Ford Explorer Complaints (2002)

3,572 consumer complaints on file.

#10036651August 26, 2003
STRUCTURE, TIRES
2 OF MY COUSINS WERE INVOLVED IN A FORD EXPLORER TIRE BLOW OUT OUTSIDE OF RALEIGH NC ON AUGUST 16TH. AMAL MUARAKA, A PEDIATRIC SURGEON WAS KILLED INSTANTLY AND SUMMEET MURARKA WAS PLACED IN ICU AS THE NON-BRIDGESTONE TIRE BLEW OUT ON THE FORD EXPLORER AND THE VEHICLE FLIPPED 5 TIMES WHEN THE TIRE BLEW OUT. WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO ACT ON FORD'S MALICIOUS DECEIT. FORD'S HISTORY IS PLAGUED WITH SERIOUS ISSUES SUCH AS THE PINTO THAT BLEW UP AND THIS TIME IT WAS THE GOVERNMENTS INACTION AND FORDS COVER-UP THAT PREVENTED MY COUSIN FROM LIVING A FULL LIFE AT ONLY THE AGE OF 33. I CAN ONLY HOPE THAT THE GOVERNMENT WILL IMMEDIATELY RECALL THE FORD EXPLORER LINE EVEN IF IT CAUSES SERIOUS COSTS AND FINANCIAL BURDEN TO FORD TO SAVE LIVES AND PREVENT SO MANY FROM THE PAIN OF TRAGEDIES SUCH AS THE ONE THAT WE HAVE EXPERIENCED. AGAIN - IT IS MY BELIEF THAT IT IS THE FATAL DESIGN FLAWS IN THE FORD EXPLORER THAT CAUSED THIS WRECK AND THE DEATH OF MY COUSIN - HE IS SURVIVED BY HIS WIFE, AND 2 DAUGHTERS. PLEASE STOP FORD FROM MURDERING OTHERS!!!! *NLM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
1
#10033466August 25, 2003
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
SERIOUS SAFETY AND OPERATION ISSUE WITH THE 2002 YEAR FORD EXPLORERS SUV, THE REAR DRIVE DIFFERENTIAL IS FAILING, VIN#[XXX] IS AN EXAMPLE AT 12,700 MILES, SERIOUS INTERSTATE CRASH NARROWLY AVOIDED DUE TO THE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL.*AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10033190August 20, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
BOUGHT FROM DEALER, USED WITH 15000 MILES. AFTER 300 MILES HAD TO HAVE TRANSMISSION REBUILT (TRANNY WARNING LIGHT AND VIBRATION UNDER ACCELERATION, UPSHIFT 1ST TO 2ND OR 2ND TO 3RD). ONLY HAPPENED OCCASIONALLY. THREE WEEKS AFTER REBUILD NOTICED VIBRATION AT SLOW SPEEDS, BUT COULD NOT REPLICATE ON DEMAND. DEALER COULD NOT REPEAT VIBRATION AND RETURNED IT WITH NO ACTION. ONE WEEK LATER TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON 2 DIFFERENT DAYS. TAKEN TO DEALER FOR EVALUATION TODAY. I'M CONCERNED THAT THERE MAY BE AN INHERENT PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10033039August 18, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS
I HAVE BEEN SMELLING ANTI-FREEZE. I JUST NOTICED THAT MY RADIATOR HOSE HAS BEEN RUBBING ON THE OIL FILL AND MADE A NICE BIG HOLE ON THAT SIDE AS WELL AS ON THE OTHER SIDE FROM ANOTHER MECHANISM UNDER THE HOOD. NICE ASSEMBLY. I OWNED MY TRUCK FOR 8 MONTHS NOW.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10032970August 17, 2003
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
2002 FORD EXPLORER REAR WINDOW EXPLOSION. UPON SLOWLY CLOSING THE REAR GATE WINDOW, THE GLASS EXPLODED IN MY WIFE'S FACE WITH THE BRACKETS AND FRAME FALLING DOWN CAUSING REAR GATE BODY DAMAGE. PERSONAL INJURY RESULTED (CUT ON WIFE'S HAND). BRACKET PARTS WERE FOUND AS FAR 8 TO 10 YARDS FROM THE ORIGINAL LOCATION AND BROKEN GLASS THROUGHOUT VEHICLE. FORD HAS BEEN VERY DIFFICULT TO DEAL WITH AND APPEARS TO BE POSTURING DEFENSIVELY. CUSTOMER SERVICE HAS BEEN VERY BAD. FORD REPLACED THE WINDOW BUT WOULD NOT REPAIR BODY DAMAGE WITHOUT SIGNING A GENERAL RELEASE OF LIABILITY. WE WERE NEVER NOTIFIED OF POTENTIAL PROBLEMS IN THEIR CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION PROGRAM OR "SOFT RECALL". DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THEY SAW A FEW MORE VEHICLES JUST RECENTLY WITH SAME PROBLEM UPON FURTHER DISCUSSION. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND ENCOURAGE A RECALL OF THESE VEHICLES. IF FORD DOES'NT PUT CONSUMER SAFETY FIRST, I ENCOURAGE THE NHTSA'S INTERVENTION. ALL 2003 FORD EXPLORER CUSTOMERS NEED TO BE EDUCATED ON THIS ISSUE .*AK PE04045.PCO
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10034512August 15, 2003
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
