NHTSA Complaint #704598 — 1998 FORD EXPLORER

PROBLEM IS AN ALMOST CONSTANT GRINDING NOISE THAT DEALER SAYS CANNOT BE REPAIRED DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAS NO PERMENANT FIX. REFER TO FORD TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 12328.12329. DEALER REFUSED TO DOCUMENT THAT PROBLEM WAS NOT A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE AND THAT THERE WOULD NOT BE A FAILURE OF THE DRIVE TRAIN SYSTEM, OR THAT THE WHEELS WOULD NOT FALL OFF. DEALER'S SERVICE DEPT MGR. FURTHER STATED THAT THERE WERE HUNDREDS AND PERHAPS THOUSANDS OF CARS WITH THE SAME DEFECT. MY OBSERVATION OF THIS PROBLEM IS THAT THERE IS A HIGH PITCHED GRINDING OR SQUEALING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. THIS SOUND IS A METAL ON METAL RUBBING NOISE, WHICH COULD CAUSE FRICTIION, HEAT AND PERHAPS PARTS FAILURE THAT COULD CAUSE POTENTIAL FAILURE OF THE DRIVE TRAIN SYSTEM.