NHTSA Complaint #10185964 — 2003 FORD EXPLORER

PURCHASED A 2003 EXPLORER XLT IN NOVEMBER 2003. WITHIN A FEW MONTHS NOTICED A LEAK THAT ORIGINATED FROM DIFFERENTIAL AREA. TOOK TO DEALER WAS TOLD A SEAL HAD TO BE REPLACED AND EVERYTHING SHOULD BE OK. TOOK A FAMILY TRIP RECENTLY, THE FIRST ONE IN THE EXPLORER ON MARCH 17, 2007 AND REAR AXLE SEAL FAILED ON A 1,200 MILE ROUND TRIP. CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND EXPLAINED WHAT HAPPENED, I EVEN EXPLAINED THERE WERE SEVERAL TSB CONCERNING MY ISSUE, I WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS NOT A RECALL THEREFORE IT WASN'T COVERED. I WAS TOLD BY FORD TO GO AND HAVE IT DIAGNOSED BY LOCAL DEALER, SAME ONE THAT FIXED THE PROBLEM ORIGINALLY. I HAD PROBLEM'S DIAGNOSED, CALLED FORD AND WAS TOLD THAT DEALER WOULD PROVIDE "CUSTOMER CARE AFTER WARRANTY". CALLED DEALER WAITING FOR REPLY FOR NEXT STEP. MY EXPLORER ONLY HAS 33,600 MILES WHILE 1,200 MILES WERE PLACED IN THE LAST FEW DAYS, AND WARRANTY EXPIRED 4 MONTHS BACK. *AK