Front Suspension problems of the 1998 Ford Explorer

Vehicle locked up after about 1/2 hour of driving. Consumer called Ford, and had an appointment to take the vehicle in for this problem. But it will cost consumer $100. 00 just for Ford to look at the vehicle. Consumer was not involved in an accident yet, but was afraid that he will.

While driving could feel the vehicle pulling to the side of road. Had taken vehicle to dealer, where an aligment could not correct problem. Please provide more information.

While driving about 70-80 mph vehicle will start vibrating without any notice. Consumer had replaced four sets of tires, and had an aligment done on vehicle. But, vibration still continued. Dealer could not determine what was causing vibration. Please provide more information.

Car driving40 mph on straight, wet, cement terrain, during daylight hours. Driver attentive with hands at 10 & 2 position beginning to acclerate. Back wheels of vehicle begin to shimmy, shake. Front of vehicle begins to veer left. Driver steers car away from cement embankment, left tire goes slightly up embankment, no collision. Car straightend out, driver begins to acclerate again car veers sharp right hits embankment head on, vehicle does complete rollover. Tie rod completely severed. Both times car veered driver attempted to correct car, but unable to steer vehicle.

When back out there is a popping noise coming from front tire.

While driving vehicle will start vibrating. Consumer had replaced tires to correct vibration, but still there was vibration. Shock asorber had been replaced and vibration continued. Consumer believed that could be a vehicle problem. The consumer has went through 4 sets of tires which start cuppping after 15000 miles, the tiresare balanced and rotated every 5000 miles. A new shock was put on which helped vibration some but not completely. The pinion bearing rear axle went out at 36000 miles.

Sidewall failure/partial separation - r&r kit necessary to bring vehicle into alignment specifications( dot number: w2uu tire size: p226/70r15 ).

Vehicle experiences vibration and slight drift to the right around 65 mph. Rotated tires every 5000 miles, however inside of front tires experience severe cupping. At 35000 mile service, brought to bankston Ford (frisco TX) for maintenance. Tires rotated, but nothing noted on service report about severe cupping on inside of tires by bankston. Grew frustrated with lack of service and disregard for safety, took to goodyear dealer. Tires were worn to the 2nd layer and near failure, and shown to me by tech. Replace with goodyears & had alignment checked, needed slight toe in adjustment. Vehicle still vibrates at 65 mph, already seeing cupping wear pattern on inside of brand new goodyears with less than 500 miles!. ( dot number: tire size: p255/70r16 ).

Truck started developing control problems, fishtailing and vibrating. Noticed that tire treads were separating. Took to firestone dealer and replaced all 4. 2 of them were bulging and separating a great deal, the other 2 were starting to develop minor bulges. We were lucky that we stopped before we lost complete control. ( dot number: ).

Experiencing problem with vehicle tilting too far when making a turn at 20 mph. Dealer notified, and informed consumer that nothing could be found, and everything appeared to be normal. Feel free to provide any further detai on this matters.

While driving at any speed vehicle pulled to the left. Consumer stated this could cause an accident.

On going squealing noise coming from front wheels while driving, vehicle has been to dealer on two occasions, and the problem has reoccurred. Consumer was told that the new parts would eliminate the noise, but it has not.

Vehicle experienced poor directional control after vehicle hit a bump or pothole in road while traveling at speeds in excess of 35 mph. Dealership informed consumer that there was nothing wrong with vehicle. Please provide any additional information/attachments.

Consumer stated that while driving vehicle about 40 mph the left front tire start vibrating also the left side mirror where the consumer can not see other vehicle.

Also experiencing right flood light failure. This is the 3rd bulb replacement. I, the customer would like some resolution to these problems. The vehicle cost too much to experience these many problems. ( dot number: 274 tire size: p235/75r15 ).

Suspension problems began after a heavy load was in the vehicle. (400-500 lbs) the front end rode 1 foot above the rear end. Since then the car has handeled quite differently,and has constant loud squeaks and grinds. The bushings recently were removed and greased,under carriage arms in front had to be replaced. Problem appears to be ok,why did this start at 6000 miles? hesitation during hard acceleration,always from stop,crossing intersection. Extensive throttle body,housing repair work neccessary,recalls did not solve the problem. Two friends with 98 Explorers have had exact problems with load carrying and suspension problems. Hesitation problems as wellave had ecact problems not solve the problem er carriage.

A squeeling type grind in left front end occurs daily when vehicle driven, independant of speed variation, sound can be heard through closed windows; dealership will not perform repair after two attempts, engineering at Ford unable to determine cause so far,noise is piercing to driver and surrounding area driven.

The front end makes noise & vibrations continuously. The wheels & steering wheel also shake. Vehicle was aligned. Had springs changed. The problem still has not been corrected.

While driving 50 mph wide left curve and right side tire went on the shoulder of the road and right rear tire skidded out, tried to straighten out the vehicle, the vehicle fishtailed and tried t correct the fishtail, had a rollover. Started at the driver's side.

Tires show stress crack where the belt is attached to cassion, tire have developed a vibration at 45 mph to 70 mph, I have removed all 5 tires from vehicle and replaced them with michlen tires, since I live in GA, the voluntary recall for our area was not schedule till October, so in the name of safey I relplace them with no assistance from firestone. The dot number indicates these tire were not from firestone's decatur IL plant, but I have 5 tires(dot w2hl 128) that have a problem. ( dot number: w2hl128 tire size: 235/75r15 ).

Vehicle pulls right when brakes are applied. Problem has occurred 8 times. Vehicle's alignment is faulty.

After being cut off on I-287, the Explorer went into a series of swerves which became uncontrollable. It finally flipped over on the driver's side and skidded along the roadway on its side. Driver sustained a broken rib and a collapsed lung. The road was dry and clean. The tires were new michelins. The car should not have gone out of control and flipped.

Whenever vehicle hits a bump it would jerk either to right or left. This causes steering wheel to jump out of driver's hand. Contacted dealership and manufacturer, and informed consumer it was front end suspension.

Tire is showing signs of unusual tread wear. Tire rotation occurred at 35000 miles and alignment was checked. Tire is wearing towards the inside and another tire is showning similar signs of wear. The tire is creating excessive road noise. ( dot number: e27477 tire size: p235 75r15 ).

While driving the vehicle it has a lot of creaking and knocking noises coming from under the front of Explorer, you can feel the knocking through the steering wheel. Have not found anything broken.

When driving 40 mph vehicle hit a patch of ice in the road and vehicle went off to side road, and fliped three times. Possible cause of the problem may be linked to tires. Please provide any further details.