NHTSA Complaint #10114295 — 2002 FORD EXPLORER

1ST TIME WAS THE REAR HOWLING NOISE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, PRIMARILY DURING ACCELERATION. IT WAS REMEDIED ONCE FOOT WAS OFF THE GAS PEDAL. INNER/OUTER AXLE BEARINGS, RACERS, PINION SEAL WERE REPLACED. 2ND INCIDENT OCCURED LESS THAN 30 DAYS, AND 3000 MILES LATER, WHEN THE TRUCK DECIDED TO PULL ME FROM 75 MPH TO 25 MPH IN SECONDS. THERE WAS A MAJOR LEAK UNDER THE REAR AXLE, AND THE TRUCK REQUIRED TOWING. THERE WAS A MAJOR REPLACEMENT TO THE REAR END, DO NOT HAVE THE DOCUMENTATION AT HAND, BUT IT WAS EXPENSIVE. NOW, 2 YEARS LATER, 30000 MILES LATER, THE REAR END NEEDS AN EXPENSIVE PART FOR REPLACEMENT. WHEN I MADE SHARP RIGHT/LEFT HANDED TURNS, THERE WAS A SHUDDER, A GRIND, THAT WAS COMING FROM THE REAR. FORD SERVICE NOTIFIED ME SAME DAY THAT A PACK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED FOR $725, ABOUT THE SAME REGION WHERE ORIGINAL PROBLEMS HAVE OCCURRED. SHOULD I EXPECT TO SEE SIMILAR PROBLEMS CONTINUING DURING THE NEXT 30K MILES? I FEEL THAT I HAVE BEEN PRETTY CARING TO THE VEHICLE BY HAVING IT SERVICED EVERY 3K MILES. DIDN'T SEE THIS COMING. HOW MANY MORE COMPLAINTS UNTIL RECALL?*AK