Ford Explorer Complaints (2002)

3,572 consumer complaints on file.

#10455780April 19, 2012
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILURE - STUPID DESIGN DOESN'T ALLOW YOU TO CHECK FLUID LEVEL, LEAK AT TRANSFER CASE SEAL SEEMS TO HAVE CAUSED LOSS OF FLUID AND CANNOT BE ADDED WITHOUT SOME SPECIAL PUMP TO FILL TRANSMISSION BACK UP BECAUSE IT'S A SEALED UNIT. DESIGNED SO ONLY FORD DEALERS CAN DO SERVICE AND THEN IT JUST GOES OUT AND YOU'RE DRIVING 65 MPH DOWN THE MOUNTAIN AND UNABLE TO CONTROL SPEED. FORD NEEDS TO RECALL THESE PIECE OF CRAP TRANSMISSIONS YET WON'T EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE THERE'S A PROBLEM ALTHOUGH EVERY DEALER & TRANNY MECHANIC KNOWS OF THE ISSUES. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10455709April 18, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DOOR AJAR LIGHT AND BEEPING SENSOR IS ALWAYS GOING OFF, CAUSING THE DOORS TO UNLOCK WHILE DRIVING AND ALSO CAUSING THE INSIDE DOME LIGHT TO TURN ON AND OFF. MUST DRIVE AT NIGHT WITHOUT INSTRUMENT LIGHTS, INCLUDING SPEEDOMETER, AS DOME LIGHT STAYS ON. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10455504April 17, 2012
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THE GEAR SHIFT DETACHED WHILE SHIFTING GEARS FROM THE PARK TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 121,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10455554April 17, 2012
POWER TRAIN
VEHICLE TRANSMISSION HAS SUDDENLY QUIT AT ONLY 120,000 MILES. BECAUSE OF A CODE P0775 "PRESSURE CONTROL SOLENOID". SHOPPED THE FIX (WHICH ALL REPAIR SHOPS SAY IS VERY COMMON ON EARLY 2000 FORD'S) AND IT WILL NEED A $2500 REBUILD. DID SOME ONLINE RESEARCH AND FOUND MORE COMPLAINTS ON THIS THAN I CAN ACCOUNT FOR. I CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SUPPORT LINE AND WAS TRANSFERRED TO MY LOCAL DEALER. LOCAL DEALER SAID I FALL OUTSIDE OF ANY CUSTOMER APPRECIATION PROGRAMS AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO THAN FIX IT FOR ME FOR $3200. WITH THE AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE ALONG WITH THE CRACKED TAILGATE THAT I SEE ON ALL FORD EXPLORERS I DRIVE BY, THERE SHOULD BE SOME SORT OF FORCED RECALL. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10455588April 17, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY
ABOUT A YEAR AFTER I PURCHASED MY EXPLORER LTD, THE REAR LOGO PANEL STARTED COMING LOOSE. I USED SPECIAL ADHESIVE TO ATTACH IT, BUT IT JUST WOULDN'T STICK. I TRIED PULLING IT OFF, BUT IT WOULDN'T BUDGE ON THE OTHER SIDE, SO I TRIED A DIFFERENT ADHESIVE. IT STUCK FOR A WHILE, BUT AS I WAS GOING DOWN A BUSY STREET, IT FLEW OFF ALMOST HITTING THE CAR BEHIND ME. THIS VERY EASILY COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT AND SERIOUS INJURY. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10455207April 13, 2012
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 10 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT GEARS PROPERLY. THE OVER DRIVE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED DURING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE FIRST AND SECOND GEARS OF THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10454209April 5, 2012
POWER TRAIN
O/D OFF LIGHT FLASHING AND SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ON CONSTANT. TRANSMISSION HAS A HARD TIME SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR. IT HAD APPROXIMATELY 140,000 MILES WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENED. I AM NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER SO I AM UNSURE IF THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10453916April 3, 2012
POWER TRAIN
