Ford Explorer Complaints (2002)

3,572 consumer complaints on file.

#10080706July 9, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP, FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY, FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY
THIS DISCREPANCY APPLIES TO A EXPLORER SPORT TRAC NEW FROM A DEALERSHIP IN SEPT 2001. THE VEHICLE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT ILLUMINATED JUST BEFORE THE VEHICLE REACHED 15,000 MILES. THE OWNERS MANUAL STATED THAT IF THE LIGHT DID NOT GO OUT AFTER 3 CONSECUTIVE COLD STARTS TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE WINDOW FOR SERVICING AT ITS 15,000 MILE CHECK-UP ANYWAY, SO I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND SHOWED THEM THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT. I EXPECTED THE VEHICLE WOULD BE FINISHED WITH ITS REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT PROBLEM FIXED IN A DAY OR TWO. I WAS WRONG, AND FROM READING SIMILAR PROBLEMS REPORTED BY OTHER OWNERS, IT APPEARS THIS COULD BE A TREND FOR THE SPORT TRAC MODEL- IF NOT FOR THE ENTIRE EXPLORER GENRE. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS LEAKING AND IT WAS WHAT WAS CAUSING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. THEN I REMEMBERED THAT I HAD OFTEN NOTICED DROPS OF FLUID ON THE DRIVEWAY EACH TIME I BACKED OUT. AT THE TIME I THOUGHT IT WAS CONDENSATION FROM THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM. I DIDN'T CARE WHAT IT TOOK TO FIX IT BECAUSE IT WAS COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. THE DEALER HAD TO ORDER A WHOLE NEW GAS TANK, BECAUSE AS IT WAS EXPLAINED TO ME, THE FUEL PUMP WAS INTEGRAL TO THE FUEL TANK. THE FUEL TANK AND PUMP ASSEMBLY WAS NOT IN STOCK AND HAD TO BE ORDERED FROM THE FACTORY. THE DEALER SUPPLIED A RENTAL CAR WHILE THE SPORT TRAC WAS BEING REPAIRED. IT TOOK 2 WEEKS FOR THE DEALER TO RECEIVE THE FUEL TANK AND PUMP. AFTER THEY RECEIVED IT, IT ONLY TOOK TOOK A COUPLE OF HOURS FOR THE TECHNICIAN TO INSTALL IT AND CHECK IT OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS PROPERLY REPAIRED AND I NO LONGER SEE ANY DROPLETS ON THE DRIVEWAY, NOR IS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. MOST OF THE TWO WEEKS THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP WAS DUE TO AWAITING PARTS. ANY FUEL LEAK SHOULD BE CONSIDERED CRITICAL FOR OBVIOUS REASONS. I ASKED THE DEALER'S REPRESENTATIVE IF THE TANK/PUMP PROBLEM WAS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE MODEL AND THEY DENIED IT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10080413July 6, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT THAT HAS 68000 MILES ON IT. SINCE WE HAVE HAD IT THE TRANSMISSION HAS DONE NOTHING BUT SHIFT HARD AND WASHBOARD FROM 2ND TO 3RD AND 3RD TO OVERDRIVE. THIS VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN 2 TIMES, AND BOTH TIMES WE WERE TOLD THAT IT WAS NORMAL. I HAVE HAD ISSUE GOING UP HILL IN MINE BECAUSE OF THE SHIFTING, AFRAID TO PASS BECAUSE I AM NOT SURE IF THE VEHICLE WILL SHIFT. I FINALLY TOOK IN MY EXPLORER LAST WEEK AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE COMPUTER SAID THAT THE BEARINGS WERE BAD IN MY TRANSMISSION AND THAT I HAD TO PAY $3000 TO REPLACE IT. THIS SAME ISSUE HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE I FIRST COMPLAINED ABOUT IT AT 16000 MILES. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10081376July 6, 2004
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
REAR HATCH BACK WINDOW SHATTERED WHEN OPENED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK DUP OF 10079152.PCO
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10081427July 6, 2004
