Thought you all with similar problems might like to hear the online customer service response to vibration problems in the expy's with 4wheeldrive. It seems as though I'm stuck with a $40,000 vibrator!! Please read on...

Dear Kenneth,
Thank you for your message of 08/14/01 regarding your 2001 Ford
Expedition. We appreciate the time you have taken to write us
concerning the vibration in your vehicle.
Kenneth, we are sorry to hear that you are not satisfied with your vehicle.
We have contacted Mel Hambelton Ford and were informed that the
vibration is a function of the All Wheel Drive feature of your vehicle. Every similarly equipped Expedition has the same characteristic.
Kenneth, we invite you to test drive another Ford Expedition. We suggest you do so with the Service Manager at Mel Hambelton Ford. They are in the best position to assist you.
If your vehicle is found to be defective, please be assured that we are committed to working with you and your dealership to see the issue resolved.
At Ford Motor Company, we consider the satisfaction of our customers as one of our most important objectives. If you have any other inquiries or concerns, please feel free to contact us and we will be happy to address them.
Thank you for contacting Ford Motor Company.

Sincerely,
Gavin
Ford Motor Company
Customer Relationship Center

Original Message Follows:
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Servicing dealership: Mel Hambelton Ford
Comments/Inquiry: I have been a loyal Ford customer now for 11 years purchasing four NEW vehicles during that time. My newest to date is a 2001 XLT4X4 Expedition w/no boundries group and lots of extra's. This particular model has had numerous problems since the day we drove it off the lot. If producing a quality product is your goal then I would suggest plenty of
overtime and a THIRD set of eye's to make sure the job is done right the first time. Keep in mind, the vehicle is NEW. Here are my problems to date: The horn "honks" when attempting to turn on the cruise control, The floor moulding strip behind the second row of seats was not attached(there was a one inch gap underneath), Rear wiper would not reset itself to the stored position,and here is the kicker: I have a LOT of vibration upon
initial take off that shakes my seat. At a 1500rpm take off, something in the drivetrain is vibrating. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN!! One of your transmission specialists took a look at it and signed it off as NORMAL OPERATION. He said it was supposed to do that and that I shouldn't be so conscious of the vibration. He was also quick to point out that someone "he knows" drives one similar to mine and that "their's" drives just like mine. Since when are vehicles expected and allowed to vibrate? If I wanted a vibrating vehicle, I would have bought a chevy or a jeep. Instead I spent 40,000 on a Ford Expediton
expecting a good quality product only to find the quality of a new Ford product deminishing. I hope you don't expect me to drive and pay for a poorly assembled vehicle. I wouldn't be so upset with the problems that I've encountered if it were'nt for your "professional" technicions unwilling to solve
an obvious problem. If the initial response I received from your technicion, is the popular consensus among your organization, that I deal with the problem and pay for it as well, then this is the last investment my family will ever make in the Ford corporation.Please forward this message to someone who will act on behalf of millions of dedicated Ford customers who expect no
less than a good quality product.

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That was an awesome letter you wrote. It basically sums up my thoughts exactly. I have a vibration in my '01 F150 that I have diagnosed as being caused by the exhaust. The dealer has added 2 mass dampers to the Y-pipe. This took care of the vibration while sitting still, but it is still present at cruising speed. I wouldn't accept their answer that it's normal for a 4x4 driveline to vibrate. There are ways to dampen vibrations, whether it's changing the rubber compound in the mounts, or changing the powertrain setup. Ford's quality, if you want to call it that, has really suffered in the last few years. I've owend 8 new Ford trucks in the last 15 years and my truck and my wife's '01 Expy have been in the shop more times than the previous 6 trucks put together.

Describe your vibration in detail and I'll see what our NVH engineers have to say about it. I know my vibration is not normal, I had a '98 with the same powertrain and it did not have a vibration.

 

Ford said:
"the vibration is a function of the All Wheel Drive feature of your vehicle. Every similarly equipped Expedition has the same characteristic."

TRANSLATION: "We have made a management decision that this is an acceptible flaw in the vehicle, and that it would be too costly to stop the production lines to correct it, or to recall the vehicles on the road to fix"

At least that is my interpretation.

You might want to check out my vibration thread (now on page 2). Luckily, my vibration is pretty much gone, it might help you.