NHTSA Complaint #10125424 — 2003 FORD EXPLORER

DEAR NHTSA: IN OCTOBER 2003 I PURCHASED THE NBX - V8 VERSION OF THE FORD EXPLORER WITH AN UPGRADED TOW PACKAGE FOR MY WIFE. SHE NEVER USES THE TOW PACKAGE AND I, VERY OCCASIONALLY PULL A 300LB UTILITY TRAILER. I GET THE OIL CHANGED RELIGIOUSLY AND RECENTLY HAD THE 30,000 MILE 4WD LUBRICATION PACKAGE FROM GOODYEAR FOR APPROX. $500. AT 34,000MI MY WIFE BEGAN TO NOTICE A NON-DESCRIPT NOISE IN THE REAR END, A RUMBLE AT SLOW SPEEDS WHILE TURNING. SHE CARRIES THINGS IN THE BACK AND THOUGHT THEY WERE ROLLING AROUND. I DROVE THE CAR AT 36,600 MI AND ALSO NOTICED THE NOISE BUT WE HAD A LOW REAR TIRE AND I THOUGHT IT WAS THE TIRE PRESSURE. THE TIRE ACTUALLY PICKED UP A NAIL AND WENT FLAT AND I BROUGHT THE TIRE TO GOODYEAR FOR REPAIR. AFTER THE REPAIR THE REAR END NOISE PERSISTED ONLY AT LOW SPEEDS AND WE FINALLY GOT THE CAR IN TO GOODYEAR FOR EVALUATION AT 38,000 MILES. THEY REPLACED THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL FLUID AGAIN AND THE NOISE PERSISTED. THEY THEN WENT ON LINE AND PULLED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN TSB 04-17-5 WHICH WAS FOR LIMITED SLIP AXLE CHATTER, SHUDDER, BINDING SENSATION OR VIBRATION DURING LOW SPEED TURNING MANEUVERS IN 2002-2004 FORD EXPLORERS, 2003-2004 EXPEDITIONS AND 2004 F-150S. THIS WAS EXACTLY WHAT I WAS EXPERIENCING. SINCE THIS VEHICLE IS NOT USED OFF ROAD, IS NOT USED TO TOW ANYTHING HEAVY, IS PAMPERED BUT DOES GET A FAIR AMOUNT OF HIGHWAY MILES 38,000MI IN 19 MONTHS, I FELT THAT HAVING A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AT THIS STAGE WAS UNUSUAL. WELL, AFTER TALKING TO MY MANAGER AT WORK, HALF THE FORD EXPLORER FLEET IN BOSTON WAS HAVING THIS PROBLEM, WITH ONE VEHICLE IN THE SHOP 3 MONTHS AND ONE NEVER SEEING THE LIGHT OF DAY YET. THE TSB NOTED PROBLEMS WITH THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION. WHAT ABOUT NEXT TIME?? MY VEHICLE. VEHICLE # [XXX] FORD EXPLORER SILVER V8 NBX VERSION? THEY ALSO KNOW THEY HAVE A REAL PROBLEM WITH THEIR TRANSMISSIONS AND THE CONSUMER WILL END UP EATING IT. IS FORD QUALITY JOB 1?? *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA),