Ford Explorer Complaints (2002)

3,572 consumer complaints on file.

#10279411August 4, 2009
SUSPENSION:REAR
AFTER HEARING SEVERAL DIFFERENT NOISES COMING FROM THE EXPLORER, I TOOK IT IN TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. I WAS TOLD THAT THE FRONT STRUTS WERE BROKEN AND NEEDED REPLACED. I PAID TO HAVE THOSE REPLACED. AFTER LEAVING, I CONTINUED TO HEAR A SECOND NOISE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT AGAIN. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULDN'T FIND ANY PROBLEM. AFTER ANOTHER WEEK I DIDN'T HEAR THE NOISE ANYMORE. I THEN STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH A CHUGGING OCCURRING IN THE ENGINE. WHILE HAVING THIS SERVICED, I WAS TOLD THAT THE REAR SPRINGS WERE BROKEN AND THE STRUTS ALSO NEED REPLACED. THE FIRST ESTIMATE FOR THE REAR SPRINGS AND STRUTS WAS $780! SO FAR ON THE 2002 EXPLORER I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT (50K MILES), OD SENSOR REPLACED (45K MILES), ABS SENSOR REPLACED (45K MILES), REAR CONTROL ARM REPLACED (75K MILES), FRONT STRUTS (78K MILES), AND REAR LATCH REPLACED (RECALL). THE EMERGENCY BRAKE (75K MILES) ALSO NEEDED REPLACED. WHEN THE CONTROL ARM WAS REPLACED, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE CRUMBLED APART. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT I AM LUCKILY THE BROKEN SPRING DID NOT PIERCE THE TIRE AND CAUSE A BLOWOUT. THE SPRINGS/STRUTS AND THE TRANSMISSION ARE COMMON PROBLEMS AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. BETWEEN PAYING OUT OF POCKET AND THE ISSUES COVERED BY AN AFTER MARKET WARRANTY, OVER $5000 HAVE BEEN SPENT ON A VEHICLE 7 YEARS OLD WITH ONLY 79000 MILES. THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER TOWED ANYTHING OR BEEN DRIVEN OFF ROAD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10278825July 30, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF 2002 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED. I'VE HAD TWO FORD VEHICLES BLOW A SPARK PLUG THIS YEAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10278377July 27, 2009
SUSPENSION:REAR
I WAS CHANGING THE REAR BRAKES ON MY MOTHERS 2002 FORD EXPLORER AND FOUND THAT THE LEFT REAR COIL SPRING WAS BROKEN IN 2 PLACES AND CRACKED QUITE SOME DISTANCE THROUGH THE CENTER OF THE SPRING. I LOOKED ONLINE TO SEE IF THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND IT TURNS OUT IT IS A HUGE PROBLEM. THE FIRST LINK I CLICKED ON LEAD ME TO A FORUM WITH 92 THREADS WERE PEOPLE HAVE HAD BROKEN SPRINGS ON THEIR 2002 EXPLORER. THIS IS CLEARLY A WIDESPREAD ISSUE. I DO HAVE THE OLD SPRING, BUT AM MISSING ONE PART BECAUSE IT MUST HAVE FALLEN OUT WHILE DRIVING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10278429July 27, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
FAULTY TRANSMISSION. WAS REPLACED AT 58,049 MILES WITH A RE-MANUFACTURED ONE DIRECT FROM FORD. 85,374 MILES AND IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. LESS THAN 20 DAYS AFTER THE THREE YEAR WARRANTY, BUT MILEAGE IS STILL UNDER. THIS MADE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE, AND WAS DANGEROUS WHEN DRIVING IN TRAFFIC ON THE INTERSTATE. I HAVE TWO SMALL CHILDREN THAT RIDE IN THIS VEHICLE AND DO NOT APPRECIATE THAT THIS HAS BEEN A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE MODEL YEAR, THERE IS A PART OF THE SOLENOID THAT COULD LITERALLY BLOW A HOLE IN THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH COULD CAUSE A VEHICLE FIRE, AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO HOLD FORD ACCOUNTABLE BY OUR GOVERNMENT. WE WANT PEOPLE TO BUY AMERICAN, YET AREN'T HOLDING THE MANUFACTURERS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE QUALITY OF THE PRODUCTS THEY PUT OUT, NOR WILL THEY THEMSELVES STAND BEHIND A KNOWN ISSUE AND MAKE IT RIGHT FOR THE THOUSANDS OF CONSUMERS THAT GAVE THEM OUR HARD EARNED MONEY AND PURCHASED FROM THEM. I'VE OWNED FIVE OTHER BRANDS OF VEHICLES, WHICH HAD MORE MILEAGE ON ALL OF THEM THAN I CURRENTLY HAVE ON THIS VEHICLE, AND NEVER HAD ISSUES WITH A TRANSMISSION ON ANY OF THEM. YOU ASK SEVERAL QUESTIONS BELOW RELATING TO FIRE, DAMAGE, CRASH, DEATH OR INJURIES. IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE A FIRE OR CRASH OCCURS BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. A FAULTY TRANSMISSION COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IN HEAVY TRAFFIC BECAUSE OF NON-PERFORMANCE, NOT TO MENTION THAT THE NOISE IT MADE WAS VERY SCARY AND I'M LUCKY THAT NOISE ALONE DID NOT CAUSE ME TO LOSE FOCUS AND HAVE AN ACCIDENT. THE GOVERNMENT JUST PROVIDED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN "BAIL-OUT" MONEY TO THIS COMPANY (AGAIN - CONSUMER'S HARD EARNED MONEY). PERHAPS IF THEY PUT OUT A HIGHER QUALITY PRODUCT AND STOOD BEHIND IT THEIR SALES WOULD'VE BEEN BETTER AND WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO GIVE THEM MORE MONEY TO KEEP SELLING US PRODUCTS THAT ARE NOT OF THE QUALITY I EXPECT FROM AMERICAN MADE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10278463July 27, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANNY SLIPS ON 2002 FORD EXPLORER HAD MY KIDS IN CAR DID NOT ACCELERATE ALMOST GOT HIT IN AN INTERSECTION. CHANGED SOLENOID WAS GOOD FOR COUPLE MONTHS THEN STARTED SLIPPING AND MAKING CLUNKING NOISE NEW TRANNY COST ME $2400 @ YRS LATER STARTING AGAIN WITH THE BLINKING O/D LITE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10278202July 24, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
BEING DOING SOME RESEARCH ONLINE ABOUT THE "O/D" LIGHT BLINKING ON MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER. FROM WHAT I FOUND, THE RESULTS HAVE BEEN ASTOUNDING. EVERY ISSUE I FOUND ON BLINKING O/D IN MY RESEARCH LED TO HAVING TO REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION; AVG. COSTS BEING AROUND $2600. EVEN AFTER THE REPAIRS, THEY STATE THAT THE ISSUES STILL CONTINUE AND SPEND OVER $1000 ON SOMETHING ELSE THE DEALERS SAY IS WRONG. ONE SITE, AUTOBEEF.COM, HAD APPROXIMATELY 740 COMPLAINTS (I STOPPED READING AFTER 150) ON THIS ISSUE. BEFORE I PAY OUT OVER $3000, I JUST WANT TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS ISSUE PLAGUING THE 2002 FORD EXPLORER LINE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10277967July 22, 2009
SUSPENSION:REAR
I TOOK MY CAR TO HAVE THE TIRES REPLACED. WHEN THE MECHANIC PUT THE CAR ON THE LIFT HE INFORMED ME THAT BOTH OF MY REAR SPRINGS WERE CRUMBLING. ONE OF THE SPRINGS WAS BROKEN IN 3 PLACES, THE OTHER WAS BROKEN IN TWO PLACES. THE MECHANIC CLAIMS IN HIS 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE HE HAS NEVER SEEN A BROKEN SPRING AT 51,000 MILES, WHEN THE VEHICLE IS ONLY USED AS A FAMILY CAR AND HAD NOT BEEN A RESULT OF AN ACCIDENT. HE SAID HOW LUCKY I WAS THAT THE SPRING DID NOT COME APART KILLING MYSELF AND MY FAMILY ON THE HIGHWAY. WE CONTACTED FORD, HOPING THAT THEY HAD RECALLED THIS FAULT AFTER WE SAW HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET. FORD SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL AND WE WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRS. THIS REPAIR IS GOING TO COST OVER $500. I GUESS IT IS A SMALL PRICE WHEN MY FAMILY COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. I AM HOPING THE GOVERNMENT CAN CONTACT ALL FORD EXPLORER CUSTOMER TO WARN THEM OF THIS PROBLEM AND HOPEFULLY PREVENT A CERTAIN DEATH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10277098July 17, 2009
TIRES
