Ford Explorer Complaints (2002)

3,572 consumer complaints on file.

#10235320July 22, 2008
SUSPENSION:REAR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. AFTER A ROUTINE INSPECTION, THE MECHANIC STATED THAT BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS FAILED. AFTER BEING INFORMED OF THE DIAGNOSIS, THE CONTACT REMEMBERED HEARING CLUNKING NOISES AND ODD SUSPENSION-RELATED BEHAVIOR. HE CALLED FORD TO FIND OUT IF HIS VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NONE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,552 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,500.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10235144July 21, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE TRANSMISSION FAILS WITHOUT ANY WARNING, IN MY CASE WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC AND ALMOST GOT MYSELF HIT! THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE. I CHECKED CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ON SEVERAL ONLINE RESOURCES AND FOUND THAT TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN THE 2002 FORD EXPLORER IS AN EPIDEMIC! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10235156July 21, 2008
SUSPENSION:REAR
2002 FORD EXPLORER - BOTH REAR SPRINGS RUSTED AND CRACKED. ONE IN 2006 AND THE OTHER IN 2007. THIS VEHICLE DRIVEN BY WIFE AND NOT OFF ROAD OR FOR TOWING. ON THE NET THERE ARE MANY, MANY OWNERS WITH SAME EXACT PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP SAYS IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN BUT MANUFACTURE WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10235182July 21, 2008
WHEELS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE NOISE WAS DUE TO THE ROUTERS FROM THE BRAKES, AND ADVISED THE CONTACT NOT TO WORRY. AS THE CONTACT LEFT THE MECHANIC, THE SOUND FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE CONTINUED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE WHEELS WERE BEING HELD ON BY THE BRAKES AND THE BEARINGS WERE DESTROYED. AFTER HAVING THE WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED ONE YEAR LATER, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE TIRES HAD POOR TREAD MARKS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR A WHEEL ALIGNMENT AND THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT TWO OF THE WHEEL BEARINGS WERE DESTROYED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10234925July 19, 2008
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE
THE VEHICLE IS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER .THE REAR TRANSFER CASE BEARINGS WEAR OUT PREMATURELY AND CAN SEIZE UP WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND IS DUE TO MANUFACTURER DEFECT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10234749July 18, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY DASHBOARD HAS DIGITAL MILEAGE/ TEMP AND TRIP....HOWEVER, SINCE I GOT THE SUV IN DECEMBER OF 2007, THE CLUSTER THAT SHOWS THAT INFORMATION HAS NOT BEEN UP. THE DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT THE SUV FROM REFUSED TO HAVE IT FIXED AND I NEED TO KNOW WHAT I CAN DO WITHOUT SPENDING ALOT OF MONEY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10234537July 16, 2008
SUSPENSION:REAR
2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT 4X4 REAR COIL SPRING BROKEN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10234561July 16, 2008
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
FRONT WHEEL BEARING ON MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 65,000 MILES. SHOP SAID IF IT HAD BEEN DRIVEN MUCH FURTHER THE WHEEL WOULD HAVE COME OFF. MY EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRED LAST YEAR AND FORD WILL NOT HELP. THIS IS EVIDENTLY A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL YEAR AND COULD LEAD TO DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL BEFORE ANYONE GETS HURT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10234457July 15, 2008
