Ford Explorer Complaints (2002)

3,572 consumer complaints on file.

#10049618December 11, 2003
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
GLASS EXPLODED OUT OF THE BACK WINDOW, INJURING MY DAUGHTER. FORD STATES THAT THERE IS A CAMPAIGN, NOT A RECALL. SO I WASN'T NOTIFIED OF THE FAULTY PLUNGER MECHANISM. FORD REPLACED THE GLASS, BUT COULD NOT GUARANTEE ME THAT IT WOULD NOT HAPPEN AGAIN, SO I TURNED IN THE LEASE SINCE THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE FOR MY FAMILY (4 KIDS). THEY ARE SUING ME BECAUSE I TURNED IN THE LEASE EARLY.*AK PE04045.PCO
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10049338December 7, 2003
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT, POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT
THE INITIAL PROBLEM WITH THE REAR-END DIFFERENTIAL UNIT WAS A WHINING NOISE WHICH THE FORD DEALER'S SERVICE REP. IDENTIFIED AND IMMEDIATELY SAID IT SHOULD BE REPLACED. THE NEW REAR-END UNIT DID NOT WHINE BUT WITHIN 3 1/2 MONTHS A VIBRATION STARTED AND WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER FOR A TOTAL OF 6 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS TO REPAIR OR FIX THIS PROBLEM. BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT REAR AXLES WERE ALSO REPLACED AND ANOTHER REAR END DIFFERENTIAL UNIT WAS INSTALLED. AT EACH SERVICE VISIT, THE DEALER'S SERVICE MANAGER AND MECHANIC WERE COMPLETELY INVOLVED AND WERE VERY PERPLEXED AT THE PROBLEM. MY EXPLORER WAS AT THE DEALER FOR ABOUT 30 DAYS ON ONE SERVICE VISIT AND A TOTAL OF 42 DAYS OVER THE 6 TOTAL SERVICE VISITS FOR THIS PROBLEM. PERSISTENT FLUID LEAKS AND A RECURRING VIBRATION HAS PROMPTED ME TO SUBMIT A "LEMON" LETTER TO FORD. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10049376December 7, 2003
POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)
2002 FORD EXPLORER 4X4 STRAINING AND BANGING SOUNDS IN DRIVE TRAIN WHEN IN 4X4 MODE AND WHEN CORNERING IN THIS MODE CAUSES VEHICLE TO BECOME HARD TO STEER AND CAN FEEL VEHICLE SHUDDER AS BANGING OCCURS. WAS TAKEN TO GREINER FORD ON 12/04/03 THE DAY PROBLEM STARTED AND WAS TOLD BY SERVICE ADVISOR JIM FEILER THAT FORD TECHNICAL SUPPORT HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE PROBLEM AND THAT THEY DO NOTICE ALL SYMPTOMS I BROUGHT VEHICLE IN FOR BUT THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND THUS ARE NOT AUTHORIZED BY FORD TO REPAIR EVEN THOUGH VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER FULL WARRANTY. I WAS THEN TOLD THEY FEEL VEHICLE IS SAFE TO DRIVE WHICH I FEEL IS INTERESTING SINCE THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THEY UNIT HAS A DRIVE TRAIN PROBLEM BUT DO NOT KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THE PROBLEM IS, SO HOW CAN THEY BE SURE IT IS A SAFE VEHICLE. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10049180December 4, 2003
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
I PURCHASED A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE REAR HATCH HAS CRACKED OPENING APPROXIMATELY 1/16 INCH WIDE THROUGH THE HATCH BELOW THE WINDOW APPROXIMATELY. 5 INCHES LONG. FORD HAS AGREED TO REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY BY GLUING THE CRACK. AS I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS INJURIES FROM OTHER CRACKED HATCHES, I WANT FORD TO REPLACE THE HATCH NOT JUST GLUE A REPAIR. THEY HAVE REFUSED. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10050199December 3, 2003
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
