NHTSA Complaint #10047259 — 2002 FORD EXPLORER

THE EXPLORER HAS DONE ABOUT 21,000 MILES IN 2 AND 1/2 YEARS. ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO, IT STARTED HAVING BIG CLUNKS IN THE TRANSMISSION WHEN COLD AND EVEN A GRINDING SOUND. SEEMED TO BE WHEN VEHICLE WAS BEING TURNED IN EITHER DIRECTION AT LOW SPEED. THE DEALER REPLICATED THE PROBLEM AND ORDERED AND INSTALLED A "NEW CLUTCH" IN THE TRANSFER CASE -THERE WAS SOME KIND OF "FLUID LEAKAGE." PROBLEM IS NOW WORSE, WAS REPLICATED WITH THE MECHANIC IN THE CAR AND THE DEALER HAS IT BACK IN FOR ANOTHER ATTEMPT AT FIXING IT. MY WIFE WON'T DRIVE IT ANYMORE. A FEW MONTHS AGO IT USED TO HAVE A LOUD SQUEAK WHEN THE VEHICLE WENT OVER SPEED BUMPS SLOWLY AND THIS WAS EVENTUALLY FOUND AND "FIXED." I WONDER IF THE CLUNK IN THE TRANSFER CASE IS NOT THAT AT ALL, BUT A LOOSE/WORN FRONT SUSPENSION PART GIVING WAY OR LOSING TENSION WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TURNED IN EITHER DIRECTION. PERHAPS ASSOCIATED WITH THE STRUT ON THE RIGHT SIDE BUT NOT SURE. DEALER HAS TRIED TO BE RESPONSIVE AND IS NOT THE PROBLEM. ANY ONE ELSE HAVE A SIMILAR PROBLEM? *LA