Ford Explorer Complaints (2002)

3,572 consumer complaints on file.

#10118200April 21, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
1. REAR END HOWLING NOISE (3/18/2005) - HEAR NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING BETWEEN 40 AND 65 MPH. WHEN LETTING OFF OF ACCELERATOR, NOISE GOES AWAY, COMES BACK AGAIN WHEN ACCELERATOR IS PUSHED AGAIN. DEALER SERVICE DEPT REPLACED REAR CARRIER BEARINGS, CUP, SEALS, AND SPACER IN REAR DIFFERENTIAL. NOISE NOW OCCURS BETWEEN 65 AND 70 MPH. WAS TAKEN BACK TO DEALER SERVICE DEPT ON 4/11/2005. WAS INFORMED 4/20/2005 THAT REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS ADJUSTED WITH NEW SPACER, BUT NOISE IS STILL THERE. SERVICE MANAGER HAS ANOTHER FORD EXPLORER ON LOT AND TEST DROVE IT. THIS EXPLORER HAS SAME NOISE BETWEEN 40 AND 65 MPH. ONE OF THE TECHS (WHO USED TO WORK AT A FORD DEALERSHIP) TOLD SERVICE MANAGER THAT ALOT OF 2002 FORD EXPLORER OWNERS HAVE BEEN HAVING THIS PROBLEM. FORD HAS NO SOLUTION OR CURE. 2. NOISE IN TIMING CHAIN AREA. FORD HAS A TSB ON THIS. I CAN HEAR THIS RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THIS AREA AND TOLD DEALERSHIP TO LOOK INTO IT. THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE NOISE, ALTHOUGH WHEN TEST DRIVING IT WITH ASSIST. SERVICE MANAGER, I COULD STILL HEAR THE NOISE, BUT HE COULD NOT. I HAD MY LOCAL MECHANIC CHECK THIS OUT, AND THEY CAN HEAR THE NOISE THAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. THIS PROBLEM HAS YET TO BE FIXED. 3. VIBRATION COMING FROM FRONT END ON INTERSTATE THAT STARTS AT AROUND 70+ MPH. WHEN CLIMBING A STEEP HILL ON INTERSTATE AND TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS, CAN FEEL A GRINDING NOISE IN POWERTRAIN. DEALER BELIEVES THAT THE FLUID IN THE TRANSFER CASE MIGHT NEED TO BE CHANGED,CAUSING CLUTCHES INSIDE TO STICK. WILL FIND OUT TOMORROW (4/21/2005). *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10118127April 19, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM
CONCERNING 2002, FORD, EXPLORER, EDDIE BAUER: WE WERE DRIVING ON 09/19/2004 WHEN A CAR DROVE UP NEXT TO US AND DRIVER STATED THAT REAR BRAKES WERE SMOKING. NO BRAKES WERE ON. WE PULLED OVER, AND SAW THAT THEY WERE SMOKING AND SMELLED BADLY. CALLED FORD ROADSIDE ASSISTANT TO TOW US TO LANDMARK FORD, IN TIGARD, OREGON. UPON INSPECTION ON 09/20/04, PARTS WERE REPLACED. TWO WEEKS LATER ON OCTOBER 3,2004, WE WERE AGAIN DRIVING AND WHEN WE GOT HOME, AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR LEFT BRAKES WERE SMOKING AND SMELLED BADLY. WE CALLED FORD ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE ,AND HAD THE CAR TOWED AGAIN TO LANDMARK FORD. UPON INSPECTION ON 10/4/04 WE WERE TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM AND THEREFORE WOULD NOT REPLACE ANY PARTS. WE SPOKE WITH SERVICE MANAGER LARRY BAKER CONCERNING THIS ISSUE. HE ASKED US TO DRIVE THE CAR HOME, AND IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN TO CALL AND BRING THE CAR DOWN. ON FRIDAY APRIL 15,2005 WE WERE DRIVING WITH OUR TWO NIECES WHEN WE NOTICED THE LEFT REAR BRAKES STARTED SMOKING AND SMELLING BADLY. WE WERE CLOSE ENOUGH TO HOME AND MADE IT. THE ENTIRE WHEEL ON THE LEFT SIDE WAS TOO HOT TO TOUCH, THE RUBBER ON THE TIRE WAS ALSO VERY HOT. WE CALLED FORD ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AGAIN TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED DOWN TO LANDMARK FORD. WE RECEIVED A CALL ON TUESDAY 04/19,2005 FROM SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT THEY COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. WE WERE ASKED AGAIN TO PICK UP THE CAR, AND CALL IF ANY PROBLEMS AROSE. THREE TIMES THE SAME EXACT THING HAS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING. SMOKING AND SMELLING BRAKES IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD, AND WE ARE CONCERNED THAT ONE TIME IF THIS HAPPENS AGAIN THE CAR COULD CATCH ON FIRE. IT APPEARS TO BE AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM, AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT MANAGER MIKE WALKER STATED PREVIOUSLY THAT THEY HAVE HAD SOME PROBLEMS WITH THIS BEFORE, BUT NOT ENOUGH TO PUT OUT A RECALL. WE WOULD APPRECIATE SOME INVESTIGATION INTO THIS MATTER AS WE ARE CONCERNED FOR OUR SAFETY, AND THE SAFETY OF OTHERS ON THE ROAD. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10117913April 15, 2005
SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS, SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
I TOOK MY 2002 EXPLORER IN FOR RECALL ON REAR DOOR. THEY TOLD ME THAT BOTH REAR SPRINGS BROKE. THIS VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 44,000 MILES ON IT, AND HAS THE TOW PACKAGE ALTHOUGH NOTHING WAS EVER TOWED. THE SPRINGS THAT BROKE ARE AT THE VERY TOP AND HARD TO FIND. MECHANIC WOULD HAVE HAD TO KNOW TO LOOK THERE TO FIND IT. THIS LED ME TO BELIEVE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10116868April 13, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILED TO OPERATE. WOULDN'T MOVE IN DRIVE BUT IN SECOND GEAR. ENDED UP REPLACING WITH NEW TRANSMISSION. 4 MONTHS LATER REAR END WENT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. MILEAGE AT TIME OF TRANSMISSION FAILURE WAS 100,000 MILES, AND REAR END FAILURE 114,000. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10116615April 8, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
HELLO, I OWN A 2002 FORD EXPLORE XLT WITH 50,000 MILES V-6. IN THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE THERE IS A GRINDING NOISE THAT IS IN A RYTHMIC PATTEREN. I HAVE SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT NEXT TUESDAY BUT WAS WONDERING IF THERE IS ANY RECALLS THAT I SHOULD KNOW ABOUT. AFTER READING SEVERAL FORMS FROM OTHER FORD EXPLORER OWNERS IT SOUNDS AS IF THERE IS A REOCCOURING PROBLEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10116553April 7, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
BOUGHT THE 2002 XLT 4X4 EXPLORER IN JULY OF 04 WITH 43,000 MILES ON THE CAR. AT 60,00 MILES HAD THE TRANSMISSION SERVICED. AT 63,000 MILES O/D LIGHT FLASHED. TOOK CAR INTO DEALER THE NEXT DAY AND CAR NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION. THANK GOODNESS WE BOUGHT THE EXTENDED WARRENTY SO THE WORK SHOULD BE COVERED BUT AFTER READING ALL THE REPEAT PROBLEMS I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS MIGHT BECOME A CONSTANT PROBLEM. ALSO EXPERIENCED THE SAME ROUGH SHIFT INTO REVERSE AND THE TRANSMISSION SLIPAGE BETWEEN GEARS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10113425April 6, 2005
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
THE CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL CAMPAIGN #04V442000 IN OCTOBER OF 2004 REGARDING THE LIFTGATE. SHE CONTINUED TO CONTACT THE FORD DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER. THE RECALL REPAIRS HAD NOT BEEN PERFORMED AS OF YET BECAUSE THERE WERE NO PARTS. *AK *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10111631April 6, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
WHILE THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET AT 72 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT DECELERATE. THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER, RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, BUT THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS STILL ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AS THE MANUAL SUGGESTED IN ORDER TO RESET, BUT IT DID NOT. THE CONSUMER SAID THAT HER HUSBAND EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM NUMEROUS TIMES. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10116379April 5, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
O/DLIGHT FLASHING ON PA PIKE, WAS TOLD BY SELLING DEALER TO STOP DRIVING. TOOK TO A FORD DEALER AN HOUR FROM MY HOME . HAD TO RENT A CAR FOR A WEEK AND SPENT $700 TO FIX TRANNY. 3 MONTHS LATER 4 HOURS FROM HOME HAPPENED AGAIN. LOST A WEEK WORK WHILE IT TRANSMISSION WAS TORN DOWN AGAIN, STILL UNDER 12,000 WARRANTY FROM MARCH. SINCE THEN O/D LIGHT HAS FLASHED 4 DIFERENT TIMES, FORD DEALER COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. LAST TIME WENT TO AN INDEPENDENT TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST, HAS SAID $2,000 TO FIX, ALSO THIS TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN A BIG LEMON AND FORD WILL NOT STAND BEHIND IT. I HAD ANOTHER BAUER EXPLORER THAT I TRADED IN WITH 150,000 AND NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH IT, THIS IS WHY AFTER A CAR I WENT BACK TO THE EXPLORER. HUGE MISTAKE. IT IS TIME TO SEEK AN ALTERNATE FORM OF JUSTICE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10116447April 5, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
