2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC Suspension Problems

FOUND THAT AFTER APPROX.80,000 MILES THAT ALL THE BODY SUPPORT BUSHING HAD DRIED OUT AND CRUMBLED.. THIS CAUSE SEVER LACK OF CONTROL. CORNERING WAS ACCOMPANIED WITH LOUD BODY METAL BANGING. THE TRUCK WAS TAKEN OUT OF SERVICE AND REPAIRED. THE BODY WAS RAISED OFF THE FRAME AND ALL BUSHING WHERE REPLACED AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. FORD WOULD NOT COMPLETE THIS WORK UNDER WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH IT IS A GROSS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

Mileage: 86,000

VEHICLE BODY MOUNTS HAVE DRIED OUT AND CRUMBLES WHEN TOUCHED. THIS DETERIORATION CAUSES THE BODY TO RIDE ON TOP OF THE FRAME WHICH COULD EVENTUALLY RESULT IN OTHER VEHICLE DAMAGE AND POSSIBLE SAFETY ISSUES. THE WORSE I HAVE SEEN ON A FORD. *TR

Mileage: 112,000

VEHICLE BODY MOUNTS HAVE DRIED OUT AND CRUMBLES WHEN TOUCHED. THIS DETERIORATION CAUSES THE BODY TO RIDE ON TOP OF THE FRAME WHICH COULD EVENTUALLY RESULT IN OTHER VEHICLE DAMAGE AND POSSIBLE SAFETY ISSUES. APPEARS THE PRODUCT WAS MADE OF SUBSTANDARD MATERIAL AND HAS BEEN WORN OUT FOR QUITE A FEW YEARS. *TR

Mileage: 170,000

SUB FRAME BODY MOUNTS ARE FALLING APART. I NOTICED THIS IN 2008 BUT DID NOT KNOW WHAT IT WAS. CAR HAS LESS THAN 72000 MILES AND IS GARAGED, NO OFF ROAD USE. MOUNTS ARE BRITTLE AND FALL OF VEHICLE. FORD SAYS --SO SAD TOO BAD. NEVER SEEN MOUNTS FALL APART AND I HAVE OWNED VEHICLES FOR OVER 40 YEARS. *TR

Mileage: 52,000

FOR SEVERAL YEARS, THE BODY MOUNTS ON MY TRUCK HAVE BEEN CRUMBLING DUE TO POOR MATERIALS USED AT THE FACTORY. I KNOW OF MANY OTHERS WHO HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM, AND SINCE THE MOUNTS ARE DIFFICULT AND EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE I KNOW MANY HAVE AVOIDED DOING SO. FORD SHOULD BE MADE TO RECALL THESE VEHICLES (WHICH RANGE FROM 2001-2005) AND REPLACE THESE SHODDY PARTS (IF THEY HAVEN'T CRUMBLED COMPLETELY AWAY LIKE MINE) BEFORE SOMEONE IS INJURED. *TR

Mileage: 40,000

I OWN A 2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. 2WD. AUTOMATIC. A FEW MONTHS AGO I STARTED HEARING AN ANNOYING SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF MY VEHICLE. I LOOKED UNDERNEATH IT WHEN I GOT HOME. THE BUSHINGS THAT GO IN THE MOUNTS TO SECURE THE CAB OF THE TRUCK TO THE FRAME ARE DETERIORATING. YOU CAN ACTUALLY TOUCH THEM AND THEY WILL FALL APART. I CHECKED WITH A FEW LOCAL AUTO PART STORES AND ALL OVER THE INTERNET TO FIND THAT THOSE BUSHINGS ARE A DEALER ITEM, AND COST ABOUT $35 EACH. ON THE INTERNET I ALSO FOUND THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THESE VEHICLES FOR THE BUSHINGS TO GO BAD. ON EACH CAB MOUNT ON THE FRAME; THERE IS AN UPPER AND LOWER BUSHING. ALL OF THE BUSHINGS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE ARE EITHER BAD OR GOING BAD. I CAN'T FIND ANY RECALL FROM FORD ON THESE BUSHINGS. I TOOK MY TRUCK TO A LOCAL MECHANIC SHOP, AND THEY SAID IT WOULD BE AROUND $600 TO REPLACE THESE BUSHINGS. THEY ALSO TOLD ME THAT IF THE PROBLEM GETS WORSE THE CAB OF THE TRUCK COULD SHIFT WHEN TURNING OR ON BUMPY ROADS. I FEEL THAT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THESE BUSHINGS SINCE IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. I HAVE OWNED MANY VEHICLES AND HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE CAB MOUNT BUSHINGS OR KNOW OF ANYONE WHO HAS HAD TO; EXCEPT ON A FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. I CURRENTLY STILL HAVE THE PROBLEM BECAUSE I CANNOT AFFORD TO EVEN PURCHASE THE BUSHINGS DUE TO FINANCIAL ISSUES. I AM A DO-IT-YOURSELFER AND COULD REPLACE THESE ON MY OWN IF I COULD AFFORD THEM. I FEEL THAT I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO. FORD SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL ON THE AFFECTED MODELS OF THE FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR

