NHTSA Complaint #10122490 — 1998 FORD EXPLORER

IT STARTED WITH A MINOR RATTLE IN THE ENGINE TOWARDS THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE. THE RATTLE GOT LOUDER AND LOUDER AND LOUDER UNTIL IT WAS DECIDED NOT TO MOVE THE VEHICLE ANY LONGER. TOOK VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC, TURNS OUT, THE TIMING CHAIN ASSEMBLY BROKE THROWING PIECES ALL OVER THE PLACE CAUSING THE CHAIN TO MALFUNCTION THAT LEAD TO DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. ENGINE BLOCK HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF AROUND $3000. FORD HAS A SERVICE BULLETIN OUT ON THIS SAME PROBLEM, HOWEVER I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN NOV 2000 AND I NEVER RECEIVED ANY SERVICE BULLETIN FROM FORD INFORMING ME OF THIS PROBLEM. I TRIED TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL DEALER AND WAS TOLD THEY WON'T REPAIR IT UNDER THE FORD SAFETY BULLETIN BECAUSE IT WAS ONLY FOR 7 YRS OR 100,000. THE VEHICLES 7 YEARS EXPIRED IN APRIL 2005. I TRIED EMAILING OR CONTACTING FORD DIRECTLY AND GOT NO RESPONSE.