Ford Explorer Complaints (2002)

3,572 consumer complaints on file.

#10605756June 24, 2014
POWER TRAIN
DRIVING IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO HIGH. I WAS ALMOST HIT BY A SEMI TRUCK ON I-94 NEAR I-275. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10604370June 18, 2014
STEERING
SHIFTER LEVER BROKE OFF. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10598441June 16, 2014
SEAT BELTS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AIR BAGS
I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER AND IT HAS NOT BEEN WRECKED AND I HAD THE LIGHT THAT COME ON IN MY DASH AND THEY SAID THAT MY SEAT BELT PRETENTIONER WAS GONE IN MY SEAT BELT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10598610June 16, 2014
AIR BAGS, POWER TRAIN
FIRST OF ALL THE TRANSMISSION IS STARTING TO SLIP. WHEN ACCELERATING THE CAR TRANSMISSION SLIPS WHEN SHIFTING INTO THIRD GEAR. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY NEED TO REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION. THE SECOND PROBLEM IS THAT THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. I HAVE NOT BEEN IN A ACCIDENT OR ANYTHING. IT JUST CAME ON. I READ ONLINE THAT IF THE LIGHT IS ON AND I AM IN AN ACCIDENT THE AIRBAGS WONT DEPLOY. THIS SEEMS REALLY DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE COVER UNDER WARRANTY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10598696June 16, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ALARM STARTED GOING OFF AND THE BACK GATE DOOR BECAME UNLOCKED WITHOUT ANYONE BEING IN OR NEAR THE SUV SATURDAY NIGHT JUNE 14,2014. IT CONTINUED OFF AND ON EVERY TWENTY MINUTES, THEN TEN MINUTES. THIS WAS AT NIGHT ABOUT SEVEN O'CLOCK. IT STOPPED. THE NEXT DAY ON SUNDAY AFTER COMING BACK FROM A RELIGIOUS MEETING IT STARTED GOING OFF AGAIN WITH AN ERROR MESSAGE STATING THAT THE REAR BACK DOOR WAS OPEN. IT WAS AND I DIDN'T OPEN IT. I OPENED AND CLOSED EVERY DOOR AFTER USING THE PANIC BUTTON TO STOP THE ALARM. IT STARTS WITH THE LIGHTS COMING ON IN THE FRONT OF THE SUV, THEN THE ALARM WILL START BEEPING VERY LOUDLY WITHOUT STOPPING. THIS GOES ON FOR ABOUT A GOOD HOUR EVERY DAY SINCE WITH YOU GOING OUT THERE TO TURN IT OFF WITH THE PANIC BUTTON. I DID SOME RESEARCH TO FIND OUT WHAT IS MAKING THIS HAPPEN AND I WAS AMAZED AND SHOCKED AT HOW MANY 2002 FORD EXPLORERS AND OTHER FORD CARS, TRUCKS, AND SUVS HAS THIS PROBLEM. IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM BECAUSE NO ONE KNOWS HOW TO STOP IT AND IT ENDS UP WITH YOU HAVING TO LEAVE YOUR DOORS UNLOCKED TO STOP THE ALARM FROM GOING OFF AND KILLING YOUR BATTERY. I HAVE LIMITED RESOURCES AND I WANT TO KNOW WHY FORD HAS NOT ADDRESSED THIS PROBLEM SINCE IT AFFECTS SO MANY PEOPLE. I DON'T WISH TO DIE BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE ABOUT THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM. I DON'T WANT MY FAMILY OR ME WORRYING ABOUT MY SAFETY BECAUSE IF ANYONE FINDS OUT MY SUV IS UNLOCKED, I COULD BE ACCOSTED, OR ROBBED OR KILLED AND NOTHING WILL BE DONE ABOUT IT BECAUSE THE AUTO INSURANCE PEOPLE SAY YOUR CAR HAS TO BE LOCKED. PLEASE ADDRESS THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM WITH FORD SINCE NO ONE ELSE SEEMS TO CARE BECAUSE I KNOW FOR A FACT THE FORD PEOPLE DON'T. BY THE WAY IT GOING ON NOW! THANK YOU. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10597782June 11, 2014
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
