NHTSA Complaint #10554253 — 2002 FORD EXPLORER

WAS DRIVING CAR ALONG LOCAL ROAD WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED TO MAKE NOISE AND THE CAR WOULD NOT GO OVER 5 MILES AND HOUR. MANY CARS SEVERED TO AVOID TRUCK AND WAS LUCKY THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. TRUCK WAS TOWED TO LOCAL FACILITY AND HAD FORD TECH LOOK AT VEHICLE. THE TIMING CHAIN TENSION BROKE. TECH AND DEALERSHIPS( CALLED TWO FOR QUOTES ) SAID THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. AFTER FINDING OUT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE PULLED FOR REPAIR I HAD TO JUNK THE VEHICLE COULD NOT AFFORD REPAIR. THIS IS CERTAINLY A SAFETY ISSUE ANY TIME A VEHICLE BREAKS WITHOUT WARNING IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. IT IS ALSO A KNOW COMMON PROBLEM. DEALER SAYS THE DESIGN OF THE TENSION IS POORLY PRODUCED AND THEY HAD EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR THE REPAIR. FORD SHOULD FIX/ REPLACE THE TENSIONER ON THESE TRUCK BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. *TR