Ford Explorer Complaints (2002)

3,572 consumer complaints on file.

#10150146February 13, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER LTD'S TRANSMISSION FAILED ON OR ABOUT 20 JANUARY WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING. THE VEHICLE HAD APPRX. 65,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN WITH THE VETERANS FORD DEALERSHIP IN METAIRIE, LA FOR OVER 3 WEEKS. THEY HAVE INFORMED ME THE TRANSMISSION WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF APPRX. $3000. I NOW UNDERSTAND THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH THE 2002 FORD EXPLORER AND URGE A RECALL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10150064February 12, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE TRANSMISSION ON THE CAR HAS PROBLEMS AND THE 4X4 DOESN'T WORK WITH ONLY 80000 MILES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10150034February 11, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN MAKING SOFT SHIFTS AND SOUNDS AS IT SHIFTS. DEALER HAS "REPROGRAMMED" THE TRANSMISSION. NOW TRANSMISSION HAS COMPLETELY FAILED. DEALER CLAIMS THE 3 GEAR IN THIS HEAVY DUTY TRANSMISSION IS BROKEN AND TRANSMISSION MUST BE REPLACED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10149856February 9, 2006
SUSPENSION:REAR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 20MPH OR MORE THERE WAS A ROARING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE. INITIALLY THE CONTACT SUSPECTED THE TIRES NEEDED REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT TIRE REPAIR SHOP. THE REPAIR SHOP MECHANIC SUGGESTED THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE INSPECTED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER BECAUSE IT WAS DETERMINED THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE TIRES. THE MECHANIC SUGGESTED THE NOISE COULD POSSIBLY BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE REAR SUSPENSION. UPDATED 7/13/2006 - *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10149874February 9, 2006
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLS (45K MILES) THAT WAS RECALLED IN SEPTEMBER 2004 FOR THE BACK LIFTGATE. I HAD THE RECALL WORK DONE IN AUGUST IN 2005 AT A LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP. IN JANUARY OF 2006, THE LIFTGATE SUDDENLY DEVELOPED A CRACK (3-4 INCHES IN LENGTH)RIGHT BELOW THE BACK WINDOW, JUST TO THE RIGHT OF CENTER. AFTER TAKING IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY ARE CLAIMING THAT SINCE IT IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY, I WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COSTS OF REPAIR (ABOUT $300). THEY ARE CLAIMING THAT FORD HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL ON THIS DEFECT BECAUSE FORD DOES NOT CONSIDER IT A "SAFETY ISSUE". I BELIEVE IT IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE CRACK IS DIRECTLY UNDER THE REAR WINDOW AND WILL PROBABLY GROW IN SIZE THE LONGER IT GOES UNREPAIRED. A NOTICEABLE CRACK THAT SUDDENLY DEVELOPS UNDER THE BACK WINDOW WOULD SEEM TO BE AN OBVIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. FURTHERMORE, IT IS A "CUSTOMER SERVICE" ISSUE WHICH FORD SHOULD ADDRESS. ALSO, I HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH CRACKING IN THE LIFTGATE UNTIL AFTER THE RECALL WORK WAS DONE. THESE APPEAR TO BE DIRECTLY RELATED. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND WOULD SEEM TO BE A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH AND I AM NOT THE ONLY FORD CUSTOMER HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH THE 2002 EXPLORER. I AM EXPECTING FORD TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM AND ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS DEFECT IN THE 2002 EXPLORER. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10149900February 9, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION - GEAR BAND. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10149710February 8, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT
VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT. WENT TO PLACE THE CAR IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE AND THE SHIFTER BROKE OFF. FORTUNATELY THE CAR WAS STILL IN PARK, BUT WOULD HAVE BEEN DISASTEROUS IF THE CAR HAD GONE INTO REVERSE. WE WERE FINALLY ABLE TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION, BUT COULD NOT GET THE KEY OUT. HAD TO LOCK THE CAR AND LEAVE IT UNTIL THE NEXT MORNING WHEN THE FORD DEALERSHIP OPENED. TOWED THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WERE TOLD THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $961. I ASKED THEM TO CONTACT FORD AS IT WAS OBVIOUSLY A VEHICLE DEFECT. THEY RESPONDED THAT I WOULD NEED TO CALL FORD MYSELF. SPOKE WITH A REP. OF FORD, AND THEY CALLED THE LOCAL SERVICE MANAGER, THEN TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO. THE PROBLEM WAS OURS TO FIX AT OUR COST. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10149633February 7, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