4X4 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION COMPLETE FAILURE. LOST 3RD AND 4TH GEARS AND REVERSE. THIS TRUCK NEVER TOWED OR WAS WORKED AT ALL. 47000 MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION MELTED. DEALER ADVISED TO COMPLETELY REPLACE, NOTHING LEFT TO REBUILD. THE ONLY HINT WAS THE TRUCK HAD A PAUSE OF 3-4 SECONDS BEFORE IT WENT INTO A FORWARD GEAR.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10117401April 4, 2005
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR WAS SLAMMED BY THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY WENT OFF. DRIVER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, BUT A CAUSE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10116253April 2, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
FORD EXPLORER IS 2002. HAD TO REPAIR TRANSMISSION AT FORD SERVICE TRANSMISSION IN JUNE 2004. THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION FAILED SUDDENLY APRIL 1, 2005. WE DO NOT BELIEVE THIS IS ACCEPTABLE TO HAV TO PUT $3700 ON ONE MAJOR REPAIR AND ONE COMPLETE REBUILD OF THE TRANSMISSION INSIDE OFTHREE YEARS ON THE TRANSMISSION OF A NEW VEHICLE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10117224April 1, 2005
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE DRIVER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10116173March 31, 2005
AIR BAGS
MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHEN MY WIFE STARTED THE CAR MY 2 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS IN THE CAR ALSO . WE HAVE A POLICE REPORT. MY WIFE IS TERRIFIED TO GET BACK IN THE CAR NOW. THE PEOPLE AT FORD WANT TO CHARGE ME TO FIX THE CAR, WHICH IS CRAZY. I AM TRYING TO FIND OUT IF THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED BEFORE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10117214March 31, 2005
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF THE RESIDENCE AND DRIVER LIFTED UP THE LIFTGATE AND GLASS SHATTERED. DRIVER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE LIFTGATE GLASS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10116086March 30, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AXLE HUBS
I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER AND I HAVE ONLY HAD IT ONE YEAR I GOT IT USED FROM A DEALERSHIP IT WAS A ONE OWNER AND IN THE TIME THAT I HAVE HAD IT I HAVE PUT OVER $800 WORTH OF WORK IN TO IT WITH BRAKES,HUBS,AND ONE AUTO LOCK HUB THE HUBS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE LET GO ONE MONTH AGO AND A WEEK AGO THE PASENGER SIDE REAR HUB LET GO IT HAS BEEN SITING EVER SENCE THES ARE VERY EXPENSIV THINGS TO REPLACE AND SHOLD NOT NEED TO BE DONE ON AVEHICAL THAT IS ONLY THREE YEARS OLD.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10113041March 30, 2005
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
THE REAR AUTOMATIC DOORS WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE THE CONSUMER HAS CHECKED THE CHILD LOCKS, AND THEY ARE NOT ON. THE MANUFACTURE AND DEALER STATES NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *NM CONSUMER PURCHASED NEW INSIDE REAR DOOR HANDLES FROM THE DEALER AND REPLACED THEM. *BF *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10112988March 30, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE WHEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE UNEXPECTEDLY. THE SOUNDS OF FIRE TRUCKS AT ABOUT 3:15 AM BEFORE CONSUMER KNEW THEIR GARAGE WAS THE ONE ON FIRE. THE FORD EXPLORER WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AS WELL AS THE OTHER 1992 GMC. THE FIRE CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE FORD EXPLORER. *BF
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10107372March 30, 2005
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
RECALL CAMPAIGN: THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE(04V442000) REAR LIFTGATE GLASS. NO PARTS AVAILABLE. *NM *BF *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10117046March 29, 2005
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUT
RECALL 04V442000 WAS ISSUED FOR THE LIFTGATE IN OCTOBER 2004. DEALER STATED THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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