2002 Ford F-150 suspension problems

SUSPENSION

I WAS DRIVING MY 2002 FORD F-150 VIN # ([XXX]) DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 45MPH WHEN IT STARTED WHEEL HOPPING FROM THE REAR VERY BAD, THERE WAS A SCHOOL BUS STOPPED LETTING CHILDREN OFF & AS I WAS BRAKING IT WAS HOPPING & WAS A NEAR MISS, THIS WAS CLOSE. I PULLED THE TRUCK OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO INSPECT AS I AM MECHANICALLY INCLINED & RETIRED, FOR THE FIRST 10 YEARS OF MY LIFE I WORKED IN THE AUTOMOBILE FIELD BECAUSE I HAD SCHOOLING FOR IT, ANYWAY I LOOKED UNDER THE TRUCK & SPOTTED THE PROBLEM RIGHT OFF THE BAT, BOTH REAR CENTER LEAF SPRINGS ARE BROKEN BIGGER THAN CRAP. I AM 54 AND A DIE HARD FORD FAN AND HAVE BEEN SINCE THE AGE OF 16, THAT IS ALL I HAVE OWNED & I AM THINKING ABOUT SWITCHING BRANDS BECAUSE THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME I HAVE BEEN DISAPPOINTED WITH THIS TRUCK. I AM THE SECOND OWNER, I BOUGHT IT IN 10/2004 WITH 13,000 MILES. IT HAS NEVER HAD ANYTHING OVER 100 POUNDS HAULED IN IT AND I AM THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS DRIVEN IT SINCE I BOUGHT IT. IS THERE ANY RECALLS FOR MY TRUCK ON THIS PROBLEM? CAN FORD MOTOR COMPANY DO ANYTHING FOR ME? THANK YOU [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #10638146 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

THE REAR PORTION OF THE FRAME IS ROTTEN TO THE POINT THAT THE LET SPRINGS HANGERS ARE READY TO BREAK OFF THE FRAME AND THE SPARE TIRE HOLDER IS ALSO READY TO FALL OFF. I JUST REPLACED THE REAR SPRING SHACKLES DUE TO THE WERE ALSO ROTTEN AND BROKE. THE GAS TANK STRAPS WERE ALSO A PROBLEM DUE TO RUST BUT FORD THOUGH ENOUGH OF THE PROBLEM THERE WAS A RECALL ON THAT, TOYOTA HAD A PROBLEM WITH RUSTED FRAMES AND DID A MASSIVE RECALL ON THAT ISSUE. WHY HASN'T FORD DONE THE SAME THING? THE FRAME SHOULD BE THE LAST THING ONE NEEDS TO WORRY ABOUT WITH ANY VEHICLE. THE TRUCK CURRENTLY HAS 146000 MILES AND NOW WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE NEXT MOVE WILL BE WITH THIS VEHICLE. REPAIR IT, JUNK IT OR TRADE IT ?????

NHTSA complaint #10510898 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

LEAF SPRING BRACKETS ATTACHED TO THE FRAME HAVE RUSTED OUT AND HAVE SEPARATED THE LEAF SPRINGS FROM THE FRAME.

NHTSA complaint #10430371 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:REAR

MY TRUCK THAT I BOUGHT BRAND NEW IS A 2002 FORD F150 SUPERCREW THAT I TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF. THE TRUCK HAS JUST OVER 64,000 MILES ON IT. ON OCCASION I DO USE THE TRUCK LIKE A TRUCK AND TOW A 19' BOAT WITH IT AND I USE IT TO PICK UP LUMBER ETC... THREE WEEKS AGO I BEGAN TO HEAR AN ODD METALLIC SOUND FROM THE BACK OF THE TRUCK WHILE GOING OVER BUMPS IN THE ROAD. I CLIMBED UNDERNEATH AND GRASPED DIFFERENT COMPONENTS OF THE SUSPENSION AND DRIVE TRAIN AND PUSHED AND PULLED ON THEM EXPECTING TO FIND SOMETHING LOOSE. I DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING. THE NEXT DAY I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND I HEARD A VERY LOUD BOOM! I PULLED OVER AND AGAIN LOOKED AT THE REAR END OF THE TRUCK AND FOUND THAT THE MOUNT THAT HOLDS THE REAR LEAF SPRING TO THE FRAME BODY HAD BROKEN RATHER VIOLENTLY AND SENT THE END OF THE SPRING WITH HALF OF THE MOUNT THRU THE UNDERSIDE OF THE TRUCK BED. I WAS ABLE TO LIMP HOME. I BROUGHT THE TRUCK TO THE LOCAL BODY/ FRAME SHOP AND THE OWNER TOLD ME THAT HE HAS BEEN SEEING ALOT OF THESE LATELY AND IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM. AFTER INSPECTION HE FOUND THE OTHER SIDE WAS EQUALLY RUSTED AND READY TO LET GO, WHICH CONCERNED ME SINCE THAT IS THE SIDE WITH THE GAS TANK ON IT. IN HIS EXPERT OPINION HE BELIEVES THAT FORD HAD UNDERBUILT THE LEAF SPRING MOUNTS AND THAT IS WHY THEY ARE BEGINING TO FAIL ON TRUCKS THAT ARE AROUND THE AGE OF MINE. THE FRAME IS SAFE AND SOLID ENOUGH BUT THE MOUNTS FOR PARTS OF THE SUSPENSION APPEAR NOT TO BE. I AM FORTUNATE THAT I WAS NOT TOWING MY BOAT, OR THAT THE BED WAS NOT LOADED AND I WAS NOT DRIVING MORE THAN 35 MPH WHEN THE MOUNT LET GO. I DON'T KNOW WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED IF I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH. THE REPAIR COST $659 AND IN MY OPINION IT IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED CONSIDERING THE AGE, CONDITION AND THE LOW MILES I HAVE ON THE TRUCK. IF THIS TRULY IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT FORD F150'S LIKE MINE POSSESS THAN IT IS ONLY MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THE FAILURE OF THESE PARTS CAUSE A BAD ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #10413090 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:REAR

