Ford Explorer Complaints (2002)

3,572 consumer complaints on file.

#10247717November 5, 2008
STRUCTURE:BODY
2002 FORD EXPLORER - REAR APPLIQUE (PLASTIC TRIM) UNDER THE REAR WINDOW CRACKED, AND A PORTION OF IT FELL OFF THE VEHICLE TRAVELING 70MPH. SAME PROBLEM AS REPORTED AT HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/EXPLORER/2002/BODY_PAINT/CRACKED_PANEL_BELOW_THE_REAR_WINDOW.SHTML. FORD HAS SAID IT WAS TEMP RELATED, HOWEVER, I'M IN FLORIDA, THE VEHICLE NEVER SAW ANY TEMP BELOW 40, FREEZING WASN'T CONSIDERED. TSB 0485 IF I'M READING IT CORRECTLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10247744November 5, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON 2002 FORD EXPLORER WITH 87,000 MILES. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOPLIGHT, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO THIRD GEAR. NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION. I TOOK IT TO AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION REPAIR FACILITY AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REBUILT AS THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ROADWORTHY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10247792November 5, 2008
STRUCTURE:BODY, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, VISIBILITY:REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER
CRACK DEVELOPED IN AREA BELOW LIFT GATE GLASS. NOW THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF, AS WELL AS THE BUZZER. THE GLASS DOES NOT SHUT PROPERLY AND IS INOPERABLE AND THE AREA BELOW THE GLASS HAS COMPLETELY FALLEN AWAY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10247676November 4, 2008
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MOLDING ON THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WAS CRACKED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10247549November 3, 2008
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH AND APPROACHING A TURNING LANE, THE CONTACT APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN AND SHE HAD TO TURN THE VEHICLE TO THE RIGHT IN ORDER TO AVOID A REAR END CRASH. THE VEHICLE JUMPED THE CURB AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED. AN HOUR LATER, WHILE EXITING THE FREEWAY, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN AGAIN. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE IN ORDER FOR IT TO STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. A MECHANIC INFORMED HER TO PARK THE VEHICLE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 114,450 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,337. UPDATED 11/25/08. *LJ UPDATED 11/25/08. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10247584November 3, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WE HAVE 02 FORD EXPLORER XLT WITH A FAULTY TRANSMISSION THAT HAS FAILED. I REVIEWED CAR COMPLAINTS.COM REGARDING THE 02 FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSION FAILURES AND THE COMPLAINTS ARE ENORMOUS BUT YET THERE HAS BEEN NO SAFETY RECALL REGARDING THIS FAULTY TRANSMISSION WHICH FORD HAS DISCONTINUED USE AFTER 2 YEARS. THIS TRANSMISSION OBVIOUSLY HAS PROBLEMS AS FAILURE IS BEING SEEN WITH 80,000 MILES OR LESS WHICH IS RIDICULOUS AND THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED BEFORE SOMEONE ACTUALLY INJURES OR KILLS THEMSELVES DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10247590November 3, 2008
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT WENT ON WHEN MY SON SAT IN THE SEAT. TOOK CAR TO DEALER TO SEE IF THERE WAS A PROBLEM. THEY SAID SOMETHING WAS FAULTY. EXTENDED WARRANTY WON'T COVER IT. ISN'T THIS REQUIRED BY LAW IF IT IS A DEFECT THAT THE DEALER FIX IT AT NO CHARGE? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10247328October 31, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WAS DRIVING AND TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT GEARS. O/D LIGHTS STARTED TO BLINK. VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO ANYMORE THEN 5 MPH. WAS TAKEN HOME AND RESEARCH WAS DONE AND FOUND MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT. TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AAMCO AND TRANSMISSION WAS REPAIRED AT A COST OF $2748.69. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10247342October 31, 2008