VARIOUS PROBLEMS WITH 2002 FORD EXPLORER.*MR THE LEFT SIGNAL WIRE INSULATION RUBBED THROUGH THE BOAT TRAILER. WHEN IT SHORTED OUT THE FUSE BLEW AFTER IT TOTALLY MELTED THE INSULATION OFF THE WIRES THROUGH THE TONGUE OF THE TRAILER ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE LEFT SIGNAL LIGHT. CONSUME NOTED THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN, HAD THIS BEEN A CAMPER A FIRE WOULD'VE RESULTED. *PH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10049863December 2, 2003
PARKING BRAKE
WHILE PARKED VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS WITHOUT WARNING.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10049906December 2, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
ABS WARNING LIGHT CAME ON/OFF, AND THE ABS BRAKES ENGAGED PREMATURELY. ALSO, THERE WAS VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END WHEN BRAKING. VEHICLE HAD BEEN SERVICED 3 TIMES. DEALER REPLACED THE ROTORS ONCE, AND ABS REAR SENSOR TWICE. THE ABS WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10049913December 2, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER, TIRES
ALL FOUR TIRES WERE SLIGHTLY CUPPING, AND THE BRAKES MADE A THUMPING NOISE WHEN THEY WERE DEPRESSED. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE PADS, LUBED THE FRONT CALIPER SLIDE PIN, AND REPLACED ROTORS. *AK VEHICLE EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH TIRES CUPPING. THE FOLLOWING REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE: ENGINE REPLACED, BRAKES, REPLACED, ALIGNMENT, BATTERY WIRING ASSEMBLY REPAIRED, DPFE SENSOR REPLACED. CONSUMER ASKED DEALER FOR A FULL REFUND ON VEHICLE.*MR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10049071December 2, 2003
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY, POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION, POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:FLOOR SHIFT ASSEMBLY
AT APPROXIMATELY 10,000 MILES I STARTED EXPERIENCING MINOR DIFFICULTIES WITH THE CLUTCH. AT 14,000 MILES, THE MALFUNCTION BECAME MUCH MORE PRONOUNCED ESPECIALLY WHEN SHIFTING OUT OF FIRST GEAR. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR WARRANTY REPAIRS BUT TODAY WAS TOLD I HAD WORN OUT THE CLUTCH AND THE REPAIRS WOULD NOT BE COVERED BY THE FORD WARRANTY. FORD IS ASKING $1,374 TO REPAIR THE CLUTCH.MY EXPLORER WAS USED OVERWHELMINGLY FOR CITY AND HIGHWAY DRIVING. AT 10,000 MILES IT HAD BEEN IN 4WD ONLY ONCE AND AT 14,000 MILES, ONLY THREE TIMES. THIS IS THE SEVENTH VEHICLE I HAVE OWNED WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND I CERTAINLY KNOW HOW TO OPERATE A STICK SHIFT. TODAY THE GENERAL MANAGER OF LEIF JOHNSON FORD (AUSTIN), FRED TRUDEA, HUNG UP ON ME BECAUSE I WAS TAKING CONTACT NOTES ON MY COMPUTER. HE HEARD THE COMPUTER KEYS CLICKING AND ASKED WHAT I WAS DOING. HE THEN REFUSED TO GIVE ME A PHONE NUMBER FOR FORD'S REGIONAL SERVICE MANAGER, WASN'T EVEN SURE OF HER NAME, AND DID NOT OFFER TO FIND OUT. HE WAS SO FLIPPANT ABOUT MY TIME AND RESOURCES, THAT WHEN I ASKED HIM TO ARRANGE A CONFERENCE CALL WITH THE REGIONAL SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE, HE REPLIED IF YOU DON'T HEAR FROM ME IN FOUR DAYS, GIVE ME A CALL. WHEN I TOLD HIM I WOULD NOT PLAY TAG AND NEEDED A DAILY UPDATE UNTIL THIS WAS RESOLVED, HE REFUSED. LATER IN THE DAY, ANOTHER LEIF JOHNSON EMPLOYEE, TONY MANZANO, CALLED TO TELL ME THE REGIONAL SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE DECLINED TO RETURN MY CALL. MR. MANZANO WOULD NOT GIVE ME HER PHONE NUMBER OR EMAIL. I ASKED BOTH MR. TRUDEA AND MR. MANZANO FOR SOMETHING IN WRITING STATING THEY WERE REFUSING TO MAKE THE WARRANTY REPAIRS AND REASONS. BOTH MR. MANZANO AND MR. TRUDEAU REFUSED TO PLACE ANYTHING IN WRITING. THEY TOLD ME TO CALL THE FORD 1-800 NUMBER. TODAY WAS THE MOST ABUSIVE CONSUMER EXPERIENCE I HAVE HAD IN MY LIFE. EVERY REQUEST I MADE WAS RETURNED WITH WITH NO, STONEWALLING OR JUST GENERAL CONTEMPT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10042838December 2, 2003
