2001 Lincoln Navigator Suspension Problems

HELLO, LUCKILY I MADE IT HOME BEFORE THIS HAPPENED AS I WAS TOWING MY TRAILER WITH A COUCH AND CHAIR ON IT. I GOT HOME AND STOPPED IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE, THEN HAD TO MOVE THE TRUCK. WHEN I STEPPED ON THE GAS TO MOVE, THERE WAS A HORRENDOUS BANG, A CLUNKING NOISE AND THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE DROPPED DOWN ALMOST TO THE GROUND. UPON JACKING THE VEHICLE UP AND EXAMINING THE DAMAGE, THE REAR LOWER CONTROL ARMS ROTTED ON BOTH SIDE AND COLLAPSED LIKE PRETZELS, ALLOWING THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL TO TWIST, SNAPPING THE DRIVESHAFT FLANGE WHERE THE UNIVERSAL GOES AND BLOWING OUT BOTH REAR SUSPENSION AIR SPRINGS. AS I SAID, LUCKILY IT WAITED UNTIL I WAS HOME FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. IF IT HAD HAPPEN ON ROUTE 287 ON MY WAY HOME AT 65MPH, I'M SURE THE RESULTS WOULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT I WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. EXAMINING THE UPPER CONTROL ARMS SHOWED THEY ARE ROTTED TO! I CONTACTED THE FORD DEALER I HAVE USED FOR REPAIRS AND FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY HAVE SEEN IT BEFORE, BUT TO THEIR KNOWLEDGE, FORD IS NOT ASSISTING FOR THIS PROBLEM. WHEN I CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE, THEY TOOK MY VIN NUMBER AND SAID THERE WERE NO OPEN RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE SO FORD WOULD NOT ASSIST EITHER. READING ON LINE THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM AND I THINK FORD SHOULD BEE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR IT. I AM 49 YEARS OLD AND HAVE OWNED ALOT OF CARS, I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS! I WORK FOR AN AUDI DEALERSHIP, NEEDLESS TO SAY I DON'T THINK I WOULD BUY ANOTHER FORD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10484100

Incident

Nov 11, 2012

Mileage

97,055 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 5 MPH WHEN THE REAR TRAILING ARM AND DRIVESHAFT FRACTURED AS A RESULT OF CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ID

10440066

Incident

Dec 15, 2011

Mileage

140,000 mi

2001 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE AIR SUSPENSION. *NJ THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE DROPPED ALL OF A SUDDEN WHILE DRIVING. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS NO WARNING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. *JB

NHTSA ID

10276668

Incident

Jun 26, 2009

THE STEERING CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLY AND FRONT SUSPENSION OF THE LINCOLN NAVIGATOR BROKE WHILE I WAS DRIVING HOME. IT WAS LUCKY THAT IT HAPPENED ON THE LOCAL STREET AND THE SPEED LIMIT WAS 30 MPH. I WA SABLE PULL THE CAR TO SAFETY. THE YEAR OF THE CAR WAS A 2001 MODEL. I THOUGHT IT WAS TOO EARLY TO BE BROKEN. WE WERE NOT AGGRESSIVE DRIVERS. WE JUST USED THE CAR TO COMMUTE FROM HOME TO WORK ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE LOCAL STREET. WE WENT TO THE DEALER TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER BLAMED IT ON THE EXTREME TIRE, (MICKEY THOMPSON : BAJA CRAWL RADIAL THAT WE USED. WE WERE SKEPTICAL OF THIS ANSWER. MAY BE IT WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE STEERING CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLY AND FRONT SUSPENSION SHOULD BE STRONG AND DURABLE TO GAURANTEE THE DRIVER SAFETY. IT SHOULD NOT BE BROKEN EASILY LIKE THIS. COULD YOU GIVE US SOME ADVICE? WHO WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS CASE? SHOULD WE KEEP OR SELL THIS CAR. *AK

NHTSA ID

10195563

Incident

Jun 29, 2007

Mileage

86,125 mi

DT: 2001 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR. THE CONTACT STATED THE PASSENGER SIDE OUTER TIE ROD BROKE WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS SLOWING FROM 60-45 MPH WHEN THIS OCCURRED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER. ALSO, THIS BROKE THE INNER BELTS OF THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AT THAT TIME. THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT HAVE A REASON WHY THIS OCCURRED. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH LINCOLN ABOUT THE INCIDENT. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE OUTER TIE ROD END, AND REALIGNED THE VEHICLE AT THE CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. THE CONTACT HAD TO REPLACE THE PASSENGER TIRE, AND CHOSE TO REPLACE THE OTHER TIRES AS WELL. *AK UPDATES 1/11/2006 - *NM

NHTSA ID

10140194

Incident

Sep 16, 2005

Mileage

59,400 mi

THE VEHICLE SUSPENSION IS FAULTY. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10012028

Incident

Mar 18, 2003

Mileage

52,000 mi

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE MAKING THE SLIGHTEST TURN VEHICLE WILL SCREECH SO HARD. WHEEL HAVE NO TRACTION CAUSING VEHICLE TO SLIDE OUT OF CONTROL. MR

NHTSA ID

8020670

FRONT END RAISES UP HIGHER ABOUT 10-12 INCHES THAN REAR. DUE TO THE VEHICLE BEING UNBALANCED IT CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO WANDER. VEHICLE WAS SENT IN 5 TIMES TO DEALER,AND ONCE TEST DRIVEN BY A AREA REPRESENTATIVE, WHO DETECTED A PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

8015268

Incident

May 1, 2002

WE HAVE HAD A TWO MAJOR INCIDENTS WITH AN EXPENSIVE VEHICLE. TRANSMISSION FAILED WITH LESS THAN 4000 MILES AND OUR REAR SUSPENSION FAILED DUE TO SOMEONE AT FORD USING ELECTRICAL TAPE ON A HIGH PRESSURE AIR HOSE.*AK

NHTSA ID

761635

Incident

Feb 16, 2002