Mileage: 170,000

THE EMAILS BELOW CHRONICLE MY ATTEMPT TO HAVE THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY ADDRESS WHAT I FEEL TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE COMPONENTS THAT ARE THE SUBJECT TO THE INQUIRY ARE PART OF THE STEERING. ANY FAILURE OF THESE COMPONENTS MAY RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE RUBBER BODY MOUNT, STRUT AND CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS ON MY 2001 SPORT TRAC 4WD ARE CRUMBLING. PLEASE ADVISE WHAT CORRECTIVE ACTION THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY IS TAKING TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. [XXX] THANK YOU FOR CONTACTING THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER REGARDING THE CONCERNS YOU HAVE WITH YOUR 2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. WE HAVE REVIEWED THE SITUATION, AND UNFORTUNATELY, THERE ARE NO WARRANTIES, FIELD SERVICE ACTIONS/CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAMS ON YOUR VEHICLE THAT WOULD PROVIDE ASSISTANCE FOR THIS REPAIR. HOWEVER, WE DO SUGGEST THAT THE REPAIR BE DONE BY A FORD/LINCOLN-MERCURY DEALERSHIP WHERE THE TECHNICIANS ARE TRAINED TO PUT YOUR VEHICLE BACK INTO FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS, AND ANY FORD PARTS REPLACED WILL COME WITH A 12 MONTHS/12,000 MILES WARRANTY. PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT A DIAGNOSTIC FEE MAY BE CHARGED. IF ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE IS REQUIRED, WE SUGGEST THAT YOU CONTACT THE CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP/SERVICE MANAGER. THEY WILL FURTHER ASSIST IN FACILITATING YOUR SERVICE/REPAIR NEEDS. YOUR NEXT STEPS ARE TO DISCUSS THIS REPAIR WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER AT YOUR DEALERSHIP. SHOULD YOU FEEL THAT WE HAVE NOT ADEQUATELY ADDRESSED YOUR QUESTIONS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT US VIA TELEPHONE AT (800)392-3673 BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 8AM AND 5PM, LOCAL TIME, MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. PLEASE PROVIDE YOUR 10 DIGIT REFERENCE NUMBER - [XXX] . SINCERELY, [XXX] CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER FORD MOTOR COMPANY. *TR

Mileage: 71,760

I HAVE A 2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC AND THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT WHEEL BEARING HAS GONE OUT SEVERAL TIMES AND NO ONE KNOWS WHAT THE PROBLEM IS WHY DON'T THEY PUT SEALED BEARINGS SO YOU DON,T HAVE TO CHANGE THEM EVERY 6 MONTHS. *TR

Mileage: 67,000

I HAVE A 2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC AND THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT WHEEL BEARING HAS GONE OUT SEVERAL TIMES AND NO ONE KNOWS WHAT THE PROBLEM IS WHY DON'T THEY PUT SEALED BEARINGS SO YOU DON,T HAVE TO CHANGE THEM EVERY 6 MONTHS. *TR

