NHTSA Complaint #10294481 — 2004 FORD EXPLORER

MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER WAS MAKING A HORRIBLE RUBBING/GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL, THE NOISE WAS MORE PRONOUNCED. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY MECHANIC THINKING IT WAS THE BRAKES AND HE INFORMED ME THAT THE ENTIRE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WAS "LOOSE" AND I SHOULD HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST DONE BY A FORD DEALER. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED ME THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO REMOVE THE ENTIRE REAR DIFFERENTIAL TO OPEN IT TO FIND THE PROBLEM. AFTER THAT BEING DONE, I WAS TOLD THAT HE FOUND "FAULTY" RING AND PINION AND CARRIER BEARINGS THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED SO AN ENTIRE NEW KIT HAD TO BE INSTALLED AND REFILLED WITH FLUIDS WHICH INTERN ENDED UP COSTING $1,400. I COULD NOT GET A SATISFACTORILY EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED TO MY VEHICLE WHICH ONLY HAS 46,000 MILES ON IT, NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT NOR HAS IT EVER TOWED ANYTHING. I TOLD MY MECHANIC THIS AND HE SAID THAT THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE. I AM VERY UPSET THAT THE CERTIFIED FORD DEALER ADMITS ON PAPER THAT MY VEHICLE HAD "FAULTY" PARTS YET I AM THE ONE WHO HAD TO PAY THE PRICE! *TR