THERE IS A PROBLEM IN THE STEERING COLUMN WIRING THAT AFTER A WHILE CAUSES NOT ONLY YOUR TURN SIGNAL AND BRAKE LIGHT TO STOP WORKING BUT IN SOME CASES CAUSES PROBLEM WITH AIR BAG AS WELL. A LOT OF CASES CAN BE SEEN BY GOING TO HTTP://WWW.MYSPORTTRAC.COM/MYSPORTTRAC/ AND DOING A SEARCH OF TURN SIGNALS. ON MY PARTICULAR VEHICLE. MY TURN SIGNAL OR BRAKE LIGHT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WILL NOT WORK WHEN THE TILT STEERING IS ENGAGED. IF I LEAVE THE STEERING WHEEL ALL THE WAY UP EVERYTHING WORKS. I ATTRIBUTE MY AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT COMING ON TO THIS SAME ISSUE. MOST PEOPLE ARE SAYING THE WIRES ARE TOO SHORT AND SOME COME UNPLUGGED AND OTHERS BREAK THEIR PINS OFF. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10149661February 7, 2006
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
2002 FORD EXPLORER 4 DOOR REAR HATCH GLASS EXPLODED AS IT WAS BEING CLOSED. INCIDENT OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY 1 YEAR AFTER RECALL 04S20 WAS PERFORMED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10150795February 6, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
LTR FM CONSUMER (KY) RE THE PROBLEMS SHE'S HAD W/THE REAR END OF HER 2002 FORD EXPLORER, WANT FORD TO BUY BACK HER VEHICLE. *TS IN THE SUMMER OF 2003 THE CONSUMER HEARD A WHINNING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR END. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO NOTICED OIL WAS LEAKING FROM THE REAR END AND REPLACED THE SEAL. A FEW MONTHS LATER THE NOISE RETURNED THE SEAL WAS REPLACED AGAIN. A FEW MONTHS LATER THE NOISE RETURNED AGAIN. THE ENTIRE REAR END HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE FOR FORD TO BUY BACK THE VEHICLE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10149577February 6, 2006
STRUCTURE:BODY
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE IS A CRACK BY THE FORD SYMBOL IN THE BACK. THERE ARE NO DENTS OR DEBRIS AROUND THE CRACK. THE DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER WERE ALERTED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10149397February 3, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE IS A SHORT IN THE WIRING SYSTEM CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CONTINUALLY BLOW FUSES. THIS CAUSES THE VEHICLE TAILLIGHTS AND DASHBOARD LIGHTS TO BE INOPERABLE. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO FIND THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. UPDATED 03/03/06. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10149280February 2, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR, STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR STATE INSPECTION, THE TECHNICIAN DETERMINED ALL FOUR ROTORS WERE CORRODED AND FLAKED OFF WHEN TOUCHED. THERE IS CORROSION ON THE ENTIRE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE TECHNICIAN STATED IT LOOKS AS THOUGH THE ENTIRE VEHICLE WAS SUBMERGED IN SALTWATER. THE DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN CONTACTED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10148962January 29, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
ON JANUARY 16, 2006 WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY I NOTICED A SHAKING FEELING UNDER THE DRIVER'S SIDE FLOOR. THERE WAS ALSO LOUD NOISE. I SLOWED DOWN AND CONTINUED TO DRIVE. ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 21, 2006 I BROUGHT FORD EXPLORER 2002 TO A FORD DEALER FOR THEM TO DRIVE AND TAKE A LOOK. THE RESULT WAS VEHICLE ALL OVER THE ROAD, WAS UNSTABLE AND NEEDED ALL 4 WHEEL BEARINGS, UPPER REAR BALL JOINTS. REPLACED. NOT SAFE TO DRIVE FOR VERY LONG, MUST GO SLOW AND A $3,000 APPROXIMATE COST TO REPAIR. I CONTACTED FORD TO COMPLAIN AND TO SEE IF THEY COULD HELP OUT BY REDUCING THE COST OF FIXING IT FOR FREE. THEIR RESPONSE WAS SORRY BUT THEY COULD NOT HELP. I CANNOT SEE HOW FORD CAN TELL ME THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO WHEN EVERY MECHANIC I HAVE SPOKEN TO SAID IT WAS UNHEARD FOR ALL 4 WHEEL BEARINGS TO GO AT THE SAME TIME, ESPECIALLY WITH ONLY 73,000 MILES ON THE TRUCK. I DRIVE MY 6 YEAR OLD SUN TO SCHOOL, LEFT TO FORD I'M SUPPOSED TO TAKE MY CHANCES WITH HIS SAFETY WHILE DRIVING ONE OF THEIR POORLY MADE VEHICLES. ALL THIS AFTER I HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION IN OCTOBER WHEN THAN WENT WHILE I WAS ON VACATION IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10148856January 27, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2002 FORD EXPLORER, WHEN THE CAR IS AT 30-40 MPH AND SHIFTING GEARS IT LURCHERS FORWARD. I SPENT $1000.00 FOR REPAIR 2 MONTHS AGO WITH FORD DEALER. I AM BACK AGAIN NOW THEY SAY I NEED A FULL TRANMISSION.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10148759January 26, 2006
