NHTSA Complaint #10262126 — 2002 FORD EXPLORER

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED THAT HAS HAD CONTINUOUS REAR AXLE LEAKING AND OPERATING ISSUES. I HAVE HAD THE BEARINGS REPLACED THREE TIMES, THE SHAFT AXLE SEAL REPLACED, THE KNUCKLE ASSEMBLY REPLACED AND THE SPINDLE REPLACED. I HAD THIS WORK DONE AT CORTESE AUTO GROUP IN HENRIETTA NY (585-475-1211) IN JUNE OF 2007 AND APRIL OF 2008. I JUST NOTICED DIFFERENTIAL FLUID LEAKING FROM THE REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY AREA ON MARCH 16, 2009 AND CALLED THE CORTESE GROUP TO SEE IF THEY WOULD HONOR THEIR PREVIOUS REPAIR. THEY ADVISED ME THAT I WAS BEYOND THE "ORIGINAL PROBLEM" 2007 REPAIR DATE AND THE COST WAS ON MY OWN. TO REPAIR THIS LEAKY AXLE SEAL WILL COST ME IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF $400 AND CONSIDERING THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE, I FEEL FORD MOTOR COMPANY OR CORTESE SHOULD FIX THIS PROBLEM WITH NO COST TO ME. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND IT APPEARS THIS PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON AMONG FORD EXPLORERS (HAD I KNOWN THAT AT THE TIME OF MY PURCHASE, I WOULD HAVE RECONSIDERED BUYING FROM FORD). IF THIS PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON AMONG FORD EXPLORERS AND IS A SAFETY ISSUE, WHY IS IT NOT CONSIDERED A RECALL AND REPAIRED BY THE MANUFACTURER OF THE VEHICLE? PLEASE ADVISE ME WHAT MY RIGHTS ARE AND IF ANYTHING CAN BE DONE ON BEHALF OF OTHER AFFECTED CONSUMERS. AFTER ALL, IN THIS TOUGH ECONOMY, WHO HAS $400 TO THROW AT A PROBLEM THAT WAS A KNOWN DEFICIENCY TO FORD AND ONE THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED BY THE COMPANY... *TR