1996 Ford F-150 suspension problems

SUSPENSION:REAR

1996 FORD F150 4 X 4-BOTH REAR BRACKETS CONNECTING THE LEAF SPRINGS (REAR OF VEHICLE) TO THE FRAME WERE TERRIBLE CORRODED AND CRACKED. MECHANIC WAS FEARFUL OF FAILURE WITHIN A MONTH OR TWO. REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE ONLY AVAILABLE FROM A FORD DEALERSHIP. CALLED LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND WAS ASSURED PARTS AVAILABLE. UPON ARRIVAL AT THE DEALERSHIP, NOT ALL PARTS AVAILABLE AS DEMAND HAD BEEN SO GREAT THEY KEPT RUNNING OUT OF THE PARTS. I HAD TO GO TO A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP TO OBTAIN THE REST OF THE PARTS. THE REPLACEMENT PARTS WERE OF SIGNIFICANTLY HEAVIER BUILD THAN ORIGINAL PARTS. HAVE SINCE BEEN INFORMED BY MY MECHANIC AND OTHERS THAT MID 90S FORD 150S AND EXPLORERS ARE LOSING THE BRACKETS EN MASSE. I CONSIDER THIS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE AS AN IMPORTANT CHASIS COMPONENT IS MORE THAN LIKELY TO FAIL. THESE OLDER TRUCKS ARE NOW BEING HANDED DOWN TO HIGH SCHOOL KIDS. A FAILURE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WILL SURELY LEAD TO INEXPERIENCED DRIVERS PANICKING AND OVER CORRECTING AT THE TIME OF FAILURE. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT, BUT BASED ON THE DEMAND AT A SINGLE DEALERSHIP (I WAS TOLD AT THE PARTS DEPARTMENT THAT THEY HAD RECEIVED 12 REQUEST FOR THE VERY SAME PART IN ONE DAY. ALL REQUESTS WERE FOR EITHER 1996 F150S OR 1996 EXPLORERS). I CONSIDER THAT STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT AND WISHED TO BRING IT TO YOUR ATTENTION. THANK YOU.

NHTSA complaint #10233989 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS

OCT 4, 2005-DURING ANNUAL STATE SAFETY INSPECTION, THE INSPECTOR DISCOVEREWD THAT BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE BROKEN. THE BREAKS WERE APROXIMATELY 90 FROM THE TOP END OF EACH COIL, LEAVING THEM UNATTACHED. THE BROKEN ENDS WERE RUSTY, SO THEY HAD BEEJN IN THIS CONDITION FOR SOME TIME. THE SPRINGS WERE REPLACED WITH NEW ONES.

NHTSA complaint #10139746 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY:SHACKLE

NOTICED REAR OF TRUCK WAS NOT LEVEL-NOTICED CONTROL DIFFERENCE ON CURVES IN ROAD. INSPECTED TRUCK AND FOUND RIGHT REAR SPRING SHACKLE RUSTED AWAY. PARKED TRUCK UNTIL REPAIRS ARE MADE. THE OLD PART IS STILL ON TRUCK.

NHTSA complaint #10106424 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT

WHEM MAKING TURNS (MOSTLY NOTED AT SLOW SPEEDS) TRUCK MAKES LOUD POPPING SOUND FROM UNDERNEATH.

NHTSA complaint #734345 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS

FRONT LEFT SPRING COIL BROKE, CAUSEING EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR, BRAKE/ROTOR FAILURE, AND DIMINISHED VEHICLE CONTROL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. EXPENSES TO REPAIR DEFECTIVE SPRING AND SUBSEQUENT DAMAGE TO BRAKES/ROTORS IN EXCESS OF $500.00.

NHTSA complaint #755281 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT

WHEN DRIVING AND HITTING A ROUGH SERVICE OR POTHOLE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES TERRIBLY, IT WILL JUMP OUT OF DRIVER'S HANDS.

NHTSA complaint #886616 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT

WHILE DRIVING AND MAKE A TURN STEERING WHEEL SHAKES TERRIBLY.

NHTSA complaint #886617 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS

POWER STEERING HOSE RUSTED AND DEVELOPED A MASSIVE LEAK WHICH CAUSED NO POWER STEERING ABILITY. *AK WIRE HARNESS FOR AIR BAG SENSOR NOT OPERATIONAL. BOTH REAR SPRINGS BROKE UNDER LIGHT LOAD RESULTING IN STEERING AND BRAKE FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #880340 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM

LOUD POPPING NOISE. DEALER WAS NO HELP. INDEPENDANT REPAIR SHOP FOUND AND REPLACED CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS. ORIGINALS HAD CHEMICALLY DETERIORATED FROM APPLICATION OF SLOVENTS AT SOME POINT AT ASSEMBLY. REPAIRS COST ME $400. ATTACHMENT POINTS WERE WORN TO THE POINT OF BEING OBLONG.

NHTSA complaint #737228 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT

WHEM MAKING TURNS (MOSTLY NOTED AT SLOW SPEEDS) TRUCK MAKES LOUD POPPING SOUND FROM UNDERNEATH

NHTSA complaint #734345 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:REAR:SHOCK ABSORBER

PUT IN NEW SHOCK ABSORBERS BUT BRAKE LINING RESTED AGAINST THE SHOCK ABSORBERS WHICH RUBBED A HOLE THROUGH THE METAL, CAUSING BRAKE FAILURE. CONTACTED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER, BUT WERE NOT ABLE TO HELP. *AK

NHTSA complaint #859226 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM

BALL JOINTS AND TIE RODS DRY ROTTED, CAUSING THE FRONT END TO COLLAPSE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED.

