Ford Explorer Complaints (2002)

3,572 consumer complaints on file.

#10255783January 20, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
ON 1/18/09 I WAS DRIVING MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER ON A 50 MPH ROAD AND NOTICED THAT IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE - LIKE I HAD THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON. 10 MINUTES LATER MY SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND MY O/D LIGHT STARTED TO FLASH AND I COULD NOT GET OVER 25 MPH. I MANAGED TO GET SAFELY TO A RELATIVES HOUSE BUT HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A REPAIR FACILITY - TO BE LOOKED AT. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THE TRANSMISSION IS SHOT AND AFTER GOING ON LINE HAVE FOUND THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WITH 2002 FORD EXPLORERS. I WAS DRIVING WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR AND ONE MINUTE WAS DOING 45 MPH AND THE NEXT I WAS BARELY AT 25 MPH ON A VERY BUSY ROAD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255505January 18, 2009
STRUCTURE:BODY
APPROXIMATELY A YEAR AGO THE TOP PANEL OF THE BACK TAILGATE BEGAN CRACKING ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE "FORD" SYMBOL. YESTERDAY MORNING I CAME OUT TO FIND ANOTHER CRACK IN THE PANEL IN THE EXACT SAME SPOT EXCEPT ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE "FORD" SYMBOL. THE FIRST CRACK IS ABOUT 1/8" WIDE AND SPLIT APPROXIMATELY HALFWAY DOWN THE BACK PANEL. THE SECOND CRACK SPANS FROM THE TOP OF THE PANEL TO THE BOTTOM AND IS APPROXIMATELY 1/4-1/2" WIDE. I DID NOT HIT ANYTHING AND THERE IS NO STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO THE CAR OTHERWISE. THE PANEL HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED OR FIXED YET. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255296January 16, 2009
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
REAR INSIDE DOOR HANDLES SNAPPED OFF WHEN PULLED BY 2 YEAR OLD WHILE CHILD SAFETY LOCK WAS ON. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255170January 15, 2009
EQUIPMENT, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
HAVE ENGINE PROBLEM WARRANTY WILL NOT COVER BECAUSE DEALER PUT BACK ODOMETER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255162January 15, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE PULLING ONTO A BUSY HWY. IN EASTERN UTAH MY TRANSMISSION WITHOUT WARNING JUST STARTED SLIPPING AND I HAD TO QUICKLY MANUALLY DOWN SHIFT THE AUTOMATIC AND HOPE THAT IT WOULD GO TO AVOID GETTING BROAD SIDED BY A SEMI THAT WAS BEARING DOWN ON ME. WHEN I GOT TO A PLACE THAT WAS SAFE I STOPPED AND FOUND THAT 1ST AND REVERSE GEARS WERE GONE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255103January 14, 2009
STRUCTURE
THE BACK PLASTIC PANEL UNDER THE REAR WINDOW OF MY FORD EXPLORER 2002 CRACKED FOR NO REASON. I NOTICED THAT MANY FORD AND MERCURY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM - THIS IS A DEFECT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10254949January 14, 2009
POWER TRAIN
I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER THAT HAVE AT LEAST 66,000 MILEAGE ON THIS CAR . I HAVE A VERY WEIRD ACCIDENT ON SEPTEMBER 24,2008. I WAS ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK WHEN THE ACCIDENT HAPPEN. I WAS IN THE PARKING LOT OF THE VA MEDICAL CENTER IN EAST ORANGE NJ. AT AROUND 5:45 PM I CAME TO MY CAR AND FOUND MY CAR HAVE DEAD BATTERY SO VA POLICE GAVE A JUMP START AND THE CAR START. SO AFTER 2 MINUTES THE CAR RUNNING I STARTED TO CHANGE THE GEAR FROM PARK TO REVERSE WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. AS SOON AS I CHANGE THE GEAR THE CAR WENT OFF BY ITSELF WITH A VERY HIGH SPEED HITTING A PARK VEHICLE AND ENDED UP INSIDE ONE STORY BUILDING. MY FOOT WAS STILL ON THE BRAKE WHEN THE CAR STOP. I HURT MYSELF RESULTING TO A BIG SURGERY. I HAVE A CERVICAL FRACTURE FROM THAT ACCIDENT. MY CAR WAS STILL PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY STILL UNTOUCHED BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHO TO SEND THE CAR FRO INVESTIGATION. I FILED A CLAIM TO FORD MOTOR BUT I DID NOT HEAR FROM THEM YET. I CONTACTED THE LAWYER AND ADVISED ME TO CONTACT THIS FACILITY AND SINCE MY LAWYER CANNOT REPRESENT ME FROM THIS ACCIDENT. I WAS ADVISED THAT I DON'T NEED A LAWYER TO FILE A CLAIM. I HOPE YOU CAN HELP ME WITH THIS MATTER. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10254972January 14, 2009
