NHTSA Complaint #10157643 — 2002 FORD EXPLORER

IN FEB OF 2006 WITH 65,995 MILES ON MY CAR I HEARD A WHIRRING/GRINDING NOISE FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE WHILE DRIVING. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH MY MECHANIC FOR LATER IN THE WEEK (~4 DAYS) TO HAVE THE NOISE LOOKED INTO. 1 DAY PRIOR TO TAKING MY CAR TO THE MECHANIC THE NOISE GOT MUCH WORSE AND I TOOK IT IN IMMEDIATELY. I WAS TOLD THAT THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING EXPLODED AND DAMAGED THE BRAKE AND EMERGENCY BRAKING SYSTEM. I HAD THIS REPAIRED AND CHALKED IT UP TO BAD MICHIGAN ROADS. IN MAY OF 2006 THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING ALSO ERODED/WORE OUT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED (ONLY 68,368 MILES AT THE TIME). THE WAREHOUSE/RETAIL OUTLET WHERE MY MECHANICS PURCHASED THE REPLACEMENT WHEEL BEARINGS TOLD ME THE PERSON WORKING THE COUNTER COMMENTED ON HOW MANY REQUESTS FORD HAS HAD FOR WHEEL BEARINGS AS OF RECENT. MY MECHANICS (AS WELL AS FRIENDS AND FAMILY) TOLD ME I SHOULD CONTACT FORD AS WELL AS NHTSA WITH THIS INFORMATION SINCE THE COMPONENT FAILURE EFFECTED THE EMERGENCY BRAKING SYSTEM. I AM FOLLOWING THROUGH ON THAT REQUEST AND HAVE PLACED A LETTER IN THE MAIL TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND AM AWAITING THEIR REPLY. I WOULD APPRECIATE AN INDEPENDENT 3RD PARTY'S EVALUATION OF THIS SITUATION SINCE I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY MY MECHANIC AS WELL AS OTHERS THE AUTO REPAIR AND INDUSTRY THAT WHEEL BEARINGS SHOULD LAST THROUGHOUT THE LIFE OF THE AUTOMOBILE (OR AT LEAST TO 100,000 MILES. *JB