BOTH THE REAR SPRING SHACKLES AS WELL AS THE BRAKE LINES HAVE FAILED ON MY 02 FORD F150 DUE TO RUST AND THIS IS A COMMON CONCERN. I AM A SENIOR MASTER TECHNICIAN FOR FORD AND WE REPAIR THESE ON A REGULAR BASIS DUE TO RUST. BOTH ARE CLEAR SAFETY CONCERNS WHEN THEY FAIL AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. AND WITH THE FORD WINDSTAR AXLES AND SUBFRAMES BEING COVERED BY A RECALL DUE TO RUST I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY OTHER RUST RELATED SAFETY CONCERNS ARE NOT RECALLED. IF ONE RUST RELATED CONCERN IS RECALLED THEN ALL OTHERS SHOULD BE AS WELL, IT SHOULD BE ALL OR NONE. ON THE REAR SPRING SHACKLES, THEY WILL SNAP IN HALF AND THE REAR EYELET OF THE LEAF SPRING JAMS INTO THE BOTTOM OF THE TRUCK BED, WITH THE BED BEING THE ONLY THING KEEPING MAJOR DAMAGE OR AN ACCIDENT FROM HAPPENING. ON THE FRONT BRAKE LINES, THE RUST AND SWELL UP UNDER THE RUBBER PART OF THE LINE WHERE THE LOWER STEEL LINE IS INSERTED INTO THE RUBBER. ON HARD BRAKE APPLICATION THE LINE BLOWS AND YOU LOSE FRONT BRAKES. BOTH ARE COMMON CONCERNS ON TRUCKS IN NEW ENGLAND WHERE RUST IS A PART OF LIFE. IF I WASN'T A TECH THAT DRIVES VEHICLES WITH FAILED BRAKES AND BROKEN SUSPENSIONS ON A REGULAR BASIS, BOTH OF THESE FAILURES COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT AND LIKELY INJURIES.

NHTSA complaint #10401367 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT

I HAVE A 2002 F150 WITH ABOUT 90,000 MILES ON IT. ABOUT THREE MONTHS AGO THE FRONT END STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY AT ABOUT 45MPH. IT WILL NOT STOP SHAKING UNTIL YOU PRETTY MUCH COMPLETELY STOP. STARTED OUT JUST DOING IT EVERY NOW AND THEN. NOW I CANT GET OVER 45MPH. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO 4 DIFFERENT FRONT END SHOPS AND THEY ALL END UP SAYING THE SAME THING. DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS.. THIS OBVIOUSLY IS A DESIGN FLAW AND SERIOUSLY NEEDS TO BE FIXED.

NHTSA complaint #10399477 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY

2002 FORD F-150. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH REAR AXLE AND BEARING *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE RIGHT REAR AXLE WAS WORN AND THE BEARING WAS BAD.

NHTSA complaint #10382319 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

SHIMMY / BAD VIBRATION AT 50+ MPH. HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR AWHILE - GOTTEN NEW TIRES AND WHEELS, BALANCE/ROTATE, NEW BRAKES AND THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT A NEW CONTROLLER ARM OR SOMETHING...DID SOME RESEARCH AND IT SEEMS THIS IS COMMON FOR THIS TRUCK AND FORD NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT? QUALITY ISSUES AND NO CONCERN FOR PEOPLE'S SAFETY...NICE. HAVE HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY MANY TIMES BECAUSE OF THIS - GUESS PEOPLE HAVE TO DIE IN ORDER FOR FORD TO TAKE NOTICE. SALES DOWN DUE TO CUSTOMER DISSATISFACTION AMONG OTHER THINGS...

NHTSA complaint #10249365 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT

SHIMMY / BAD VIBRATION AT 50+ MPH. HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR AWHILE - GOTTEN NEW TIRES AND WHEELS, BALANCE/ROTATE, NEW BRAKES AND THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT A NEW CONTROLLER ARM OR SOMETHING...DID SOME RESEARCH AND IT SEEMS THIS IS COMMON FOR THIS TRUCK AND FORD NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT? QUALITY ISSUES AND NO CONCERN FOR PEOPLE'S SAFETY...NICE. HAVE HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY MANY TIMES BECAUSE OF THIS - GUESS PEOPLE HAVE TO DIE IN ORDER FOR FORD TO TAKE NOTICE. SALES DOWN DUE TO CUSTOMER DISSATISFACTION AMONG OTHER THINGS...