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
WHILE CLOSING THE REAR WINDOW REAR GLASS UNEXPECTEDLY SHATTERED. NO INJURIES REPORTED. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER FOR AN APPOINTMENT. *AK PE04045.PCO
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10080467July 6, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY, THE BRAKES SEEM TO STICK AND SMELL LIKE THEY ARE BURNING. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE 3 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM BUT THE PROBLEM HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY, SO 2 OF THE 3 DEALERSHIPS SAID THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. MY BRAKE PADS ARE NOW PRE-MATURELY WORN AND THE LATEST DEALERSHIP HAS CLAIMED TO HAVE REPLACED A SENSOR ON THE DIFFERENTIAL THAT WILL "FIX" THE PROBLEM. AFTER BEING TOLD THAT THERE WASN'T A PROBLEM, NEXT THAT THE REAR BRAKES WERE WORN OUT, AND THEN THAT THE SENSOR WAS BAD. MY VEHICLE HAS 25,000 MILES ON IT AND ABOUT 30% LEFT ON THE REAR BRAKES AND 40% ON THE FRONT BRAKE PADS. I HAVE MADE 4 ROUND TRIPS FROM CHICAGO TO NEW ORLEANS, AND 1 ROUND TRIP FROM CHICAGO TO LAS ANGELES TOTALING ABOUT 13,000 OF THE 25,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. I HAVE NEVER HAD A VEHICLE THAT NEEDED BRAKE PADS REPLACED AFTER 25,000 LET ALONE A VEHICLE WITH OVER HALF OF ITS MILES FROM INTERSTATE DRIVING. FORD REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PRE-MATURE WEAR OF MY BRAKES. AFTER READING SEVERAL OF THE SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THIS WEBSITE, I DOUBT THAT FORD DEALERS HAVE A CLUE ABOUT WHAT THE ACTUAL PROBLEM IS AND HOW TO FIX IT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10080470July 6, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT FROM PARK TO DRIVE. IT TURNS OUT THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CAUSING FUSES TO BLOW WHILE DRIVING. THE FUSE THAT HAD BLOWN MOST WAS THE FUSE FOR MY BRAKE LIGHTS. I WAS DRIVING WITHOUT BRAKE LIGHTS SEVERAL TIMES, UNKNOWINGLY. THE FIRST DEALERSHIP THAT I TOOK THE VEHICLE HAD THE TRUCK FOR 3 DAYS AND SAID THAT THE ALARM SYSTEM WAS CAUSING THE SHORT. THE ALARM SYSTEM WAS INSTALLED BY THE SELLING DEALERSHIP. I WAS SENT AWAY FROM THE DEALERSHIP WITH BIGGER (HIGHER AMP) FUSES IN MY FUSE BOX, A FEW EXTRA FUSES, AND THE KNOWLEDGE OF HOW TO OVER-RIDE THE SHIFTER LOCK IF THE FUSE WAS BLOWN. AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO AND A HALF WEEKS, MOST OF THE TIME WITHOUT BRAKE LIGHTS, I WAS ABLE TO TAKE THE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM. THIS DEALERSHIP HAPPENS TO BE ABOUT 90 MILES FROM MY CURRENT RESIDENCE. THE OTHER DEALERSHIP FOUND THE REAL PROBLEM. THE WIRING HARNESS HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE APPARENTLY, SOME OF THE WIRES GOT TOO HOT, MELTED THE INSULATION, AND FUSED THEMSELVES TOGETHER. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE SHOP FOR 9 DAYS. FORD ALSO CLAIMS THAT I SHOULDN'T WORRY ABOUT ANY DAMAGE THAT MAY HAVE BEEN DONE TO THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS IN MY VEHICLE DUE TO THE SHORT AND ONE OF THE DEALERSHIPS PUTTING BIGGER FUSES IN THE FUSE BOX. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10075512July 6, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE ABS ACTIVATED WHILE ON A DRY PAVEMENT ANDTHE VEHICLE LOST BRAKING POWER. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER, WHO KEPT INSISTING THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER FELT DIFFERENTLY ABOUT THE DEALERS EVALUATION. *AK THE CONSUMERS BROTHER VERIFIED THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG, BUT COULD NOT TAKE IT APART TO CHECK IT OUT BECAUSE OF WARRANTY ISSUES AND THE ENGINE EXPERIENCED A MISS. THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS FOUND BAD. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10080350July 5, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AT APPROXIMATELY 39000 MILES. DIAGNOSTIC CODE P0174. NO LEAKS PRESENT. CODES CLEARED. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT RECURRED AT 42000 MILES. DIAGNOSED AS FAILURE OF BOTH EXHAUST GAS OXYGEN SENSOR 063028 AND SENSOR ASSY 021675. FORD MOTOR REFUSED REIMBURSEMENT FOR DEFECTIVE PARTS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10080365July 5, 2004
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
HINGE ON LIFTGATE GLASS BROKE AND PARTIALLY FELL OFF, CAUSING MINOR BRUISES FINGER & HEAD INJURIES. PE04045.PCO. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10079149July 1, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC STALLS WHEN GOING DOWN THE ROAD. IT'S LIKE YOU'RE TAKING YOUR FOOT OFF THE GAS AND BACK ON IT AGAIN EXCEPT THAT ISN'T WHAT I'M DOING. TODAY IT DID THAT AND THEN WENT DEAD WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. I TOOK IT TO THE FORD PLACE BUT THEY SAID WITH NO LIGHTS ON IT WOULDN'T DO ANY GOOD TO HOOK IT UP TO A MACHINE. THEY SAID IT COULD BE ANYTHING FROM ELECTRONICS, FUEL PUMP, ETC. MY WARRANTY RUNS OUT IN ABOUT 4,500 MILES. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR ABOUT A YEAR WITH THE STALLING OUT BUT THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME IT ACTUALLY WENT DEAD WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. I WOULD ESTIMATE THAT OVER THE PAST YEAR THAT IT HAS STALLED AT LEAST 25 SEPARATE OCCASIONS BUT ONLY 1 TIME SO FAR DID IT GO DEAD. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10079152July 1, 2004
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
FORD 2002 EXPLORER. I HAD MY ONE YEAR OLD IN A GROCERY CART, POPPED OPEN THE HATCH, OPENED IT AND THE GLASS SHATTERED ALL OVER THE CART WITH THE BOTTOM OF THE HATCH SWINGING OUT TOWARD THE CART. THANKFULLY MY CHILD WAS NOT HARMED. I WENT TO FORD, THEY SAID IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL AND THAT IT WAS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. THEY SAID THEY HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS AND THAT IT WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX. *NM PE04045.PCO
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10080231June 30, 2004
TIRES
WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED AND DURING RAIN OR SNOW VEHICLE HYDRO PLANED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO KEEP CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER INDICATED THAT GOODYEAR TIRES CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO HYDRO PLANE. CONSUMER WILL CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THIS ISSUE. GOODYEAR, SIZE 255/70R/16, DOT NUMBER T301936GRF70M4MWS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10080233June 30, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM
WHEN DRIVING CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE SHOWED THE WRONG GAS MEASUREMENTS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10079005June 29, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:PADS
MY CAR WAS SERVICED IN JAN'03 INCLUDING FRONT/REAR BRAKES. I NOTICED THE SAME DAY OF THE SERVICE A NOISE WHENVER YOU WOULD APPLY THE BRAKES. I TOOK THE TRUCK BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES ONLY TO HAVE THE GESTIMATE THE PROBLEM TO HAVING THEM TAKE CAR RIDES W/ME TO HEAR THE NOISE ONLY TO DATE NOT BEING ABLE TO IDENTIFY OR DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. IT IS NOW ALMOST A YEAR AND A HALF LATER AND MY TRUCK IS STILL MAKING THE SAME NOISE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10078918June 28, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
