I too received the same letter today. The way I read it is that these particular parts wear out faster than they anticipated in some cases. And I too think they should do a recall to replace the parts with what should be Ford quality parts.

Having said that, I would think long and hard before jumping ship to another make. I have a good friend that works for an extended warrantee company that has enlightened me a little about what NOT to buy. The top of the list of what not to buy is anything Chrysler, then to a lesser extent, Chevy. Worth mentioning was BMW and Cadillac. This is based on the number of calls for particular makes and models for major part replacement such as anything in the driveline, i.e. transmissions, engines, differentials, etc. We haven’t really talked much about foreign makes but I will make a point of bringing the subject up soon.

When it comes to quality trucks, Ford is way out in front of the pack for reliability. I too am keeping an eye on the Titan. Not because I’m interested in buying one, more like a casual interest in seeing how it does over the long haul. In 5-15 years from now we will have a much better idea of how well it’s built and how reliable it is. Right now we know Ford is the best built and most reliable truck out there but that doesn’t mean it or anything else is going to be perfect.

Anyway, I just wanted to interject this into this conversation because I believe us Ford F150, F250, and F350 drivers are driving the best available truck out there at this time.

 

NetBob - I understand where you are getting your information from, but I am going on experience. I had a '95 S-10 before this truck and put 185,000 miles on it. The most expensive repair I had to do to that truck was a water pump. And the only reason I got rid of the thing was because I needed more room.

This was my first Ford - I figured I would give them a chance. My truck has 120,000 miles on it, and I have had numerous things fixed on it, including a new transmission, new front end components, new clutch pads in the rear end, two or three power window motors replaced, etc. Right now I am having a problem with the head lights and fog lights that I cannot figure out.

I don't expect any vehicle to be perfect, but it sucks when you pay this much for a vehicle and have to spend so much time in loaner vehicles!!! (Props to my local dealer - at least they do give me a loaner, even if I drop the truck off for the day for an oil change)

 

Like you said though, it's a two-way street.

I had a 1997 Blazer XT that was a beautiful vehicle. I purchased it used from a Chevrolet dealership and it had problems from week 1. Unfortunately, the thing had 37K miles on it and thus, Chevrolet refused to do any warranty work on it. Items which failed during my 4 month ownership included new transmission, multiple trips to the shop because the fuel guage didn't properly register, it would fall into 4WD while cruising at highway speeds, faulty steering column linkage, leaking rear diff, two tie-rods/joints, headliner material torn loose/falling.... I could go on with more.

Long story short, if I wouldn't have purchased an extended warranty, I would've been out more than what I had paid for the vehicle. I had the Blazer for a total of 4 months and 13 days before trading it in on an Explorer XLT. Of that 4+ months, it was in the shop 3 months and 3.5 days (and to make matters worse, my loaner car during most of that time frame was a KIA).

So, in short, I understand your frustration about your situation but, it does happen on both sides of the road (and every cross-street including Toyota, Honda, Nissan, etc...). I feel that it was a very responsible move on behalf of Ford to inform us, the owners, that there could be a potential problem. Obviously, this is something that showed up on their radar screen and, rather than sitting on their hands (as Chevrolet did with the fuel guage issue (do a search -- it's a VERY common problem on 1997-1998)), they stepped up and fired out an official letter. It was, whether the masses want to moan about it or not, a responsible move.

I, too, received the letter in question. In turn, I went out and inspected my tie-rods to insure that I didn't have any problems. Luckily, I didn't have a problem but, if I had, I would've proceeded to have them replaced/inspected by someone who was more knowledgeable than me with this type of thing. If that required me paying some out of pocket expenses, so be it. My safety (as well as the safety of my passengers) is worth whatever it takes. of any vehicle.

Bottom line, something is a problem on every vehicle out there from every manufacturer in the world. Ford Trucks are the most reliable, best built trucks on the market (and that's not me saying that... that's based upon the millions and millions sold). Every model of every brand will, on occasion, shoot out a lemon. Unfortunately, your number came up. It could've been any of us and, like you, I'd be pretty perturbed but, a consistent drag through the mud is just about all I ever read when you post. I can't imagine being so upset about something that I kept it. Unlike you, I made a move with my lemon. I dumped my problem and found a remedy. If it took me driving another 1990 Geo Prizm, that's what I would've done so that I felt safe, wasn't getting hit in the pocketbook repeatedly with frivolous repairs, and, most of all, had faith in the vehicle that was sitting on four tires beneath me.

As for the Titan... nope. Never.

RP

 

SCrew's are included in the F150 category below... Same chasis I've been told (of course I nver got a letter).

