Ford Explorer Complaints (2002)

3,572 consumer complaints on file.

#10401352May 17, 2011
STRUCTURE:BODY
VERTICAL CRACK REAR LIFE WINDOW ASSEMBLY NEAR 2002 FORD EXPLORER LOGO. VERTICAL CRACK GOES BETWEEN WINDOW GLASS AND BOTTOM OF LIFT WINDOW. I FEEL THE WHOLE REAR WINDOW GLASS WILL FAIL ON THE HIGHWAY AND SERIOUSLY EFFECT OTHER DRIVERS WITH THE HAIL OF GLASS. RECALL OF HINGES HAD BEEN COMPLETED RIGHT AFTER ORIGINAL NEW PURCHASE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10400920May 15, 2011
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER THAT I PURCHASED 8 MONTHS AGO. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE SWITCH THAT CONTROLS THE WINDOWS 8 TIMES NOW. THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW GOES DOWN WHILE NOONE IS TOUCHING IT AND WILL NOT GO BACK UP. I HAVE JUMPED THE WINDOW UP AND DISCONNECTED THE PLUG UNTIL I COULD AFFORD IT EVERY TIME THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED. THE COST IS ABOUT $200 TO REPAIR. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IT IS SO FREQUENT AND UNTIL A PERSON CAN AFFORD TO FIX THE PROBLEM YOU HAVE TO JUMP YOUR WINDOW AND DISCONNECT THE PLUG, ALLOWING NONE OF THE WINDOWS TO GO DOWN. WHAT IF THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT AND PUTTING A WINDOW DOWN WAS THE ONLY WAY FOR AN ADULT OR A CHILD TO GET OUT OF THIS VEHICLE? TO ME THAT IS DANGEROUS! AND TERRIFYING! IN 8 MONTHS OF OWNING A VEHICLE THAT I PAID $6,500 FOR I HAVE NOW PUT $1,600 INTO ON TOP OF IT! AND I WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE TO DO SO IF THIS PROBLEM IS NOT RECALLED. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO 4 DIFFERENT GARAGES AND THE ONLY "FIX" OPTION I AM GETTING IS TO REPLACE THE SWITCH! THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING MORE THAN THIS IF THE SWITCH IS GOING BAD EVERY MONTH OR MORE! THIS LAST TIME IT TOOK A WHOLE 3 DAYS FOR THE SWITCH TO GO BAD AGAIN! I UNDERSTAND THAT SOME PEOPLE MAY FEEL AS THOUGH THIS IS NOT DANGEROUS OR IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE, BUT LETS BE REAL HERE.....IF THE PLUG IS NOT CONNECTED THE WINDOWS CANNOT GOT DOWN. SO IF THERE IS A FIRE OR AN ACCIDENT AND THIS IS THE ONLY WAY OUT PEOPLE MAY DIE!! SOME PEOPLE MAY SAY TO JUST KEEP PAYING TO HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED, HOWEVER IT IS GETTING EXPENSIVE AND IT IS NOT TRULY FIXING WHATEVER THE PROBLEM IS! FORD MADE THIS VEHICLE AND SHOULD HAVE TO FIX THIS ISSUE!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10400849May 14, 2011
STEERING, POWER TRAIN
WHILE BACKING UP, THE GEAR SHIFT BROKE ON MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER. IT WAS GOOD THAT I WAS NOT IN TRAFFIC BECAUSE I COULD NOT GET THE CAR BACK IN GEAR AND COULD HAVE GOTTEN HIT AND OR CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED AND THE PARTS WERE IN MY OPINION OVER PRICED. MY FEAR IS THAT IT MAY HAPPEN AGAIN BECAUSE IT MAY HAVE BEEN REPLACED WITH THE SAME DEFECTIVE PART. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10400833May 13, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2002 FORD EXPLORER SPARK PLUG EJECTION ISSUE ON V8 4.6L ENGINE. THIS IS NOW THE SECOND TIME THAT I HAVE HAD SPARK PLUGS EJECT FOR THE ENGINE. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND FORD REDUCED THE NUMBER OF THREADS FOR THE SPARK PLUGS TO SAVE MACHINING TIME AND COSTS IN THE MANUFACTURING OF THE ENGINE. THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE. THE FIRST TIME I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO GET THE SPARK PLUG THREADED BACK IN AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT SOMEWHERE FOR PROPER REPAIR. I AM NOT SO LUCKY THE SECOND TIME AS THE THREADS IN THE HEAD ARE DESTROYED. NOW I HAVE THE EXTRA COST OF TOWING THE TRUCK FOR REPAIR. I HAVE READ MANY FORUMS ON THIS ISSUE YET FORD CONTINUES TO IGNORE THE SAFETY OF IT'S CUSTOMERS. IT IS TIME FOR THEM TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR DESIGN DEFECTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10400609May 12, 2011
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
EXPLORER GAS WILL NOT PUMP. CLICKS EVERY FEW SECONDS . *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10400540May 11, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED AND WAS REPLACED AT THE CONTACTS EXPENSE. TWO YEARS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC SHOP WHO ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED OR REBUILT A SECOND TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE AND THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10399757May 10, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 60K MILES. HARD SHIFTING, JERKING, SUDDEN SHIFTS INTO 4X4 HIGH. REPLACEMENT COST OF 2800 DOLLARS. THREE VISITS LATER AND IT STILL ISN'T RIGHT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10399106May 4, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION HAS HAD PROBLEMS SINCE CAR WAS BOUGHT. HAVE HAD WORK DOWN ON IT AND FINALL Y HAD TO REPLACE IT IN MAY 2011, COST $5000. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10398499May 2, 2011
POWER TRAIN
FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSIONS SLIPPING AND GOING OUT WILL GET U KILLED IF U PULL OUT IN TRAFFIC AND IT STARTS SLIPPING AND WANT GO SOMEONE MAY HIT U AND GET U KILLED. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10398080April 28, 2011
POWER TRAIN
MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER HAS A REAR END NOISE IT IS REALLY LOUD I'VE NOTICED MANY EXPLORERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE REPLACE REAR AXLE THE WHOLE REAR END AND THE NOISE COMES BACK I THINK ITS RIDICULOUS THAT I HAVE TO PAY ALL THIS MONEY TO FIX IT WHEN ITS A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM FOR FORD EXPLORERS. FORD SHOULD HAVE A SOLUTION BY NOW AND SHOULD FIX IT FOR FREE.THE NOISE IS A CONSTANT WHEN DRIVING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10398008April 27, 2011
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE AND THEN SHIFTING THE GEAR IN PARK, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED BACKWARD AND CRASHED INTO A FENCE. NO ONE WAS INJURED BUT THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED MINOR SCRATCHES ON THE REAR PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDES. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,900.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10397362April 25, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, SUSPENSION:REAR
OUR 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT WITH 109,000 MILES HAS SERIOUS TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEARS. THE LOCAL DEALER AND AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP STATE THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS REPLACED AT A COST BETWEEN $2,500 AND $3,500. IT IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE IN ITS CURRENT CONDITION BECAUSE THERE ARE TIMES WHEN IT WILL NOT ACCELERATE. THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL AND BALL BEARINGS ALSO NEED REPLACED ACCORDING TO 2 SEPARATE MECHANICS. THERE IS A RANDOM THUMPING COMING FROM THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE DAILY. THE COST TO REPAIR IS BETWEEN $2,000 AND $5,000. THEY CANNOT TELL US EXACTLY UNTIL THEY ACTUALLY GET IN THERE TO DO THE REPAIR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10396781April 19, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY TRANSMISSION ON MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT WONT SHIFT INTO 3RD GEAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10396723April 18, 2011
POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION IS WHINING AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10396506April 15, 2011
SUSPENSION
READ STRUT SPRINGS FAIL AND CRACK. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN REPORTED IN THE PAST AND MANY OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON BOTH THE REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. FORD HAS BEEN NOTIFIED MANY TIMES WITH NO RESPONSE. I HAVE BEEN DOING A LOT OF RESEARCH INTO THIS ISSUE, AND REALIZED THAT HUNDREDS OF OWNERS AR CLAIMING THE SAME PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10396039April 15, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WHEN THE OVERDRIVE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE TRANSMISSION ALSO EXHIBITED SEVERE HESITATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DETECTED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,071.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10396044April 15, 2011
STEERING, POWER TRAIN
PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS !!!! THE EXPLORER GEAR SHIFTER IS DEFECTIVE AND UNSAFE. THERE IS A COMMON THREAD WITH GEARSHIFT SELECTOR BREAKAGE ON FORD EXPLORERS WHICH INDICATES THAT RECALL IS URGENTLY NEEDED. AFTER PARKING, I TRIED TO MOVE THE GEAR SHIFTER FROM DRIVE TO PARK TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. TO MY ABSOLUTE ASTONISHMENT THE GEAR SHIFTER BROKE LIKE A DANGLING BROKEN ARM IN THE REVERSE POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS RENDERED USELESS AND ME OPTIONLESS. I WORK AT A SECURE GOV'T FACILITY AND IT WAS NO PICNIC TRYING TO GET A TOW TRUCK DRIVER ACCESS. I FINALLY GOT THE TRUCK TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP AT $85. THE DEALER THEN INFORMED ME THAT THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT $1,690. THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE PART AND NEEDED A DAY TO GET THE TRUCK BACK TO ME. I HAD TO RENT A CAR WHICH WAS ANOTHER $102 BUCKS. MAKE FORD TAKE CARE OF THIS SAFETY HAZARD. I ASKED FOR THE PART AND CAN SHOW YOU WHAT BROKE INSIDE WHICH IS LITERALLY A WEAK METAL HOUSING THAT THE GEAR SHIFT HANDLE FITS IN.... *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10395962April 15, 2011
POWER TRAIN
MY WIFE WAS PREPARING TO TAKE OUR 3 CHILDREN TO SCHOOL. SHE PUT OUR 2002 FORD EXPLORER IN REVERSE AND BACKED OUT OF OUR DRIVEWAY. AFTER STOPPING, SHE ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT INTO DRIVE. THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER BROKE, LEAVING HER WITH A CAR STUCK IN NEUTRAL. THE KEYS ARE LOCKED IN THE IGNITION AND CANNOT BE REMOVED. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ONLINE, I WAS VERY SURPRISED TO DISCOVER THIS IS NOT A RECALL ITEM AND THAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY'S RECOMMENDED FIX IS CHANGING OUT THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN. IS THIS REALLY TRUE? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10395579April 12, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT BROKE OFF WHILE SWITCHING GEARS FROM DRIVE TO PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR A MECHANIC SINCE THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVE IT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 148,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10395494April 11, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
DRIVING 2002 FORD EXPLORER WHEN O/D LIGHT FLASHED AND WARNING CAME ON TO CHECK TRANSMISSION. WILL NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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