2012 Expedition Alignment Issues

[CPage]

Is anyone have issues with their vehicle constantly being out of alignment? My 2012 Expedition XL will not stay in alignment. I have had this issue since I purchased it new. It is currently at the dealership, they have had it for THREE weeks and still can not figure out the problem. Any input would be greatly appreciated!!

 

[deweysmith]

Is it actually out of alignment? I had a sticky brake that made it pull to one side and I thought it was the alignment for a long time but it always checked out perfectly on the rack.

 

[CPage]

Yes, per the dealer it is out of alignment every time they check. One time it was so bad they thought their machine was broken! They put it on another machine and realized that yes it was that bad. I am beyond frustrated!! They keep offering me tires pro rated, but are not solving the problem. It's crazy to buy tires every 10K miles. Now they are offering me free tires, ok great, but still not solving the problem as to why it will not stay aligned.

 

[deweysmith]

"free tires" sounds like "we knew this was a problem please don't sue us"

 

[99WhiteC5Coupe]

Is anyone have issues with their vehicle constantly being out of alignment? My 2012 Expedition XL will not stay in alignment. I have had this issue since I purchased it new. It is currently at the dealership, they have had it for THREE weeks and still can not figure out the problem. Any input would be greatly appreciated!!

More explanation would be helpful.

How did you know it was out-of-alignment?
How many times has the alignment been serviced at your dealer?
What was done each time it was serviced?
What has the service advisor told you is the reason they have kept your vehicle for three weeks?

Although not a Ford or an SUV, I had a friend that purchased a new Toyota Camry (never wrecked or damaged). The front end repeatedly wore out tires prematurely and had a slight pull to one side. Repeatedl trips to the dealer did not resolve the problem, until it was determined the front unibody dimensional specifications were not correct. The dealership speculated that the vehicle was ratcheted down too tight while being transported to the dealership when new, which caused the vehicle to not be aligned properly even when set to the alignment specifications.

 

[Flexpedition]

Not looking to be argumentative or condescending but how does this go on for some 6 years?

If the dealer didn't solve it the first time around then by all means return a second time and possibly a third. After that, its time to find a new dealer and Pittsburgh has plenty.

Pennsylvania's Lemon Law was on your side until you reached 12K, so no longer an option.

I can't imagine any legitimate reason a dealer would need the truck for more than a day or two, a week tops if parts needed to be ordered. Best of luck in finding a resolution to this.

 

[CPage]

No offence taken here, this is really just crazy and I should of pushed harder earlier!
It is a 2012 but was not purchased until July of 2013- it was still new on the lot...

I have returned it several times, this will be the 5th set of tires on this truck. They keep wanting to change tires since they can not figure out why it goes out of alignment. I get a great deal on the pro rate but again, crazy to buy tires every 10K miles. Can you even believe they have had it for 3 weeks? Claim they can not find anything wrong with the truck to throw it out of alignment, but have admitted it has alignment issues. They are giving me 4 new tires, remember the set on there now has 10k miles on them, they are covering the cost 100%. These will be a different brand. This is not a tire issue but I don't know what else I can do at this point.

 

[Plati]

I think but not sure issues like this can be directly raised to FORD

 

[CPage]

I do have an open case with Ford, still waiting for their response.

 

[bobmbx]

Has it ever been successfully aligned? Or is it always out of alignment?

 

[CPage]

They claim it is in alignment when I leave. Can't figure out why it won't stay.

 

[gixer2000]

Have any copies of the alignment reports? What are they adjusting? Camber, toe? Knowing what part of the front end is out may help solve the issue

 

[ExpeditionAndy]

@CPage when I bought my 2005 (used in 2013 the steering wheel was turned to the right. I asked them to center the wheel. It turns out they had to send it to shop that specialized in alignments. They had to realign the Sub-frame (if I remember correctly) in order to get the wheel centered. After that I never had a problem with it.

 

[sjwelds]

I would say too, find a shop that only does alignments.

Not sure if its the same system, but on my 06 F150 I recently had it aligned, and took it to a specialty alignment shop. The guy recommended that cam washers be installed, which I did. Basically it locks the slot where the lower control arm mounts, so it cannot slide in the slot, unless the bolt is loosened.

A lot like this video:

 

[Adieu]

Is anyone have issues with their vehicle constantly being out of alignment? My 2012 Expedition XL will not stay in alignment. I have had this issue since I purchased it new. It is currently at the dealership, they have had it for THREE weeks and still can not figure out the problem. Any input would be greatly appreciated!!

3 weeks?


Sure bet they aint doing jack shit to it.

Even an amateur with proper tools and motivation can swap the entirety of the suspension in a day

 

[Adieu]

"free tires" sounds like "we knew this was a problem please don't sue us"

Free tires also sounds like "we bought them from Jose's Used Tires for 15 bucks a pop, after we charge you labor it's actually pretty darn profitable"

 

[Adieu]

More explanation would be helpful.

How did you know it was out-of-alignment?
How many times has the alignment been serviced at your dealer?
What was done each time it was serviced?
What has the service advisor told you is the reason they have kept your vehicle for three weeks?

Although not a Ford or an SUV, I had a friend that purchased a new Toyota Camry (never wrecked or damaged). The front end repeatedly wore out tires prematurely and had a slight pull to one side. Repeatedl trips to the dealer did not resolve the problem, until it was determined the front unibody dimensional specifications were not correct. The dealership speculated that the vehicle was ratcheted down too tight while being transported to the dealership when new, which caused the vehicle to not be aligned properly even when set to the alignment specifications.

Nothing shims or camber kits etc. can't fix if done THOROUGHLY

Unbelievable it took them soooo long to figure out the body was a tiny bit bent.... lazy ***** clearly didnt measure any of the wheels against each other, just angles to separate supposedly mirror-symmetrical reference points on the unibody

 

[Adieu]

They claim it is in alignment when I leave. Can't figure out why it won't stay.

Drive thyself directly to an alignment shop when you leave.

Just to take measurements.


Then come back a week or two later if first set of numbers checks out and matches dealer's

 

[mjp2]

Stupid question, but have they bothered to check the upper and lower control arm bushings? If any of those are worn, you're going to have movement in the suspension parts and it's going to cause issues.

 

[rjdelp7]

I leased a 2009 Lincoln MKZ. Driving home, day 1(4 mi on it) it pulled to the right. The smart ass, service manager insisted it was a "bad tire"(top of the line Michelin). I went back and tires were rotated(not given a receipt). Less than a mile after leaving, I made a U-turn and went back. The problem was still there. I was told an alignment could not be done until 500mi, because Ford would not pay for it. At 500mi the alignment was done and it was "out". Driving home, it was better, but still was pulling. I was given a loaner car and threatened them with a bad survey. The third time, they had there "best" tech, do the alignment. He found a bent control arm(on a brand new car). Always ask for the print out, with the alignment specs, after job is done.