STRUCTURE:BODY
I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER AND THE PANEL BELOW THE BACK WINDOW HATCH HAS MULTIPLE CRACKS. I FOUND ON THE INTERNET THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE 2002 FORD EXPLORER. I CONTACTED FORD AND FORD SAID THAT BECAUSE IT'S OUT OF WARRANTY THAT THEY WON'T COVER THE REPAIR. THIS SEEMS TO BE THE COMMON ANSWER THAT FORD IS GIVING TO EVERYONE THAT IS EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM TOO. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10254823January 13, 2009
STRUCTURE:BODY
UNEXPLAINED CRACK IN THE REAR HATCH LID. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10254712January 12, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2002 FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSION FLEW INTO 4X4 LOW AUTOMATIC WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH. THE 4X4 MODULE PART HAD BEEN REPLACED ONCE ALREADY,AND IS THE CULPRIT OF THROWING IT INTO AN UNSAFE POSITION. THE ISSUE KEEPS COMING UP, AND THE DEALER HAS HAD NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR REPLACING THE "KNOWN FORD PROBLEM" IN OVER 7 YEARS. THIS ISSUE IS EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR, BUT THE PROBLEM IS THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE AND THE PASSENGERS AT HIGHER SPEEDS. IT CAN CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO FIRST SLOW DOWN BY THE PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS OF THE TRANSFER CASE, AND CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO BE OUT OF CONTROL AND FLIP. IT'S SO PRESENT ON THE INTERNET NOW, I WONDER WHY NO ONE HAS GOTTEN FORD TO FACE THE ISSUE, EVEN THE DEALERS KNOW, BUT GET NO RESPONSE BACK FROM PARENT FORD. THE VEHICLE MENTIONED IS WELL CARED FOR, AS WELL AS ONLY IN THE LOW 80,000 MILE AREA PRESENTLY. THIS HAPPENED AROUND 38,000, 43,000, 58,000, 63,000, AND NOW AT 84,000. EVEN THE DEALER AGREES THAT THE 4 WHEEL AUTO FEATURE, (WHICH IS THE IDLE STATE OF THE TRANSAXLE) CANNOT BE STARTED WHEN THE VEHICLE IS FIRED UP. THIS CAUSES NUMEROUS ISSUES WITH OTHER COMPONENTS RELIABLE TO THE MODULE. THE MODULE, IS BUILT BY MOTOROLA AND I'VE BEEN ADVISED THAT THE ANY NEW OWNER OF AN EXPLORER IN THE DATE RANGE SHOULD HAVE IT REPLACED OR INSPECTED DUE TO IT NOT BEING ABLE TO HANDLE TYPICAL SURGE SPIKES FROM THE VEHICLES POWER SYSTEMS. THE REPLACEMENTS SHOULD HAVE IT. BUT THAT DOESN'T HELP WITH THE ADVISE IF IT ALREADY OCCURS. WHICH IT HAS BEEN. NOW I'VE GOT A $45,000 PAPERWEIGHT IN MY DRIVEWAY AGAIN. CORRECTIONS ARE MADE, BUT RESULTS ARE ALWAYS THE SAME. FORD NEEDS TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE PUBLICLY BEFORE OTHERS ARE IN ACCIDENTS OR FATALITIES OCCUR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10254633January 11, 2009
SUSPENSION:REAR
BROKEN COIL SPRINGS-CAR IS NOT USED FOR TOWING OR OTHER ACTIVITIES. MANY SUCH REPORTS OF PREMATURE COIL BREAKAGE. MY CAR HAS 66K MILES ON IT--NO THIRD SEAT. BOTH COILS BROKEN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10254367January 9, 2009
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE, AIR BAGS
HAVE HAD TO REPLACE BOTH REAR WHEEL BEARINGS ON 2002 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED, ALSO HAD TO REPLACE BOTH REAR SPRINGS. LUCKY MY WIFE HAS GOOD HEARING SO SHE NOTICED THE NOISE AS SOON AS IT STARTED OR ELSE MAY HAVE WENT FAR ENOUGH TO LOOSE WHEEL. HAD REAR SPRINGS AND WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $1100.00 . AFTER READING COMPLAINTS AND TALKING WITH OTHER EXPLORER OWNER I FEEL IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL FOR FACTORY TO FIX. ALSO HAVE RECURRING PROBLEM WITH AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT COMING ON. HAVE TO JIGGLE WIRES UNDER PASSENGER SEAT TO MAKE LIGHT GO OUT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10254430January 9, 2009
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE LIFTGATE CRACKED IN 3 PLACES. IT STARTED A YEAR AGO WITH ONE CRACK, THEN ANOTHER CRACK APPEARED 6 MONTHS LATER. A FEW WEEKS AGO A 3 CRACK APPEARED. THE FORD DEALER REFUSED TO HELP AND A CALL TO FORD WAS NOT RETURNED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10254308January 8, 2009
