Ford Explorer Complaints (2002)

3,572 consumer complaints on file.

#10384249February 23, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
GOING OUT OF TOWN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IN TRAFFIC AT 65MPH. O/D LIGHT STARTED FLASHING ON AND OFF. TRANSMISSION STARTED ACTING ERRATICALLY AND I FELT THAT I LOST 5TH AND 2ND GEARS. SHOP RAN DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND CODES P0732, P0735 AND P0775. CODES CONFIRMED PROBLEMS WITH 2ND AND 5TH GEARS AND SOLENOID B MALFUNCTION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10384034February 22, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I OWN A 2002 FORD EXPLORER WITH THE TOWING PACKAGE AND 4.6L V-8 MOTOR. I HAVE 181,457 MILES ON IT AND HAVE MAINTAINED IT WELL. THE MOTOR DOES NOT BURN ANY OIL AND HAS NOT GIVEN ME ANY TROUBLE UNTIL THIS MORNING, WHEN I STARTED MY CAR. THIS MORNING WHEN I STARTED MY CAR, I HEARD A LOUD BANG AND MY CAR ENGINE WAS LOUD AND RUNNING VERY ROUGH. UPON INSPECTION, I NOTICED THAT ONE OF THE SPARK PLUGS HAD BEEN BLOWN OUT OF THE RIGHT SIDE CYLINDER HEAD, BREAKING THE MOUNTING HARNESS OFF OF THE COIL FOR THIS CYLINDER. I TRIED TO SCREW THE SPARK PLUG BACK INTO THE CYLINDER, BUT THE THREADS WERE STRIPPED OUT. AFTER LOOKING THIS UP ON-LINE, I LEARNED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORD V-8 MOTORS USED IN F-150'S, EXPEDITIONS, EXPLORERS, ETC. I HAVE HEARD MECHANICS CALL EXPLORERS "EXPLODERS" BEFORE, AND NOW I KNOW WHY. I HAVE NEVER HAD A SPARK PLUG BLOWN OUT OF A CYLINDER HEAD BEFORE AND AFTER READING ALL OF THE INFORMATION ON-LINE, SPEAKING TO THE AUTO REPAIR MANAGER WHERE I HAVE MY CARS SERVICED, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT THEY HAVE SEEN FREQUENTLY WITH FORD V-8 MOTORS. WHEN I MENTIONED THIS TO THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER TODAY, HE SAID THAT HE HAS TOWED ALOT OF FORDS THAT HAD THE SAME ISSUE. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT AND DO WHAT IS RIGHT. ISSUE A RECALL AND/OR OFFER ASSISTANCE WITH VEHICLE REPAIRS OF THIS NATURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10383394February 20, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TODAY IS 2/21/2011 AND JUST HAD THE CRAP SCARED OUT OF ME, THREE CHILDREN (AGES 4, 2, AND A 10 MONTH OLD) AND 4 OTHER VEHICLES WHEN GUESS WHAT---MY TRANSMISSION BLEW THE SERVO PLUG!!!! GEE IMAGINE THAT ANOTHER PIECE OF JUNK THAT CHINA/JAPAN OR WHATEVER YOU CALL THEM PEOPLE, ASSEMBLED!!! THANKS AGAIN FORD FOR SELLING OUT!!! FORD CEO'S WHOM I'M SURE ARE FILTHY RICH ARENT TRUE AMERICAN PEOPLE OTHERWISE THEY WOULDNT HAVE SOLD US OUT TO ANOTHER COUNTRY!!!!! DRIVING TODAY AT A LEGAL 45 MPH MY SERVO PLUG BLEW OUT CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE AND CAUSING NOT ONLY MYSELF BUT 4 OTHER VEHICLES TO END UP OF THE ROAD CAUSING A NEAR PILE UP!!!!! WHAT ARE YOU (FORD) GOING TO DO FOR US PEOPLE THAT WERE CONNED INTO BUYING A PIECE OF CRAP FROM A PUSHY SALESMEN THAT FORD TRAINED!!!! DID THESE SALESMEN KNOW THAT THESE WERE JUNK AND THATS WHY THE PRICE WAS RIGHT!!! WELL ANYWAYS FORD HASNT SEEN/HEARD THE LAST FROM ME ABOUT THIS ISSUE!!!! I WILL BE THAT GUY THAT FORD IS GONNA HATE, I MUST ADMIT TO YOU GUYS AS YOU WILL FIND OUT I AM WITHOUT ANY DOUBT THE "BIGGEST [XXX] ON THE FACE OF THIS PLANET" AND I INTEND ON BEING JUST THAT UNTIL FORD TAKES CARE OF MY TRANSMISSION!!!!!! IF NEEDED I WILL SPEND EVERY DAY OF MY LIFE (UNTIL I'M 6 FEET UNDER) PURSUING THIS ISSUE!!!! LOOK OUT FORD HERE I COME!!!!!! PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10382934February 16, 2011
SUSPENSION:FRONT
2002 FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED AT 80,000 MILES.*TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10382972February 16, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER I BOUGHT ABOUT A YEAR AGO. EVERYTHING WAS WORKING FINE..I HAVE MY ABS LIGHT ON..WHEN I TRY TO STOP THE CAR MY BRAKE ENGAGE BUT WHEN IT COME TO THE FINAL STOP IT GIVES AND THE PRESSURE ON THE TRUCK IS NO LONGER THERE.. I FEEL LIKE I AM GOING TO CRASH IN TO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME.. I BROUGHT THE TRUCK TO THE MECHANIC AND CHECKED EVERYTHING AND DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT.. NO LEAKS OR ANYTHING.. BUT DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS CAUSING IT... I NOTICED THAT THERE ARE MANY OF THE SAME ISSUES REGARDING THE BRAKES NOT WORKING PROPERLY.. PLEASE ADDRESS THIS ISSUE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED.. THANK YOU *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10382738February 15, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2002 4 X 4 FORD EXPLORER, WHILE DRIVING IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC THE TIMING CHAINS WENT ON THIS TRUCK. OF COURSE THE ENGINE STOPPED WORKING AND I HAD THE HUGE PROBLEM OF PUSHING IT OFF THIS 3 LANE BUSY HIGHWAY. DID GET IT OFF AND NOW WAITING TO RAISE ENOUGH MONEY FOR REPLACEMENT ENGINE. YES THE OIL WAS CHANGED EVERY 3200 - 3400 MILES, DEFAULT WITH THE FORD ENGINES, PLASTIC SPROCKS. SO I AM WITHOUT A TRUCK UNTIL MONEY IS RAISED OR FORD DOES A RECALL. I KNOW! THERE WAS NO SIGN OTHER THAN A SLIGHT NOISE STARTING AND CALLED THE GARAGE AND NEVER GOT THERE. MY TRUCK IS IN GREAT SHAPE, NO RUST, NO ACCIDENTS AND I LOVE TO DRIVE IT! THE GAS IS NOT BAD AT ALL IF YOU DON'T HORSE IT! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10382736February 15, 2011
STRUCTURE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE LIFT GATE PANEL WAS CRACKED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS AND OFFERED NO ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE ENTIRE LIFT GATE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 154,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10382674February 14, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I AM ANOTHER VICTIM OF THE 2002 FORD EXPLORER AND ITS TRANSMISSION WOES. ALERTED BY A FLASHING OD YELLOW WARNING LIGHT, AFTER A TRIP TO THE GARAGE AND RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, I DISCOVER THIS IS A SIGN THAT I WILL NEED A $3000 TRANSMISSION REBUILD ON A VEHICLE WITH ONLY 99K MILES THAT WAS CAREFULLY USED AND DEALER SERVICED. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM BY FORD AND HAVE DONE NOTHING TO RECTIFY IF WITH CONSUMERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10382471February 12, 2011
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, STRUCTURE:BODY
FORD EXPLORER SPORT-TRAC 2001-2005 THE BODY MOUNTS ARE CRUMBLING, KNOWN DEFECT ON ALL THESE VEHICLES, INFERIOR RUBBER - CAUSING EXPOSURE OF BODY TO FRAME. POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE - COULD VERY LIKELY CAN CAUSE ROLL-OVERS AS THE RUBBER DISINTEGRATES THERE IS NO SUPPORT BETWEEN THE BODY AND THE FRAME. FORD IS AWARE OF THIS DEFECT BUT HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10381717February 12, 2011
STRUCTURE:BODY
FORD EXPLORER CRACKED REAR PANEL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10381434February 10, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, SUSPENSION:REAR, EQUIPMENT
O/D LIGHT FLASHES FOR A FEW DAYS THEN AT AROUND 25 MPH THE GEAR SWITCHES INTO NEUTRAL AND RUNS VERY ROUGH THEN THE CAR IS THROWN FORWARD. HAD A REBUILT TRANSMISSION (WE WERE TOLD WE WERE GETTING A BRAND NEW TRANSMISSION AND PAID EXTRA FOR IT!) AT 83K MILES ON OCT 15, 2010 THEN FEB 5, 2011 THE SAME EXACT THING HAPPENS. THE DEALER CANNOT TAKE THE TRUCK FOR ANOTHER 5 DAYS AND REFUSED TO GIVE ME A LONER CAR BECAUSE IT IS NOT UNDER THE WARRANTY. PLEASE NOTE: BELOW I PUT IN THE FIRST INCIDENT DATE, FEB 2011 IS THE SECOND INCIDENT DATE. IN MAY OF 2009 I WAS TOLD MY ENGINE FAILED AT ABOUT 76,000 MILES. WE DID BUY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND WE WERE COVERED. THE FORD DEALERSHIP TOLD US WE WERE NOT COVERED. THEY HAD OUR TRUCK FOR 3 WEEKS UNTIL THE WARRANTY PEOPLE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND LET THEM KNOW IT SHOULD BE FIXED. WE ALSO HAD A RENTAL CAR OR A LONER CAR UNDER THE WARRANTY. THEY REFUSED TO PAY FOR A RENTAL CAR AND SAID THEY DID NOT HAVE A LOANER CAR AVAILABLE. IT TOOK 4 MORE WEEKS (IN TOTAL 7 WEEKS) TO GET THE TRUCK BACK AND NEVER PAID FOR THE RENTAL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10381226February 9, 2011
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
