NHTSA Complaint #10207055 — 2002 FORD EXPLORER

I STARTED HEARING SOMETHING THAT SOUNDED SIMILAR TO A HAVING A LOW OR BAD TIRE. TIRES WERE REPLACED AND THE VEHICLE IS STILL MAKING SOUND. AFTER HEARING THAT THIS WAS THE EXPLORER'S DOWNFALL, THE WHEEL BEARINGS, I RESEARCHED THE TOPIC ONLINE TO NOW SEE THAT IN THE NEAR FUTURE I WILL BE TRYING TO REPLACE ALL BEARINGS MORE THAN LIKELY. AS DOCUMENTED BY OTHER OWNERS, WHEN ONE BEARING GOES, THEY ALL SEEM TO GO. MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE YESTERDAY AND HE SAID THE WHEEL POPPED, GRINDED, AND STARTED SQUEAKING; ASSUMING THE BEARING WENT OUT COMPLETED, THE VEHICLE IS PARKED TO GET FIXED. I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY THAT IS SUGGESTED BY OTHER OWNERS TO FIX THIS VEHICLE. IF THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE EXPLORERS AT THIS MILEAGE, WHICH SEEMS TO HAPPENS AROUND 70,000-80,000 MILES; THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT IS AFFECTING THE LIVES OF OWNERS. WHY IS THE PRODUCT NOT RECALLED? I DRIVE THIS VEHICLE WITH MY 4 AND 6 YEAR OLD CHILDREN IN THE BACK SEAT, IF I DO GET THIS BEARING FIXED, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE OTHERS GO OUT. I AM JUST VERY DISAPPOINTED IN FORD MOTOR COMPANY. MY GRANDDAD AND DAD BOTH RETIRED FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND I HAVE ALWAYS UPHELD THEIR NAME AND VALUE; BUT THIS IS A DISGRACE AND A HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT. VIEW MORE OWNER COMPLAINTS AT: HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/EXPLORER/2002/WHEELS_HUBS/WHEEL_BEARING_FAILURE.SHTML *TR