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
WE HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON AND STAYS ON. IT'S BEEN LIKE THIS FOR A WHILE NOW. I NEVER THOUGHT MUCH OF IT UNTIL I GOT ONLINE RESEARCHING IT AND FOUND THAT NOT ONLY THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM, BUT A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. APPARENTLY THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT EVEN WORK. FROM WHAT I FOUND THE PROBLEM HAS TO DO WITH A CABLE THAT CONNECTS THE SEATBELT LOCKING MECHANISM TO THE SRS SYSTEM IS TO SHORT ALSO A POSSIBLE PROBLEM WITH A CLOCKSPRING. BY DOING SOMETHING AS LITTLE AS MOVING THE DRIVERS SEAT ALL THE WAY BACK CAN TRIGGER THE WARNING LIGHT BECAUSE THE CABLE IS TO SHORT. I LEARNED THIS MOSTLY THROUGH PEOPLE OVER THE INTERNET WHO TOOK THERE VEHICLES TO FORD DEALERSHIPS AND WAS TOLD THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. I CALLED FORD TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON IT OR IF THEY WOULD FIX IT. NO RECALL AND WON'T PAY TO FIX. FORD KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND KNOWS WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. I READ THAT FORD SENT A MEMO OUT TO IT'S DEALERSHIPS TELLING THEM ABOUT THE PROBLEM HAD A MEMO NUMBER FORGOT TO WRITE IT DOWN. THIS VEHICLE IS A FAMILY VEHICLE AND THAT'S THE PRIMARY REASON WE BOUGHT IT. I WOULD THINK THAT THIS BEING SUCH A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT FORD WOULD FIX NO PROBLEM, BUT AT THE VERY LEST SOMEBODY SHOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE THEM FIX THIS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT ARE THE PARAMETERS FOR A RECALL TO BE ISSUED, BUT I DO KNOW THAT IF THIS DOES NOT CALL FOR ONE THEN WHO OR WHAT IS THE NHTSA FOR. I GUESS IT TAKES A LOT OF PEOPLE GETTING HURT OR DYEING FOR SOMETHING TO BE DONE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10247359October 31, 2008
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
2002 FORD EXPLORER, 125K MILES. AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON. MECHANICS DIAGNOSED AS A BAD PRE-SEATBELT TENSIONER CONTACT, MECHANIC SAID THAT MOVING DRIVERS SEAT BACK AND FORTH DEGRADES THE CONTACT AND WOULD NOT ALLOW THE AIR BAG TO FUNCTION IN A CRASH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10247251October 30, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLAM INTO GEAR. TRANSMISSION FAILURE. HAD TO HAVE A COMPLETE REBUILD/OVERHAUL OF TRANSMISSION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10247119October 29, 2008
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE
REAR DIFFERENTIAL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10246926October 28, 2008
SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS, SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY, AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT LATCH SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK AND THEY ARE CHARGING HIM TO DIAGNOSE AND REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD THAT THE SEAT BELT DOES NOT WORK. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 47,600. UPDATED 12/10/08 *CN BOTH OF THE REAR SPRINGS BROKE AND THE REAR AXLE BEARING WAS BAD. UPDATED 12/16/08. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10247093October 28, 2008
VISIBILITY:REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER
MY HUSBAND AND I OWN A 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. FRIDAY, OCT. 24TH, 2008 WE HAD TRAVELED OUT OF TOWN ABOUT 2 HOURS AWAY FROM OUR HOME. WE WERE ON OUR WAY HOME AND WE WERE COMPLETELY STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. ALL OF A SUDDEN WE HEARD A HUGE BOOM AND THE REAR LIFTGATE GLASS SHATTERED. WE DID HAVE THE POLICE COME OUT AND INSPECT THE VEHICLE FOR ANY INDICATIONS AS TO WHAT MAY HAVE CAUSED THE GLASS TO SHATTER. THEY DID NOT FIND ANYTHING THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED THE PROBLEM. WHEN MY HUSBAND AND I GOT HOME WE DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE TO FIND OUT IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM. WE DID FIND THAT IN 2001 FORD RECALLED THOUSANDS OF FORD EXPLORERS FOR A SIMILAR ISSUE. WE CONTACTED FORD AND WERE TOLD THAT OUR VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF THAT RECALL. THEY DIRECTED US TO NHTSA TO FILE A COMPLAINT DUE TO OUR ISSUE BEING ALMOST IDENTICAL TO THIS RECALL. WE FEEL THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND THAT OUR VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL. WE HAVE THE VEHICLE IN THE SHOP RIGHT NOW AND AT THIS TIME WE BELIEVE THAT THE GLASS, HINGES, REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER MECHANISM, STRUTS AND ANY OTHER PARTS AFFECTED ARE BEING REPLACED. WE HAVE A $500 DEDUCTIBLE AND OUR INSURANCE IS COVERING THE BALANCE OF THE COST AT THIS TIME, WHICH IS OVER $1000. WE WOULD LIKE TO FILE A COMPLAINT AT THIS TIME BECAUSE WE DO FEEL THAT OUR VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE SAME MALFUNCTIONS AS THE 2001 RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10246809October 27, 2008
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHEN THE CONTACT MANUALLY CLOSED THE LIFTGATE, THE REAR GLASS EXPLODED UNEXPECTEDLY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 011010000; HOWEVER, IT FAILED TO SUFFICIENTLY CORRECT THE SAFETY DEFECT. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,249 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76,259.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10246718October 25, 2008
SUSPENSION:REAR
VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER FOR STATE INSPECTION. BOTH REAR SUSPENSION COIL SPRINGS WERE CRACKED THROUGH. PARTS ARE BEING REPLACED BY DEALER. OLD PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10246626October 24, 2008
AIR BAGS
2002 FORD EXPLORER AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID IT NEEDS A PRETENSIONER REPAIR KIT INSTALLED FOR $650. I DECLINED SERVICE. I LOOKED ON THE INTERNET AND THEIR ARE LOTS OF COMPLAINTS; IN JULY 2001, FORD ISSUED A SPECIAL SERVICE MESSAGE ANNOUNCING THAT SOME AIR BAG CLOCKSPRING DEVICES MAY PRODUCE NOISE WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED FULL LEFT OR RIGHT. FORD WAS AWARE THAT SOME CLOCKSPRINGS MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED. THE IMPROPER INSTALLATION MAY ALSO CAUSE AN OPEN CIRCUIT AND THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. STARTING WITH VEHICLES PRODUCED IN SEPTEMBER 2001, FORD ADDING LENGTH TO THE CLOCKSPRING WIRE TO REDUCE THE LIKELIHOOD OF DAMAGE FROM IMPROPER INSTALLATION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10246183October 21, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION SLIPPED GEARS AND "CHECK TRANSMISSION" MESSAGE CAME UP ON DASH. BOLT WAS LOOSE INSIDE OF THE TRANSMISSION AND PIECES OF METAL THROUGHOUT. THIS LED TO FULL TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT AND CLOSE TO $3500 IN REPAIR BILLS AT 64K MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10246269October 21, 2008
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE HINGES IN THE LIFTGATE WERE UNSCREWING. HE LOCKED THE WINDOW TO PREVENT IT FROM FALLING. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE WINDOW FELL DOWN AND SHATTERED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V442000 (STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS). HE ALSO EXPERIENCED ISSUES WITH THE ARMREST. IT WOULD NOT OPEN UNLESS HE FORCED IT, WHICH EVENTUALLY CAUSED IT TO FAIL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 79,015 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 74,000. UPDATED 11/17/08 *BF UPDATED 11/18/08. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10246137October 20, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
BATTERY DIED ON 2002 FORD EXPLORER. INSTALLED NEW BATTERY AND 4 WHEEL DRIVE MODULE QUIT WORKING. BOUGHT NEW PART FOR $202.00. FIXED PROBLEM WITH NEW PART. OBVIOUSLY THE REALIZED THE DEFECT AND REFUSE TO DO RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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