I have read this site and polled 5 other Explorer owners (2002 or newer); every one I've talked to in person has the rear end hum that occurs between 50-65 miles per hour.

<! This is very annoying, but in order to get Ford to look at it as a serious recall issue, we need to determine if there is a safety issue or damage potential due to the manufacturing defect.>

I have scoured this site and have not found solid evidence of what eventually happens to the rear end.

<! If you have the rear end hum, please chime in on this thread. If you have damage associated with it, it is CRITICAL that you respond.>

There are TSBs associated with the problem, so Ford acknowleges it exists. My question is what are the long term effects. Thank you.

 

My 2002 has the whine. No known damage or problems to date other than to my feelings. I paid big bucks for a loaded out Limited to get everything the wife and I wanted only to have it sound like a worn out clunker at 55-60mph. Sister in law and her husband have a 2003 that has the whine too. I haven't even complained to the dealer about it yet because I've got a bigger intermittent problem of warm engine starts but won't run I've got them focused on. Have owned Ford products all my life but this lemon is about to end that!

 

I've never heard a hum from my '02. I currently have 13k miles on it, though. At what mileage did it start to show up?

It might also be because I have a manual transmission, not the automatic. I'd like to hear from other 5-speed owners to see if it is an issue that we have to worry about as well.

-Tim

 

Hey TBeck- I certainly hope you never get it. It sounds like you are in a Jeep with knobby tires, and is prevelant between 45-65 mph. I think mine began around 30k, and I am not sure whether the 5-speed has any relation. The TSB issued by Ford says it is a "due to driveline stack-up tolerance between the driveshaft and the rear axle". I think we both have the 3.73 rear end, but maybe it will not affect you.

 

I have an '03 Explorer, which will also be my first and last Ford, but for reasons other than the hum. I experienced the rear end hum early on, probably around 2 or 3k miles, but until seeing this sight I attributed it to exhaust/tire noise (most of my driving is city/suburban so I rarely hit these speeds), my hum only happened on acceleration from 50 on up to 55 mph then it went away. It would also only happen after the truck was warm. This is a 3.73 LS.

I had the dealer check it out, they told me there was a tsb on the issue and they replaced the rear axle, now (knock on wood) the noise seems to be gone.

I'll post the tsb # later, I have to look it up again. Good Luck

 

What's the TSB number?

 

For it to be a "recall," it has to have safety implications. Unless someone can prove that the hum leads to a situation where it would cause an accident, no one (Ford, the government, etc...) is going to take action to begin a recall campaign. Not trying to start a flame, just stating a fact.

 

Just had the rear end in my 2002 Limited replaced at 101000. 90% of the miles are hiway, no towing, no hard acceleration, etc.
The noise got so bad at hiway speeds you almost couldn't think.
Tab at the local, reputable - believe it or not, Ford dealer was $1300 parts and labor. Brand new complete rear end.
Having said all of that, this is the only problem I've had in two years and a lot of miles. Yes, I do all, repeat all, of the recommended maintenance at the Ford dealer except oil changes, filter changes, wiper blades, and the rest of the simple stuff.
My previous Explorer was a '92 XL that went 225,000 remarkably trouble free miles. It was in good shape when I donated it to Good Will and I still see it around town occasionally.

 

I have a 2002 Explorer with the rear end whine that I'm taking in on Tuesday June 1st to have Ford look at it. I plan on bringing the following TSB's with me

Make : FORD Model : EXPLORER Year : 2002
Service Bulletin Num : 16898 Date of Bulletin: JUN 01, 2003
NHTSA Item Number: 10002609
Component: POWER TRAIN
Summary:
A WHINE NOISE ON TIP-IN AT SPEEDS OF 45 TO 65 MPH. THIS MAY BE DUE TO DRIVELINE STACK-UP TOLERANCE WITH THE DRIVESHAFT AND REAR AXLE. *TT


Make : FORD Model : EXPLORER Year : 2002
Service Bulletin Num : 17054 Date of Bulletin: AUG 01, 2003
NHTSA Item Number: 10003164
Component: POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
Summary:
AXLE WHINE AT CRUISE OR DURING ACCELERATION/ DECELERATION.




Make : FORD Model : EXPLORER Year : 2002
Service Bulletin Num : 16754 Date of Bulletin: APR 01, 2003
NHTSA Item Number: 10002652
Component: POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
Summary:
EXCESSIVE WHINE NOISE FROM THE REAR AXLE AT CRUISE, OR ON ACCELERATION AND/OR DECELERATION. *TT



Im hoping they fix it without much hassle between the two because I'm not leaving with an "we can't hear it"

 

03 4L, 3.55 open. Whines from the rear between ~50-60 mph when the gas pedal is pressed, coasting it does not. I began to notice it at about 11K. Id say its a minor annoyance at this point, does anyone know if there are long-term complications?

 

1956MARKII- About the safety problem...reread my original post. Unless I'm mistaken, that's what I said.

 

I also have the hum/whine. 48K miles now. Bought used with 22K miles on it, noticed shortly after but is gradually getting worse. Guess it's time to take the printouts and my extended warranty to see if the dealer will fix it.

Also have a friend with slightly different rear end problem. Shudder noise when turning and accelerating. Sounds like LS clutches to me. Anyone else heard/felt anything like this? I searched the TSB’s, but found nothing similar. Any chance the two issues are related?<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>

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Thanks.

 

I too have the rear end "whine". It's a '02 XLT V8 and it's done it since day one. I originally thought it was just tire/road noise, but thanks to this great site I know better. It has 30k on it now and I'm waiting till the last minute to get it repaired since I've seen lots of post stating that Ford is still working on it. Hopefully there will be an official "fix-all" to this problem. I've talked to too many people that told me they had the whole rear-end replaced only to have the problem return after a few thousand miles. Maybe the TSB/fixes out now are better than earlier last year. I hope so, I can't wait till this truck runs the way it should. Please keep the posts coming.

Thanks

 

I also have a rear end whine. Mine is an 04 4x4 Explorer with now some 14,000 miles.
The rear end was completely rebuilt due to the whine about 3,000 miles back which eliminated the whine initially but the problem has now returned. The vehicle will be taken back to the dealer when my time allows. The noise is becoming rather annoying again.

 

In December 2003 at about 35K miles my Ford dealer replaced most of the internals of the rear end. After 500mi, the whine returned. They indicated that a better fix from Ford was needed. Waited several months for the new fix. New fix was to repalce entire differential. After 500mi the noise has returned. Ford is now resisting doing anything further. Dealer told me that the regional Ford rep said the noise is normal, but would look into matter. I haven't been driving the explorer because this "Normal noise" is real annoying. The regional Ford Guy hasn't listened to it yet so how would he know? Discussed this with dealer today and he said they will try to make appointment with regional guy to have him hear it.

I feel Ford just doesn't have a fix for it yet and they are spending lots of money replacing them. So they are trying to shrug off has many people as they can so that they don't have to put more money into the problem.

I would be happy to hear if Ford said they don't have a fix for it, but are working on it and will repair it when a fix is available.

Warning to all who have had the repairs done already.. It will return. Mine has.