Joe

 

RockPick - I hate that you think all I do is bitch and moan on here - obviously you have not seen the majority of my posts. I have assisted many people on this site and by email about their trucks, either mods I have done or repairs that I have had. After all, isn't that what a public forum is for??

Unfortunately some of those discussions will involve problems. And believe me, I do not have any brand loyalty. Otherwise I would not have bought a Ford in the first place. I just feel that Ford does not always treat their customers as good as they should. I agree, it was good of Ford to contact their customers about this issue (even though I have not received a letter yet), however, I feel this is more of a CYA letter than a "We want to make sure you are safe" letter. If you realize you installed faulty parts, do something to fix it!! I guess I really got a bad taste in my mouth about Ford when they refused to fix an item (lumbar support) on my truck for the second time under my FORD extended warranty when they covered it the first time. To me (and to my dealer) it sounded as if they realized they had a problem with this part and because they were replacing so many of them, they decided not to cover it any longer - that just is not right.

I apologize if it sounds like I gripe a lot and I will try to refrain from doing that in the future because I know all of you die-hard Ford fans do not like hearing it.

And to answer your question about why I have not replaced my truck - it is not my turn!!! My wife has been driving a '95 delSol with almost 200K miles on it and I really want her to get the next vehicle (that's what she told me to say ) I see a bright red G35 coupe in her (and my) future!!!!

 

Got the Tie-Rod Inspection Procedure letter today for my 2000 Ford Expedition. I have 60,000 miles and have not had the tie rods inspected. This is a little scarry.
I know of a lady who's 2001 F-150 had a tire woble, she was able to get the truck off the two lane highway she was on, but then, according to the police report, her truck turned abruptly to the left, crossed the two lane highway. When the front of the truck got to the opposite side soft shoulder the front left tire seems to have stuck, broke off and that resulted in the truck rolling onto the driverside. The driver's left arm got out the window and it was amputated between the side of the truck and the ground. (I guess I should admit that I am a lawyer that was trying to figure out whether there was a defect that cause dher crash, I admit this at the risk of being kickded off the forum.... I promise not to encourage litigation. I wanted to allert all of you to the possibility my client's terrible accident came from the problem that has lead to the tie rod inspection letter).
If this tie rod problem realy can cause the kind of accident that my client had in her F-150, I think a group like this ought to be screaming to NHTSA or the media about the safety risk involved. Ford ought to make this problem right instead of building its "we warned you to properly service you vehicle" for the likely event that some of us or our family members are killed or maimed by these tie rods failing in trucks that already are a little risky in the rollover department. My wife just got home with the kids in the Expedition and I am breathing a sigh of releif.

 

You know, i see this type of "cover your butt stuff" from Ford on a daily basis as a tech. Most of the aftermarket warr companies wont cover tie rod ends at all claiming they are a "wear item" unless they are a greasable type. (and i havent seen factory greasable yet).. Same to be said about windstar lower intake manifold bolt/isolators Ford knows of the oil swelling issues involved, but willnot step up to the plate.. Bpttom line is, ALOT of people will have to DIE for Ford to step up and take care of this.. They still havent done anything with the superduty "crushed roof" syndrome... And i dont see anything being done about the tierod situation either... If it makes any of you feel any better about having your truck serviced under warr, Ford is making another 25% slts cut accross the board. Which equalls any tech working on a warr job is already getting about a 1/4 of what the job should pay as a customer pay job... You people are smart, do the math.... slts= Service Labor Time Standard....

 

Way back in April 2004, I posted to this forum the letter on the Tie Rods. Today in the mail, I got another letter from Ford of Canada, listing the same information as before. The difference in this letter is it shows the proper procedure for checking how to see if your tie-rods need servicing.
Is it unusual to receive 2 letters from Ford?
I only own the Ford Supercrew.
It seems as if Ford is really trying to get my attention on this service letter. I had mine checked in April '04, and they were fine then. I would ask the same question I asked then, Is Ford preparing to launch a recall on tie-rods?

 

Personally, i would'nt hold my breath.....

 

Well, all youse brainiacs have posted the list of vehicles that are affected...but I'm sittin' here thinking.... no body bothered to tell the rest of us "non-letter-getters" just how to properly inspect a tie rod end!

Just wunderin' if it differs from the way ya used to do it in the old days.....

grab tie rod, shake..... Loose.....it's bad. See MOOG. Tight.... it's OK.....


Steve

 

DUH!!!!

My bad.... found the letter in a post on 9/20 by hunt8577 or so....

Very detailed procedure for a change!!!

I think Ford is doing a positive thing here.

Now, they need to use better parts to begin with. Go ahead and trim costs by deleting dressup options, but for Pete's sake, (and us all!) quit trimming pennies off of drive train parts!

Just MHO!

Steve