NHTSA Complaint #10227046 — 2002 FORD EXPLORER

I PURCHASED A PRE-OWNED 2002 FORD EXPLORER AT THE END OF 2007. AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE, THE VEHICLE HAD JUST UNDER 60,000 MILES. AROUND 65,000 I BEGAN TO HEAR A HIGH PITCHED HOWLING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. I HAD THE NOISE INVESTIGATED AND HAD BOTH REAR WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED AS A RESULT. THIS DID NOT, HOWEVER, SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE NOISE CONTINUED AND INTENSIFIED. RECENTLY, THE SOUND BEGAN TO BE ACCOMPANIED BY A LOW GRINDING SOUND AND A DEFINITELY PERCEPTIBLE 'DRAGGING' AFFECT. THIS HAPPENED JUST SHY OF 80,000 MILES. AFTER EXTENSIVE RESEARCH, MY PROBLEM HAS BEEN RE-DIAGNOSED AS A REAR DRIVE TRAIN/AXLE PROBLEM. I HAVE ALSO RECENTLY DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A PERSISTENT PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE/MODEL, BUT FORD IS REFUSING TO ACKNOWLEDGE/ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEM AND THE POTENTIAL SAFETY CONCERNS ASSOCIATED WITH THE REAR AXLE SEIZING UP DURING NORMAL OPERATION. THIS LINK: HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/EXPLORER/2002/DRIVETRAIN/REAR_DIFFERENTIAL_PROBLEMS.SHTML REPRESENTS A LIST OF ONGOING COMPLAINTS RELATIVE TO THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE. *TR