1996 Ford F-150 Suspension Problems

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. *TR

NHTSA ID

10233989

Incident

Jul 11, 2008

Mileage

178,000 mi

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 ID

10139746

Incident

Oct 4, 2005

Mileage

5,600 mi

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. *NM

NHTSA ID

10106424

Incident

Sep 1, 2004

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. *AK

NHTSA ID

755281

Incident

Sep 1, 2001

WHILE DRIVING AND MAKE A TURN STEERING WHEEL SHAKES TERRIBLY. *AK

NHTSA ID

886617

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

NHTSA ID

886616

Incident

Oct 1, 1996

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. *YH

NHTSA ID

880340

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 ID

737228

Incident

Aug 15, 1998

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

NHTSA ID

734345

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 *ML

NHTSA ID

859226

Incident

Jan 15, 2000

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

NHTSA ID

858063

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

NHTSA ID

846714

Incident

Sep 3, 1997

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 ID

709253

Incident

Jul 7, 1997

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. *AK

NHTSA ID

838587

Incident

May 20, 1998

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

NHTSA ID

826488

Incident

Aug 10, 1997

LEAF SPRINGS DAMAGED CAUSING POOR STABILITY.

NHTSA ID

537026

Incident

Oct 4, 1997

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. *AK

NHTSA ID

806106

Incident

Aug 1, 1996

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

NHTSA ID

803873

Incident

Aug 24, 1996

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

NHTSA ID

982263

Incident

Apr 3, 1996

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 ID

978493

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

NHTSA ID

973334

Incident

Sep 22, 1995