2000 Ford Expedition suspension problems

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, AN UNKNOWN NOISE EMITTED FROM THE REAR DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND IT BEGAN TO SHAKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRAILING ARMS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.”

“TAKING OFF FROM A STOP IN THE SUBDIVISION, MY SON WITH A FRIEND IN THE VEHICLE HEARD A SLIGHT CLUNK, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD. HE KEPT DRIVING, BUT THE VEHICLE "FELT A LITTLE STRANGE" HE REPORTED. HE PULLED OUT ONTO A MAJOR ROADWAY AND HEARD ANOTHER LOUD NOISE, BUT THE CAR KEPT GOING, SO HE PULLED OFF THE ROAD AS SOON AS HE COULD, TO DISCOVER THAT THE REAR END ALMOST FELL OFF THE CAR. THE CAR HAS 4 WHEEL DRIVE WITH AWD. THE REAR DRIVE SHAFT GOT PULLED OUT OF THE TRANSFER CASE, DROPPED TO THE GROUND STARTED TO DRAG. IT SNAPPED OFF, BREAKING THE PINION SHAFT, WHEN PULLING OFF THE ROAD. THE REAR LOWER CONTROL ARMS HAD RUSTED AWAY AND SNAPPED OFF. I LIVE IN THE RUST BELT IN THE CHICAGO SUBURBS, AND EXPECT THINGS LIKE DOORS AND FENDERS TO RUST, BUT A MAJOR PIECE OF THE SUSPENSION THAT HOLDS THE WHOLE CAR TOGETHER? REALLY? DOESN'T THAT DESERVE AT LEAST A HEADS UP MENTION IN THE SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE MANUAL, OTHER THAN AT INTERVALS HAVE THE SUSPENSION CHECKED? THE MANUAL PRETTY CLEARLY DESCRIBES CHECKING THINGS AT RECOMMENDED INTERVALS, AND I'VE ALWAYS HAD IT SERVICED AT THE LOCAL (NOW CLOSED MERCURY DEALER NEARBY). THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT,…”

“BRAKE LINE ABOVE FUEL LINE COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH. LUCKILY I WAS STOPPED FOR FUEL AND LOST BRAKE PRESSURE. UPON INSPECTION AT MY LOCAL GARAGE, ALL BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED TO THE POINT ALL WERE REPLACED. UPON CLOSER INSPECTION, THE REAR SUSPENSION PARTS ARE RUSTING UNDERNEATH THE COATING THAT COVERED THE SUSPENSION PARTS. I REALIZE THE VEHICLE IS 14 YEARS OLD, BUT I HAVE MUCH OLDER VEHICLES THAT HAVE ZERO RUST. JUST FOR THE RECORD, WE HAVE YEARS THAT WE HAVE NO SNOW, SO MY EXPOSURE TO SALT ROADS IS VERY LIMITED. ITEMS SUCH AS BRAKE LINES AND SUSPENSION PARTS SHOULD BE MADE OF A BETTER QUALITY MATERIAL. AFTER ALL, THIS VEHICLE STILL HAS THE ORIGINAL EXHAUST SYSTEM! REGARDLESS OF AGE, WITH JUST OVER 77K MILES THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN BOUNCING ABNORMALLY WHILE REVERSING FROM A DRIVEWAY. THE CONTACT SOON DISCOVERED THAT THE LARGE, UNKNOWN POLE WAS LYING UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, AN ABNORMAL BANGING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM UNDER THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BEFORE THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY VEERED INTO THE RIGHT LANE AND NEARLY CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MOVED TO THE SHOULDER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT DRIVE SHAFT WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE OF THE DRIVE SHAFT ALSO CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE TRANSFER CASE, SHAFT LINKAGE AND OXYGEN SENSORS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 196,000.”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND SHE NOTICED SOMETHING DRAGGING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE TRAILING ARMS FAILED AND CAUSED THE ENTIRE SUSPENSION TO FAIL. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE SUSPENSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000.”