1992 FORD EXPLORER Suspension Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 FORD EXPLORER XLT. THE CONTACT STATES WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. THERE WAS A LOUD SQUEALING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE . THERE WAS ALSO EXCESSIVE VIBRATION. THE DRIVER CONTINUED OPERATION WITH CAUTION. WHENEVER THE SPEED RATE WAS REDUCED THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 130,000.

Mileage: 130,000

I JUST WANT TO FILE A COMPLAINT IN REGARDS TO THE 4WD ON THE 1992 FORD EXPLORER. THE PROBLEM IS THAT IT WILL NOT DISENGAGE FROM 4WD TO 2WD. I FEEL THAT BECAUSE OF THIS IS THE REASON FOR ALL THE NOISE I HEAR COMING FROM THE FRONT END. I HAVE NOT REPLACED IT BECAUSE IT WILL COST ME BETWEEN $300-$800 DEPENDING ON WHAT I PUT ON IT. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT I NEED TO GET THIS REPLACED? I HAVE TWO SMSLL CHILDREN THAT ARE IN THE VEHICLE WITH ME MOST OF THE TIME AND DON'T WANT ANYTHING TO GO WRONG WITH THIS THAT WILL CAUSE ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. *NM

Mileage: 150,000

DURING HARD BRAKING IN VEHICLE CHASSIS FEELS LIKE IT IS STOPPING, BUT CAB OF VEHICLE FEELS LIKE IT CONTINUES TO MOVE FORWARD EXCESSIVELY. DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE AND REPLACED "RADIUS CONTROL ARM BUSHING" BECAUSE THIS COMPONENT WAS DETERMINED TO BE BAD. HOWEVER, PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *AK CONSUMER STATES WHILE BRAKING, VEHICLE DOES NOT RESPOND VERY WELL, IN REVERSE AND WHILE TURNING, VEHICLE WILL THUMP AND POP UNDER PASSENGER SIDE. *SLC

DURING HARD BRAKING IN VEHICLE CHASSIS FEELS LIKE IT IS STOPPING, BUT CAB OF VEHICLE FEELS LIKE IT CONTINUES TO MOVE FORWARD EXCESSIVELY. DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE AND REPLACED "RADIUS CONTROL ARM BUSHING" BECAUSE THIS COMPONENT WAS DETERMINED TO BE BAD. HOWEVER, PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *AK CONSUMER STATES WHILE BRAKING, VEHICLE DOES NOT RESPOND VERY WELL, IN REVERSE AND WHILE TURNING, VEHICLE WILL THUMP AND POP UNDER PASSENGER SIDE. *SLC

THE FAULTY ENGINE MOUNT AND REAR AXLE SHOCK ABSORBER CAUSE EXTREME VIBRATION IN THE ENTIRE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE IS NOT HARMONICALLY BALANCED AND SETS UP A VIBRATION THAT EXTENDS TO THE FRAME AND THE REAR SHOCK ABSORBERS. *YH . CONSUMER STATES THAT THIS PROBLEM IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT, BUT MANUFACTURER IS N OT WILLING TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY, CONSUMER WAS ADVISED BECAUSE OF THE AGE AND THE MILEAGE IT WOULD BE THE CONSUMER'S RESPONSIBILITY,*JB

IT IS OBVIOUS THAT WHEN FRONT SUSPENSION COMPRESSES STEERING LINKAGE OR TIE ROD HITS THE RUBBER BRAKE LINE. BRAKES FAILED WHILE DRIVING! *AK

