NHTSA Complaint #10373302 — 2003 FORD EXPLORER

AS I WAS DRIVING TO WORK THE OTHER DAY, I WAS SITTING IN A LINE OF CARS WAITING FOR MY TURN TO GO THROUGH A 4-WAY STOP WHEN MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER SUDDENLY STOPPED RUNNING. I HAD PLENTY OF FUEL AND THE ELECTRICAL WORKED. THE ENGINE SIMPLY WOULDN'T TURN OVER. I CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO MY LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. AFTER SOME INSPECTION, THE REPAIRMAN DETERMINED THAT I HAD BLOWN A FUSE. THE CAUSE WAS MY ABS SENSOR CONTINUALLY SENDING OUT AN PROBLEM SIGNAL. THE CAUSE OF THAT WAS MY WHEEL BEARINGS GOING BAD. FURTHER INSPECTION SHOWED THAT AT LEAST THREE OF MY WHEELS HAVE BAD BEARINGS. THE REPAIRS ARE INCREDIBLY COSTLY (WELL OVER $1,000). AND THE MECHANICAL FAILURE IS DANGEROUS, INCLUDING WHEEL SEPARATION, WHEEL SEIZING UP AND BRAKE FAILURE. I WAS LUCKY TO HAVE BEEN STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION. I DRIVE ON THE INTERSTATE DAILY AND IF THE CAR HAD FAILED THERE, IT COULD HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLY BAD. WHILE WHEEL BEARINGS TO FAIL, THE MECHANIC SAID IT IS INCREDIBLY RARE TO SEE MULTIPLE BEARINGS GO OUT AT THE SAME TIME. WELL, EXCEPT FOR FORDS. HE SAID THE EXPLORER AND FOCUS (ESPECIALLY THE '02 & '03 MODELS) HAVE A REPUTATION FOR WEARING OUT. SOMETIMES, MULTIPLE TIMES FOR THE SAME WHEEL. A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH PROVED HIM RIGHT. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS FOR THIS PROBLEM ON THE '02 & '03 FORD EXPLORERS. I REALIZE WE'RE GOING ON 8 OR 9 YEARS SINCE THESE VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED, BUT HOW COULD THE SAME ISSUE ON HUNDREDS OF CARS NOT HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED YET? THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO OBVIOUSLY NOT BE DUE TO USER ERROR OR POOR MECHANICAL MAINTENANCE. I IMPLORE YOU TO INVESTIGATE THIS FURTHER FOR THE SAKE OF THE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE STILL DRIVING THESE CARS EVERY DAY. *TR