Ford Explorer Complaints (2002)
3,572 consumer complaints on file.
- #10854826April 11, 2016UNKNOWN OR OTHER
REAR PANEL CRACKED WITHOUT COLLISION OR INCIDENT REAR GLASS OF LIFT GATE EXPLODED UPON CLOSING IN MY DRIVEWAY, WHILE PARKED, ON SATURDAY 4/9/201 I KNEW NOTHING OF A PENDING CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT OR THE DEFECT BEING COMPLAINED ABOUT BY SO MANY EXPLORER OWNS FROM THE YEARS OF 2002-2005 FORD CHANGED THE PROBLEM PIECE AFTER 2005 HOWEVER THEY NEVER RECALLED THE LIFT GATE OR REAR PANEL INSURANCE WILL NOT COVER IT FORD WILL NOT RECALL OR REPLACE IT THERE IS GLASS EVERYWHERE AND I DO NOT HAVE 500+ DOLLARS TO REPLACE IT. THIS WAS A DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE REPLACED BY FORD!
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10853758April 6, 2016STRUCTURE:BODY, POWER TRAIN
MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER 4.6L IS HAVING MAJOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AT ONLY 110K MILES. IT HESITATES SHIFTING GEARS AND SLIPS WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE ALSO STALLS WHEN STOPPING AT A RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN. IT HAS THE INFAMOUS CRACK DOWN THE BACK HATCH. BOTH ARE PROBLEMS THOUSANDS OF CUSTOMERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT YET FORD DOES NOTHING. THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM IS A VERY EXPENSIVE COST TO REPAIR AND IT SHOULDN'T BE THE CUSTOMERS RESPONSIBILITY WHEN FORD KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10853500April 5, 2016POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS SHIFTED INTO THE PARK POSITION, THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE SHIFTED. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE FOUR WHEEL GEARS SHIFTED AGAIN. THE CONTACT ACTIVATED THE GEAR BUTTONM BUT IT DID NOT WORK. THE VEHICLE MANAGED TO PLACE ITSELF BACK INTO DRIVE GEAR. THE WARNING LIGHTS DID NOT ILLUMINATE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,819.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10853526April 5, 2016POWER TRAIN
AS I WAS OUT DRIVING ONE DAY, I PULLED OFF FROM A GREEN LIGHT AND OUT OF NOWHERE THE "SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT" AND THE "O/D LIGHT" BOTH TURNED ON AT THE SAME TIME. AT THE SAME TIME I NOTICED THAT THE TRUCK BEGAN TO SHIFT VERY POORLY COMING OUT OF 1ST AND 2ND GEAR. IT IS NOW TO THE POINT WHERE THERE IS A REALLY LOUD "CLUNK" EVERY TIME THE TRUCK SHIFTS, ESPECIALLY IN THE LOWER GEARS AND WHEN PUTTING THE TRUCK IN REVERSE. I PULLED OVER TO ENSURE THAT IT WASN'T SOMETHING I HAD DONE AND IT WASN'T! I LET THE CAR SIT FOR A FEW HOURS HOPING THAT WOULD CLEAR THE ISSUE, BUT NO LUCK! AFTER MUCH RESEARCH ON THE PROBLEM THIS IS A VERY WELL KNOWN PROBLEM BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO RESOLVE IT FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE JUST UNDER A MONTH AGO AND ALREADY I'M LOOKING AT $2,000 TO PUT IN A NEW TRANSMISSION. WELL AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE I CAN NOT AFFORD TO FIX FORD'S MISTAKE!!! THIS IS A CLEAR DEFECT OF A FORD PRODUCT AND AFTER SPENDING MY HARD EARNED MONEY ON ONE OF THEIR PRODUCTS I EXPECT MUCH BETTER FROM THEM! EVEN AFTER SPENDING $2,000 ON ANOTHER TRANSMISSION, IT IS A SURE FACT THAT IT IS ONLY INEVITABLE THAT THIS PROBLEM WILL HAPPEN AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN TO ANYONE WHO PURCHASES A 2003 FORD EXPLORER! IF I AND I'M SURE ANYONE ELSE WOULD'VE KNOWN THIS FACT, I'M POSITIVE; FORD WOULD HAVE NOT SOLD AS MANY MODELS. CAN WE SAY BAMBOOZLED AND TAKEN FOR MY MONEY BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY! PLEASE HELP US CUSTOMERS OUT AND DEMAND A RECALL ON THESE POORLY BUILT COMPONENTS THEY MASS PRODUCED AND STUCK INSIDE A WIDELY MARKETED AND SOLD VEHICLE. HOW WOULD YOU FEEL IF YOU AND YOUR INFANT CHILD WAS DRIVING AND OUT OF NOWHERE...BOOM...ANOTHER $2,000 YOU DO NOT HAVE FOR ANOTHER POORLY BUILT FORD TRANSMISSION SMH... ## VIN FAILED ## [XXX] ## 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