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE VEHICLE HAS CONTINENTAL SPORTIVA TIRES, SIZE 275-60-R17 (NA). WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE TIRES WERE NOT BALANCED PROPERLY. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE HAD A BUBBLE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT HE WAS SOLD AN OLD TIRE. THE TIRE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 140,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10277158July 17, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON AND CHECK GAS CAP INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHUT OFF. IN ADDITION, THE GAS TANK WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO FILL UP WHILE PLACING FUEL IN THE TANK. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THESE ISSUES. HE FEELS THAT IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD FOR THE VEHICLE TO SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 171,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10277163July 17, 2009
STRUCTURE:BODY, VISIBILITY
DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, NO DEBRIS, AND OUR SUNROOF EXPLODED. AS THE SCREEN WAS CLOSED NO INJURIES, BUT POTENTIAL FOR CUT AND EYE INJURIES BY RAZOR SHARP GLASS. NO ONE BEHIND US AFFECTED. HUGE NOISE VERY STARTLING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10276791July 14, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2002 FORD EXPLORER HAS SHIFTING ISSUE AS A RESULT OF TRANSMISSION NOT WORKING PROPERLY. OCCURS RANDOM WHEN ACCELERATING FROM STOP AT LIGHTS OR PULLING INTO INTERSECTION. HAVE BEEN TO 2 DIFFERENT MECHANICS AND REPAIRED ONCE AND HAS STARTED TO OCCUR AGAIN ALTHOUGH MECHANICS STATE DO NOT NEED REPAIRED AND SHOWS NO CODES. ALSO, THE FLUID CANNOT BE CHECKED FROM UNDER THE HOOD AS IT IS LOCATED UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. EACH OIL CHANGE I HAVE THEM CHECK AND THE LEVEL IS OK. SINCE HAPPENS RANDOMLY DOES NOT ALWAYS HAPPEN WHEN THE MECHANICS LOOK AT THE VEHICLE. HAS BEEN FRUSTRATING SINCE VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT NEW AND TAKEN CARE OF WITH ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. ALL MECHANICS ARE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND JUST STATE TO DRIVE IT UNTIL IT FAILS COMPLETELY AND NEEDS A REBUILD OR SELL IT BEFORE THE REBUILD IS NEEDED. EACH TIME IT OCCURS USUALLY THERE IS NOT AN ISSUE JUST A HESITATION WITH A SLOW ACCELERATION. ALTHOUGH, SEVERAL TIMES THIS HAS OCCURRED RECENTLY WHEN PULLING OR MERGING INTO TRAFFIC NEARLY CAUSING ACCIDENTS WITH THE WIFE AND KIDS IN THE CAR. FROM ALL INFO I HAVE SEEN AND BASED ON EXPERIENCED MECHANICS THEY FEEL THERE WERE DESIGN FLAWS IN THESE 2002 VEHICLE TRANSMISSIONS. THEY ALL RECOMMEND EITHER TO SELL THE VEHICLE OR BE PREPARED TO DRIVE UNTIL THEY COMPLETELY FAIL AND NEED REBUILT. SOME STATE THEY HAVE WORKED ON THESE VEHICLES AND THAT I AM ACTUALLY LUCKY THAT I HAVE ONLY HAD THESE PROBLEMS AS MANY OF THEIR CUSTOMERS HAVE HAD ACCIDENTS AND ISSUES THROUGH OUT THEIR ENTIRE OWNERSHIP OF THE VEHICLE. WE HAVE ONLY HAD THIS ISSUE FOR APPROX THE LAST 2-3 YEARS SINCE PURCHASED NEW IN 2002. ALTHOUGH, A NEAR COLLISION WITH MY FAMILY AND ANOTHER VEHICLE FROM THIS ISSUE IS A SERIOUS CONCERN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10276383July 11, 2009
STEERING
2002 FORD EXPLORER APPROX.77,000 MILES SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE GEAR SHIFTER BROKE OF AT THE BASE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BE STUCK IN REVERSE. AFTER CONTACTING FORD HEADQUARTERS WAS INFORMED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET. THE DEALERSHIP CHARGES SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS TO REPAIR BECAUSE THE WHOLE STEERING COLUMN HAS TO BE REPLACED. PART IS CURRENTLY ON ORDER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10276398July 11, 2009
SUSPENSION:REAR
