Ford Explorer Complaints (2002)

3,572 consumer complaints on file.

#10259880February 25, 2009
SUSPENSION:REAR
I TOOK MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER IN FOR NEW TIRES(82K MILES) AND THE MECHANIC TOLD ME ONE OF MY REAR COIL SPRINGS WAS BROKEN IN 3 PLACES. I HADN'T NOTICED ANY "KNOCKING" OR NOISES AS I DROVE MY TRUCK, AND I DON'T USE IT OFF-ROAD OR TAKE IT ANYWHERE WHERE THERE'S GREAT STRESS PUT ON THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM. TO MY KNOWLEDGE THE STRUTS WEREN'T DAMAGED DUE TO THE SPRING FAILING, BUT I DIDN'T HAVE ANOTHER $300 TO REPLACE BOTH REAR SPRINGS AFTER GETTING NEW TIRES. I'VE NOTICED THAT AN ALARMING NUMBER OF PEOPLE ARE SEEING THIS PROBLEM WITH THEIR '02 EXPLORERS. FORD SHOULD BE DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10259974February 25, 2009
SUSPENSION:REAR
I WAS HEARING A LOUD SOUND FROM THE REAR-END, THOUGHT IT WAS THE TIRES SO I REPLACED THEM. BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN BECAUSE I BELIEVE THE BEARINGS WERE GOING, WHICH THEY WERE, AT WHICH TIME THEY STATED THE REAR SPRING WAS SNAPPED. THE CAR IS IN THE SHOP NOW GETTING REPAIRED AND I AM UNSURE HOW THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE I NEVER FELT ANYTHING THAT SEEMED LIKE A SPRING SNAPPING. I WAS ALSO INFORMED BY THE MECHANIC THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN FORDS AND MERCURYS..... *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10259651February 23, 2009
VISIBILITY
1.) MY HEATING DOES NOT WORK. THE AIR CONDITIONER WORKS, HOWEVER, WHEN YOU TURN THE KNOB FOR HEAT, IT MAKES A TICKING SOUND AND NO HEAT. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO SEVERAL GARAGES, 3 IN ALL, WHO HAVE STATES THEY SEE THIS PROBLEM OFTEN WITH MY MODEL FORD EXPLORER XLT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10259722February 23, 2009
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
IT WAS AN EXTREMELY COLD DAY IN WISCONSIN AND MY SON WENT INTO TOWN, WHILE APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT THE GAS PEDAL ACCELERATED. HE APPLIED THE BRAKES AND IT KEPT ON ACCELERATING UNTIL HE SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN ON THE HIGHWAY, ONCE AGAIN THE WEATHER WAS COLD AND THIS TIME HE KEPT TAPPING ON THE ACCELERATOR AND PULLED OVER AND SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF. THIS WAS A FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE, ANY SUGGESTIONS TO RECTIFY THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10259510February 21, 2009
SUSPENSION:REAR
AFTER GETTING MY REAR TIRES REPLACED, THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT I HAD A CRACK IN MY RIGHT REAR SPRING FOR MY SUSPENSION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10259446February 20, 2009
WHEELS
REAR BEARINGS GO OUT ON VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE - NO CRASH OCCURRED, BUT IT VERY WELL COULD HAVE IN HEAVIER TRAFFIC. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10259176February 18, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I LIKE MANY OTHERS WAS JUST INFORMED THAT MY 2002 EXPLORER NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION. IT ONLY HAS 52,000 MILES ON IT. I AM ON A FIXED INCOME, AND BOUGHT THIS CAR BELIEVING THAT IT WOULD LAST ME A LONG TIME IF I TOOK CARE OF IT WHICH I HAVE. I CANNOT AFFORD THIS EXPENSE AND VERY UNHAPPY TO FIND THAT FORD KNOWS OF THIS DEFECT, AND DOES NOTHING ABOUT IT. I AM TRULY BEGINNING TO BELIEVE THAT FORD STANDS FOR FOUND ON ROAD DEAD. THIS CLEARLY INDICATES A "LEMON" PRODUCT TO ME, AND I FEEL THAT THE CONSUMERS ARE THE ONE PAYING FOR THE CEO'S RICH LIFE AT OUR EXPENSE. WHEN IS OUR GOVERNMENT GOING TO LOOK OUT FOR THE PEOPLE WHO FINANCE THIS COUNTRY? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10259244February 18, 2009
WHEELS
