55-65 MPH ON TWO OCCASIONS WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. HE TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR RECALL #97V-074 FORD, THROTTLE LINKAGES AND CONTROL FAILURE. DEALERSHIP SAID THIS WAS NOT THE PROBLEM. ALSO, WOULD NOT HONOR THE RECALL. *AK

SPEED CONTROL FAILED TO DISENGAGE WHEN BRAKING OR USING OFF BUTTON, THROTTLE CABLE HUNG UP SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL, BUT TRANSMISSION SHIFTED BETWEEN NEUTRAL AND REVERSE AND DESTROYED TRANSMISSION. *AK

THE SEALS THAT ARE BEING REPLACED HAVE BEEN RE-DESIGNED AND ARE NOT COVERED UNDER ANY EXTENDED SERVICE PLAN (EVEN THE "PREMIUMCARE"). *AK

THE REAR RIGHT DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

THE FRONT TIRES HAVE"CUPPED" WITHIN 2000 MILES OF PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. I HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALER AND TO GOODYEAR OVER THIS ISSUE. I HAVE NOTICED THAT BRAKING TAKES LONGER TO ACCOMPLISH BECAUSE OF THE UNEVEN WEAR PATTERN THAT HAS DEVELOPED. I'VE HAD TO REPLACE 2 TIRES AT 46,000 MLES(AS COMPARED WITH 70,000 MILES ON A 1992 EXPLORER THAT I OWNED THAT WAS EQUIPPED WITH FIRESTONE TIRES). GOODYEAR HAS TOLD ME THAT I HAVE TO ROTATE MY TIRES EVERY3,000 MILES TO PREVENT THIS WEAR PATTERN. I BELIEVE THIS IS EXCESSIVE MAINTENANCE AND COST TO THE CONSUMER. GOODYEAR HAS ALSO TOLD ME THAT THESE TIRES WERE NOT ENGINEERED FOR THIS VEHICLE, BUT FORD EQUPIPED THESE VEHICLES WITH THESE TIRES AS STANDARD EQUIPMENT IN 1996. I'VE NOTICED THAT SINCE1997, FORD HAS GONE BACK TO FIRESTONE TIRES FOR EXPLORERS. I HAVE CALLED THE FORD CONSUMER HOT LINE. I SPOKE WITH THE PERSON ANSWERING THE CALLS AND EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD I WOULD HEAR FROM A FORD REP, BUT AFTER A YEAR I HAVE HEARD NOTHING. GOODYEAR HAS LOOKED AT ALL MECHANICAL COMPONENTS, INCLUDING SUSPENSION BUSHING AND ALIGNMENT THAT COULD BE CAUSING THIS PROBLEM AND HAS FOUND NOTHING WRONG. I BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM MAY BE INHERENT TO FORD PUTTING TIRES ON THIS AUTMOBILE THAT ARE NOT MATCHED TO THE VEHICAL SUSPENSION. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

CROSSED INTERSECTION & APPLIED BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN. VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN. USED EMERGENCY BRAKES & VEHICLE KEPT GOING. FINALLY SHIFTED INTO PARK & VEHICLE STOPPED. TOWED VEHICLE TO HOME. NOTICED THICK HEM OF CARPETING HAD MOVED OVER ACCELERATOR PEDAL. *AK

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING WHEN GAS PEDAL BROKE OFF FIREWALL. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT REPAIRS WOULD BE MADE AT CONSUMER EXPENSE. *AK