TIMING CHAIN PROBLEMS; BACK CHAIN 'PLASTIC' TENSOR BROKE AND AFFECTED CRITICALLY ENTIRE ENGINE. MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. TRANSMISSION SOLENOID PROBLEMS; SHIFT ROUGH FROM 1ST TO 2ND. PUT NEW SOLENOID BLOCK, PROBLEM STILL THERE. FORD DOES NOT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10597239June 9, 2014
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE REAR HATCH IS SPLITTING DOWN THE MIDDLE NEAR THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. THE METAL IS COMING APART AND MAY FLY OFF DURING HIGH RATES OF SPEED CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THIS EMAIL IS TO PREVENT AN ACCIDENT WHICH MAY OCCUR. I AM AWARE OF A PENDING LAWSUIT REGARDING COSMETIC DEFECTS BUT WOULD LIKE YOU TO KNOW THE POSSIBILITY OF AN ACCIDENT OCCURRING ONCE THE METAL SEPARATES AT HIGH RATES OF SPEED ON THE INTERSTATE. THIS IS ALSO A PAPER TRAIL IN CASE I AM THE TRUCK THE CAUSES THE ACCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10596943June 8, 2014
POWER TRAIN
I GOT MY EXPLORER NOT TOO LONG AGO. IT WAS RUNNING GREAT THEN OUT OF NO WHERE THE O/D LIGHT KEEPS FLASHING AND MY TRANSMISSION STARTS TO SLIP. A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND I THINK FORD NEEDS TO STEP UP AND TAKE CARE OF THIS BECAUSE I HAVE KIDS AND THIS IS MY ONLY CAR AND I AM ON A FIXED INCOME. IF FORD DOES NOT WANT TO FIX THESE PROBLEMS OR RECALL THEM THEN NEVER WILL I BUY A FORD AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10595637June 2, 2014
STRUCTURE:BODY
SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING MY FORD EXPLORER FROM THE DEALERSHIP I NOTICED A SMALL CRACK IN THE REAR HATCH AROUND THE FORD EMBLEM. THIS PART OF THE HATCH IS ALSO CONNECTED TO THE REAR GLASS WINDOW THAT LIFTS OPEN. I TOOK MY VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT AND WILL BE RECALLED EVENTUALLY SO I SHOULD KEEP CHECKING BACK. THE RECALL NEVER HAPPENED AND AFTER 10 PLUS YEARS THE CRACK GOT LARGER LETTING MOISTURE IN AND RUSTING. MEANWHILE I WAS NOTICING THE MAJORITY OF FORD EXPLORERS FROM THAT YEAR HAD THE SAME CRACK ON THE REAR HATCH IN THE SAME PLACE! ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO I WENT TO SIMPLY OPEN THE REAR HATCH AND THE GLASS WINDOW BUCKLED AND SHATTERED WITH AN EXPLODING SOUND SIMILAR TO A GUNSHOT. GLASS WAS EVERYWHERE! THE PIECE WITH THE CRACK LITERALLY BROKE IN HALF. THANKFULLY NO ONE GOT HURT, BUT IF MY KIDS WERE IN THE CAR OR MY FACE WAS ANY CLOSER IT COULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTER. I TRULY BELIEVE FORD NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR DEFECTIVE REAR HATCHES IN THESE MODELS TO PREVENT INJURIES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10594451May 28, 2014
EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL, POWER TRAIN
I WAS AT THE SCHOOL TO PICK UP MY KIDS,I TURN ON MY FORD EXPLORER 2002 XLT V6 4.0 TO DRIVE AND THEN THE SHIFT LEVER BROKE ON NEUTRAL POSITION, THAT WAS DANGEROUS BECAUSE, HOW WILL I PARK MY CAR? IF IT HAPPENED ON A DOWNHILL, HOW ARE WE GOING TO PARK IT.IS THAT POSSIBLE TO MAKE A RECALL A FORD COMPANY TO FIX THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10593924May 24, 2014
ENGINE
" CHECK ENGINE SOON" SIGN IS ON. " O/D" SIGN IS ON. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10592435May 19, 2014
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT, POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE RECENT VEHICLE FAILURE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 133,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10587856May 12, 2014
STRUCTURE:BODY, SERVICE BRAKES
