NHTSA Complaint #10288812 — 2004 FORD EXPLORER

I TOOK MY CAR FOR A NEW SET OF TIRES AT AMERICA'S TIRE (DISCOUNT TIRE). AFTER CHANGING THE TIRE, ONE THE TECHNICAL NOTICED I HAVE A "LOOSE HUB ASSEMBLY" ON MY LEFT REAR WHEEL AND HE SUGGESTED THAT I SHOULD GET THAT FIXED IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE. THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THE WHEEL MAY COME OFF AT FREEWAY SPEED. I TOOK MY CARS IN TO MY MECHANIC THE NEXT DAY, AND HE JACKED UP MY CAR. THE MECHANIC PUT ONE OF HIS HAND AT 12 AND THE OTHER AT 6 O'CLOCK ON THE TIRE, AND ROCKS IT. THE TIRE WAS WOBBLING BACK AND FORTH WHEN HE DID THAT, WHICH SUGGESTED A BAD WHEEL BEARING, OR POSSIBLE BAD HUB ASSEMBLY. AT THE END, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT I HAD A BAD WHEEL BEARING, WHICH WAS REPLACED FOR $400. USUALLY A HUB ASSEMBLY/WHEEL BEARING SHOULD STILL BE IN GOOD CONDITION AT 52,000 MILES. I GUESS BECAUSE IT'S A FORD. I HAVE MANY PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE, THE REAR RIGHT WINDOW SOMETIMES DOESN'T WORK, THE FUEL TANK SYSTEM MALFUNCTION (CHANGED IT UNDER WARRANTY), THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT COMES ON EVERY 5,000 MILES. I'M NOT BUYING ANOTHER FORD. I THOUGHT AMERICAN CARS' QUALITY IS NOW COMPARABLE TO THE JAPANESE, UNFORTUNATELY THEY'RE STILL LAGGING. *TR