OUT TRANSMISSION ISN'T OUT YET, IT'S ON ITS WAY OUT. WHEN ACCELERATING IT STOPS AT 25-35 MPH AND THE RPM REV UP TO THE RED LIMIT IF YOU DON'T TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE GAS AND IT WONT SWITCH GEARS FOR A MINUTE OR SO. SOMETIMES YOU HEAR A LOUD DROPPING SOUND AND THE ENTIRE CAR JERKS WHEN IT SWITCHES GEARS. THIS FIRST HAPPENED WHEN SPEEDING UP ON A BUSY MAIN ROAD NEAR DETROIT, ALMOST CAUSING US TO BE REAR ENDED. WE TOOK IT TO A TRANSMISSION GARAGE AND WERE INFORMED IT WOULD BE $2,000 OR THERE ABOUTS TO FIX. HAD THE OTHER DRIVER NOT BEEN PAYING ATTENTION OR HAD THIS HAPPENED ON A HIGHWAY MYSELF, MY FIANCE, OUR FOUR CHILDREN WOULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR WORSE. APPARENTLY THE TRANSMISSION IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL OF VEHICLE AND THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE MADE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS BLATANTLY DANGEROUS DEFECT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10453828April 2, 2012
POWER TRAIN
I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER EB AND THIS CAR IS A PIECE OF CRAP AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR THE TRANNY IS SLIPPING LIKE CRAZY AND ITS HARD TO CHANGE FROM PARK TO DRIVE. I HAVE LOOKED IT UP AND THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE AND IT IS A CLOSED TRANNY SO I CANT EVEN CHECK THE FLUID IN IT BUT FORD IS NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THE ISSUE I WILL NEVER OWN A FORD AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10453631March 31, 2012
POWER TRAIN
BEEN JERKY AND JUMPING FOR 2 YEARS BUT TODAY THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT UPSHIFT WHEN STARTING OUT OR DOWN-SHIFT WHEN SLOWING DOWN. THE ENGINE WENT TO HIGH RPM WITH LITTLE OR NO FORWARD PROGRESS.ALL THIS WAS PRECEDED BY THE OVER-DRIVE LIGHT FLASHING ON AND OFF FOLLOWED NEXT BY THE CHECK TRANSMISSION LIGHT. NEXT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE FORUMS ON THIS VEHICLE WILL TELL YOU THAT THIS 6 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ON THE V-8 ENGINES ARE JUST JUNK. WAY TO MANY COMPLAINTS. WILL FORD FIX THIS ON AN OUT OF WARRANTY VEHICLE? AFTER PULLING. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10453447March 29, 2012
POWER TRAIN
THE TRANSMISSION IS HAVING TROUBLE SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD, ENGINE LIGHT AND O/D OFF LIGHTS ARE ON. LOCAL MECHANIC SAYS THAT THE INTERMEDIATE BAND ON THE TRANSMISSION IS BROKEN. THIS IS A SEALED UNIT WITH NO WAY TO SERVICE WITHOUT A REBUILD.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10452655March 22, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED DUE TO A WIRE UNDER THE DASHBOARD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 160,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10452423March 20, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR SHOP WHERE A MECHANIC PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND DETECTED A MALFUNCTION IN THE EMISSIONS CONTROL SYSTEM. THE MANUFACTURER HAD ISSUED A VOLUNTARY RECALL FOR THE EMISSIONS CONTROL SYSTEM HOWEVER, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 161,673.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10452276March 19, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY
BODY MOUNT BUSHINGS COMPLETE FAILURE. ALL MOUNTS FAIL. MOUNTS FALL COMPLETELY APART AND NOTHING LEFT EXCEPT FOR WASHERS AND BOLTS.THIS CAN CAUSES BODY TO MOVE ON FRAME..HAVE MADE FORD MOTOR AWARE BUT NO ACTION TAKEN. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10452034March 16, 2012
POWER TRAIN