I PURCHASED A 2002 EXPLORER NEW LATE IN 2001. EVERY WHEEL BEARING HAS FAILED AND NOW MY PASSENGER FRONT HAS FAILED A SECOND TIME SO I AM ON MY 3RD SET OF WHEEL BEARINGS IF YOU INCLUDE THE FACTORY BEARINGS AND I ONLY HAVE 112K ON THE CAR. THE BEARINGS ARE CLEARLY DEFECTIVE ON THESE CARS AND IF LEFT ALONE ARE ALSO A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10258909February 17, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, SUSPENSION
O/D LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING DIVING ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY - RPM'S RAN AT 3RPM'S NO MATTER WHAT SPEED I TRAVELED. TRANSMISSION SHIFTS VERY HARD AND I AM EXPERIENCING A TERRIBLE CLUNKING NOISE - PIECE OF'!@#$% TRANSMISSION - WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION ACCORDING TO THE DEALER AND I HAVE HEARD IT IS HAPPENING VERY FREQUENTLY WITH THE 2002 EXPLORERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10258790February 16, 2009
SUSPENSION:REAR
LOOKS LIKE THIS IS A FAIRLY COMMON COMPLAINT. I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER, WITH 84K MILES. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT BOTH REAR COILS ARE BROKEN. BASED ON WHAT I AM READING ON MISC BLOG SITES, A GREAT NUMBER OF 2002 FORD EXPLORERS HAVE HAD THESE ISSUES. OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A DEFECT ON THESE REAR COILS AND IT SEEMS LIKE FORD SHOULD STEP UP AND OFFER FREE REPLACEMENTS. I AM GOING TO TRY TO REPLACE MYSELF AS THE GARAGE WANTED $850 FOR THE WORK, BUT, AFTER SEEING THE WORK INVOLVED, I'M NOT WONDERING IF IT MIGHT BE EASIER TO SELL THE TRUCK AND GET A RELIABLE VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10258735February 16, 2009
STEERING
AS I WAS PUTTING MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER IN REVERSE THE SHIFT HANDLE BROKE OFF THE STEERING COLUMN AND IS NOW JUST HANGING BY THE CRUISE CONTROL WIRING. UNLIKE OTHER EXPLORER OWNERS I WAS "LUCKY" ENOUGH TO GET STUCK ON PARK AND NOT DRIVE OR REVERSE WHERE THERE'S A POTENTIAL OF SOMEONE GETTING HURT. AS MANY OTHERS HAVE STATED BEFORE ME, THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT WHICH IF NOT TAKEN SERIOUSLY WILL EVENTUALLY LEAD TO INJURIES AND/OR DEATHS. PLEASE DON'T WAIT UNTIL REPORTS START COMING IN WITH NUMBERS OTHER THAN ZEROS ON THE "NUMBER OF DEATHS" & "NUMBER OF PERSONS INJURED" FIELDS FOR YOU TO HOLD FORD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS. THANK YOU. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10258723February 15, 2009
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS, STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
WE HAVE A FORD EXPLORER XLT 2002. THE REAR WINDOW LIFT GATE WOULD NOT STAY UP ON ITS OWN, SO MY SON PUSHED IT UP, AND THE REAR WINDOW GLASS EXPLODED. HE AND MY HUSBAND RECEIVED MINOR CUTS AND IT CAME VERY CLOSE TO MY SONS EYES. I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND FOUND THAT OTHERS HAD VERY SIMILAR EXPERIENCES AT WWW. CARCOMPLAINTS.COM IN 2004 WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER SECONDARY TO A RECALL REGARDING THE SHOCKS ON THE REAR WINDOW. WE TOOK IT IN AND THEY SUPPOSABLY FIXED IT. I DON'T KNOW WHY IT MY WINDOW EXPLODED, BUT WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IT THE GLASS HAD GOTTEN IN MY SONS EYES WE WILL BE CALLING THE DEALERSHIP IN THE MORNING TO SEE WHAT THEY SAY. BY THE WAY IT IS GOING TO COST 1400 DOLLARS TO GET IT REPAIRED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10258650February 14, 2009
STRUCTURE:BODY
CRACK IN HATCHBACK DIRECTLY BELOW WINDOW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10258554February 13, 2009
STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE
BROKEN TAILGATE PANEL ON EXPLORER MY 2003 AND 2002. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10258428February 12, 2009
STEERING
