NHTSA Complaint #760399 — 2002 JAGUAR JAGUAR

DRIVESHAFT CAUSES A "HOWLING" NOISE, LIKE A WET FINGER AROUND A WINE GLASS, IN THE FIRST 5 MINUTES OF DRIVING FROM A COLD START. THE NOISE IS DEPENDENT ON AMBIENT TEMPERATURE (LESS THAN 40F) AND THE CAR MUST BE TRAVELING BETWEEN 55-65 MPH. I HAVE CONTACTED JAGUAR CUSTOMER RELATIONS, WHO DENIED KNOWLEDGE OF THE PROBLEM. MY SERVICE DEPARTMENT ALSO DENIED KNOWLEDGE, BUT OFFERED TO REPLACE THE DRIVESHAFT. I HAVE BEEN COLLECTING NAMES OF OTHERS EXPERIENCING THIS SAME PROBLEM FROM 2 INTERNET DISCUSSION GROUPS. SOME OF THESE PEOPLE HAVE HAD THEIR DRIVESHAFTS REPLACED 3-5 TIMES, WITHOUT SUCCESS. SEVERAL OWNERS HAVE BEEN TOLD THE NOISE IS CAUSED BY BEARINGS IN THE DRIVESHAFT THAT ARE OFF-CENTER. MY CONCERN IS PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE DRIVESHAFT UNDER SPEED, OR WORSE, A FIRE FROM FRICTION OF HIGH SPEED ROTATION OF THE DRIVESHAFT. THIS NOISE CANNOT BE DUPLICATED AT WILL BECAUSE OF THE DEPENDENCE ON AMBIENT TEMPERATURE.*AK