OVER THE PAST YEAR I HAVE NOTICED THAT THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING SEVERE RUST ISSUES ON VARIOUS COMPONENTS INCLUDING LOWER BODY WORK, SPECIFICALLY UNDER THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS IN ADDITION TO EMERGENCY BRAKE COMPONENTS. WHEN I FIRST NOTICED THE ISSUE I TOOK IMMEDIATE ACTION TO REPAIR THE DAMAGED BODY WORK AREAS BY USING ANTI-RUST TREATMENTS AND APPLYING NEW PAINT AS RECOMMENDED BY A CERTIFIED MECHANIC. THE ISSUE THOUGH IS STILL ONGOING TO THE POINT WHERE DOOR SEALS ARE NO LONGER WATER TIGHT AND SMALL PIECES OF BODY WORK ARE FLAKING AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE AS A RESULT OF WIND RESISTANCE AND BUMPS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. I HAVE ALSO NEEDED TO REPLACE RUSTED EMERGENCY BRAKE COMPONENTS WHICH I WAS ADVISED WERE NO LONGER FUNCTIONAL OR SAFE. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH IT APPEARS THAT A LARGE NUMBER OF FORD/MERCURY/LINCOLN VEHICLES (PRIMARILY BETWEEN 2002 AND 2004) ARE EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE AND THAT SUPPOSEDLY FORD IS AWARE OF A KNOWN PAINT DEFECT THAT IS THE ROOT CAUSE, HOWEVER NO RELATED RECALLS OR FURTHER INFORMATION HAS SURFACED. (EXAMPLE TESTIMONIALS HERE: HTTP://WWW.LEMONLAW.COM/WORDPRESS/MORE-PROBLEMS-FOR-FORD-PAINT-DEFECTS-IN-2000-2005-MODELS/ ) MY VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN REGULARLY SERVICED AND WELL MAINTAINED AND I WOULD NOT EXPECT TO BE SEEING AN ISSUE AS SIGNIFICANT AS THIS GIVEN THE VEHICLE'S AGE AND MILEAGE. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED AS I AM NOT CONFIDENT IN THE OVERALL SAFETY OF MY VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10583715April 20, 2014
POWER TRAIN
I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN JULY 2013 AND DROVE IT APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH WHEN I BEGAN TO NOTICE THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY. WHILE DRIVING ALONG THERE WAS A SUDDEN DECLINE IN MY SPEED WHILE THE RPMS CONTINUED TO INCREASE. I SLOWED TO A STOP AS I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I CHECKED THE VEHICLE FOR ANY OUTWARD SIGNS OF DAMAGE HAVING FOUND NONE I ONCE AGAIN ATTEMPTED TO CONTINUE MY TRIP. THIS TIME THE VEHICLE MANAGED TO ACCELERATE TO A BLISTERING 5 MILES AN HOUR WHILE HAVING TO MAINTAIN A 4-6 THOUSAND RPM RANGE. I PROCEEDED ALONG THE GRASS OF THE ROAD UNTIL I REACHED HOME. IT SITS NOW IN MY YARD COVERED WITH MY "TARP OF SHAME". THIS PIECE OF WORTHLESS CRAP SURELY FITS IT ACRONYM (FORD) FOUND ON THE ROAD DEAD....MY SPELLING MIGHT NOT BE THE BEST, BUT IT IS BETTER THAN THIS PIECE OF ...AT ANY RATE, HOW MUCH MORE DOES THE PUBLIC HAVE TO PAY FORD. WE PAID WITH THE BAIL OUT MILLIONS TO THEIR EXECUTIVES TO GET MILLIONS IN BONUSES TO RIP US OFF BY NOT PAYING FOR AND/OR FIXING THEIR PIECES OF JUNK...ENOUGH IS TOO MUCH ALREADY! IF YOU AT THE NHTSA DOESN'T DO SOMETHING MAYBE WE CITIZEN OUGHT TO TAKE OUT A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT ON YOU. HOW MANY COMPLAINTS DOES IT TAKE TO CONSTITUTE A PATTERN? ABOVE 4,500,000....OR WILL IT BE THE DEATHS OF ONE OR MORE OF OUR CHILDREN AT THE HANDS OF THESE FATCATS WHO LAUGH AT US, WITH SUCH INDIFFERENCE AND UNBRIDLED CONTEMPT. IT DOES SEEM THAT IT GIVES THEM JOY TO MOCK THE PUBLIC AND THE GOVERNMENT THIS WAY. CONSIDER, GM RECENTLY WAS FOUND HIDING THEIR KNOWN DEFECTS AND NOW FORD HAS BEEN DOING THE SAME THING FOR WELL OVER A DECADE. WHAT WOULD OLE HENRY FORD SAY TODAY? BUT, WHAT HURTS ME THE MOST IS, I USED TO LIKE FORDS BUT NOW GIVE ME A TOYOTA, HONDA, NISSAN OR A SKATEBOARD BEFORE ONE OF THESE SO CALLED PIECES OF ENGINEERING WONDERS!! THE REAL WONDER IS WHERE AND WITH WHO, WILL THEY BREAK DOWN ON NEXT!!!!!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10579020April 10, 2014
