NHTSA Complaint #10229154 — 1999 FORD EXPLORER

A FEW MONTHS A AGO MY SUV STARTED TO MAKE A TAPPING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE ESPECIALLY WHEN IT WAS COLD. IT HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE AND IS NOW ALL THE TIME. I HAD THE SUV CHECKED BY A MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE TIMING CHAIN. AND HE WOULD NOT FIX IT BECAUSE IT WAS TOO INVOLVED AND WAS NOT WORTH IT. PLUS IT WOULD COST ME $1500+. HE EVEN CONTACTED FORD AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A 'PROBLEM' AND THAT THE DEALERSHIP THAT I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM WON'T EVEN TOUCH IT! I WAS TOLD BY A FORD REPRESENTATIVE TO 'DRIVE IT TIL IT DIES' AND I GOT MY MONEY OUT OF IT. THERE IS NOTHING ELSE WRONG WITH MY SUV, NOT EVEN RUST. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT FORD KNOWS THAT THE TIMING CHAIN IN THIS VEHICLE IS A PROBLEM AND REFUSES TO FIX IT. PLEASE HELP! *TR