Owner-reported complaints naming the suspension system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Suspension reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
14
Latest Jul 30, 2015
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
16%
of 86 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1
What this page shows
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2004 Ford Explorer Sport Trac submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 14 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Owner reports naming suspension
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
Body & structureSuspension
Filed Jul 30, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED AND PARTS WERE FRACTURED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME AND THE FRONT AND REAR MOTOR MOUNTS WERE RUSTED AND NEEDED BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED WITH THE FRONT END MOTOR MOUNT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE PINION, BARONS, AND SEALS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000. MA 10/23/15 *CN
NHTSA ID
10745048
Incident
Jul 15, 2014
Mileage
78,000 mi
Other / unspecifiedSuspensionTires & wheels
Filed Aug 21, 2014
I HAD UNEVEN WEAR ON MY TIRES THAT WERE THE ORIGINAL TIRES FROM THE FACTORY. I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW FROM THE FORD DEALER. I WAS TOLD THAT THE TIRE SPECS AND BRAND WERE NOT THE IDEAL TYPE FOR THIS KIND OF VEHICLE. NO WARRANTY COVERAGE GIVEN. I DID BUY MICHELIN AT OWL AND THEY HAVE HELD UP TO PRESENT 2014 AT 106250 MILES. *TR
NHTSA ID
10627092
Incident
May 1, 2007
Mileage
45,000 mi
SuspensionTires & wheels
Filed Nov 26, 2011
TIRES CUPPING AND WHINE AT ABOUT 40 MPH AND UP. *TR
NHTSA ID
10437348
Incident
Nov 15, 2011
Suspension
Filed Mar 28, 2007
TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. THERE WAS A VIBRATION IN THE VEHICLE, AND THE VIBRATION INCREASED AS THE SPEED INCREASED. THE FAILURE HAPPENED INTERMITTENTLY, HOWEVER , THE FREQUENCY WAS STARTING TO INCREASE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100 MILES. THE DEALER HAD DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AS NEEDING NEW TIRES. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED AND THE VIBRATION CONTINUED. THE DEALER THEN DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AS CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAS REPAIR INVOICES. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 39,000.*AK
NHTSA ID
10186400
Incident
Mar 26, 2007
Mileage
39,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Dec 27, 2006
I HAVE EXPERIENCED ACCELERATED FRONT TIRE WEAR, AND ASSOCIATED NOISE AND VIBRATION ON THIS VEHICLE, WITH CURRENT MILEAGE AT 37000 MILES. I HAVE HAD THE WHEELS BALANCED RELIGIOUSLY EVERY 5000-6000 MILES SINCE I BOUGHT IT. I FIRST NOTICED THE WEAR AND VIBRATION AT ABOUT 25000 MILES. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO HAVE THE WHEELS BALANCED AND WAS TOLD THAT THE BALL JOINTS WERE LOOSE AND OUT OF SPECIFICATION. I THEN RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE VIBRATION AND WEAR PROBLEM ADDRESSED UNDER WARRANTY. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE, AND THAT THE NOISE WAS SIMPLY DUE TO TIRE WEAR. WHEN I INDICATED THAT A THIRD PARTY SHOP HAD FOUND LOOSE BALL JOINTS, THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WERE IN SPEC, AND THEN RECOMMENDED FRONT END ALIGNMENT WHICH I HAD PERFORMED. THE VIBRATION AND NOISE FROM THE FRONT TIRES CONTINUED AFTER THE ALIGNMENT WAS DONE. AT THIS RATE, I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE TIRES AND LIKELY THE BALL JOINTS ON THIS VEHICLE PRIOR TO REACHING 40000 MILES. SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS TO NHTSA ARE VERY SIMILAR TO MY EXPERIENCE WITH THIS VEHICLE. *JB
NHTSA ID
10177129
Incident
Dec 27, 2006
Mileage
25,000 mi
SuspensionTires & wheels
Filed Jul 1, 2006
I OWN A 2004 FORD SPORT TRAC XLT WITH GOODYEAR WRANGLER RT/S TIRES (M+S P255/70R16). I HAVE THE TIRES ROTATED EVERY 3 TO 5 THOUSAND MILES. PROBLEM IS THE TIRES KEEP CUPPING OUT, WHICH CREATES A LESS SAFE DRIVING ENVIRONMENT AND CAUSES EXCESSIVE ROAD NOISE. I'VE BEEN TOLD BY THE LOCAL TIRE STORE THAT THIS IS A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE AND BUYING NEW TIRES WILL NOT CORRECT IT. HOW SHOULD I PROCEED TO HAVE THIS ISSUE CORRECTED? NOTE, THE WHEELS ARE WITHIN ALIGNMENT SPECIFICATIONS. PLEASE ADVISE...THANKS. *JB
NHTSA ID
10161201
Incident
Jul 1, 2006
Suspension
Filed Dec 20, 2005