PROBLEMS WITH 2002 FORD EXPLORER REAR WINDOW HATCH.*MR THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOUR TIMES FOR THE BROKEN REAR WINDOW HATCH AND THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN FIXED YET. PLEASE RESPOND PROMPTLY IN RESOLVING MATTERS. *CB THE REAR WINDOW HATCH FAILED WHEN THE HYDRAULIC LIFT CYLINDERS ON THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE OF THE HATCH LITERALLY FLEW OFF WHEN THE HATCH WAS OPENED. ONE OCCASION WHEN THE CYLINDER FLEW OFF, THE CYLINDER FLEW OFF AND HIT THE CONSUMER IN THE BACK OF HIS HEAD NECK, SHOULDER AND SPINE AND SUBSEQUENTLY THE CONSUMER HAD TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL FOR HIS INJURIES. *JB MULTI-INCIDENTS PE04045.PCO
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10033932August 14, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING FOR EXTENED POINT OF TIME VEHICLE WOULD OVERHEAT WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING CONSUMER TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. CONSUMER HAD CONTACTED THE DEALER ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS, AND THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10031171August 9, 2003
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
VEHICLE DEVELOPED A LOUD WHINING NOISE IN THE REAR END AT APPROX 25000 MILES. NOISE OCCURRED AT ALL SPEEDS. IT WENT AWAY WHEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS RELEASED. DEALER REPLACED THE DIFFERENTIAL. NOISE RETURNED IMMEDIATELY, BUT ONLY AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 48MPH AND 68MPH. DEALER IS NOW REPLACING THE ENTIRE DRIVESHAFT. ONE SERVICE ASSISTANT INDICATED OTHER EXPLORERS HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS. ACCORDING TO DEALER, FORD HAS ISSUED SERVICE MESSAGES. SOUNDS LIKE A RECALL. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8008858August 7, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT OIL WAS LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE OIL PAN GASKET BUT THE LEAKING PERSISTED. THE DEALER THEN REPLACED THE OIL PAN BUT OIL CONTINUED TO LEAK. THE DEALER EVENTUALLY HAD TO GLUE THE SCREWS TO THE OIL PAN TO SOP THE LEAKING. THE CONSUMER WAS NOT SATISFIED WITH THIS REPAIR. *AK *PH *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10030966August 6, 2003
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
NHSTA#01I010000 REF. 2002 FORD EXPLORER REAR WINDOW LIFT ARM TWISTING AND CAUSING THE REAR WINDOW TO BREAK. I HAVE OWNED THE CAR FOR 1.5 YEARS AND THE WINDOW HAS BROKEN TWICE AND THE ARM TWISTED A THIRD TIME. WHEN WE GOT THE VEHICLE BACK THE SCREWS WERE STRIPPED AND THE LIFTGATE WAS DAMAGED. MY DAUGHTER WAS STANDING BELOW THE WINDOW WHEN IT BROKEN AND GLASS FELL ALL OVER HER. LUCKILY NO GLASS GOT INTO HER EYES OR MOUTH BUT I BELIEVE THE REAR WINDOW BRACKET IS A SAFETY HAZARDS WHICH DEMANDS CORRECTING. I KNOW THAT FORD DID RE-ENGINEER THE REA WINDOW FRAME AND LIFT BRACKETS. BECAUSE THERE HAS NOT BEEN A FORMAL RECALL, I CAN NOT GET THE NEW REAR LIFT GATE BUT RATHER THAY KEEP REPLPACING THE BROKEN WINDOWS. MEANWHILE I KEEP PAYING FOR THE VEHICLE TO BE IN THEIR SHOP. PLEASE HELP! PE04045_PCO
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10032280August 6, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE WILL STALL, AND IT WILL BE HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10032152August 5, 2003
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:REAR WINDOW
CONSUMER STATES THAT ON 07/03/03 HIS WIFE ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE REAR DOOR TO THE VEHICLE AND REAR WINDOW EXPLODED IN HER FACE. THE CONSUMER'S WIFE SUFFERED MINOR SCRATCHES, AND A HAND LACERATION.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10027094August 1, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
THE REAR AXLE LEAKED. WHICH WAS CAUSED BY THE RUBBER SEAL EATING INTO THE METAL OF THE AXLE PER MECHANIC. *AK THE REAR AXLE FAILED BETWEEN 17K MILES AND 30K MILES AND HAD TO BE REPLACED 3 TIMES. *SCC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10030407July 30, 2003
EQUIPMENT
VEHICLE RUNS AT IDLE FOR APPROXIMATELY 20 WITH AC ON EITHER AUTO OR RECYCLED AIR. THE EXTERNAL TEMPERATURE STARTS TO COUNT DOWN TO 50 DEGREES AND STAYS THERE UNTIL VEHICLE IS TRAVELING AGAIN. THIS CAUSES THE AUTO TEMP TO ADJUST.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10030324July 29, 2003