FROM THE BEGINNING THE EXPLORER HAS HAD ENGINE VIBRATION,OIL LEAKAGE PROBLEMS,AT 98 MILES, OF BUYING THE EXPLORER FROM THE DEALER FROM BRAND NEW. AS TO DATE THE EXPLORER HAS NOT BEEN FIXED, AND WHEN I HAVE TAKEN THE EXPLORER IN TO BE FIXED,THEY ASK ME TO TAKE IT HOME FOR THEY DONE WANT TO FIX IT.I HAVE REPORTED IT TO THE ATTERNEY GENERALS OFFICE,AND FORD WROTE THEM A LETTER AND SAID THERE WASN'T ANYTHING WRONG,BUT THEY LYIED???? THE ENGINE HAS BEEN FIXED 22 TIMES FOR OIL LEAKS,TRANSMITTION 3 TIMES,VIBRATION 12 TIMES OR MORE,3 TIMES FOR THE ENGINE MISSING,3 TIMES FOR THE ENGINE BEENING NOISEY,AND ONE DEALER WORKED ON IT HAS SAID IT CAN'T BE FIXED, THAT FORD SHOULD REPLACE IT, BUT THIS WAS DENIED BY FORD AS THE DEALER HAD MADE THE REQUEST. AFTER ALL OF THIS ?? THIS DOESN'T SEAM FAIR??? FOR WE STILL HAVE THE EXPLORER WITH ALL THE SAME PROBLEMS,OIL LEAKS ,VIBRATIONS,TRANSMITTION NOT RIGHT,GAS IN THE OIL,AND STILL MISSES. CAN ANYTHING BE DONE BY YOU??

GREAT VEHICLE IF I DIDN'T HAVE TO KEEP REPLACING THESE FRONT SUSPENSION PARTS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THEN LOST TEMPORARY CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL, VEHICLE HIT THE BRIDGE AND FROM THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, THEN SLIDE SIDEWAYS, CONSUMER SAYS IT WAS NOT A FAULTY TIRE. *SLC

WHEN THIS BUSHING FAILS IT AFFECTS THE STEERING AND CONTROL OF THE EXPLORER AND MIGHT BE A CAUSE OF THE FIRESTONE TIRE FAILERS (WARE AND HEATING OF TIRES). I HAVE BEEN CHECKING OTHER EXPLORERS AND HAVE FOUND THAT ALMOST HALF OF THE EXPLORERS I HAVE SEEN SHOW VISABLE SIGNS OF THIS BUSHING BEING EXCESSIVELY WORN. THE RIGHT SIDE BUSHING IS NEXT TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND SUBJECT TO EXCESSIVE HEAT.

EXTREME VIBRATION OCCURS WHILE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN. PROBLEM BECOMES MORE PRONOUNCED WHEN SPEED IS 65 MPH OR WHEN TREAD IS BEGINNING TO SEPARATE FROM THE TIRES. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

MY 16-YEAR-OLD SON, FROM THE HIGHWAY PATROL'S INVESTIGATION, WAS EITHER DISTRACTED OR FELL ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL AND GENTLY EDGED OFF THE ROAD; HE DIDN'T SWERVE. TIRE TRACKS SHOW THAT AS HE CAME BACK ONTO THE ROAD, HE LOST CONTROL, THE CAR FLIPPED, AND HE WAS THROWN FROM THE VEHICLE AND DIED AS A RESULT OF SEVERE HEAD INJURIES. HE WAS NOT WEARING A SEAT BELT. WE DIDN'T KNOW THAT SUV'S TEND TO FLIP WHEN CONTROL IS LOST. I SAW THE REPORT ON STUDYING LATER MODELS FOR FRONT STABILIZER BAR LINKS AND THOUGHT YOU MIGHT WANT TO LOOK FURTHER BACK TO 1992.