HARSH SHIFTING OF AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10078951June 28, 2004
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
I OPENED ONLY THE WINDOW PORTION OF MY BACK HATCH AND NOTICED THAT ONE OF THE HYDRAULIC ARMS WAS NO LONGER ATTACHED TO THE GLASS SO I BEGAN LOWERING IT AND THE GLASS SHATTERED IN MY HANDS. CONSEQUENT REPAIRS ARE GOING TO COST OVER $700 BEING AS IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY THOUGH JUST OVER 2 YEARS OLD. *AK PE04045.PCO
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10078762June 24, 2004
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
LIFTGATE GLASS APPLIQUE CRACKED. I NOTIFIED THE FORD DEALERSHIP, AND THEY TOLD ME THAT BECAUSE MY CAR WAS NO LONGER COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, FORD WOULD NOT REPLACE THIS ITEM. I EXPLAINED TO THEM THAT THIS WAS A STRUCTURAL DEFECT, AND THAT I DID NOTHING TO CAUSE THE PLASTIC TO CRACK. THEY WERE VERY UNSYMPATHETIC TO MY NEEDS. THIS IS A TWO YEAR-OLD CAR, AND I FEEL THAT IF THEY DO NOT FIX THIS PROBLEM, BY BACK WINDOW WILL NOT BE SECURE, THEREFORE CAUSING YET ANOTHER PROBLEM FOR ME. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT HE HAS SEEN A NUMBER OF EXPLORER'S COME IN WITH THE EXACT SAME DEFECT. THIS CRACK HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH MILEAGE OR ABUSE TO THE CAR. I FEEL THAT FORD SHOULD REPLACE AND REPAIR THIS DEFECT AT NO CHARGE TO ME, AND ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS MODEL.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10079834June 24, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH AND COMING INTO A TURN CONSUMER STARTED TO BRAKE. THE BRAKES GRABBED SEVERELY, AND CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHICH COLLIDED WITH A GUARD RAIL ON THE RIGHT SIDE, AND BOUNCED TO THE LEFT, COLLIDING WITH AN EMBANKMENT. CONSUMER STRUCK HER HEAD ON THE LEFT WINDOW, AND THEN DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. CONSUMER SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES FROM THE GLASS, AND BURNS FROM THE AIR BAGS. THE POLICE DID ARRIVED, AND CONSUMER WAS CITED. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10079869June 23, 2004
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
PROBLEMS WITH THE MATERIAL ON THE MOON ROOF. *MR THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INDICATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER WOULD ONLY COVER THE PROBLEM IF THE VEHICLE WAS WITHIN IT'S WARRANTY 36000 MILES/36 MONTHS, THE VEHICLE HAD 45000 MILES. THE CONSUMER CAME ACROSS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN WHICH EXPLAINED THE TYPE OF PROBLEM THE VEHICLE WAS HAVING SB620978. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10078649June 23, 2004
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
IN AUGUST 2003, REPORTED TO DEALER THAT THE TRUCK WAS GROANING WHEN TURNING. SERVICE ADVISED THAT I WAS TURNING THE WHEEL TOO FAR AND RUBBING THE TIRES ON THE WHEEL WELLS. THIS WAS NOT POSSIBLE SINCE THE TIRES WERE THE ORIGINAL FACTORY INSTALLS. BY NOVEMBER, THE TRUCK WOULD HARDLY TURN WITHOUT DRAGGING THE BACK TIRES AND THE DEALER FOUND THERE WAS NO FLUID IN THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL REQUIRING A COMPLETE OVERHAUL. THEN, IN JUNE 2004, THE "NEW" SEALS FAILED ALLOWING THE FLUID TO, AGAIN, DRAIN OUT. DEALER IS CURRENTLY REPAIRING. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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