NHTSA Complaint #10133380 — 2002 FORD EXPLORER

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT. THE CONTACT HAS BEEN HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE REAR END. THE REAR END MADE AN EXTREMELY LOUD ROARING SOUND. TOOK THE VEHICLE THE VEHICLE TO THREE DIFFERENT REPAIR SHOPS. ONE SAID IT WAS THE TIRES, AND THE OTHER TWO MAINTAINED THAT IT WAS AN EXPENSIVE REAR END PROBLEM. SHE TALKED TO OTHER PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME TYPE OF VEHICLE AND THEY ALL HAD THIS PROBLEM. ALSO, HAD A RING AND PINION REPLACED IN THE REAR END NOT LONG AFTER SHE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. CURRENTLY, THEY TOLD HER THAT THIS WHAT WAS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN ALONG WITH OTHER PARTS , INCLUDING THE REAR AXLE. THIS NOISE ORIGINALLY STARTED AT 55-65 MPH, AND NOW IT WAS MAKING NOISE AT 40-70 MPH. AFTER GOING OVER 70 MPH COULD NOT HEAR IT AS BADLY. ALSO, THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING FLUID FROM THE RING AND PINION. A STRANGE SOUND THAT WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, LIKE A BUZZING SOUND THAT SOUNDS LIKE TRANSMISSION. IN ADDITION, THE HATCHBACK GLASS FELL ON THE CONTACT'S HEAD. IT JUST POPPED OUT. THIS HAPPENED TWICE. THEY DO NOT EVEN ATTEMPT TO OPEN THE GLASS IN THE HATCH. THE DEALERSHIP WHERE SHE PURCAHSED HER VEHICLE STILL HAS RECORDS OF WHAT WAS REPLACED ON VEHICLE.*AK