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
EXPLORER O/D LIGHT BLINKS AND SHIFTS ROUGH FROM 1ST TO 2ND.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10579018April 10, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES, ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK THANK GOD I WAS ALMOST HOME AT THIS TIME, MY FORD EXPLORE WAS DRIVING FINE ALL OF A SUDDEN I HERD A POP AND A BANG AND THEN THE MOTOR STARTED STUMBLING AND SHAKING. AS IT WAS RUNNING THE MOTOR KEPT ON POPPING I GOT OUT AND SEEN A SPARK PLUG NEXT TO DRIVER SIDE FENDER UNDER THE HOOD ALSO THE COIL THAT WAS PLUGGED ON TO THE PLUG WAS THERE TOO.I TRIED TO GRAB THE COIL BUT GOT SHOCKED BECAUSE THE RUBBER ON THE COIL WAS BROKE FROM THE PLUG FLYING OUT LIKE A BULLET AND HITTING THE COIL BRAKING IT IN FOUR OR FIVE PLACES THATS Y I GOT SHOCKED SO MUCH.THE HOLE POINT IS THAT THE PLUG STRIPED OUT OF THE HEAD AND DID ALL THIS DAMAGE. NOW I HAVE NO WAY TO FIX THIS ISSUE ONE OF THE WAYS TO FIX IT CAN BE TO REPLACE THE HEADS ON THE MOTOR WITCH WILL COST LOTS OF MONEY.WHAT CAN I DO IM DESPERATE SO IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE A HELPING HAND BY THE DEALER BUT THEY CLAIM IT'S NOT THERE FAULT BUT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO SO MANY FORDS BECAUSE OF THE HEADS THEY HAVE USED ON THIS MOTOR PLEASE MAKE A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE IT IS A DEFECT I DO BELIEVE IT IS. I FOUND OVER 50 PEOPLE ONLINE HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE SAME ISSUES AS ME. PLEASE HELP US..... *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10577850April 7, 2014
ENGINE
WHEN DRIVING TO WORK THREE BLOCKS AWAY FROM MY HOUSE I STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT. I STARTED TO TAKE OFF AGAIN ONCE THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND A SOUND FROM THE ENGINE SCARED ME. THE TRUCK STARTED TO SOUND LIKE A LAWN MOWER. I THEN HAD THE TRUCK TOWED AND TAKEN TO THE GARAGE WHERE THE MECHANIC SHOWED ME THAT THE SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT THE ENGINE. HE SAID THAT WITH FORDS IT HAPPENS ALOT AND IF YOU SEARCH ONLINE THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE THAT IT HAPPENS TO. HE THEN TOLD ME ONCE HE FIXES IT I SHOULD SELL IT RIGHT AWAY UNLESS I AM WILLING TO SPEND WHAT THE CAR IS WORTH ON REPLACING HEADS. IF FORD KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL ON THIS ALREADY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10574652March 25, 2014
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I HAD TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION AND SOLENOID, COSTING OVER $2500. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10573944March 21, 2014
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REVVED UP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE ANOTHER VEHICLE REAR ENDED HER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED WHIPLASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SOLENOID WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 179,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10573519March 19, 2014
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A STOP, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD FORCEFULLY AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO PERSONAL INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A COLLISION FACILITY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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