DOORS WILL NOT SHUT IN THE FREEZING COLD WEATHER. WENT OUT TO THE EXPLORER TONIGHT, GOT IN, SHUT THE DOOR AND PROCEEDED TO DRIVE. I TAKE THE HIGHWAY ON RAMP AND MY DRIVERS DOOR FLEW OPEN. I STOPPED AND TRIED TO SHUT IT AND IT JUST BOUNCED OPEN AGAIN AND AGAIN BECAUSE THE LATCH WAS FROZEN. I FINALLY GET IT TO STAY CLOSED, DROP MY PASSENGER OFF AND THEN THE PASSENGER'S DOOR WOULDN'T CLOSE EITHER. I DROVE ALL THE WAY HOME HOLDING MY PASSENGER'S DOOR CLOSED. THIS TRUCK IS THE ABSOLUTE BIGGEST PIECE OF GARBAGE I HAVE EVER DRIVEN IN MY LIFE. IF YOU ARE READING THIS COMPLAINT AND HAVE NOT YET PURCHASED AN EXPLORER I STRONGLY URGE YOU TO RECONSIDER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10380995February 7, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT(NA). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO HELP BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 107,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10380884February 6, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AT APPROXIMATELY 60,000 MILES, MY TRANSMISSION ON MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER FAILED. THERE ARE THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE. FORD HAS NOT RECOGNIZED THE DEFECT. THIS POSES SEVERAL HAZARDS SUCH AS A LOCKING TRANSMISSION ON THE HIGHWAY, SLIPPING TRANSMISSION WHEN IN PARK, NO ABILITY TO MOVE WHEN IN TRAFFIC. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10380081February 3, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED SHIFTING CORRECTLY, STARTED MAKING BAD NOISES, WON'T SHIFT OUT OF SECOND GEAR, AND THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT IS FLASHING SPASTIC. THE VEHICLE IS ALMOST UNDRIVEABLE, AND THIS APPEARS TO BE A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM FROM WHAT I HAVE READ. I AM ABOUT TO TAKE IT INTO A TRANSMISSION SHOP FOR DIAGNOSIS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10379840February 1, 2011
EQUIPMENT
WATER AND MELTING SNOW LEAK INTO THE VEHICLE ONTO THE DOME LIGHTS, GARAGE DOOR OPENER, AND SUNROOF SWITCH AND MOTOR DUE TO THE SUNROOF DRAIN HOSES BECOMING CLOGGED OR DEVELOPING HOLES IN THEM. WATER COMING IN CONTACT WITH THESE ITEMS CAN SHORT THEM OUT OR START A FIRE. *LN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10379847February 1, 2011
WHEELS
I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL CHANGED AND BOTH WHEEL BEARINGS. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AT 80000 MILES FOR ME BUT IS SO WIDE SPREAD IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL THAT IT OCCURS OVER AND OVER. *LN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10380591February 1, 2011
POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION FAILURE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10380492January 31, 2011
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, SUSPENSION
WHILE INSPECTING THE LEFT, REAR WHEEL BEARING A BROKEN SPRING WAS FOUND. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE WHEEL BEARING WAS ALSO IN A STAGE OF FAILURE. A LOAD NOISE LIKE THE VEHICLE HAD "TRUCK TIRES" WAS COMING FROM THE REAR. THE SPRING WAS FRACTURED AT THE TOP IN MULTIPLE PLACES AND PARTIALLY COLLAPSED
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10379467January 28, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, STRUCTURE
I HAVE 2 ISSUES WITH MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER..THE FIRST ISSUE IS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. I BOUGHT THIS LAST YEAR AND TOOK IT BACK TO WHERE I BOUGHT IT 2 DAYS LATER AND THEY HAD THE TRANSMISSION SHOP THEY DEAL WITH LOOK AT IT AND WAS TOLD THERE'S NOTHING WRONG. WHEN I GO TO PUT IT IN DRIVE OR REVERSE THE VEHICLE WONT MOVE. ONCE I START DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION KEEPS SLIPPING AND WHEN STOPPED AT RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN I HAVE TO BE VERY CAUTIOUS BECAUSE IT WONT GO AND WANTS TO DRIFT BACKWARDS AND WANTS TO STALL AND I DON'T WANT TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT BY DRIFTING INTO SOMEONE. I HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS EVERYDAY AND IT'S GETTING OLD NOW. THE SECOND ISSUE IS THE REAR HATCH/DOOR.. TODAY I TOOK NOTICE THAT THERE IS A CRACK RIGHT UNDER THE WINDOW WHERE THE REAR FORD EMBLEM IS LOCATED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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