NHTSA complaint #858063 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:REAR

WHEN HITTING A BUMP WHILETURNING A CORNER OR HITTING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE VIBRATES AND JERKS.

NHTSA complaint #846714 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT

MAJORITY OF PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN WITH FRONT AND REAR SUSPENSION IN ADDITION TO THE FOLLOWING: CAMBERS, SLUGS, TOES, ROTORS, GEAR BOX, SPRINGS, DRAG LINKS, TIE RODS, BUSHINGS, TRANS CROSS MEMBERS, STABILIZER BARRS, BUSHINGS, ELECTRICAL, COMPUTER, TRANSMISSION, OIL LEAKS, IGNITION CYLINDER, AND REPLACEMENT OF FOUR WHEEL DRIVE COMPONENTS. DEALERSHIP TELLS ME THEIR HANDS ARE TIED. FORD MOTOR COMPANY ONLY "DOCUMENTS" DIFFICULTIES AND I CAN'T GET PAST A CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE WHO CAN DO NOTHING BUT PUT MY COMPLAINTS INTO A DATABASE. REPEATED LETTERS AND PHONE CALLS HAVE GONE UNRESOLVED AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS MADE NO ATTEMPT AT CUSTOMER SERVICE! I WAS TOLD TODAY THAT NOTICE WOULD BE SENT TO THE LOCAL FIELD OFFICE WHERE THEY WOULD CONTACT THE DEALER SERVICE MANAGER AND MOST LIKELY NOT ME DIRECTLY ALTHOUGH I ASKED THAT THEY DO SO. THERE HAVE BEEN TEN SERVICE APPOINTMENTS FOR THESE PARTS TO BE REPLACED. I NOW HAVE ANOTHER APPOINTMENT FOR AUG. 9TH - WE STILL HAVE FRONT AND REAR SUSPENSION PROBLEMS. TO DATE, OUR TRUCK HAS BEEN AT THE SERVICE FOR REPAIRS FOR A TOTAL OF 22 DAYS.

NHTSA complaint #709253 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:REAR

MAJORITY OF PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN WITH FRONT AND REAR SUSPENSION IN ADDITION TO THE FOLLOWING: CAMBERS, SLUGS, TOES, ROTORS, GEAR BOX, SPRINGS, DRAG LINKS, TIE RODS, BUSHINGS, TRANS CROSS MEMBERS, STABILIZER BARRS, BUSHINGS, ELECTRICAL, COMPUTER, TRANSMISSION, OIL LEAKS, IGNITION CYLINDER, AND REPLACEMENT OF FOUR WHEEL DRIVE COMPONENTS. DEALERSHIP TELLS ME THEIR HANDS ARE TIED. FORD MOTOR COMPANY ONLY "DOCUMENTS" DIFFICULTIES AND I CAN'T GET PAST A CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE WHO CAN DO NOTHING BUT PUT MY COMPLAINTS INTO A DATABASE. REPEATED LETTERS AND PHONE CALLS HAVE GONE UNRESOLVED AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS MADE NO ATTEMPT AT CUSTOMER SERVICE! I WAS TOLD TODAY THAT NOTICE WOULD BE SENT TO THE LOCAL FIELD OFFICE WHERE THEY WOULD CONTACT THE DEALER SERVICE MANAGER AND MOST LIKELY NOT ME DIRECTLY ALTHOUGH I ASKED THAT THEY DO SO. THERE HAVE BEEN TEN SERVICE APPOINTMENTS FOR THESE PARTS TO BE REPLACED. I NOW HAVE ANOTHER APPOINTMENT FOR AUG. 9TH - WE STILL HAVE FRONT AND REAR SUSPENSION PROBLEMS. TO DATE, OUR TRUCK HAS BEEN AT THE SERVICE FOR REPAIRS FOR A TOTAL OF 22 DAYS.

NHTSA complaint #709253 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY

REAR LEAF SPRING APPEARS IMPROPERLY INSTALLED. BRACKET REPLACEMENT WAS DONE TO 1997-1998 VEHICLES , WOULD LIKE FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM. DEALER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT 1997-1998 VEHICLES WERE RECALLED ONLY.

NHTSA complaint #838587 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT

FRONT END SUSPENSION MAKES LOUD CLUNCKING/KNOCKING NOISES WHEN DRIVING AT 25-50MPH, DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #826488 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY

LEAF SPRINGS DAMAGED CAUSING POOR STABILITY.

NHTSA complaint #537026 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING

DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL MAKES A LOUD NOISE WHILE DRIVING, IN FOR REPAIR, REPLACED THE WHEEL BEARNING, BUT VEHICLE CONTINUES HAVE A PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #806106 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

SUSPENSION FRONT I BEAM BENT, CAUSING WHEELS TO GO OUT OF ALIGNMENT AND POOR STEERING.

NHTSA complaint #803873 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WILL PULL TO THE LEFT AND OR RIGHT WITHOUT WARNING. PLEASE DESCRIBE.

NHTSA complaint #982263 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

WHILE EITHER TURNING OR BACKING UP AN UNKNOWN BANGING SOUND IS HEARD. HAGERSTOWN FORD UNABLE TO DETECT WHAT CAUSE IS. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT

NHTSA complaint #978493 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT

INDEPENDENT FRONT SUSPENSION MALFUNCTION, VEHICLE TENDS TO VEER LEFT WITHOUT TURNING STEERING WHEEL. TT

NHTSA complaint #973334 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.