For approx. 1 year now the rear end of my car has been making a grinding noise. Most noticeable when I go from a stopped position. Also, the noise happens when I turn left or right after being in stopped. The grinding noise was occasionally happening but now it seems to be every time I go. Now I have heard a whining noise when I accelerate to about 60mph. When I let off the gas and coast I do not hear the whining anymore. This vehicle has been a problem ever since I bought it. I would like to trade it in but probably won't get much for it. Looking back I wish I never bought it. Trying to help out local plant and buy a ford since my husband also works for ford. Next time I will think twice before purchasing a ford. Maybe if ford would step up and take care of their mistakes they wouldn't have such a bad rep.

I think that all of these rear differentials are prone to leaking not failing. the neglect of the owners letting them run dry or low on fluid until its to late. they overheat. and one guy saying he had to gun the motor to make a turn.... come on. or a whine in the rear end kept getting worse and worse....just turn the music up louder! if a differential can't hold much fluid change it more often! just running the rig until you can't stand the noise anymore is where the real cost is. maintain your truck and it will return the investment.

Just paid off my Explorer in December of 07. I start hearing a wining noise that is getting louder. Took it to my mechanic and he tells me the bad news," Rear Differential". Then he shook his head and said, that's a shame! With 43,000 miles that's a shame. He felt so bad he didn't charge me to look at it. He said, your gonna need a few thousand to fix it. I couldn't do anything but shake my head. My first new car that cost me 30,000 over five years. I'll fix it then trade it after hearing it can happen again.

for starters the entire front trans axle went out at 20000 miles that was covered under warranty. there was always the annoying whine in the rear end that the dealer told me was normal and not to worry about. I now have 85,000 miles on her and I just spent $500 on replacing the front and rear differential fluid, the transfer case fluid, coolant, fuel filter, and I had the injectors cleaned. The whine has decreased for now but it is still there. I have a seal leak in the front and rear passenger side axles that will get fixed on the next trip. I am also on my original rear brakes I am planning on fixing those in the near future also. At 74,000 miles I had to have a solenoid replaced in the transmission it caused my antilock brake light to come on. I think total money out of pocket in repairs over the past 4 years is around $3,000 The front trans axle covered under warranty was $3,000 so $6,000 in repairs for a vehicle that I paid $31,000 for. I hope Ford is getting their stuff together!

I've had the rear differential on my 2003 Explorer XLT replaced 3 times. Luckily the first two times were under warranty, but the last time I wasn't so lucky. I had no extended warranty so when it started whining the third time I knew it was going to be costly for me. I was told by my FORD service advisor that it was just a gear noise that posed no safety risk, so I dealt with it and drove with the whine for about 20,000 miles. It was then that I noticed fluid leaking from the rear end and I knew I had to take it in again. It was then that I was told it was good I brought it in because it could have seized up (great thing to think about huh with two kids and my wife being the primary users of the vehicle). I had a track record of prior issues so FORD agreed to pay all but $150 to replace it for the third time. I have about 30,000 miles on this last differential and have not heard any noise, but now I drive without a gas gauge because the "fuel sending unit" is bad and they want almost $1,000 to replace it (engineers put FSU inside fuel pump so whole thing has to be replaced). I don't have the money to fix the gas gauge so I really fear the cost of another differential issue if they decide to snub me because of mileage). I'm all for a lawsuit especially seeing how I was told the differential issue posed no safety threat and something awful could have happened to me and my family. We depend on FORD to build affordable and safe cars because otherwise we're forced to buy foreign models. My other car is foreign just because I need one to commute to and from work in and I can't afford TWO cars that are money pits (or the horrible Explorer gas mileage). I may own two foreign cars here soon.

In 84,000 miles, 4 trips to the dealer for rear differential related problems. First, chattering. Fixed with new grease/additive. Second, leaking seals. Replaced with improved seals. When this was done, I mentioned the whining from the rear and was told that "it was normal". I'm not stupid, I know it's not normal but I didn't have time to press the issue. Third, rear ABS sensor failure (in the differential). Replaced. Now, a part throttle vibration in the rear that started at 75mph and progressively got worse until it was any speed over 60mph. Dealer says it's a "definite problem in the ring and pinion" and offered a 10% discount on repairs but didn't give a price. I sensed he was feeling sorry for me as I thought I heard the sound of cash registers ringing in the background. Ford customer service says "Sorry." Internet search reveals this is not an isolated problem.