Slow Speed Vibration
To add a little more information.
In late April 2014, I bought a Ford certified pre-owned 2011 Limited with the tow package from a dealer, and it had 24,000 miles on it (after 2 year lease).
When I began to notice the vibration or wobble while accelerating slowly between 10 - 15 mph, it didn't bother me much, because it wasn't present beyond 15 mph. However, I thought I ought to have it checked because it might either become worse or cause a different problem.
The first suspect was a tire problem, but I had the best tire outfit in the Washington DC area drive the car and check the tires. Not a tire problem.
I took the car to the dealer as noted, and while test driving the car, the immediate diagnosis was a tire defect (belt defect) on a real wheel, as the vibration seemed to occur in direct relation to one revolution of the wheel. All tires were removed and inspected thoroughly. No defect.
The dealer kept the car for a second day, and toward the end of the second day, the dealer said they had just driven a variety of Explorers on their lot, and the vibration was found in each car, and the vibration was "normal" which meant there was nothing to worry about. As noted, the vibration resulted from a computer attempting to sync the wheels. In other words, bring the car back when it develops a real problem.
(I did see one post that said the replacement of the cv axles solved their problem.)
I was skeptical because why was I the first person to notice a problem that is present in all Explorers?
Well, I now have a REAL problem. A week ago, my wife mentioned that she must have hit a major pothole. There was no damage to a tire or wheel rim, so I did not worry about it. Yesterday, 9 Sep 14, I was driving the car with my grandson in a second seat. At 35 mph, I crested a small hill and let off the accelerator. As I reapplied the accelerator, an incredible BANG / JOLT occurred, and I thought I must have hit a shallow ditch in the pavement. As I slowed down and tried to determine what had occurred, the same thing happened again (within 20 - 30) seconds. This time I knew it was in the drive train, and my grandson in the second row said the sound came from behind and below, but he couldn't tell if the sound came from only the center area or from one of sides.
Now I am a very unhappy camper. I have seen one post where a 2011 TSB seems to have solved a similar problem, but the TSB does not apply to 2012 Explorers and later. I will be taking my Explorer into the dealer, and I will let you know the outcome. I will either be lucky if the TSB applies, or they will not be able to duplicate the problem. I will let everyone know the outcome.