- #10852382March 30, 2016ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WENT TO A AUTO REPAIR SHOP AND WAS GIVEN OEM CODE P0442 (EVAPORATIVE EMISSION SYSTEM). THE SCENT OF GAS WAS PRESENT. I CHANGED THE FUEL CAP AND ISSUE STILL REMAINS. GAS FUEL TANK VAPOR VENT CHECK VALVE IS DEFECTIVE AND MUST BE REPLACED.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10850487March 18, 2016ENGINE
TURNED CAR ON TO DRIVE IT WOULD NOT START AFTER SEVER RAINFALLS UNTIL FINALLY WHEN I DID THE LAST TIME AFTER A JUMP, BATTERY NEW. IT STARTED TO MAKE THIS AWFUL NOISE LIKE A CLANKING SOUND LIKE A CHAIN SOUND. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND HE DID NOT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS, CALLED A MOBILE MECHANIC AND HE SAID THE SAME THING SAID IT COULD BE A VALVE OR PISTON PROBLEM. FROM WHAT I HEAR SOUNDS LIKE A CHAIN. BEFORE THIS HAPPENING THE REAR WINDOW REGULATORS FOR THE REAR PASSENGER WINDOWS RIGHT AND LEFT SIDES BROKE. HAD LEFT SIDE FIXED RIGHT SIDE NOT FIXED, GLASS STILL HELD WITH A BOARD INSIDE DOOR.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10838936February 29, 2016ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
THERE WAS NOT WARNING LIGHTS ON DASH, TRUCK SLOWED DOWN THEN ENGINE RACED UP ALL ON ITS OWN TURNED I TURNED OFF ROAD SHIFTED TO NUTRAL AND SAT UNTIL THE RACING STOPPED CONTINUED ON TO AUTO PART STORE WHERE THEY PLUGGED INTO ENGINE IT READ STRANGE CODES..
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10838947February 29, 2016POWER TRAIN
ON FEB.12 2016 STILL NO DASH WARNING LIGHTS MY FORD TRAC..I LEFT MY HOME IN DRIVE MOVED ONTO HIGHWAY 66, THE TRUCK WOULD NOT SHIFT AS I TRIED TO INCREASE MY SPEED UP ONTO THE 66 HIGHWAY THE RPM RAN UP ONLY, I HAD TO SHIFT INTO SECOND GEAR TO GET OFF ROAD DROVE BACK HOME. NOW THE TRUCK WILL NOT MOVE WHEN SHIFTED INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE. I ONLY HAD IN 2ND GEAR THIS IS A AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.FLUID IS STILL OKAY. WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS TRUCK?.MILAGE IS 123242
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10838854February 28, 2016AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TWO WEEKS AGO FOR NO REASON MY AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I CONTACTED FORD AND COULDN'T GET ANY HELP FROM THEM AT ALL. I WAS LEAVING WORK IN VIRGINIA.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10837161February 19, 2016STRUCTURE:BODY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING MY FORD ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE NEXT THING I KNOW MY FEET WERE REALLY HOT AND BLACK SMOKE STARTED COMING UP. THEN THE BLACK SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND I NEARLY CRASHED TRYING TO GET TO THE EDGE OF THE HIGHWAY BEFORE THE FIRE TOOK OVER THE WHOLE FRONT OF THE CAR. LUCKILY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS RIGHT THERE FOR ANOTHER ACCIDENT. IT WAS INCREDIBLY DISTURBING EXPERIENCE. LUCKILY MY 3 SMALL CHILDREN WERE NOT IN THE CAR.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10836768February 17, 2016POWER TRAIN, STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE GEAR SHIFT FRACTURED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT AT THE DEALER BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 153,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10822417January 26, 2016STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ONE OF THE HINGES ON THE LIFTGATE WINDOW WAS RUSTED OUT AND SEPARATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000. ......UPDATED 04/01/16 *BF *CN
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10819703January 12, 2016STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SHIFTING LEVER USED TO SHIFT GEARS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10818524January 6, 2016STRUCTURE:BODY
COLUMN GEAR SHIFTER BROKE OFF WHEN PUTTING IN GEAR. COULD NOT REMOVE KEY OR PUT IN PARK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10816783December 29, 2015ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN, SUSPENSION
BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS BROKE. REPLACED FRONT AND REAR WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED BALL JOINTS REPLACED TRANSMISSION HAS NOW FAILED AND IS NOW UNDEPENDABLE. MAY FAIL WITH OUT WARNING NO ACCIDENTS, ANY OF THE ABOVE COULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT FORD IS AWARE OF ALL OF THE MENTIONED PROBLEMS AND REFUSES TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEMS. THIS IS A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM WITH ALL 2002 FORD EXPLORERS.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10816411December 28, 2015STRUCTURE:BODY, ENGINE
CAR STALLED ON BUSY STREET, THEN WAS RESTARTED AND LOST POWER. THEN FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. CAR WAS WELL MAINTAINED. TOTAL LOSS WAS NOT COVERED BY INSURANCE
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10811045December 17, 2015AIR BAGS, POWER TRAIN, SUSPENSION
AIR BAG WIRING HARNESS TO SHORT : EVERY TIME YOU MOVE THE SEAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD COME ON $683.00 REPAIR SERVICE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FROM FORD NO COMPENSATION FOR REPAIRS MILES 22,000. FRONT WHEEL BEARING FAILURE LEFT AND RIGHT 60,000 MILES. REAR SPRING FAILURE 75000 MILES FRONT SPRING FAILURE 75000 MILES. FUEL TANK REGISTERS 1/4 TANK WHEN TANK IS EMPTY 45000 MILES TRANSMISSION CELLINOID FAILURE 28000 MILES AND 800000 MILES HEATER CONTROL MODULE 70000 MILES. INTAKE LEAK 80000 MILES. REAR WHEEL BEARING AND AXLE SEALS 100,000 MILES. OTHER THAN THAT GREAT CAR. IF FORD CARED ABOUT ITS CUSTOMER IT WOULD HAVE FIXED THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS THEY HAD SIX FLAWS FROM DAY ONE OF PRODUCTION FROM 1990 ---- WHY FORD IF YOU HAD A REAL TRANSMISSION IT WOULD MAKE UP FOR ALL THE OTHER FAILURE BUILT INTO THIS CAR. YOU MAKE GREAT REAL TRUCKS LIKE THE F150 OTHER THAN THAT YOUR ENTIRE FLEET IS JUNK.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10810804December 16, 2015UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AND I NO MORE THAN PULLED THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER BACK AND IT BROKE OFF. I COULD NOT SHIFT AT ALL. THE KEYS GOT STUCK IN THE IGNITION, TOO. I HAD TO LEAVE MY CAR THERE OVER NIGHT UNTIL THE FOLLOWING MORNING WHEN THE TOW COMPANY CAME. I ALSO COULD NOT LOCK MY DOORS, AND IT WAS LOADED WITH WORKING EQUIPMENT. ( I CANNOT EVEN IMAGINE IF IT BROKE AFTER I HAD PUT IT IN REVERSE OR DRIVE, AND BEEN STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, OR IF THIS HAD HAPPENED IN A REMOTE PLACE. ) AS YOU CAN SEE BY MY PICTURE IT WAS ACTUALLY THE METAL, POSSIBLY ALUMINUM BUT NOT 100% SURE .. METALS SHOULD NOT JUST BREAK.. THIS IS DEFINITELY A DEFECT . I ALSO NOTED ON JUST ONE WEBSITE OVER 151 COMPLAINTS FOR THIS EXACT SAME THING ON THE EXACT SAME YEAR AND MODEL VEHICLE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10809495December 10, 2015POWER TRAIN
THE O/D LIGHT HAS STARTED FLASHING AND MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, IT IS NOT SHIFTING WHEN IT SHOULD BE, GOING UP TO 5000 RPMS, I HAVE TO TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE PEDAL TO TRY AND GET IT TO SHIFT INTO 3RD. SOMETIMES IT WORKS, OTHER TIMES NOT SO MUCH. AFTER DOING A THOROUGH SEARCH, I HAVE FOUND A RIDICULOUS AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS IDENTICAL TO MINE, MOST WITH SIMILAR MILEAGE (MINE IS AT 162,000), WITH THE PROBLEM BEING EITHER THE SOLENOID PACK OR THE O/D SERVO. SOME ARE LUCKY AND HAVE THIS REPLACED FIRST, BUT OTHERS END UP HAVING TO REBUILD/REPLACE THE TRANNY. THAT IS AN EXPENSIVE FIX FOR WHAT SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM, TOO EXPENSIVE FOR MOST PEOPLE WHO DRIVE A VEHICLE THAT IS THIS OLD.I AM A SINGLE MOTHER OF TWO SMALL CHILDREN, I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX THIS OR BUY ANOTHER VEHICLE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10808369December 4, 2015VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT A VERY LOW RATE OF SPEED, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND SURGED FORWARD BEFORE CRASHING INTO A BUILDING. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE LEFT ARM, HIP, HEAD, AND NECK. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT RECEIVED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0