VEHICLE HAS A CONSTANT "THUMPING" NOISE IN FRONT END AT ANY SPEED AS WELL AS VIBRATION. WHILE DRIVING AT IN TOWN SPEEDS AND CONTROLLED HIGHWAY SPEEDS,THE VIBRATION TAPERS OFF BUT NOISE INCREASES. DURING ACCELERATION VIBRATION IS SEVERE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN DEALERSHIP SHOP AT LEAST 3 TIMES FOR THIS, EACH TIME I'M TOLD A TIRE ROTATION WILL FIX THE PROBLEMS...EACH TIME IT DOES NOT. VEHICLE IS SCHEDULED TO BE BROUGHT BACK TO SHOP 12/22/05 AGAIN FOR SAME PROBLEM. *NM
NHTSA ID
10145746
Incident
Dec 20, 2005
ElectricalSuspension
Filed Sep 21, 2005
BRAKES, SHOCKS,REAR AXLE, CRUSE CONTROL,ALIGNMENT
NHTSA ID
10137260
Incident
Aug 2, 2005
Mileage
35 mi
Suspension
Filed May 21, 2005
I AM HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE REAR SUSPENSION ON MY '04 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS IN OKLAHOMA CITY COMPLAINING OF AN UNCONTROLLABLE BOUNCING WHEN HITTING CERTAIN BUMPS ON THE ROAD AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND ALSO SPEEDS AS LOW AS 35 MPH. THIS BOUNCING HAS OCCURRED AT LEAST A DOZEN TIMES AND IS GETTTING WORSE. WHEN THIS OCCURS, IT CAUSES THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE TO JUMP TO THE SIDE ABOUT 6 INCHES, WHICH HAS NEARLY CAUSED ME TO WRECK TWICE THIS MONTH. BOTH SERVICE DEPARTMENTS I'VE VISITED HAVE DESCRIBED THIS AS "NORMAL" FOR THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE ORDERED PARTS AT MY OWN EXPENSE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM, BECAUSE I FEAR FOR THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY. I AM TOLD BY FIRESTONE AND SEVERAL INTERNET SOURCES, THAT MY PROBLEM IS RELATED TO WEAK SHOCKS, WHICH ARE SPECIFIED BY FORD FOR THIS VEHICLE.
NHTSA ID
10121808
Incident
May 20, 2005
Mileage
15,900 mi
Suspension
Filed Apr 18, 2005
VEHICLE FRONT SUSPENSION ASSEMBLY WAS, ACCORDING TO FORD DEALER, DESIGNED SO POORLY THAT EXCESSIVE AND UNSAFE TIRE WEAR PATTERNS WERE TO BEE EXPECTED. SEVERAL OTHER CUSTOMERS WITH SAME COMPLAINTS WERE IN DEALER'S WAITING ROOM THE SAME DAY. I HAVE EXHAUSTED ALL AVENUES TO WORK WITH FORD, UP TO FORD DETROIT CUSTOMER SERVICE.*AK
NHTSA ID
10118037
Incident
Aug 28, 2004
Suspension
Filed Apr 14, 2005
Crash reported
2004 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC RAN INTO GUARDRAIL TWICE ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER. *MR WHILE DRIVING 70 KM A CROSS WIND BLEW THE REAR OF THE TRUCK CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HIT A GUARDRAIL. ANOTHER TIME THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING 55 KM WITH THE 4WD ON WHEN THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL AN HIT A GUARDRAIL ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. *NM WHEN THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL GRABBED THE SLUSH ABOUT 1 INCH THICK, THE CONSUMER RELEASED OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR, SLIGHTLY CORRECTED THE STEERING TO BRING THE VEHICLE BACK BUT THE VEHICLE KEPT GOING TO THE RIGHT, HIT THREE POSTS AND THEN CAME BACK. *SC *JB
NHTSA ID
10117867
Incident
Apr 1, 2005
Suspension
Filed Mar 3, 2005
Crash reported1 injury reported
WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH FRONT OF VEHICLE SUDDENLY DIPPED. THIS CAUSED VEHICLE TO SKID AND CRASH INTO A DITCH. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE CAUSE OF THIS WAS UNDETERMINED.*AK
NHTSA ID
10113405
Incident
Feb 25, 2005
SuspensionTransmission
Filed Jan 7, 2005
I PURCHASED A 2004 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRACKER 11 MONTHES AGO. THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS THE SHOCKS TOWERS. SO, I THOUGHT. WHEN I BROUGHT IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY SAID IT WASN'T THE SHOCK TOWERS BUT THE SWAY BAR. THIS OCCURRED AROUND SEPTEMBER 2004.. THAN I BROUGHT IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. I WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION WAS BROUGHT INTO THE SHOP. I ONLY HAVE 23,000 MILES ON THE TRUCK. WHEN I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK IT HAD 23 MILES ON IT WHEN IT BROUGHT IT. I HAVE PUT ALOT OF HIGHWAY MILES ON IT. BUT THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD NOT HAVE NEED TO BE REBUILT.*AK
NHTSA ID
10105921
Incident
Dec 20, 2004
Mileage
19,000 mi
SteeringSuspension
Filed May 20, 2004
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE VIBRATED CONSUMER CONTACTED WI DEALERSHIP ABOUT THIS ISSUE. *AK
NHTSA ID
10073973
Incident
Feb 18, 2004
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Other components reported on this vehicle
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own