Ford Explorer Complaints (2002)

3,572 consumer complaints on file.

#10159448June 1, 2006
SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS
2002 FORD EXPLORER'S REAR SPRINGS CRACKED. *TS *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10158733May 31, 2006
SUSPENSION:REAR, POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
I OWN A 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT. THE BEARINGS IN THE REAR END DIFFERENTIAL ARE GOING OUT. THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM SHOULD NOT BE OCCURRING IN A VEHICLE WITH LESS THAN 100,000 MILES. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, MANY FORD EXPLORERS HAVE THIS PROBLEM FORD SHOULD TAKE A SECOND LOOK AT THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE IT SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING. I DON'T HAVE A WARRANTY, BUT STILL THIS IS TOO COMMON OF A DEFECT IN THE FORD EXPLORERS FOR IT TO NOT BE A MANUFACTURER PROBLEM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10158534May 30, 2006
SEATS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH THE DRIVERS SEAT COLLAPSED BACKWARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE SEAT SUPPORT BRACKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB UPDATED 06/19/06. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10158582May 30, 2006
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
2002 FORD EXPLORER - 60,000 MILES - TOOK TO DEALERSHIP FOR NOISE IN REAR OF VEHICLE- DEALERSHIP WANT TO REBUILD REAR END FOR $1,300. NEVER CHECKED FLUID OR ASKED ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS. I BELIEVE FORD HAS BIG PROBLEM - WITH EXPLORERS - I WOULD LIKE FORD TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10158346May 26, 2006
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN AND APPLYING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD CAUSING A MINOR CRASH. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT FILED AT THE SCENE. AFTER INSPECTION THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR ON DECEMBER 15, 2005. WHEN THE PROBLEM RETURNED THE DEALER REPLACED A DIFFERENT UNKNOWN SENSOR.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10158201May 24, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT, SUSPENSION, TIRES, STEERING:COLUMN
TRIED TO PUT THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE FROM PARK AND THE COLUMN SHIFTER BROKE OFF. VEHICLE COULD NOT BE DRIVEN AND WAS TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION BUSINESS. COST TO REPAIR IS $1300. I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE IN 2004 USED. I'VE HAD THE REAR TRANSMISSION SEALS, SHOCKS, TIRES, FRONT WINDOW AND THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN REPLACED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10158217May 24, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT:SEAL
BROUGHT MY CAR IN FOR A 60,000 MILE CHECKUP AND WAS TOLD THAT MY AXLE SEAL WAS LEAKING AND THAT THE RING AND PINION GEAR-RERA KIT/SEALS WERE NEEDED TO FIX THE PROBLEM AT A COST OF $1131.83 PLUS TAX. THE ADVISOR SAID THAT THE SEALS ROTTED AND THEN THE LEAKAGE BEGAN AND IT WENT DOWN HILL FROM THERE. THIS SAME CAR HAD BEEN IN EARLIER THIS YEAR WITH WHAT WE THOUGHT MAYBE A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. IT WAS CHECKED AND WE WERE TOLD THERE WAS NO PROBLEM BUT THERE WASN'T ANY INDICATION OF AXLE LEAKAGE PROBLEM. I HAVE RESEARCHED OTHER COMPLAINTS HERE AND THERE SEEMS TO BE ABOUT 4-5 OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE A SIMILAR PROBLEM AND WANT TO KNOW WHY FORD MOTOR COMPANY HASN'T ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM WITH A RECALL. THEE ARE A LOT OF OTHER FOLKS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM EXPRESSING IT OUT ON FORDFORUM.COM. WE HAVE OWNED 4 EXPLORERS AND FEEL VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT WE NEED TO SPEND THIS KIND OF MONEY WITH A CAR THAT HAS ONLY 60,000 MILES ON IT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10158232May 24, 2006
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER WITH 49,000 MILES MAKES A WHINING SOUND WHEN I DRIVE ABOVE 50 MPH WHICH GOES AWAY WHEN I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE GAS. IT COMES BACK AS SOON AS I PRESS BACK DOWN ON THE GAS PEDAL. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR A LITTLE OVER ONE YEAR. IT APPEARS TO BE A PERVASIVE PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10158064May 23, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
ON NEW YEARS EVE 2005-2006 THE WHEEL BEARING ON THE DRIVER'S REAR BROKE WHILE I HAD MY FAMILY WITH ME. THE WHEEL BEARING HAD TO BE REPLACE. THE VEHICLE IS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT V6 WITH 80000 MI. ON IT. NO WARRANTY. ON 5/21/06 WHILE DRIVING INTERSTATE SPEEDS, THE PASSENGER REAR WHEEL BEARING BROKE AND STEERING WHEEL JERKED TO THE RIGHT. I WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL AND GET OFF THE INTERSTATE. I REMOVED THE WHEEL AND FOUND ALL BUT ONE STUD HAD BEEN SHEARED OFF. THE WHEEL NEARLY FELL OFF A 65 MPH. I HAD HEARD A NOISE EARLIER AND STOPPED TO CHECK, BUT FOUND NOTHING. I THOUGHT SOMETHING HAD FALLEN FROM THE ROOF. MY FAMILY WAS AGAIN WITH ME. I CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE, BUT WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING EXCEPT ENTER IT INTO THE FILE. I MADE A COMPLAINT AND REQUESTED A SUPERVISOR CALL ME BACK EVEN THOUGH I WAS TOLD REPEATEDLY THAT NOTHING MORE COULD BE DONE AND THE OPERATOR COULDN'T EVEN GIVE ME ANOTHER PERSON WHOM I COULD TALK WITH CONCERNING THE MATTER. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND OBVIOUSLY A FORD PROBLEM. I PAID $150 FOR A TOW AND I'M WAITING FOR THE WHEEL TO BE FIXED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10157998May 22, 2006
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER WITH 50,000 MILES. A WHILE AGO A LOUD, EXCESSIVE WHINE NOISE STARTED COMING THE REAR AXLE AT CRUISE SPEED.(50 MPH OR HIGHER). BROUGHT IT INTO FORD DEALER AND SAID RING AND PINION GEAR HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1300. TALKED TO 2 OF MY NEIGHBOR'S WITH 2002 EXPLORER WHO HAVE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. OBVIOUSLY A DESIGN PROBLEM THAT FORD SHOULD LOOK INTO, ADDRESS AND CORRECT.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10158042May 22, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WE OWN A 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT 4X4...5-18-06 OVERDRIVE LIGHT FLASHES...5-19-06 IT WILL NOT SHIFT INTO DRIVE GEAR...WILL ONLY DRIVE IN FIRST AND SECOND GEARS. MECHANIC SAYS THE TRANSMISSION IS SHOT AND NEEDS TO BE REBUILT FOR $2200.00. THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2002 EXPLORER AND SHOULD BE RECALLED...PERIOD. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10158053May 22, 2006
POWER TRAIN
2002 FORD EXPLORER REAR END NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING BETWEEN 50-65 MPH (A LOUD HOWLING SOUND). WHEN I LET OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR THE NOISE GOES AWAY. TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND THEY REPLACED THE BEARINGS, BUT THE NOISE IS STILL THERE. THEY SAID IT WAS THE REAR END GEAR RATIO. THIS SOUND IS TOO UNBEARABLE. THE REAR END GEAR RATIO SHOULD BE FIXED UNDER A RECALL. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10157834May 18, 2006
SUSPENSION:REAR
MAJOR NOISE FROM REAR END ESCALATED QUICKLY REQUIRING SERVICE. INDEPENDENT SERVICE GARAGE DIAGNOSED AND REPLACED RIGHT REAR WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY AND LEFT REAR TIE ROD. THIS WAS THE THIRD OF THE FOUR WHEEL HUBS REPLACED ON THIS VEHICLE BETWEEN 70,000 AND 86,000 ACTUAL ODOMETER MILES. THE OTHER TWO WERE BOTH THE FRONTS. VERY HONEST MECHANIC SHOWED ME FAILED PARTS AND THREE OTHER EXPLORERS IN THE SHOP THAT SAME DAY WITH THE SAME WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY REPLACEMENT REQUIREMENT. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECTIVE DESIGN ON THIS VEHICLE. VEHICLE IS A HIGHWAY DRIVEN CAR ONLY, NOT OFF ROAD. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10157701May 17, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CAR HAS BEEN HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, GOT IT CHECKED BY A MECHANIC RUNNING DIAGNOSTICS ON THE COMPUTER, THE OD LIGHT CAME ON AND WAS FLASHING. AT THE TIME OF THE SERVICE IT WAS WORKING CORRECTLY BUT LIGHT WOULD NOT TURN OFF. IT FINALLY WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR STRANDING MY WIFE AND INFANT SON. I HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED WITH A JASPER TRANSMISSION. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10157729May 17, 2006
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER, SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS, POWER TRAIN
