I have an '03 Mountaineer Premier. I bot it in Sept, 2002, so it was one of the very early '03's built. It's almost 2 years old and, frankly, has had zero mechanical problems or defects so far! A big improvement over my 1999 Explorer that it replaced that was in the shop frequently.
That being said, I read about this rear-end whine thing. So far I don't seem to have it, but as I approach the end of the 3/36, I am concerned. What do I look for? Is this something that can be determined by VIN if my vehicle has the defective parts? Should I mention this to the dealer to at least get something in writing on record, so if there is a problem beyond 3/36, I can make my case?