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
WHEN I AM TRYING TO PUT THE EXPLORER INTO PARK I HAVE A HARD TIME. IT TAKES ME SEVERAL MINUTES AND MUCH FRUSTRATION TO GET IT INTO PARK. IT SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE, HARDER TO GET INTO PARK. THIS COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10031371July 29, 2003
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
FUEL SYSTEM HAS A LEAK THAT RESULTS IN FUEL SPILLS, ALLOWING FUMES TO ENTER PASSENGER'S COMPARTMENT. DEALERSHIP CANNOT FIX PROBLEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10030359July 29, 2003
SUSPENSION:REAR:SHOCK ABSORBER
SUDDEN LOSS OF FLUID FROM LEFT REAR SHOCK, DETECTED BY POOL OF FLUID ON GARAGE FLOOR.2002 FORD EXPLORER WITH 37500 MILES OF NORMAL HIGHWAY DRIVING. FAILURE WAS SUDDEN AND PREMATURE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN VEHICLE INSTABILITY IF NOT DETECTED BY CAREFUL INSPECTION. DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO HOLD PART FOR FORD FAILURE MODE ANALYSIS? WITH SUV HISTORY OF SUSPENSION CONCERNS, THIS DEALER RESPONSE SEEMS INAPPROPRIATE? I SAVED THE SHOCK THEY REPLACED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10029162July 25, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2002 FORD EXPLORER PURCHASED FEB. 2002 NEW. VEHICLE NOW HAS 17,000 MILES. SEVERAL AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. WHEN SHIFTING OUT OF PARK INTO DRIVE THE SHIFT LEVER POPS AS IF IT NEVER ENGAGED. THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD OR BACKWARD 1-2 FEET AFTER SHIFTING INTO PARK, ENGAGING EMERGENCY BRAKE, AND GETTING OUT OF CAR. VEHICLE DRIFTS BACKWARD SEVERAL FEET WHEN STOPPED ON A HILL AND TRYING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOPPED POSITION. AT 17,000 MILES, AND ABOUT 1 MONTH AFTER A NORMAL SCHEDULED SERVICE, STARTED TO EXPERIENCE A LOUD WHINING SOUND COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE AND ONLY ON ACCELERATION (NOT WHEN COASTING). THE WHINING WOULD COME AND GO. THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT STARTED TO FLICKER AND THEN WHEN OUT. THE NEXT DAY, TRANSMISSION STARTED SEVERE SLIPPING, ESPECIALLY AT LOW SPEEDS. IMMEDIATLELY TOOK IT TO FORD GARAGE AND THEY SAID IT NEEDED A TOTAL TRANSMISSION OVERHAUL. THEY ALSO EXPLAINED THAT FORD WILL NOT REPLACE WITH NEW TRANSMISSION IF IT CAN BE OVERHAULED FOR UNDER $2100. ALSO, THERE IS NO PLACE TO CHECK TRANSMISSION FLUID. MANUAL STATES THAT IT SHOULD BE CHECKED PERIODICALLY BY FORD DEALER AND ESPECIALLY IF SLIPPING OR OTHER PROBLEMS ARE NOTICED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10030016July 23, 2003
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
THE REAR LIFTGATE CYLINDER BROKE WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. *AK PE04045_PCO DOB=12/01. OLD STYLE MOUNT. GLASS OPENED AND WHEN CLOSING, HEARD "POP" NOISE AND GLASS ASSEMBLY CAME DOWN. NO INJURY. 06/14/2004. WILL TAKE PICS OF "ROTATED MOUNTS" AND EMAIL TO ME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10028635July 20, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I'VE OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR APPROX. 10 MONTHS. THE VEHICLE HASN'T STARTED 7 DIFFERENT TIMES. I'VE HAD MINOR HESITATIONS WHEN ACCELERATING FROM AN IDLE. THE VEHICLE HAS FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO STALL SEVERAL TIMES WHEN COMING TO A STOP OR ACCELERATING FROM A STOP. THE HORN, ON OCCASION, HAS NOT MADE THE PROPER SOUND. THE DOOR LOCKS DO NOT ALWAYS LOCK OR UNLOCK WITH THE REMOTE. I'VE HAD A BURNING SMELL EMINATING FROM VENTS WITH HEAT ON. I'VE BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, JIM KEIM FORD, 3+ TIMES, HAD A DIAGNOSTIC EXAM DONE, HAD THE FORD FLIGHT RECORDER INSTALLED TO ATTEMPT TO REGISTER PROBLEMS. NOTHING EVER FOUND. I'VE DOCUMENTED EVERYTHING FROM THE TIME OF THE INITIAL PROBLEM, JUST WENT THROUGH THE DISPUTE SETTLEMENT BOARD AND HAVE BEEN AWARDED A REFUND OF MONEY OR REPLACEMENT OF VEHICLE. DOCUMENT EVERYTHING AND DON'T GIVE UP!!*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Ford Explorer