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. THE CONTACT LIFTED THE REAR HATCH AND OPENED THE GLASS DOOR. THE HINGE ON THE GLASS DOOR LOOSENED AND CAUSED IT TO FALL AND INJURE THE CONTACT'S THUMB. THE HINGE SHOULD BE SECURED IN PLACE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE AFTER HE WAS INJURED. THE RECALL APPLIED TO THE FORD EXPLORER AND FORD EXPLORER SPORTS. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 93,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10234143July 14, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON FORD EXPLORER. SELF ENCLOSED TRANSMISSION, NO DIPSTICK FOR CHECKING FLUID LEVELS, POORLY DESIGNED CONCEPT. HERE IS WEBSITE WITH 428 COMPLAINTS AGAINST THIS PARTICULAR MODEL/YEAR. ALL THE SAME ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10234189July 14, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AS I WAS SHIFTING FROM PARK TO REVERSE IN MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER MY SHIFTER BROKE OFF IN MY HAND!!! ON FURTHER INSPECTION I SAW THAT THE SHIFT LINKAGE WAS MADE OF CAST ALUMINUM AND HAD SHEARED OFF AT THE PIVOT POINT. I AM NOT ALONE IN THIS AS I HAVE READ HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON LINE AT HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/EXPLORER/2002/STEERING/GEAR_SHIFT_BROKE_OFF.SHTML. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10234202July 14, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO PLACE THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE, THE GEAR SHIFT COMPLETELY FELL OFF OF THE STEERING WHEEL ASSEMBLY. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCES IN THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 145,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10234231July 14, 2008
SUSPENSION
WHEEL BEARING PROBLEMS WITH MOST 2002 MODEL FORD EXPLORERS ALL TRIM LEVELS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10234331July 14, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE
MY WIFE'S 2002 FORD EXPLORER HAD A WHINE IN THE REAR END SINCE IT WAS NEW AND IT CONTINUED TO GET WORSE WITH TIME. AT ABOUT 55K MILES IT WAS SO BAD THAT WE HAD TO HAVE THE ENTIRE DIFFERENTIAL REBUILT AT A COST OF OVER $1,000. AT 65K MILES THE ENGINE HAD BEGUN TO MAKE NOISE AND IT BECAME MUCH LOUDER RAPIDLY. THE ENTIRE CAM DRIVE (TIMING CHAIN, SPROCKETS, TENSIONERS) HAD BEEN GROUND UP. THE TENSIONER PADS HAD 3/8" DEEP GROOVES WORN INTO THEM AND THERE WERE METAL SHAVINGS EVERYWHERE. THE BILL THIS TIME WAS ALMOST $1,300. IT IS INTERESTING THAT ALL THE PARTS THAT WERE REPLACED WERE A DIFFERENT DESIGN THAN THE ORIGINALS. IF THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE ORIGINAL DESIGN, WHY SPEND THE MONEY TO CHANGE THEM? OF COURSE FORD WOULD NOT ADMIT THAT THEY HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE TIMING CHAIN FOR THE CAMS. AFTER THE TIMING CHAIN WAS FIXED THERE WAS STILL A NOISE SO WE TOOK IT BACK TO THE SHOP THAT DID THE WORK. WITH A STETHOSCOPE THE NOISE WAS ISOLATED TO THE BELLHOUSING/TORQUE CONVERTER AREA. WE TOOK IT TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP WE TRUST AND HE THOUGHT IT WAS A CRACKED FLEX PLATE BECAUSE THAT HAPPENS FREQUENTLY ON THESE VEHICLES AND IT CAUSES THAT KIND OF NOISE. THE FLEX PLATE WAS FINE AS WAS THE FRONT PUMP ON THE TRANSMISSION AND THE STARTER DRIVE. THE ONLY THING LEFT IN THAT AREA WAS THE TORQUE CONVERTER SO WE REPLACED THAT. THE NOISE WAS STILL THERE. HE SAID THAT THE NOISE HAD TO BE COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION AND THAT WOULD BE A $2,000 REPAIR. I'VE HAD IT WITH FORD AND THEIR "QUALITY IS JOB ONE" OR WHATEVER THEIR CURRENT ADVERTISING LIE IS. THIS CAR IS A LEMON AND THEY WON'T ADMIT TO A SINGLE THING BEING WRONG WITH IT. EVERY DRIVELINE COMPONENT HAS HAD TO BE FIXED AND IT ONLY HAS 67K MILES ON IT. FORD SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THE WAY THEY HANG THEIR CUSTOMERS OUT TO DRY. EVEN THOUGH I HAD TO IDENTIFY A PARTICULAR DATE BELOW, THIS CAR HAS HAD MAJOR PROBLEMS SINCE IT WAS NEW IN 2002. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10234079July 12, 2008
