1997 FORD EXPLORER Complaints

FRONT BALL JOINTS ARE WEARING EXCESSIVELY DUE TO A LACK OF LUBRICANT. NEW BALL JOINTS DO NOT REQUIRE LUBRICATION. MECHANIC REFUSES TO REPLACE OLD BALL JOINTS WITH NEWER BALL JOINTS.*AK

I AM SENDING THIS INFORMATION AS REQUESTED BUT MY MAJOR CONCERN IS THAT I HAVE NOT BEEN PERSONALLY INFORMED FOR THE RECALLS TO THE FORD XLT EXPLORER EXCEPT THE ONE FOR THE FIRESTONE TIRES AND THE ONE FOR THE MOTOR OIL PUMP. MY WIFE AND MYSELF CONTACTED BAYAMON FORD DEALER FOR INFORMATION ON OTHER RECALLS THAT APPEARED IN THE NEWS AND NO RESPONSE WAS RECEIVED FROM THE DEALER. COULD YOU UPDATE ME IN THIS ISSUE? SHOULD I CONTACT THE FORD COMPANY? *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE TREAD OF THE TIRE SEPARATED FROM THE CARCASS DAMAGING THE LEFT REAR QUARTER PANEL (FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P235-75-R15 DOTVNHL1PY346). NLM

WHILE MAKING A STOP WHEELS LOCKED UP, CAUSING VEHICLE TO GO INTO A SPIN, RESULTING IN A COLLISION. THERE WERE MINOR INJURIES. *AK THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE STEERING MECHANISM HAD BEEN DAMAGED. *YH

WHILE TRAVELING AT LOW SPEED IN LIGHT TRAFFIC, THE CRANKSHAFT ON MY 1997 FORD EXPLORER BROKE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STOP QUITE ABRUPTLY. THE MOTOR MUST BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $4500. THIS IS A PART FAILURE THAT PLACES INDIVIDUALS AT CONSIDERABLE RISK. HAD THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED AT HIGH SPEED IN RELATIVELY HEAVY TRAFFIC, E.G. FREEWAY TRAFFIC AT 55 MPH OR HIGHER, THERE WOULD CERTAINLY HAVE BEEN SERIOUS INJURIES AND PROBABLY FATALITIES. TO DATE, FORD MOTOR COMPANY STEADFASTLY REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEM AND, FURTHER, REFUSES TO PARTICIPATE IN PAYING FOR ANY PORTION OF THE NECESSARY REPAIRS OR ASSOCIATED COSTS SUCH AS TOWING BILLS AND CAR RENTALS WHILE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS ARE BEING MADE. *AK ALSO SEE 560357.

CONSUMER REPLACED THE FAULTY FIRESTONE TIRES (P235/75R15) PRIOR TO RECALL 00T005, FIRESTONE IS DENYING REIMBURSEMENT DUE TO REPLACEMENT TIRES BEING PURCHASED 20 DAYS PRIOR TO RECALL START DATE. *SLC

WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A TRAFFIC SIGNAL, THE ENGINE SIEZED AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO AN IMMEDIATE STOP. UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE, I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A SERVICE STATION WHERE INSPECTION BY A MECHANIC REVEALED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT HAD BROKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO CONLON-COLLINS FORD IN CRYSTAL LAKE, IL WHERE THEY CONFIRMED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT WAS BROKEN AND THE ENGINE MUST BE REPLACED AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $4,500. I REPORTED THE MATTER TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY'S CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER. THEY INDICATED THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN REPORTED PREVIOUSLY AND NO RECALL NOTICES OR SERVICE BULLETINS HAVE BEEN ISSUED WITH REGARD TO THIS PROBLEM. FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS BEEN RELUCTANT TO DISCUSS BEARING ANY PART OF THE COST FOR REPAIRS OR INCIDENTAL EXPENSES SUCH AS TOWING OR RENTAL OF A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE WHILE REPAIRS ARE UNDER WAY. A CRANKSHAFT SHOULD NEVER BREAK AND ONE CERTAINLY SHOULD NOT EXPECT IT TO FAIL AFTER ONLY 52,000 SUBURBAN MILES. IN MY OPINION, THIS REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD. THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT HAD THIS INCIDENT OCCURED AT HIGH SPEED OR IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN INJURIES AND/OR FATALITIES. *AK

WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN STEERING WHEEL WOULD PULL AND POP. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON VEHICLE FOR SWAY BAR;HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN.*AK THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED AFTER 21/2 YEARS. *YH

ORIGINAL MANUFACTURING EQUIPMENT, TIRE SIZE P23575R15 DOT W2HL. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, TREAD ON LEFT REAR TIRE SEPARATED AND BLEWOUT, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE LEFT QUARTER PANEL AND RUNNING BOARD, CONSUMER REPLACED ALL TIRES AND IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC

FIRESTONE TIRES (P255 70 R15) EXPERIENCED CUPPING WHICH WAS CAUSING A THUMPING NOISE, DEALER INSPECTED TIRES AND STATED TIRES WERE SAFE, HOWEVER CONSUMER LATER NOTICED EXCESSIVE WEAR ON EDGES OF TIRES AND EXPOSED STEEL BELTS SO HE HAD THEM REPLACED, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING SOME REIMBURSEMENT SINCE FIRESTONE IS DENYING THE REQUEST DUE TO TIRES BEING PURCHASED PRIOR TO JANUARY 2000. *SLC