AS I WAS PUTTING MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER IN PARK THE COLUMN SHIFT HANDLE CAME OFF IN MY HAND. I COULD NOT MOVE THE VEHICLE. I HAD TO HAVE THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN REPLACED. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH AND THIS IS NOT AN UNUSUAL PROBLEM. IN FACT IN SOME CASE IT HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN ONCE TOT HE SAME VEHICLE SO THERE IS NO GUARANTEED PERMANENT SOLUTION. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND I THINK SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE BEFORE SOME GETS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. SOME PEOPLE'S CARS HAVE BEEN STUCK IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. I WAS LUCKY. MY REPAIR PLACE TOLD ME THIS WAS THE SECOND FORD LINCOLN MERCURY WITHIN A MONTH THEY SAW THIS HAPPEN IN. THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS A MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THIS IS AN UNACCEPTABLE SITUATION AND YOU HAVE MANY COMPLAINTS ON YOUR SITE ABOUT THIS SPECIFIC ISSUE. I WOULD SOME ACTION TAKEN NOW. IT IS NOT ONLY INCONVENIENT AND EXPENSIVE, IT IS DANGEROUS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10258488February 12, 2009
SUSPENSION:REAR
AFTER FAILING INSPECTION BECAUSE BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS WERE BROKEN. VEHICLE HAS NEVER TOWED OR CARRIED HEAVY LOADS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10258313February 11, 2009
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, STEERING
I HAVE A FORD EXPLORER SPORT 2 DR. .. I HAVE NOTICED THAT IT LIKES TO SLIDE ALOT ESP. AROUND CORNERS. I ACTUALLY WENT AROUND A CORNER ABOUT NOT EVEN 10 MILES PER HOUR AND LOST CONTROL LUCKILY CARS ON OTHER SIDE STOPPED AHEAD WHEN THEY SAW THIS. I WAS NOT HURT BUT ALMOST HIT A TREE AND TELEPHONE POLE.. ALSO MY HINGES BROKE ON REAR WINDOW LEFT SIDE AND THEY SAID MINE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL!!! OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE AROUND 140.00. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10258332February 11, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING O/D LIGHT STARTED TO FLASH AND CHECK TRANSMISSION LIGHT CAME ON. ORIGINAL OWNER WITH 59K MILES. DEALER STATES I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS TRANSMISSION ONLINE. NHTSA NEEDS TO INVESTIGATE THIS TYPE OF CLOSED SYSTEM TRANSMISSION DESIGN. LOSS OF DRIVE POWER DURING ENTRY TO HIGHWAY OR LANE CHANGES COULD RESULT IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10258360February 11, 2009
SUSPENSION:FRONT, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE VIBRATED EXCESSIVELY. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND REMAINED LIT UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE DRIVER PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL BEARING WAS CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. RECENTLY, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL BEARING EXHIBITED A CRACK. IN ADDITION, THE OVERDRIVE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY. ALSO, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR. THE MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10258234February 10, 2009
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE
MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT CURRENTLY HAS 79,000 MILES. LOUD GRINDING NOISES COULD BE HEARD AND A GRABBING SENSATION COULD BE FELT FROM THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE. I THOUGHT THE TIRES WERE CUPPED SO I PURCHASED NEW TIRES AND HAD THE VEHICLE ALIGNED. THE NOISE WAS STILL EVIDENT. A CERTIFIED MECHANIC STATED TO ME THAT BOTH REAR WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED AND THEY NEED TO BE REPAIRED. ALONG WITH THAT, HE STATED MY DIFFERENTIAL NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED. LASTLY, BOTH REAR COIL SHOCKS WERE BROKE INTO PIECES. I HAD THEM REPLACED AT 78,500. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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