NHTSA Complaint #10258885 — 2004 FORD EXPLORER

MY CONCERN IS IN REGARD TO AN ONGOING PROBLEM THAT MY VEHICLE AND THOUSANDS OF OTHERS LIKE IT HAVE; THE LACK OF SAFETY ONE MAY BE FACED WITH IF THE REAR ON THESE VEHICLES FAIL DUE TO SUBSTANDARD PARTS USED IN THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL ON THE FORD SUV'S AND F-150'S. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE COSTLY REPAIR THAT IS REQUIRED THE MANUFACTURE WILL NOT HONOR AFTER THE BASIC WARRANTY IS OVER EVEN THOUGH THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM. ON THESE VEHICLES. I WAS TOLD TODAY THAT IF I CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE POINT OF COMPLETE FAILURE I RISK THE VEHICLES BACK WHEELS LOCKING UP. MY QUESTION TO THE NHTSA IS WHY HAS THERE NOT BEEN A RECALL ON THESE VEHICLES KNOWING THAT THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM IN THE DRIVETRAIN OF THESE VEHICLES. I HAVE 79K ON MY VEHICLE AND A FRIEND HAD THEIR REAR DIFFERENTIAL REPLACED AT 22K AND THE PROBLEM IS PREVALENT AGAIN ON THAT VEHICLE AGAIN AS WELL. IN MY ESTIMATION THIS COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY. WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO GET A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM? DOES HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HAVE TO DIE OR SUFFER SERIOUS INJURY FOR SOMETHING TO BE DONE? I HAVE HAD MY VEHICLE BACK TO FORD FOR ONE BANG OR CLANG OR ANOTHER SINCE THE VEHICLE HAD 18K ON IT. WILL THE NHTSA EVER SEE FIT TO MAKE A RE-CALL ON THESE VEHICLES OR AGAIN DOES SEVERAL PEOPLE NEED TO SUFFER INJURY OR LOSS BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE? *TR