NHTSA Complaint #10127873 — 2002 FORD EXPLORER

2002 4X4 EXPLORER LIMITED WITH V8. AT 7390 MILES (3/12/03, INVOICE # W40836) TWO ISSUES; THE TRANSMISSION NEVER SHIFTED PROPERLY AND IT STARTED LEAKING FLUID EVERYWHERE. TWO WEEKS LATER THE DEALER ADMITTED THEY DIDN''T KNOW THE CAUSE AND REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION WITH A NEW ONE. ENGINE SEVERELY OVERHEATED (INVOICE 3W47852). AT 20K MILES THE TRUCK WILL ONCE IN A WHILE STOP (AS IF I HIT SOMETHING) AS I START TO BACK OUT OF THE GARAGE - PROBLEM DISCOVERED AT 31K BRAKE JOB - REAR SHOES ON PARKING BRAKE BROKE LOOSE ON DRIVERS SIDE (BOTH) AND ONLY ONE ON PASSENGER SIDE. LOOSE SHOE ON PASS. SIDE WOULD WEDGE WITH GOOD ONE AND LOCK UP WHEELS WHEN MOVING SLOW. LOT'S OF ARGUMENTS AND FORD FINALLY REPLACED SHOES (4/25/05 INVOICE # 99323). AT 26K (11/05, NO INVOICE) ONE TIRE WENT FLAT AND UPON INSPECTION BY A TIRE SHOP, THAT TIRE AND A SECOND TIRE HAD TREAD SEPARATION - RUNNING GOODYEAR''S. FORD QUICKLY REPLACED BOTH TIRES WITHOUT ANY QUESTIONS. AT 29K, MY FAMILY AND I MOVED FROM MI TO GA. EACH TIME I STOPPED FOR GAS THE EXPLORER SOUNDED LIKE THE FRONT END WAS GRINDING METAL TO METAL ON THE GEARS. THE 4X4 WAS IN AUTO FOR THE TRIP AND ONCE I GOT BACK ON THE HIGHWAY ABOVE 20 MPH THE NOISE WENT AWAY. HOWEVER, IT CONTINUED TO SHIFT POORLY AND IT STARTED TO SURGE (SHAKE) OR THUMP LIKE SOMETHING WAS CATCHING IN THE DRIVE TRAIN EVERY TIME I WOULD LET OFF THE GAS PEDAL AND ALLOWED THE TRUCK TO DECELERATE WITHOUT BRAKING. EVEN AFTER NEW BRAKES AND ROTORS, THE PROBLEM GOT WORSE AND WORSE - NOW AT 34K, (5/30/05, INVOICE # W50821) THE TRUCK IS IN THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE 3RD TIME ON THIS ISSUE. THE FIRST TIME, THEY REPLACED THE "MODULE-TRANSFER SH" WHICH DID PRETTY MUCH ELIMINATE THE SHIFTING ISSUE. THEY ALSO REPLACE THE "DRIVE SHAFT FLANGE PER SSM 16824" WHATEVER THAT MEANS. BUT A MAJOR PROBLEM IN THE DRIVE TRAIN STILL EXISTS AND IT STILL UNRESOLVED. HERE'S MY POINT, FORD HAS A MAJOR DRIVE TRAIN PROBLEM WITH THE REDESIGNED 2002 EXPLORER.