HORRIBLE WHINING NOISE COMING FROM REAR DIFFERENTIAL OF MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED EDITION. REPLACED TWICE ALREADY AND NOW IT'S WHINING LOUDER AND LOUDER EVERYDAY. I REFUSE TO PAY FOR THE SAME REPAIR A 3RD TIME. I HAVE READ MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, ALONG WITH MANY OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. OTHER POPULAR DEFECTS FOR THE NEW FORD EXPLORER ARE CRACKED REAR COIL OVER SPRINGS, ALONG WITH TRANSMISSION AND A/C PROBLEMS, ETC, ETC. HOW MANY MORE COMPLAINTS IS IT GOING TO TAKE BEFORE FORD STANDS UP TO THEIR DESIGN FLAWS...???? *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10157631May 16, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT V6 4WD 46,000 MILES. EXPERIENCED VIBRATION IN BRAKE PEDAL AND NOTICED INCREASE STOPPING DISTANCE. INVESTIGATION REVEALED EXCESSIVE RUSTING OF BOTH FRONT AND REAR BRAKE ROTORS. BRAKE PADS WORN UNEVENLY. REPLACEMENT OF FRONT AND REAR ROTORS AND PADS WAS REQUIRED. ORIGINAL ROTORS ARE AVAILABLE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10157643May 16, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING, WHEELS:HUBCAP/COVER, WHEELS:MULTI PIECE
IN FEB OF 2006 WITH 65,995 MILES ON MY CAR I HEARD A WHIRRING/GRINDING NOISE FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE WHILE DRIVING. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH MY MECHANIC FOR LATER IN THE WEEK (~4 DAYS) TO HAVE THE NOISE LOOKED INTO. 1 DAY PRIOR TO TAKING MY CAR TO THE MECHANIC THE NOISE GOT MUCH WORSE AND I TOOK IT IN IMMEDIATELY. I WAS TOLD THAT THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING EXPLODED AND DAMAGED THE BRAKE AND EMERGENCY BRAKING SYSTEM. I HAD THIS REPAIRED AND CHALKED IT UP TO BAD MICHIGAN ROADS. IN MAY OF 2006 THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING ALSO ERODED/WORE OUT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED (ONLY 68,368 MILES AT THE TIME). THE WAREHOUSE/RETAIL OUTLET WHERE MY MECHANICS PURCHASED THE REPLACEMENT WHEEL BEARINGS TOLD ME THE PERSON WORKING THE COUNTER COMMENTED ON HOW MANY REQUESTS FORD HAS HAD FOR WHEEL BEARINGS AS OF RECENT. MY MECHANICS (AS WELL AS FRIENDS AND FAMILY) TOLD ME I SHOULD CONTACT FORD AS WELL AS NHTSA WITH THIS INFORMATION SINCE THE COMPONENT FAILURE EFFECTED THE EMERGENCY BRAKING SYSTEM. I AM FOLLOWING THROUGH ON THAT REQUEST AND HAVE PLACED A LETTER IN THE MAIL TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND AM AWAITING THEIR REPLY. I WOULD APPRECIATE AN INDEPENDENT 3RD PARTY'S EVALUATION OF THIS SITUATION SINCE I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY MY MECHANIC AS WELL AS OTHERS THE AUTO REPAIR AND INDUSTRY THAT WHEEL BEARINGS SHOULD LAST THROUGHOUT THE LIFE OF THE AUTOMOBILE (OR AT LEAST TO 100,000 MILES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10157565May 15, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
NO START NO SPARK FORD COULD NOT FIGURE IT OUT, 1200.00 IT WAS A FAULTY MAIN WIRING HARNESS ALSO LOUD NOISE IN REAR END NO HELP FROM FORD, BROKEN WHEEL BEARING. SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10157592May 15, 2006
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
I POPPED THE LIFTGATE ON MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER WHILE IT WAS SITTING IN MY GARAGE (GARAGE DOOR WAS CLOSED AND IT WAS EARLY EVENING -- SO TEMPERATURES WERE MILD AND NO SUNLIGHT WAS HITTING THE TRUCK). AS I PULLED ON THE LIFTGATE TO FULLY OPEN IT, I HEARD A LOUD "BANG!" AND THE ENTIRE BACK WINDOW EXPLODED. BALLS OF GLASS WERE THROWN WITH SUCH FORCE THAT THEY EMBEDDED IN THE WALLS OF MY GARAGE. SEVERAL TINY SHARDS OF GLASS (EVEN THOUGH IT'S SAFETY GLASS, EDGES ARE STILL PRETTY SHARP) LODGED IN MY FEET. TODAY, I'M HAVING THE BACK GLASS REPLACED, BUT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM RECURRING. THERE HAD BEEN NO PREVIOUS DAMAGE TO MY REAR WINDOW, AND I HAD THE "LIFTGATE HINGE" RECALL WORK PERFORMED PROMPTLY. IT APPEARS THAT NUMEROUS OTHER FORD EXPLORER OWNERS ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THEIR BACK WINDOWS CRACKING OR EXPLODING: HTTP://WWW.AUTOBYTEL.COM/CONTENT/RESEARCH/FORUMS/INDEX.CFM/ACTION/POSTS/FID/200. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10157420May 12, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT 65,000. TRANSMISSION HAS GONE BAD. THIRD GEAR BAND IS BROKEN. ALWAYS DRIVEN IN LIGHT CITY AND HIGHWAY MILES. NEVER TOWED A TRAILER. FORD DEALER SAYS THAT TRUCK IS OUT OF WARRANTY. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Ford Explorer