Ford Explorer Complaints (2002)

3,572 consumer complaints on file.

#10364254November 6, 2010
STRUCTURE:BODY
BODY MOUNT BUSHINGS HAVE DETERIORATED. THE CAR IS ONLY 8 YRS OLD. I LOOKED TODAY AFTER HEARING A CRACKING/POPPING NOISE AND THE DRIVERS' SIDE FRONT BUSHING (THERE ARE TWO ON EACH SO, TECHNICALLY, BUSHINGS) ARE ALMOST COMPLETELY GONE. THE PASSENGER SIDE AND 2 MIDDLE MOUNT BUSHINGS ARE ALSO CRACKED AND DETERIORATING. I HAVE CONFIRMED THAT THIS IS EXCEEDINGLY PREMATURE AND ESSENTIALLY UNHEARD OF IN CARS THIS AGE. IN FACT, I'VE BEEN TOLD IN CARS 20 YRS OLD THAT OFTEN THE BUSHINGS ARE STILL FINE. EARLY DETERIORATION IS UNSAFE AND, APPARENTLY, NOT UNCOMMON IN THESE TRUCKS. THUS, I WANTED TO REPORT IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10364191November 5, 2010
SEATS
ON 8/15/09, [XXX]WAS OPERATING HIS 2002 FORD EXPLORER IN HOUSTON, TX WHEN THE EXPLORER WAS STRUCK FROM THE REAR BY A PICKUP TRUCK. DURING THE COLLISION, [XXX]SEAT BACK COLLAPSED AND, ALTHOUGH HE HAD BEEN WEARING HIS SEAT BELT, HE WAS EJECTED THROUGH BROKEN-OUT REAR WINDOW GLAZING. [XXX] SUSTAINED MULTIPLE BLUNT FORCE INJURIES FROM WHICH HE DIED. THE SEAT BACK IN THE 2002 EXPLORER IS ATTACHED TO A RECLINER MECHANISM ON EACH SIDE OF THE SEAT. THE RECLINER MECHANISMS ARE ATTACHED TO THE SEAT CUSHION FRAME BY SPIRAL COIL PINS. WHEN THE EXPLORER WAS STRUCK FROM THE REAR, THE VEHICLE MOVED FORWARD IN RELATION TO [XXX] BODY, CAUSING HIS BODY TO LOAD THE DRIVER'S SEAT BACK. AS THIS OCCURRED, THE FORCE OF THE SEAT BACK BEING MOVED REARWARD BY [XXX] BODY CAUSED THE RECLINER MECHANISMS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE SEATS TO MOVE FORWARD; AS THEY DID SO, THEY CONTACTED THE SPIRAL COIL PINS, AND FRACTURED THOSE PINS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE SEAT. WHEN THE SPIRAL COIL PINS FAILED, THE SEAT BACK COLLAPSED ONTO THE REAR SEAT CUSHION, AND [XXX] WAS EJECTED INTO THE CARGO AREA OF THE EXPLORER AND THEN OUT OF THE REAR WINDOW GLAZING. [XXX] SUFFERED MUTLIPLE BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA INJURIES, WHICH TOOK HIS LIFE. UPON INVESTIGATION, INCLUDING COMPARISON OF A NUMBER OF OTHER, EXEMPLAR DRIIVER'S SEATS FROM 2002 EXPLORERS, IT HAS BECOME CLEAR THAT THE SPIRAL COIL PINS ARE DEFECTIVELY INSTALLED IN MANY EXPLORER SEATS. THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT IS MANIFESTED BY THE SPIRAL COIL PINS BEING INSERTED THROUGH MATING HOLES ON THE SEAT CUSHION FRAME TO INCONSISTENT DEPTHS, WHICH CAN CAUSE THE PINS NOT TO SEAT PROPERLY IN THOSE HOLES. IN THE CASE OF [XXX], BECAUSE THE SPIRAL COIL PINS WERE NOT INSERTED FAR ENOUGH INTO THE MATING HOLES WHEN MANUFACTURED, THE PINS ON HIS SEAT WERE FRACTURED BY THE RECLINER MECHANISMS AND FAILED TO HOLD HIS SEAT BACK UPRIGHT IN THE COLLISION. THIS FAILURE MECHANISM IN THE PINS ALLOWED FOR [XXX]EJECTION. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
1
#10363962November 4, 2010
AIR BAGS, EQUIPMENT
I AM SO DISGUSTED AFTER READING ALL THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE 2002 FORD EXPLORER. I TOO HAVE THE AIRBAG PROBLEM, THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE AIRBAG PRETENTIONER AND IT IS $650.00, NOW MY AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IF I GET INTO AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE THE EXTENDED DELUXE WARRANTY THAT WONT COVER IT. I ALSO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE REAR TEMP AND MODE ACTUATORS THAT FAILED AND BINDING AGAIN NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY THAT IS $510.00 TO REPAIR. I TRULY THINK FORD SHOULD RECALL THESE SAME PROBLEMS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10363933November 3, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO THIRD GEAR. THE CONTACT NOTICED A RECALL FOR THE POWER TRAIN TRANSMISSION. DUE TO THE VIN THE VEHICLE WAS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD EXTEND THE RECALL TO MORE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS SINCE THIS WAS A KNOWN SAFETY ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10363948November 3, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, EQUIPMENT
TRANSMISSION ON MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER FAILED FOR THE 2ND TIME IN 2009 OF DECEMBER. I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THIS HAPPEN AND COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10363684November 2, 2010