REPLACEMENT TIRES WERE SAME AS FACTORY ORIGINAL, RATED AT 50,000 MILES. AT 40,000 MILES, BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE VIBRATION, THE SOURCE OF WHICH COULD NOT ACCURATELY BE IDENTIFED BY MECHANIC. (U-JOINT AND SEVERAL BEARINGS REPLACED TO NO EFFECT). DURING DRIVING TRIP TO LITTLE ROCK FOR THANKSGIVING, VIBRATION WORSENED, WHICH I ATTRIBUTED TO BAD ROAD SURFACE CONDITIONS IN MO AND AR. DURING RETURN TRIP TO KANSAS CITY FROM LITTLE ROCK, APPROX. 100 MILES WEST OF LITTLE ROCK ON WB I-40, RIGHT REAR TIRE TREAD FAILED, DELAMINATING COMPLETELY FROM TIRE CORE AT 70 MPH. LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND TRAVELED DOWN GRASS EMBANKMENT OF CENTER MEDIAN, HIT CONCRETE DRAINAGE WAY AT CENTER, AND CONTINUED UP THE OPPOSITE EMBANKMENT TOWARD ONCOMING EB TRAFFIC. REGAINED PARTIAL CONTROL AS VEHICLE SLOWED UP THE EMBANKMENT, AND WAS ABLE TO STEER VEHICLE TO REST BACK AT THE BOTTOM OF THE MEDIAN. PASSING MOTORISTS ASSISTED IN RETURNING VEHICLE TO THE HIGHWAY, AND I PUT ON THE FULL-SIZE SPARE. PASSING ARKANSAS STATE TROOPER STOPPED AND ASCERTAINED THAT THERE WERE NO INJURIES NOR COLLISIONS WITH OTHER VEHICLES. NO REPORT WAS FILED. CONTINUED TO KANSAS CITY ON SPARE TIRE; NO FURTHER VIBRATION NOTICED. APPROXIMATELY 5000 MILES LATER REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES WITH SAME BRAND, FIRESTONE ATX. THESE TIRES NOW HAVE APPROXIMATELY 8000 MILES. NO FURTHER INCIDENTS TO REPORT. ORIGINALLY THOUGHT TO BE ISOLATED INCIDENT, AND SO DID NOT REPORT TO NHTSA UNTIL I HEARD NEWS REPORTS ABOUT YOUR INVESTIGATIONS ON THIS TIRE. NTB SALESMAN NOTED THAT THEY WERE FAMILIAR WITH FAILURE PROBLEMS ON THIS TIRE AT THE TIME THAT I BOUGHT THE LAST SET. I WENT AHEAD AND BOUGHT THEM BECAUSE ORIGINAL SET PERFORMED OK, AND THEY WERE MOST ECONOMICAL PRODUCT FOR MY BUDGET. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R14 )

COMING BACK FROM A TRIP ON THE INTERSTATE AT 65MPH VEHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE. COULD FEEL IT IN THE STEERING. HEARD A LOUD BANG AS IF VEHICLE HAD BEEN REARENDED. TIRE STAYED INFLATED. DIDN'T CONTACT DEALER OR MANUFACTURER. PURCHASED ANOTHER TIRE. *AK

SEVERE VIBRATION PROBLEM BETWEEN 55 AND 65 MPH. I HAVE OWNED TWO 1992 EXPLORERS AND BOTH HAVE THIS PROBLEM. DEALER AND TIRE MANUFACTURERS DENY KNOWLEDGE OF ANY SUCH PROBLEM. I SEE THERE ARE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS IN YOUR DATA BASE THAT IDENTIFY THE SAME PROBLEM. LOCAL FORD DEALER HAS SAID THERE IS NO SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS PROBLEM, HOWEVER, I SEE YOUR DATA BASE LISTS SB033695 AS A LIKELY BULLETIN THAT ADDRESSES THIS ISSUE. HOW CAN I GET A COPY OF THE BULLETIN IF FORD DENIES IT EXISTS? THIS VIBRATION PROBLEM SHOWED UP AT JUST OVER 65,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND I HAVE DONE SEVERAL WHEEL BALANCING EFFORTS, BEARING AND ROTOR REPLACEMENTS TO CORRECT. ADDITIONALLY, I SUSPECT THE VIBRATION PROBLEM COULD BE RELATED TO SERVICE BULLETIN SB037583 WHICH DESCRIBES "VEHICLE OPERATION THAT GENERATES HIGH EXHAUST MAY CAUSE THE RADIUS ARM INSULATOR TO DETERIORATE--I HAVE OBSERVED SUCH DETERIORATION ON MY VEHICLE AND MAY BE THE SOURCE OF REDUCED STIFFNESS OR DAMPING THAT CONTRIBUTES TO WHEEL CRITICAL SPEED VIBRATION RESPONSE. PLEASE PROVIDE INFORMATION ON HOW TO GET A COPY OF THIS SERVICE BULLETIN TOO. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR RESPONSE.