NHTSA complaint #10249365 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT

I WAS TOLD DURING A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE THAT MY TRUCK NEEDED TIE ROD ENDS AND BALL JOINTS (NOT JUST SOME OF THEM BUT ALL OF THEM) I CHECKED THE INTERNET AND IT SEEMS THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THESE. IS THERE ANY INVESTIGATION GOING ON OR A POSSIBLE RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10205141 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT

MISSING COTTER PINS ON FRONT END UPPER BALL JOINTS.

NHTSA complaint #10161925 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT:SHOCK ABSORBER

CONSUMER 2002 FORD F-150 SUPERCREW TOP SHAFT PISTON FOR THE SHOCK ABSORBER BROKE. *TS THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HE NEVER CARRIED MORE THAN 500 POUNDS IN THE CARGO BED NOR EVER PULLED ANYTHING (MOTORCRAFT SHOCK ABSORBER, ASH-144, 2L3Z-1825-FA, H751B 103805 100604, BAR CODE: 31508 407657, ML1193 REV 5/01).

NHTSA complaint #10138876 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT

SAW TV NOTE ON DAIMLER-CHRYSLER RECALL RE: BALL JOINTS. MY WIFE HAS A SIMILAR ISSUE WITH A GM F-150 (INDEPENDENTLY VERIFIED BY A MECHANIC AS EXCESSIVE WEAR FOR 20,000 MILES AND IS ALREADY MAKING THE NOISE CHRYSLER SAYS IS A WARNING)--BUT DEALER SAYS IT'S WITHIN SPECS, AND GM SAYS IT WON'T GO AGAINST DEALER. NEW HUSBAND IS VERY WORRIED FOR HIS WIFE GIVEN THAT BALL JOINT IS ALREADY AT THE STAGE THAT IS QUOTED AS "CONSUMER WOULD HAVE WARNING BECAUSE OF NOISE"--YET NO REPAIR OFFERED OR EVEN THOUGHT NEEDING FURTHER REVIEW.

NHTSA complaint #10102636 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT

SAW TV NOTE ON DAIMLER-CHRYSLER RECALL RE: BALL JOINTS. MY WIFE HAS A SIMILAR ISSUE WITH A GM F-150 (INDEPENDENTLY VERIFIED BY A MECHANIC AS EXCESSIVE WEAR FOR 20,000 MILES AND IS ALREADY MAKING THE NOISE CHRYSLER SAYS IS A WARNING)--BUT DEALER SAYS IT'S WITHIN SPECS, AND GM SAYS IT WON'T GO AGAINST DEALER. NEW HUSBAND IS VERY WORRIED FOR HIS WIFE GIVEN THAT BALL JOINT IS ALREADY AT THE STAGE THAT IS QUOTED AS "CONSUMER WOULD HAVE WARNING BECAUSE OF NOISE"--YET NO REPAIR OFFERED OR EVEN THOUGHT NEEDING FURTHER REVIEW.

NHTSA complaint #10102636 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

PASSENGER DOOR WOULD OPEN WHILE VEHICLE WAS MOVING. *PH THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE VIBRATED WHILE DRIVING. THE CONSUMER MOTHER-IN-LAW FELL WHILE TRYING TO GET INTO THE FRONT PASSENGERS SIDE DOOR OF THE TRUCK. THE BRAKES WOULD LOCK UP INTERMITTENTLY.

NHTSA complaint #10065327 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS

BROKEN FRONT COIL SPRING.

NHTSA complaint #10064076 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:REAR

SHUDDER FROM REAR END WHEN TURNING RIGHT OR LEFT OR WHILE TAKING OFF FROM A STOP.

NHTSA complaint #10049643 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:SPINDLE

PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE BROKE OFF AT THE AXLE, WHILE GOING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, CAUSING THE TRUCK TO SPIN OUT. UNEXPLAINABLE, DID NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT FOR THIS TO HAPPEN.

NHTSA complaint #10049550 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

BAD SHIMMY / VIBRATION FRONT END. THIS HAS BEEN THIS WAY SINCE I BOUGHT IT NEW. HAVE TAKEN IT BACK TO FORD ON 4 DIFFERENT TIMES. ONCE THEY TRIED TO FIX IT BUT HASN'T BEEN RESOLVED. THINK IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AT HIGHER SPEEDS.

NHTSA complaint #10038887 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

TRUCK IS SUBJECT TO VIBRATION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WITH CAUSE UNKNOWN BY DEALERSHIP. TIRES HAVE BEEN CHANGED TWICE AND THEN MOUNTED AND BALANCED FOUR TIMES. CAUSE OF VIBRATION IS STILL UNDETERMINED. NLM

NHTSA complaint #8020108 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

WHEN MAKING A SLOW TURN THERE WAS A POPPING SOUND THAT CAME ONLY WHEN MAKING LOW SPEED TURNS. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.

NHTSA complaint #8013713 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.