STRUCTURE:BODY
A CRACKED REAR PANEL ON MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER. TO DATE, I HAVEN'T HAD ANY SAFETY ISSUES, BUT I'VE CHECKED OTHER ONLINE SITES AND SEEN QUITE A FEW SUBMISSIONS FROM OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. I CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE IT REPLACED, AND ACCORDING TO OTHER OWNERS, THE PROBLEM WILL PROBABLY REOCCUR (IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN DURING COLD WEATHER). FORD HAS NOT LISTED IT ON THEIR RECALL SITE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10233683July 9, 2008
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL, STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
MY HUSBAND OPENED THE LIFTGATE TO MY 2002 EDDIE BAUER FORD EXPLORER TO BRING OUR HURRICANE SUPPLY KIT INTO THE HOUSE. AFTERWARDS, HE WENT TO CLOSE THE LIFTGATE, JUST AS NORMAL, AND THE GLASS, WITHOUT ANY WARNING, EXPLODED INTO HUNDREDS OF PIECES AND THE FRAME BELOW THE GLASS CRASHED TO THE GROUND. GLASS WAS FOUND HALFWAY DOWN THE DRIVEWAY, UNDER THE CAR, INSIDE THE CAR, AND ON TOP OF THE CAR. THE HINGES WERE CLEARLY BOTH BROKEN AND WIRES WERE SEPARATED FROM THE LIFTGATE. MY HUSBAND WAS STANDING TO THE SIDE OF THE CAR WHEN HE CLOSED THE LIFTGATE AND LUCKILY ONLY HAD A MINOR CUT ON HIS TOE. THE LIFTGATE DID NOT TOUCH ANYTHING AND WAS NOT HIT BY ANYTHING OR FORCED TO CLOSE IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO IT EXPLODING. I ESSENTIALLY HAVE A THREE-SIDED CAR RIGHT NOW. FORD ISSUED A RECALL (04S20) ON THE LIFTGATE GLASS HINGE AND BALL STUD BRACKET EARLIER AND I HAD THAT REPAIR COMPLETED ON 09/25/07. THE DESCRIPTION OF THE EXPLOSION IS VERBATIM OF WHAT WAS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL, HOWEVER FORD CUSTOMER CARE DENIES ANY RESPONSIBILITY STATING THAT PART IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AS DOES THE DEALER WHO ORIGINALLY REPAIRED THE RECALLED PART. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY DISASTROUS IF MY HUSBAND HAD NOT BEEN STANDING OFF TO THE SIDE OR IF ANYONE HAD BEEN INSIDE THE CAR, ESPECIALLY CHILDREN. FORD SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO PAY FOR ANY INCIDENTS THAT HAPPEN INVOLVING THE HINGE AND BALL BRACKET EVEN IF THE REPAIR WAS MADE AS THEY REQUESTED PER THE RECALL. DOORS DO NOT JUST 'COME OFF' FOR NO REASON. THEIR METHOD OF 'REPAIRING' THE RECALL IS NOT SUFFICIENT AS THERE ARE BLOGS ONLINE WITH MANY OTHER EXACT COMPLAINTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10233713July 9, 2008
SUSPENSION
2002 FORD EXPLORER 4.0 HAS EXCESSIVE WHEEL BEARING NOISE. I HAVE READ OF MANY WHEEL BEARING ISSUES WITH THIS MODEL WHICH SIGNIFIES A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. A RECALL SHOULD BE INSTITUTED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10233478July 8, 2008
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL
REAR BEARINGS ON 02 FORD EXPLORER XLS DEFECTIVE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10233414July 7, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
PROGRESSIVELY WORSE, STARTING IN JUNE 08. DOOR AJAR LIGHT COMES ON RANDOMLY WHEN DRIVING, PLUS THE INTERIOR LIGHTS COME ON AND OFF (FLICKER, DANGEROUS IF DRIVING AT NIGHT), BELLS GO ON/OFF, AND THE DOORS LOCK AND UNLOCK (NEVER SURE WHICH THEY ARE). IF NOT DRIVING, THE ALARM GOES OFF RANDOMLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10233433July 7, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
PARKED MY SUV IN THE DRIVEWAY AFTER A SHORT TRIP AND THE HORN BEGAN TO BLOW. AS I INVESTIGATED THE NOISE I OPENED MY DOOR TO FIND SMOKE ROLLING OUT UNCONTROLLABLY. I RAN INSIDE TO CALL 911, BY THE TIME I HUNG UP THE PHONE MY ENTIRE TRUCK WAS ENGULFED WITH FLAMES. THIS JUST HAPPENED TODAY, SO I DO NOT KNOW WHAT WILL BE DONE ABOUT IT. BUT THIS WAS CAUSED BY SOME DEFECT IN THE VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Ford Explorer