Mileage: 67,000

2001 FORD SPORT TRAC 49,000 MILES HAVE HAD LOWER BALL JOINTS REPLACED TWO YRS AGO AND YESTERDAY 12-17-2008 HAD THE UPPERS REPLACED. ALL FOUR WERE PERM SEALED TYPE. I AM 64YRS OLD AND HAVE NEVER BEFORE HAD BALL JOINT PROBLEMS. PLEASE FORCE CAR COMPANIES TO GO BACK TO GREASE FITTINGS ON SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART OF A VEHICLE. *TR

Mileage: 48,936

I OWN A 2001 SPORT TRAC. I HAD TO PAY 934.00 TO BRYAN AUTOMOTIVE IN DECATUR TEXAS TO REPLACE BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT AXLES, AND THE OUTER BEARINGS. THE REAR END STILL HAS A SLIGHT WHINING AT 55-70 MPH. HE SPOKE WITH SOMEONE AT THE FORD HOUSE IN DECATUR TX , AND WAS TOLD SOME SPORT TRACS WILL HAVE THIS NOISE. I HAVE OWNED NUMEROUS VEHICLES AND HAVE NEVER HAD A REAR END GO OUT. SOMETHING WAS DEFINITELY WRONG. PLEASE HAVE FORD REIMBURSE PEOPLE AND DO A RECALL. *AK

Mileage: 135,000

PREMATURE STEERING COMPONENT FAILURE. 48,000 TIE ROD ENDS, 59,000 UPPER CONTROL ARMS, LOWER BALL JOINTS, RACK AND PINION, AND POWER STEERING PUMP. *NM

Mileage: 49,000

I HAVE A 2001 EXPLORER SPORT TRAC WITH 60K MILES ON IT. THE STOCK SHOCKS ARE SO BAD THAT BREAKING AND HIGHWAY TRAVEL IS DANGEROUS. THE LAST INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING I-35 SOUTH RIGHT OUTSIDE OF KANSAS CITY, MO. A CAR BROKE DOWN IN MY LINE AND I TAPPED (NOT STOMPED) THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN, THE TRUCK DID A NOSE DIVE AND THE BACK END KICKED OUT INTO THE OTHER LANE AND THE TIRES LOCKED UP.

Mileage: 60,000

I HAVE A 2001 EXPLORER SPORT TRAC WITH 60K MILES ON IT. THE STOCK SHOCKS ARE SO BAD THAT BREAKING AND HIGHWAY TRAVEL IS DANGEROUS. THE LAST INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING I-35 SOUTH RIGHT OUTSIDE OF KANSAS CITY, MO. A CAR BROKE DOWN IN MY LINE AND I TAPPED (NOT STOMPED) THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN, THE TRUCK DID A NOSE DIVE AND THE BACK END KICKED OUT INTO THE OTHER LANE AND THE TIRES LOCKED UP.

Mileage: 60,000

WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH AND TURNING RIGHT OR LEFT VEHICLE LIFTED ON ITS OWN. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL BEARING RUNS DRY ON LUBRICATION CAUSING THE BEARING TO SCREECH LOUD. THE SAME BEARING HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE ON MY 2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC IN TEN MONTHS.*AK

Mileage: 38,370

AT 31,000 MILES BRAKES AND ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED, AND AGAIN AT 57,000 MILES. HAVE TAKEN IT TO DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS BECAUSE THE BRAKES SQUEALED, ESPECIALLY WHEN PRESSURE IS APPLIED. TECH SAID THE BRAKES NEEDED TO SEED. PROBLEMS WITH FRONT BRAKES HAS BEEN ONGOING. IS THIS NORMAL OR ARE THERE OTHER SPORT TRAK OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME KIND OF PROBLEMS WITH THEIR BRAKES. (HAS LEAD TO TIRES CUPPING, BUSHINGS NEEDING REPLACEMENT, FRONT END ALIGNMENTS, BALL JOINT REPLACEMENT, ETC.)*AK

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE WANDERS ON HIGHWAY. DEALER CORRECTED REAR / FRONT TOE IN. *TT