MY WIFE STARTED OUR EXPLORER AND TRIED TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND THE GEAR SHIFT HANDLE SNAPPED OFF IN HER HAND. ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED TO MANY OTHER FORD OWNERS! UNBELIEVABLE! SO NOW I HAVE TO HAVE MY VEHICLE TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE THIS "FORD PROBLEM" FIXED! AND ALSO SHELL OUT OVER $1000 DOLLARS JUST SO I CAN GET MY EXPLORER BACK ON THE ROAD!!! AND WHEN I CALLED THE LOCAL FORD GARAGE TO ASK ABOUT THIS DEFECT, THEY ACTED AS IF THIS PROBLEM HAS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE! BS! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10451811March 15, 2012
POWER TRAIN
THE TRANSMISSION IS JUNK. FORD KNOWS THIS. REBUILDING OR REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION IS INEVITABLE...AND NOT JUST ONCE, BECAUSE THERE ARE KNOWN DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING ISSUES THAT WILL ONLY CAUSE THE FAILURES TO REPEAT THEMSELVES. UNLESS THESE FAILURES ARE DEALT WITH, THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE ON THE ROADS WHO ARE AT THE MERCY OF LUCK THAT THE CAR THEY ARE DRIVING OR THE CARS THAT OTHERS ARE DRIVING NEAR THEM WONT STOP DEAD, STOPPING THEM DEAD. HOW IS THIS KNOWN PROBLEM NOT A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE? HAVE YOU COUNTED THE NUMBER OF FORD EXPLORERS ON THE ROAD?? ITS SCARY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10451828March 15, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE PROBLEM IS A SUDDEN CRACKING OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CAUSING SLOW COOLANT LOSS. WHEN THE INTAKE FAILS THE ENGINE COOLANT POURS OUT AND THE ENGINE QUICKLY OVERHEATS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10451593March 14, 2012
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 25 MPH, THE PASSENGER ATTEMPTED TO SECURE THEIR SEATBELT WHEN THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ERRONEOUSLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE AIR BAGS WERE NO LONGER COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE.THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 00V179000(AIR BAGS:SIDE WINDOW) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE RECALL WAS IRRELEVANT TO THE 2002 MODEL YEAR EXPLORER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 144,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10451705March 14, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DUE TO A DEFECT, WE HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED (THANK GOD IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY)...THEN HAD TO HAVE THE DOOR AJAR SENSOR FIXED BECAUSE ALARM KEPT GOING OFF FOR NO REASON. ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO WE WERE ABUT TO GO OUT OF TOWN FOR THANKSGIVING. I STOP AT A RED LIGHT, AND THEN WE TRY TO PULL OFF WHEN THE LIGHT CHANGES AND HEAR THE LOUDEST POPPING NOISES...WE'RE WONDERING HOW IN THE WORLD DID THE SPARK PLUG POP OUT WITH SO MUCH FORCE THAT IT ALSO RIPS THE IGNITION COIL...(FAST FORWARD TO 1YR LATER, SAME THING HAPPENS WHILE LEAVING HOME TO GO TO WORK). ONCE AGAIN, ON MARCH 12, WHILE ON MY WAY TO WORK, SITTING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. LIGHT TURNS GREEN...I START TO PULL OFF AND BEGIN HEARING A POPPING NOISE...WTH...NOT AGAIN!!! (THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED IN 2 YEARS). COME ON FORD...FIX THE LEMONS!!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10451703March 14, 2012
POWER TRAIN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2002 FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSION DIED FOR THE SECOND TIME AFTER I HAD THE DEALERSHIP REPLACE IT, 75,000 MILES AGO. I AM NOW SITTING AT 156000 AND IT IS DOING THE SAME THINGS AGAIN. THIS GIVES ME SUCH A BAD TASTE TOWARD FORD, AND I HAVE BEEN A DIE HARD FORD GUY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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