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
REAR SEAT BELTS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. *AK BOTH REAR SEAT BELTS WERE REPLACED. *TT THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO BUCKLE THE SEAT BELTS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10048817November 29, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORTTRAC. I BOUGHT IT WITH 1600 MILES ON IT ALREADY IN MARCH 2002. ON 9/6/03, I HAD IT TOWED IN FOR A CONTINUOUS REVING BETWEEN 1&2 AND BLACK SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE TAIL PIPE. THE TRUCK HAD ALREADY BEEN STALLING DURING THE PREVIOUS MONTHS WHENEVER I WANTED TO SPEED UP. FORD HAD MY TRUCK FOR ABOUT 2 1/2 WEEKS, REPLACED MY TRANSMISSION FROM THE FACTORY. THE SERVICE MAN TOLD ME THEY HAD TO SEND FOR YET ANOTHER TRANSMISSION - THAT EVEN FORD WAS STUMPED WITH THE PROBLEM SO JUST SENT THEM ANOTHER TRANSMISSION. I GOT MY TRUCK BACK AND IT WORKED FINE. THEN, THE STALLING STARTED HAPPENING PERIODICALLY AGAIN AND AGAIN. I TOOK IT IN AGAIN - THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. I COMPLAIN ABOUT IT EVERY TIME I TAKE IT IN FOR SERVICING. I ALSO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE CONSTANT FRONT PASSENGER WIND NOISE; THEY INITIALLY SAID THERE WERE LEAKS AND EVEN THOUGH I STILL COMPLAIN, THEY NOW SAY THERE ISN'T A PROBLEM. I ASKED ABOUT THE LEMON LAW AND THE SALESMAN WHO SOLD ME THE TRUCK (I BOUGHT IT IN ANOTHER CITY) TOLD ME THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM HAS TO HAPPEN 5 TIMES. I AM NOT HAPPY WITH THIS SITUATION. WHAT CAN I DO? I HAVE NOW READ OTHER INSTANCES IN THIS WEB SITE THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME THING. MY TRUCK NOW HAS ALMOST 32,856 MILES ON IT. I RESPONDED '0' TO 'NUMBER OF FAILURES' - I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS MEANT BY THIS QUESTION. YES, MY TRANSMISSION FAILED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10047614November 26, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE HAD SEVERAL INSTANCES WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOPPED POSITION WHEN THERE HAS BEEN A 2-3 SECOND HESITATION BEFORE IT ACTUALLY KICKS IN, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THERE IS A LOUD VIBRATION COMING FROM THE RIGHT REAR OF THE VEHICLE, AND THE SHIFTING BECOMES VERY ERRATIC AND THE O/D LIGHT FLICKERS. I HAVE TALKED TO SEVERAL DEALERS. TWO OF THEM HAVE STATED THAT THE VIBRATION IS BECAUSE OF THE ROAD SURFACE. WHEN TRYING TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE, THERE IS A POPPING SOUND AND HESITATION BEFORE THE VEHICLE ACTUALLY MOVES. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10047351November 21, 2003
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
IN THE UNLIKELY EVENT THERE IS A PROBLEM THAT IS TOTALLY "UNFIXABLE" THEN FORD HAS SOLD ME A PRODUCT THAT IS FAULTY, AND THE PRODUCT SHOULD BE REPLACED. HOWEVER, I WOULD LIKE FOR THE CAR TO BE FIXED AND I AM WILLING TO LEAVE IT IN THE SHOP AS LONG AS IT TAKES TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM SO THAT THE CAR WILL BE SAFE TO DRIVE AGAIN. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10047259November 20, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE EXPLORER HAS DONE ABOUT 21,000 MILES IN 2 AND 1/2 YEARS. ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO, IT STARTED HAVING BIG CLUNKS IN THE TRANSMISSION WHEN COLD AND EVEN A GRINDING SOUND. SEEMED TO BE WHEN VEHICLE WAS BEING TURNED IN EITHER DIRECTION AT LOW SPEED. THE DEALER REPLICATED THE PROBLEM AND ORDERED AND INSTALLED A "NEW CLUTCH" IN THE TRANSFER CASE -THERE WAS SOME KIND OF "FLUID LEAKAGE." PROBLEM IS NOW WORSE, WAS REPLICATED WITH THE MECHANIC IN THE CAR AND THE DEALER HAS IT BACK IN FOR ANOTHER ATTEMPT AT FIXING IT. MY WIFE WON'T DRIVE IT ANYMORE. A FEW MONTHS AGO IT USED TO HAVE A LOUD SQUEAK WHEN THE VEHICLE WENT OVER SPEED BUMPS SLOWLY AND THIS WAS EVENTUALLY FOUND AND "FIXED." I WONDER IF THE CLUNK IN THE TRANSFER CASE IS NOT THAT AT ALL, BUT A LOOSE/WORN FRONT SUSPENSION PART GIVING WAY OR LOSING TENSION WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TURNED IN EITHER DIRECTION. PERHAPS ASSOCIATED WITH THE STRUT ON THE RIGHT SIDE BUT NOT SURE. DEALER HAS TRIED TO BE RESPONSIVE AND IS NOT THE PROBLEM. ANY ONE ELSE HAVE A SIMILAR PROBLEM? *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10047213November 19, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER, POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY, POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
FROM PURCHASE THERE WAS A KHKHHHKH NOISE THAT MY BROTHER NOTICED. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND NOTHING WAS FOUND. ON THE 3RD TRIP BACK TO THE DEALER, I WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION SHIELD WAS LOOSE SO THEY TIGHTENED IT. THE NOISE CONTINUED SO I HAD MY NEIGHBOR WHO HAS A TRANS SHOP LISTEN AND HE SAID HAVE THEM LOOK AT THE TORQUE CONVERTOR. THE DEALER DID (34,000 MILES), HAD THE CAR FOR 14 DAYS AND FIXED?? IT. ITS BACK IN THE SHOP NOW (16 DAYS) (37,000 MILES) AND 1ST GEAR AND MY FORWARD CLUTCHES ARE BEING REPLACED. DID I GET A LEMON?*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10042905November 18, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE CHANGING THE OIL IN THE VEHICLE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT SEVERAL DRIVER SIDE MOTOR MOUNT BOLTS WERE LOOSE. MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE PROBLEM, AND INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT MAYBE THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AT THE FACTORY. *AK *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10048092November 17, 2003
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
STEERING WHEEL WAS JERKING HARD LEFT AND RIGHT WHEN PARKING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THE DEALER REPLACED POWER STEERING PUMP WITH A USED PUMP. CONSUMER HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE DEALER USING, USED PARTS TO CORRECT A RECALLED ITEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10046849November 13, 2003
SEATS
THE SEAT COMPONENTS THAT ARE UNDERNEATH THE DRIVER'S SIDE HAVE A SEVERE AMOUNT OF RUST ON THEM. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10047750November 12, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT
WHILE DRIVING THE TRUCK, THE ABS LIGHT WOULD APPEAR INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONSUMER HAS MADE CONTACT WITH THE DEALERSHIP ON SIX SEPARATE OCCASIONS AND THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. PLEASE ADD ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *PH VEHICLE HAS EXPERINCED SEVEN OCCURENCES WHERE ABS LIGHT HAS ILLUMINATED ON DASHBOARD AFTER SLIGHTLY ENGAGING BRAKE EQUIPMENT. ABS LIGHT HAS ALSO ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED.*MR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10047856November 12, 2003
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAGS. THE AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON. OWNER SAYS THAT "IF VEHICLE IS IN AN ACCIDENT, AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY." VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY WANT TO CHARGE OWNER $378.00 DOLLARS TO REPAIR BECAUSE VEHICLE IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *PH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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