NHTSA Complaint #10140383 — 2003 FORD EXPLORER

I PURCHASED A NEW 2003 FORD EXPLORER XLT 2WD IN SEPTEMBER 1, 2003. WITH 20,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE I NOTICED A WHINE FROM THE REAR END THAT WAS AUDIBLE FROM 45 MPH TO 65 MPH. THE NOISE WOULD STOP WHEN I LET OFF ON THE GAS AND WOULD RESUME WHEN THE GAS WAS REAPPLIED INDICATING A BEARING FAILURE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO LEITH FORD OF WENDELL, NC, WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THEY REPLACED THE REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY UNDER WARRANTY ON JULY 9, 2004 WITH 21,899 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THE REPLACEMENT REAR AXLE MADE THE SAME WHINE FROM 45 MPH TO 65 MPH INDICATING REAR BEARING FAILURE. THE COMPLETE REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED BY LEITH FORD UNDER WARRANTY. THE REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY WAS ORDERED FROM FORD ON OCTOBER 20, 2004 WITH 32980 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THE ASSEMBLY WAS RECEIVED AND INSTALLED WITH 36,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. WITH 63,280 MILES ON THE VEHICLE I RETURNED THE VEHICLE ON OCTOBER 17, 2005 TO LEITH FORD TO CHECK OUT THE SAME WHINE IN THE REAR END FROM 45 MPH TO 65 MPH. THEY CONFIRMED THAT THE REAR BEARINGS WERE FAILING AND ORDERED A REAR DIFFERENTIAL KIT TO REBUILD THE REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY. *NM