POWER TRAIN
HAD BOUGHT 2002 EXPLORER USED, NOTICED NOISE FROM REAR END. TOLD REAR DIFFERENTIAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, COST FOR USED $1500. BUT POSSIBILITY THAT USED COULD HAVE SAME ISSUES AS THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH 02-04 EXPLORERS. MY MECHANIC DOES SEVERAL A MONTH. AFTER VISITING NUMEROUS WEB SITES AND FORUMS ON THE SUBJECT, I HAVE SEEN THAT IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND THERE IS A VERY REAL SAFETY CONCERN AS THE REAR END COULD SEIZE WHILE DRIVING. I BELIEVE THE DEPT OF HIGHWAY SAFETY IS WRONG IN NOT CONSIDERING THIS PROBLEM TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE AND I THINK A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED BASED ON THE VERY LARGE NUMBERS OF VEHICLES THAT HAVE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS. AND FORD KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AS THEY HAVE RELEASED SERVICE BULLETINS ON THE SUBJECT THEY KNOW THE PROBLEM EXISTS, BUT THEY DO NOT ISSUE A RECALL BECAUSE THEY WANT THE OWNERS TO PAY THE EXTRAVAGANT COSTS OF THE REPAIRS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10254069January 7, 2009
VISIBILITY
PLACED AN ITEM INTO THE REAR STORAGE AREA OF MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WINDOW DIDN'T STAY UP, SO I GAVE IT ANOTHER PUSH WITH MY HAND. I DIDN'T PUSH HARD. THE WINDOW EXPLODED IN MY HAND. GLASS FLEW EVERYWHERE. FORD HAD A RECALL ON THIS WHICH I HAD FIXED EARLY ON IN MY OWNERSHIP OF THE VEHICLE. I ENDED UP WITH GLASS SLIVERS IN MY HAND AND NOW I HAVE A VEHICLE WITH NO REAR WINDOW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10254140January 7, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT. TRANSMISSION PROBLEM, OD LIGHT FLICKERS, TRANNY SLIPPING. MY WIFE WAS PUT IN GRAVE DANGER TRAVELING AT A REASONABLE SPEED IN MODERATE TO HEAVY TRAFFIC. SEARCHING THE WEB FOR OTHER ISSUES I FOUND A HOST OF THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE SAME MODEL AND YEAR. HERE IS A LINK TO THE SITE I VISITED...HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/EXPLORER/2002/TRANSMISSION/O_D_LIGHT_IS_BLINKING.SHTML THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE RECALLED BY FORD! WITH SUCH A OVERWHELMING RESPONSE ON THIS SITE ONE CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW MANY OTHERS HAVE NOT FOUND THE SITE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10254150January 7, 2009
EQUIPMENT, EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY, STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
2002 FORD EXPLORER LIFT GATE CLIP ON APPLICATOR IS AND HAS BEEN SPLITTING FROM TOP TO BOTTOM EVERY TIME SOME ONE CLOSED THE LIFT GATE I SAW THIS ON MANY OTHER FORD EXPLORERS AND IT COST {US -S 300 DOLLARS TO INSTALL A NEW ONE AT THE DEALERS SHOPS TO REPAIR. SOME THING NEED TO BE DONE FORD MANUFACTURE NEED TO REIMBURSE TO FIX THIS PROBLEMS NOW AND IN THE FUTURE I CANNOT AFFORD TO FIX MY EXPLORER SO I AM WAITING TO SEE IF FORD CAN FIX THIS PROBLEM FOR ME AND OTHERS LIKE ME WHO CANNOT AFFORD TO FIX THE PROBLEM I BELIEVE SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE. PLEASE FOR A REPLY AT MY EMAIL THANK YOU SINCERELY E J. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10254012January 6, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER AND THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER BROKE. I FOUND 27 COMPLAINTS ON THE SAME PROBLEM HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/EXPLORER/2002/STEERING/GEAR_SHIFT_BROKE_OFF.SHTML WHEN WE BOUGHT THE EXPLORER WE TOLD THE SALESMAN THAT IT WAS HARD TO GET OUT OF PARK AND HE SAID HE FIXED IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10253867January 5, 2009
STRUCTURE:BODY
CRACKED PANEL ON BELOW WINDOW ON 2002 EXPLORER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10253710January 4, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FORD EXPLORER O/D FLASHING AND CHECK TRANSMISSION COMING ON IT WAS AT THE FORD DEALER FOR 3 WEEKS THEY SAID IT WAS MY PCM AND NOW THEY ARE SAYING IT A WIRING PROBLEM BUT MY CAR IS DOING THE SAME THING IT WAS BEFORE I TOOK IT TO THEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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