NHTSA Complaint #10049338 — 2002 FORD EXPLORER

THE INITIAL PROBLEM WITH THE REAR-END DIFFERENTIAL UNIT WAS A WHINING NOISE WHICH THE FORD DEALER'S SERVICE REP. IDENTIFIED AND IMMEDIATELY SAID IT SHOULD BE REPLACED. THE NEW REAR-END UNIT DID NOT WHINE BUT WITHIN 3 1/2 MONTHS A VIBRATION STARTED AND WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER FOR A TOTAL OF 6 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS TO REPAIR OR FIX THIS PROBLEM. BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT REAR AXLES WERE ALSO REPLACED AND ANOTHER REAR END DIFFERENTIAL UNIT WAS INSTALLED. AT EACH SERVICE VISIT, THE DEALER'S SERVICE MANAGER AND MECHANIC WERE COMPLETELY INVOLVED AND WERE VERY PERPLEXED AT THE PROBLEM. MY EXPLORER WAS AT THE DEALER FOR ABOUT 30 DAYS ON ONE SERVICE VISIT AND A TOTAL OF 42 DAYS OVER THE 6 TOTAL SERVICE VISITS FOR THIS PROBLEM. PERSISTENT FLUID LEAKS AND A RECURRING VIBRATION HAS PROMPTED ME TO SUBMIT A "LEMON" LETTER TO FORD. *LA