2013 Expedition Front Shocks Leaking

[13Expy]

Hi Everyone


My 2013 Ford Expedition has only covered 7000 miles (mostly highway mileage) and I noticed the other day when I was warming the car there was a pool of liquid under the front tire, I thought it might be the coolant that was leaking, anyway after a few days I took it for a regular oil change and the mechanic who changed the oil showed me that both front shocks were leaking!

Now the question is:

Do I have to change the shocks immediately?

Is it safe to travel with these shocks?

Can it damage other parts if its not immediately replaced?

Please advice as I'm really confused

kind reagrds

 

[JExpedition07]

Inside the shocks are hydrolic fluid and piston that compresses or pushes against it going over bumps. if that fluid is leaking out you'll want to think about replacing them. A little leakage isn't always bad but if it's enough to make things oily and make a "puddle" they should be replaced. No it shouldn't damage other parts if you don't replace right away except for themeselves, that being said they are no good anyway. you'll probably start to notice a reduction in ride quality rather quickly if they are leaking that bad.

 

[NASCAR Mike]

Replace. It could cause you to lose control of your truck.

 

[bobmbx]

I would make plans to have them replaced pronto. As Mike said, you can lose control, especially at highway speeds. There is nothing to dampen the movement of the wheel up and down. The wheel can start bouncing uncontrollably at the slightest bump in the road. The higher the vehicle speed, the more severe the oscillation, with the tire even leaving the road surface. Thats the extreme end of what could happen. Normal city driving....on the way to the dealer....should be fine.

You shouldn't experience any other damage as long as you don't go off-roading with it.

 

[John Christopher]

Hi Everyone


My 2013 Ford Expedition has only covered 7000 miles (mostly highway mileage) and I noticed the other day when I was warming the car there was a pool of liquid under the front tire, I thought it might be the coolant that was leaking, anyway after a few days I took it for a regular oil change and the mechanic who changed the oil showed me that both front shocks were leaking!

Now the question is:

Do I have to change the shocks immediately?

Is it safe to travel with these shocks?

Can it damage other parts if its not immediately replaced?

Please advice as I'm really confused

kind reagrds

I'm surprised to hear that a 4 years old vehicle with 7000 highway miles would have leaking shocks. Did you buy the truck new?

 

[99WhiteC5Coupe]

I'm surprised to hear that a 4 years old vehicle with 7000 highway miles would have leaking shocks. Did you buy the truck new?

I bought a new 2015 Expedtion Limited 4x4 - never wrecked or damaged. At about 6,000 miles, the RF shock began leaking and was replaced under warranty.

 

[John Christopher]

I bought a new 2015 Expedtion Limited 4x4 - never wrecked or damaged. At about 6,000 miles, the RF shock began leaking and was replaced under warranty.

To have 1 shock leaking at 6000 miles is bad but 2 at 7000 is brutal.

 

[JExpedition07]

To have 1 shock leaking at 6000 miles is bad but 2 at 7000 is brutal.

Often times a lack of use is MUCH WORSE than heavy usage. Letting a truck sit around damges components. They are meant to be run and everything needs lubrication. If it sits all the time things run dry, seals dry out and crack etc etc.

 

[13Expy]

I'm surprised to hear that a 4 years old vehicle with 7000 highway miles would have leaking shocks. Did you buy the truck new?

Yea I bought it new from the dealer and have 5 years extended warranty, bought it 2013/02

The problem is I went to them and told them about the problem but they weren't ready to replace it under the warranty.

 

[13Expy]

I also noticed when I was driving the car to the dealer it was shaking @ 60 MPH, is it because of the shocks?

 

[stamp11127]

Read the fine print of the warranty. If it is covered they must replace it. If it isn't covered they should have pointed it out where it is stated. They may be stalling you to get you past the warranty period at which time they will be more than happy to change them for you - for big bucks.

 

[John Christopher]

I also noticed when I was driving the car to the dealer it was shaking @ 60 MPH, is it because of the shocks?

This could be a lot of things but if the shock are leaking they should replace them. If you still have a vibration it could be a bent rim, balance bad tire etc.

I would follow stamps advice and go from there.

 

[cekkk]

Ford might have found a cheaper source for these things in 2013. My DWs '13 has about 40k miles and slight leakage all around. Her three previous Expys had no problems with lots more miles.

 

[Qatarguy]

I drove around with work-out shocks for quite a while before getting both the front shocks changed at the Ford Dealership (City driving, no harm done except for a bumpy ride at times). Just noticed that with just 2000 miles run, the one on the right is leaking heavily. I am very disappointed with the quality of parts that Ford is selling now. i plan to replace them with a Bilstein strut assembly complete with Springs and Shocks once i see the left side leaking as well.

 

[PkgingGuy]

Hello. My 2011 had both front leaking shocks at 60k. Bouncy ride upfront terrible. Like Qatarguy, I replaced the whole assy with new springs and bilsteins about 2 years ago. Love love them.
I bought this truck used and also bought extended warranty. Struts are covered under my plan. Since Ford calls these OEM parts “shocks”, they were not covered.

 

[Adieu]

Hello. My 2011 had both front leaking shocks at 60k. Bouncy ride upfront terrible. Like Qatarguy, I replaced the whole assy with new springs and bilsteins about 2 years ago. Love love them.
I bought this truck used and also bought extended warranty. Struts are covered under my plan. Since Ford calls these OEM parts “shocks”, they were not covered.

Send em a legalese demand letter asserting that, as the general accepted US English textbook engineering term for such assemblies is, in fact, COILOVER STRUTS, any and all attempts to deny coverage on the basis of commercial branding that uses a technically fallacious term in lieu of the accepted technical nomenclature for said assemblies constitutes fraud.

Maybe attach textbook diagrams of shock and spring vs coilover strut setups. Expeditions have coilovers on all 4 corners, no two ways about it.

Promise legal action in small claims unless they pay. They'll pay.

 

[NASCAR Mike]

You will spend more time in court and on lawyers than what the new struts cost. Ford has hundreds of lawyers on staff for this very purpose.

 

[Adieu]

You will spend more time in court and on lawyers than what the new struts cost. Ford has hundreds of lawyers on staff for this very purpose.

Small claims doesnt have lawyers and small claims judges refuse to drag things out. Bring a photocopy of a library textbook illustration of shock and spring setups and coilover strut setups, bring an estimate for parts and labor from that very dealership, and the judge will award you that much immediately.... which they KNOW, so it'll never get to court.

You're not seeking class action and huge punitive damages, just restitution.

Companies haaaaaate small claims courts for that very reason.

 

[NASCAR Mike]

Having once won a small settlement against a car manufacturer (not Ford) and less than $1,000 I was happy until I never received payment. 6 years later and still nothing. But I won my court case!

 

[John Christopher]

That sucks!!