HAS LATERAL VIBRATION IN VEHICLE WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. THE DEALER CANNOT LOCATE THE VIBRATION PROBLEM. CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE IS NO PROBLEM. *AK

RADIUS ARM BUSHING TOTALLY CRUMBLED ,FELL APART, CAUSING A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND BRAKES. *AK

THE FRONT RADIUS ARM BUSHINGS HAVE FAILED TWICE, I-BEAM BUSHING FAILED ONCE. THRUST BEARINGS ALSO FAILED, RELATED TO A-ARM BUSHINGS. *AK

CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH FRONT END SUSPENSION. ALSO, THERE IS A BANGING SOUND WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

DP98001 HEAVY LATERAL VIBRATION; WHILE DRIVING DRIVER FEELS A VIBRATION IN THE VEHICLE. THE VIBRATION IS FELT MORE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN UNDER 50 MPH. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 5 OR 10 MPH THE LEAF SPRING ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE BROKE. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *AK

AFTER ABOUT 50.000 MILES THE FRONT END SUSPENSION WORE OUT CAUSING THE ALIGNMENT TO BE OUT OF PLACE. DEALER ALIGNED VEHICLE, AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

SLOWING DOWN FOR A STOP SIGN GOING ABOUT 20MPH, SUDDENLY VEHICLE SLAMMED INTO CURB. RIGHT SIDE TIRES EXPLODED/RIMS/FRONT SUSPENSION/RIGHT SIDE FENDER TORE UP. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. SVC MANAGER NOTICED SUSPENSION STABLIZER BAR PIN WAS CUT.BEFORE ACCIDENT. VEHICLE WOULD ALSO VIBRATE. *AK

BUSHING IN FRONT SUSPENSION ARMS.

MOTOR MOUNTS, MUFFLER TAILPIPE ASSEMBLY AND REAR AXLE SHOCK ABSORBERS NEED REPLACMENT DUE TO VIBRATION PROBLEMS, SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUED.

VIBRATION AT SPEED OF 55MPH AND ABOVE.

THE RADIUS ARM BRACKET BUSHING ASSEMBLY FAILED.

VEHICLE EXPERIENCES SEVERE VIBRATION. DEALER ATTEMPTED TO FIX IT SEVERAL TIMES, BUT PROBLEM CONTINUES. ALSO, BRACKETS THAT CONNECT THE HYDRAULIC CYLINDERS TO REAR LIFTGATE TO PULLED AWAY FROM INSIDE OF THE LIFTGATE PRIOR TO RECALL (95V-164-001) *AK

WHEN DRIVING AT 55 MPH THE WHOLE VEHICLE SHAKES. OWNER TOOK VEHICLE TO GOODYEAR AND THEY SAID THAT IT WAS AN ALIGNMENT PROBEM, BUT CANNOT BE FIXED BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE FRAME IS MADE. *AK THE VEHICLE CAN NOT BE PROPERLY ALIGNED AND VIBRATES AFTER 50 MPH. *YH

AT APPROXIMATELY 55 TO 65 MPH EXPERIENCES EXECESSIVE VIBRATION. PLEASE DESCIBE DETAILS. *AK

4-WHEEL DRIVE NOT WORKING, FRONT HUBS FAILED.

WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE ABOVE (55) MPH THERE IS EXTREME VIBRATION COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF VEHICLE. VEHCLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. *AK

OWNER STATES THAT HER FRONT BUSHING RADIUS ARM IS DEFFECTIVE, SHE NOTES THAT DEALERS CORRECTED PROBLEM ONCE BUT IT RETURNED, OWNER IS CONCERNED FOR HER SAFETY. *AK

HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING UNIT CAUGHT ON FIRE ONCE , FOUR SETS OF TIRES ,TWO SETS OF SHOCK AND FOUR SETS OF ABS BRAKES WERE REPLACED. HAVING OTHER PROBLEM S, INCLUDING FOUR TRANSMISSIONS HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK

RADIUS ARM BUSHINGS REPLACED.

RADIUS ARM BUSHINGS FAILED.

RADIUS ARM BUSHINGS DRIED OUT DUE TO HEAT.

FRONT WHEELS VIBRATE EXTENSIVELY WITH CAUSE UNKNOWN EVEN UPON BRAKING. FORD MANUFACTURE IS AWARE BUT NO FIX. *AK CONSUMER HAS REPLACED TIRES AND VIBRATION STILL EXISTS. *SLC

FRONT END RADIUS ARM BUSHING DETERIORATED, CAUSING FRONT END NOISE AND STEERING PROBLEMS. *DH

VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

AT HIGH SPEED THERE IS A VIBRATION . *AK CONSUMER STATES VIBRATION IS SO BAD THAT IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE OVER 60 MPH, THERE IS A TSB THAT RECOMMEDS REPLACING ENGINE MOUNTS AND SHOCKS. *SLC

FRONT END MISALIGNED, CAUSING VIBRATION.

FRONT SUSPENSION, FAULTY OF SHIM PLATE OR BUSHING, TO REPAIR FRONT END PROBLEM. *AK

RADIUS ARM BUSHING MELTS DUE TO LOCATION TOO CLOSE TO EXHAUST. STEERING PULLS TO LEFT EXCESSIVELY. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAIL. *AK

REAR STABILIZER BAR FAILED. *DSH

WHEN DRIVIN OVER 55 TO 65 MMP, TRUCK VIBRATES OVER 65 IT STOP PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK

WHEN DRIVIN OVER 55 TO 65 MMP, TRUCK VIBRATES OVER 65 IT STOP PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK

SUSPENSION RADIUS ARM BUSHINGS REPLACED DUE TO SPONGY STEERING. *SD

RADIUS ARM BUSHING FAILED. *SD

FRONT END SHIMMIES WHEN VEHICLE IS DRIVEN 55 - 65 MPH.

RADIAL ARM SUSPENSION BUSHINGS FAILED. *SD

EXCESSIVE FRONT VIBRATION. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT

VEHICLE ROLLOVER WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH ON HWY, VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. TT

THE VEHICLE SHIMMIES SO BAD AT 60 TO 65 MPH AND HAD BEEN DEEMED BY FORD AS UNFIXABLE. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

MISALIGNMENT, CAUSING FRONT END VIBRATION, ALSO TIRES ROTATED/BALANCED. *AK

LATERAL VIBRATION GOING ON ROUGH ROAD UNDER 45, AND HIGH SPEED VIBRATION 55-65 MPH. TT

ALIGNMENT STRUTS BUSHING OVER HEATING, CAUSING THE FRONT END TO MAKE A LOUD NOISE WHILE DRIVING. TT

WHILE DRIVING AT SPEED OF 65 MPH EXPERIENCE VIBRATION IN THE FRONT OF VEHICLE, IN FOR REPAIR NO PROBLEM FOUND. TT

SHIMMY IN THE FRONT END FROM 25-65 MPH , PROBLEM STARTED ON THE LEFT SIDE AND IS NOW MOVING TO THE LEFT. TT

VIBRATION OF VEHICLE. TT

VEHICLE ALIGN FOUR TIME, DUE TO CONSTANT VIBRATION AT HIGHWAY SPEED. TT

FRONT DRIVER/PASSENGER'S BUSHINGS FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO BOUNCE/ALSO MAKE NOISE. *AK

VEHICLE HAD FOUR WHEEL ALIGNMENTS IN ONE YEAR. TT