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
WHILE RAISING THE GLASS SECTION OF THE LIFTGATE ON MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER, THE LEFT STRUT BECAME DISENGAGED, AND THE BACK GLASS EXPLODED. WE WERE VERY LUCKY THAT NO ONE WAS HURT, AS MY BROTHER LITERALLY HAD THE GLASS IN HIS HANDS WHEN IT EXPLODED, AND MY DAUGHTER AND I WERE STANDING RIGHT NEXT TO HIM. PLEASE NOTE, THE GLASS DID NOT MERELY SHATTER. IT EXPLODED. I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE FROM CARMAX LAST YEAR, AND FOUND THAT THERE WERE A COUPLE OF RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE THAT HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN CARE OF, ONE OF WHICH INCLUDED THE REPLACEMENT OF THE STRUT BRACKETS AND HINGES ON THE LIFTGATE. UPON REVIEWING MY SERVICE INVOICE, I FOUND THAT ONLY THE LIFTGATE HINGES WERE REPLACED; THE STRUT BRACKETS WERE NOT. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP WHO PERFORMED THE RECALL SERVICE ORIGINALLY, AND THEY NOTIFIED FORD. FORD CLAIMED THAT THE STRUTS HAD BEEN REPLACED IN 2002 ~ WHICH WAS TWO YEARS BEFORE THE RECALL EVEN OCCURRED. THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT COVER ANY OF THE REPAIR. HOW DO I KNOW THAT FAULTY STRUTS WERE NOT INSTALLED IN 2002, SINCE THE RECALL DIDN'T EVEN OCCUR UNTIL 2 YEARS LATER? I HAVE READ OTHER COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THIS, AND IT IS AMAZING THAT FORD GETS AWAY WITH THIS! THIS IS MY LAST FORD, THAT'S FOR SURE! THIS IS MY SECOND EXPLORER, AND I HAVE BEEN A VERY LOYAL CUSTOMER, BUT NO MORE! FORD DOES NOT STAND BEHIND IT'S PRODUCT AND THEY APPARENTLY DO NOT CARE ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THEIR CUSTOMERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10363751November 2, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE FORD EXPLORER 2002 O/D LIGHT IS BLINKING AND HAVING PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10363454November 1, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
FORD EXPLORER WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF 2ND GEAR. THE VEHICLE IS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT WITH 4.0 L V-6, AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. TOOK IN TO MY MECHANIC AND HE ADVISED ME TO TAKE IT TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP SINCE THE READOUT FAULT CODES INDICATED MAJOR FAILURE. VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 80,000 MILES AND HAS BEEN WELL TAKEN CARE OF SINCE IT WAS NEW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10362940October 29, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION IS FAILING IN MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER 4X4. A LOCAL TRANSMISSION SHOP CONFIRMED THAT MY FEAR THAT THE GEARS WERE NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY WAS DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION FAILING. IT WILL COST $2400 TO $2800 TO REPAIR. BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION IS SEALED IT WILL COST EXTRA. ONLY THROUGH THE FIRST HALF OF THE YEAR OF 2002 WERE THE EXPLORERS MADE WITH THIS TRANSMISSION AND MINE WAS MANUFACTURED IN MAY 2001. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10362435October 26, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON 2002 FORD EXPLORER IN 2007 AT 88,000 MILES AND 2010 AT 140,000 MILES. FIRST TIME OD LIGHT CAME ON, I DROVE IT HOME 3 MILES AND THEN WAS NOT DRIVEABLE. SECOND TIME NO WARNING OR LIGHT AND IT SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR AS I WAS CROSSING THE BOULEVARD. ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION AND REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION ARE NOT QUALITY AND FAILED. FIRST TIME I WAS ON THE FREEWAY AND ABLE TO COAST HOME AND THE SECOND TIME CROSSING A BOULEVARD WHEN IT SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR. IT'S AS IF FORD PUT ON DISPOSABLE PARTS FOR CONSUMERS TO REPLACEMENT EVERY SEVERAL YEARS CONVENIENTLY AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRES. I SPENT OVER $5,600 THE FIRST TIME AND OVER $3,400 THE SECOND TIME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10362181October 25, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING,CLUNKING AND THE O/D LIGHT IS FLASHING. JUST PAID THIS PIECE OF JUNK OFF AND NOW WAITING TO HERE FROM THE DEALER WHERE WE BOUGHT IT FOR THAT OH FAMILIAR QUOTE OF 3000 TO 4000 TO FIX. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10362266October 25, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAD ISSUES SHIFTING GEARS AND WHEN SHE WOULD TURN CORNERS, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHIFT OUT OF GEAR. OTHER TIMES, SHE HAD ISSUES SHIFTING INTO DRIVE AND MOVING FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED IN 2008 AT A REPAIR SHOP. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. WHEN THE CONTACT PLACED THE VEHICLE IN PARK (WITH THE ENGINE ON) AND WENT INTO A STORE, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND HIT A BUILDING AND THEN MOVED BACK AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT A COMPONENT OF THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD NOT ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO LOCK INTO GEAR. THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPAIRED. HOWEVER, AFTER THE REPAIR, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 140,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000. UPDATED 10/21/11*LJ
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10362304October 25, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT IN 2005. WE'VE ONLY AVERAGED ABOUT 10,000 MILES PER YEAR SINCE THE REBUILD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10361677October 22, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION DOES NOT ENGAGE WHEN PUT IN DRIVE UNTIL 3000 RPMS. I WAS PULLING OUT IN TRAFFIC AND WAS ALMOST HIT BY ANOTHER CAR BECAUSE MINE WAS NOT ENGAGING TO MOVE THE CAR. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON ON THE 2002 FORD EXPLORER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10361765October 22, 2010
SEAT BELTS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE. THE DEALER STATED THAT IT WAS THE SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER. THE FIRST THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY; YET, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY RISK. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24963 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10361781October 22, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION IN 2002 FORD EXPLORER - KNOWN PROBLEM OF MANY VEHICLES MADE MY FORD ESPECIALLY THIS MODEL/YEAR. BUT NO RECALLS OR HELP IN FIXING THIS PROBLEM. HAD TO REPLACE MINE COSTING $2600 IN PARTS AND LABOR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10361495October 21, 2010
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
HEATER FAILED CAUSING WINDOWS TO "FOG" OVER AND DECREASED ABILITY TO SEE OUT WINDSHIELD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10361615October 21, 2010
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE OVERDRIVE WARNING LIGHT WOULD CONTINUOUSLY FLASH. THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR SPORADICALLY WHETHER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OVER DRIVE OR NOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN PLACED IN PARK, THE VEHICLE WOULD CONTINUE TO ROLL FURTHER THAN USUAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE OR GENERATE A FAILURE CODE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10361428October 20, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TROUBLE REMOVING VEHICLE FROM PARK ON INCLINE OVER FEW WEEK PERIOD. TRANSMISSION CHANGING GEARS IN ROUGH MANNER OVER A FEW DAY PERIOD. OD LIGHT FLASHING DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING AND THEN ODOR OF SOMETHING BURNING ON OCTOBER 10, 2010. DIAGNOSED AS "FRIED TRANSMISSION" BY DEALER. COST TO REPLACE $3887 PLUS $125 FOR DIAGNOSIS. NOT YET REPAIRED - DECIDING OUR NEXT ACTION. VEHICLE PURCHASED NEW, ALWAYS MAINTAINED ACCORDING TO DEALER RECOMMENDATIONS. VEHICLE NEVER ABUSED, ONLY TOWED VERY LIGHT UTILITY AND SNOWMOBILE TRAILERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10361030October 18, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE RPMS WOULD RISE WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. BECAUSE OF THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN TWO ACCIDENTS. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AS A RESULT. NO POLICE REPORTS WERE FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP SO THE DEALER COULD INSPECT THE BRAKES BUT THE DEALER COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 43,500. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Ford Explorer