SEAT BELTS:FRONT, AIR BAGS, VISIBILITY:REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATES. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY A DEALER. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED BOTH FRONT SEAT BELTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO THE INTEGRATED AIR BAG/SEAT BELT SYSTEM. THE ENTIRE FRONT SEAT BELTS WERE REPLACED ACCORDINGLY BUT THE AIR BAG LIGHT LATER ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SUGGESTED REPLACING THE SEAT BELTS AGAIN. UPDATED 3/3/2006 - THE CONSUMER HAS ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR WASHER MOTOR, ODOMETER AND HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10148770January 26, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON 2002 FORD EXPLORER AT 50,000 MILES. TRANSMISSION JUMPS OUT OF GEAR RANDOMLY, ALMOST CAUSING COLLISION. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10148322January 22, 2006
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
2002 FORD EXPLORER....REAR END NOISE. RETURNED 3 TIMES TO DEAL FOR CORRECTION. AFTER THE 3RD TIME, THE PROBLEM SEEMED TO BE CORRECTED...10,000 MILES LATER, THE PROBLEM RETURNED AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED. DEAL CLAIMED THAT SINCE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED, IT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO PAY FOR REPAIR. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10148182January 20, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WITHOUT WARNING, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP WHEN SHIFTING INTO SECOND OR THIRD GEAR. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REBUILT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10148220January 20, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
RECURRING PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION. EVERY NOW AN THEN, THE OVERDRIVE OFF LIGHT BLINKS, OCCASIONALLY CAUSING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON. 14854 MILES THE TRANSMISSION WAS OVERHAULED BY THE DEALER. FROM ABOUT 50,000 MILES THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT WOULD OCCASIONAL FLASH BUT AS LONG AS I SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTARTED IT, THE PROBLEM WOULDN'T POP UP FOR A FEW MONTHS. THERE DIDN'T SEEM TO BE ANY CONSISTENT REASON FOR IT TO FLASH. THE DEALER SAID THE ONLY THING THEY COULD DO IS TO TEST IT WHEN THE LIGHT WAS FLASHING SO THEY COULD DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. SINCE THE PROBLEM WAS SO INTERMITTENT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO GET TO A DEALER AT THE PARTICULAR TIME THE LIGHT WOULD FLASH. THE TRUCK SEEMED TO BE OPERATING AS IT ALWAYS DID. EVENTUALLY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AS A RESULT OF THE O/D OFF LIGHT BEING ON AND AT 63,329 THE DEALER REPLACED THE SOLENOID BODY AND SERVICED THE TRANSMISSION. THE LIGHT STILL CAME ON OCCASIONAL, BUT ONLY ON LONG TRIPS, MORE THAN 75 MILES ONE WAY. AT 66,274 MILES THE DEALER TOOK THE TRUCK AND TRIED TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM BUT WAS UNABLE TO. AT ABOUT 73299 MILES, LIKE BEFORE, THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT FINALLY KICKED AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE O/D PISTON AND ROD. AT 73,564 MILES THE TRANSMISSION NEED TO BE COMPLETELY OVERHAULED. NOW AT 80,800 THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AGAIN BECAUSE OF THE O/D OFF LIGHT BLINKING AND THE DEALER WILL BE LOOKING AT IT AGAIN ON MONDAY, JANUARY 20, 2006. FOR NUMBER OF FAILURES I'M GUESSING THAT 20 OR MORE TIMES THE O/D LIGHT HAS COME ON. 5 TIMES THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ACTIVATED AND THE DEALER TRIED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. MONDAY WILL BE THE 6TH ATTEMPT TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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