LEFT REAR DOOR HANDLE BROKE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

THIS IS IN ADDITION TO PREVIOUS COMMUNICATION... I HAVE VERY STRONG EVIDENCE THAT, FORD IS NOT ONLY NEGLIGENT IN NOT ADMITTING WRONG DOING AND, OR JUST DOING WHAT IT TAKES TO FIX MY VEHICLE. I CAN SEE NOW, WITH YOUR WEBSITE INFO AND INFORMATION RECENTLY GIVEN TO ME, THAT THERE IS GROSS NEGLIGENCE IN OTHER SERVICE ISSUES AND A "BUYBACK" (RECENTLY LEARNED PROCEDURE) WHICH SHOULD HAVE TAKEN PLACE ON MY 1995 FORD EXPLORER BOUGHT FROM SHARP FORD WHICH HAD VERY SERIOUS PROBLEMS. THEN, FURTHER INSULT TO INJURY, I AM BEING TOLD THAT THERE WAS A "DISAPPEARING TRADE-IN" (ANOTHER RECENTLY LEARNED TERM) ON THAT 1995 EXPLORER. PLEASE TRY TO CONTACT ME OR HAVE ONE OF YOUR REPRESENTATIVES DO SO TO TRY AND STOP THIS FROM HAPPENING TO OTHERS. NO AFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

THIS IS IN RE: TO A VIBRATION ISSUE WHICH HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE BEFORE MY VEHICLE REACHED 11,000 MILES. I HAVE GIVEN NO LESS THAN 25 OPPORTUNITIES TO 2 FORD DEALERS, AND THIER REPRESENTATIVES, AND HAVE GOTTEN NO MORE THAN A "NO PROBLEM FOUND" OR "THIS IS A TIRE ISSUE" (OR THE 2 TECHNICIANS WHO STATED THE OBVIOUS "I HAVE NO IDEA..." ONE STATED, " IF YOU FIND OUT WHAT IT IS, LET US KNOW, ALL RIGHT?". I HAVE SINCE THE LAST DEALER VISIT, AND SUBSEQUENT FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER CALLS, TAKEN MY TRUCK TO 3 DIFFERENT AUTO REPAIR SHOPS. 3 OF 3 SAID IT WAS DRIVE TRAIN RELATED. 2 OF 3 SAID IT WAS THE DRIVESHAFT OR ATTACHED COMPONENTRY. PATTERSON DRIVESHAFTS IN INDIANAPOLIS REBALANCED AND TRUED THE DRIVE SHAFT AND 50% OF THE VIBRATION PROBLEMS WERE IMMEDIATELY DONE AWAY WITH, (THIS WAS IN ONE DAY, FIRST VISIT). ONE FORD DEALER SERVICE SHOP ASSERTED THEY HAD REPLACED THE DRIVESHAFT ON ONE OF THE SERVICE CALLS. BUT THIS IS ONLY SOMETHING WRITTEN ON A RECEIPT TO ME, SINCE THIS PARTICULAR SERVICE CALL SEEMED TO DO LITTLE, IF ANYTHING FOR THE PROBLEM. I CALLED FORD C.S.D. TO ASK HOW THIS CAN BE THAT AN "OUTSIDE" SERVICE COMPANY COULD FIND THIS PROBLEM CAUSE WITH SEEMINGLY LITTLE EFFORT. I WAS TOLD BY THE FMC REP. THAT WE(FORD)DO NOT RECOGNIZE THE 'OPINION' OF OUTSIDE CONTRACTORS, RELATIVE TO REPAIRS". (I HAVE SINCE BEEN TOLD THAT PATTERSON DRIVESHAFT IS ONE OF FORD'S MOST USED DRIVESHAFT CONTRACTOR/TECHNICIANS), THEY KNOW FROM WHENCE THEY SPEAK. THEN RECENTLY, I HEARD FROM A FRIEND ABOUT YOUR WEBSITE, (I HAD CALLED ONCE SEVERAL MONTHS AGO). THIS IS GREAT! I CAN SEE NO LESS THAN 3 TSB'S ON MY PARTICULAR ISSUE, AND SOME MORE COMPLAINTS THAT I'VE VOICED TO FORD ("NO PROBLEM FOUND"), I SEE ARE LISTED TOO. NOW IF I ONLY KNEW WHAT TO DO FROM HERE. I HAVE PAID FOR FURTHER DIAGNOSTICS, AND BEEN TOLD THAT THIS MAY TAKE UPWARDS OF 16 HOURS @ $78.00 PER HOUR TO PINPOINT THE LAST OF THE VIB. PROBLEMS(THOUGH THE VIBRATION NOW FEELS MORE PREVALANT (PLEASE CONTACT ME FMI).