WHEN IN A FORD DEALERSHIP FOR LUBE, OIL & FILTER CHANGE, THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS WERE BROKEN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10276310July 10, 2009
SUSPENSION:REAR
REAR COIL SPRINGS FAILED ON 2002 FORD EXPLORER. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 4,100 MILES ON IT. THIS WAS FOUND WHILE OIL WAS BEING CHANGED AT THE DEALER. IT APPEARS THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. FORD NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE WITH THIS MANY VEHICLES HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. NOW I'M FACING A 500.00 REPAIR BILL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10276343July 10, 2009
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHEN THE CONTACT LIFTED THE HATCH ON THE VEHICLE, THE GLASS STUART BRACKETS POPPED OFF AND CUT HIS HEAD AND WRIST. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS FAILURE. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 139,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10275752July 4, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT 4.0L V6 AND WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST THAT AN INVESTIGATION LAUNCHED INTO THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION. THE OTHER DAY, AS I WAS TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, THE O/D OFF INDICATOR BEGAN BLINKING AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE CHECK ENGINE SOON INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON. IN DOING MY RESEARCH, AFTER READING NUMEROUS ONLINE COMPLAINTS RELATED TO THIS ISSUE, I HAVE CHOSEN TO SEEK YOUR ASSISTANCE AS A MEANS TO HELP OFFSET THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS WIDE-SPREAD, VERY WELL KNOWN AND DOCUMENTED PROBLEM. BASICALLY, THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REBUILT OR REPLACED, AT COSTS THAT RANGE FROM $2,000 TO $4,000. *TR THANK YOU!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10275717July 3, 2009
AIR BAGS
ISSUE IS WITH THE AIRBAG WARNING LAMP COMING ON AND DISABLING THE AIRBAG SYSTEM IN A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. PER THE ERROR CODE LFC 34 THE ISSUE IS THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT PRETENSIONER, THOUGH THIS ALSO HAPPENS WITH THE DRIVER SIDE. THERE IS CURRENTLY A TSB OUT ARTICLE NO 03-11-3. FOR MY VEHICLE THE REPLACEMENT PART# IS 1L2Z-78610E22-AAC. THIS FAILURE IS CURRENT EVERYTHING THE VEHICLE IS TURNED ON. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10275603July 2, 2009
SUSPENSION:REAR
WHILE ROTATING THE TIRES ON MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER I FOUND THAT BOTH REAR SPRINGS ARE BROKEN. I BELIEVE THIS IS CAUSED DUE TO SUB STANDARD MATERIALS AS MY CAR HAS NEVER BEEN USED FOR OFF ROAD OR TOWING. MY CAR HAS ONLY 62,000 MILES. BOTH SPRINGS AND STRUTS WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10275277June 29, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER STOPPED WORKING AT APROX. 95000 MILES ,JUST LIKE THE HUNDREDS OF OTHER EXPLORERS IN 2002 HAVE AND FORD REFUSES TO RECALL THE VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10275169June 28, 2009
WHEELS
I HAD BEEN TOLD THAT MY DRIVERS SIDE BEARING WAS GOING BAD AND HAD IT FIXED AND MY CAR WAS STILL MAKING A FUNNY NOISE BUT WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC THAT IT WAS MY BRAKES GOING BAD AND THAT THEY WOULD NEED REPLACED, SO WE WENT AND BOUGHT BRAKES AND ROTORS TO PUT ON OURSELVES. AS WE WERE PUTTING THEM ON WE NOTICED THAT MY WHEEL WAS CLOSE TO FALLING OFF!!! NOW WE HAVE TO REPLACE THE BEARING IN THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR AND ALSO THE AXEL SHAFT. WHAT IF MY WHEEL HAD CAME OFF AND KILLED MY 3 SMALL CHILDREN AND MY HUSBAND AND I? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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