Ford Explorer Complaints (2002)

3,572 consumer complaints on file.

#10379336January 27, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY LEFT TURN SIGNAL WENT OUT. REPLACED BULB...NO CHANGE. WENT TO DEALERSHIP. THEY REPAIRED STEERING WHEEL HARNESS ISSUE. WORKED UNTIL I DROVE MY AUNT TO DET. METRO FOR A FLIGHT TO DALLAS. SPENT THE WHOLE DRIVE TRYING TO MAKE OTHER DRIVERS REMEMBER HAND SIGNALS FROM THERE TO CENTER LINE, MI ON FREEWAYS. THIS TIME THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMED THE WIRES NEEDED TO BE COVERED WITH A MELT-WRAP TO STOP THE TILT WHEEL FROM PINCHING THE WIRES. I THINK IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RIGHT FROM DAY 1 AND FORD'S SHOULD PAY US BACK FOR BOTH THE BRAKES AND THE LIGHTS. RECALL AND FIX THIS! I HAVE NEVER HAD TO PUT THIS MUCH INTO BRAKES/LIGHTS BEFORE. I'VE BEEN DRIVING FOR 44 YEARS. ALL FORD PRODUCTS. WHAT'S THE PROBLEM WITH THIS ONE????? I NEGLECTED TO SAY THAT MY ROTORS WENT AT 12000 MILES. CAR TURNED INTO A DEATH TRAP SHORTLY AFTER. KEPT TAKING IT TO DEALERSHIP COMPLAINING THAT IT TOOK OFF AND PULLED RIGHT WHEN I BRAKED. THEY REPLACED EVERYTHING THEY COULD TALK ME INTO PAYING FOR TO THE TUNE OF $1100 AND WHEN IT DIDN'T FIX IT THEY STILL CLAIMED THAT THEIR CHARGE WAS TAKING CARE OF "OTHER" PROBLEMS. I MADE THE TECH. DRIVE WITH ME AND REPEAT WHAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM (SLOW BRAKING AS IF AT A STOP SIGN/TRAFFIC LIGHT) AND HE ACTUALLY YELPED WHEN THE TRUCK TOOK OFF AGAIN AND TURNED RIGHT ON HIM. TURNS OUT IT WAS A BAD RIGHT FRONT ANTI-LOCK SENSOR THAT COST ME A FORTUNE. TOO BAD FORD DOESN'T HAVE MORE CAPABLE TECH'S TO FIND THE PROBLEM. ALSO TOO BAD THAT THE SENSOR WASN'T WORKING WELL IN THE FIRST PLACE. BRAKE MODULE REPLACEMENT, ROTORS, PADS...STILL UNDER 30000 AND HAVE NO CONFIDENCE. ALL MY OTHER CARS/TRUCKS WENT WAY BEYOND 70000 MILES WITHOUT ROTOR PROBLEMS. I'M A "LIGHT" BRAKER. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I EVER HAD TO DO THE BRAKES LIKE THIS. I'M BEGINNING TO THINK IT'S A CHEAP-DOWN, MORE WORK FOR THE DEALERS ISSUE. SHAME ON SOMEBODY! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10378773January 26, 2011
STRUCTURE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN THE CONTACT NOTICED A LARGE CRACK ON THE REAR LIFT GATE. THE CRACK WAS LOCATED DIRECTLY UNDER THE REAR LIFT GATE WINDOW. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 60,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10378666January 25, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I WAS DRIVING MY EXPLORER YESTERDAY AND IT WAS ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT GEARS AND INSTEAD SOUNDED LIKE AN EXPLOSION OR A TIRE GETTING BUSTED. THE O/D LIGHT CAME ON AND START FLASHING. IT WOULD RESET ITSELF EVERYTIME THE CAR WAS RESTARTED BUT IMMEDIATELY CAME BACK ON. LATER IN THE EVENING, THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON. I'M NOT ONE TO WAIT AND LET SOMETHING TERRIBLE HAPPEN TO MY VEHICLES SO I TOOK IT TO AAMCO AFTER FORD TOLD US THEY WERE TOO BUSY TO RUN DIAGNOSTICS ON IT. AAMCO EXPLAINED THAT IT WAS EITHER THE TRANSMISSION OR THE SOLENOID PACK. UPON OPENING THE PAN UNDERNEATH, THEY EXPLAINED THAT IF THERE WERE METAL CHUNKS IT WOULD BE THE TRANSMISSION; IF NOT, THE SOLENOID PACK. SURE ENOUGH, THERE WERE BIG METAL CHUNKS. NOW, AFTER HAVING THE CAR ONLY TWO MONTHS, I'M HAVING TO COME UP WITH MONEY TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION IN A CAR THAT APPEARED TO BE IN STELLAR CONDITION. UPON DOING SOME RESEARCH TODAY, APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON AND WELL KNOWN ISSUE IN THE FORD EXPLORER. FORD NEEDS TO STEP UP THEIR QUALITY OF EQUIPMENT USED IN THEIR VEHICLES. IT IS SCARY TO KNOW I COULD HAVE BEEN IN TRAFFIC OR SOMEWHERE ELSE AND THE CAR DIE AND LEAVE ME STRANDED OR HURT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10378489January 24, 2011
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT WAS STANDING UNDER THE REAR LIFT GATE WHEN IT CLOSED ON ITS OWN AND THE GLASS SHATTERED. THE CONTACT DID NOT HAVE SEVERE INJURIES BUT SUSTAINED A HEADACHE AND CUTS ON HER HEAD. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 07E104000 (COMPONENT: VISIBILITY: GLASS, SIDE/REAR) ON THE VEHICLE. THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THE VEHICLE COULD BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND IF THE TECHNICIANS DETERMINED THE REPAIRS WERE NOT PERFORMED CORRECTLY, THEY WOULD COVER THE COSTS OF THE GLASS BUT IF THEY WERE DONE CORRECTLY, THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO COVER THE REPAIR COSTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,263.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10378363January 23, 2011
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER BACK REAR WINDOW EXPLODED THE GLASS HIT THE TOP OF MY HEAD AND CUT MY FACE AND A PIECE GOT IN MY EYE, GLASS WENT EVERY WHERE, IT WAS LIKE A BOMB WENT OFF. I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE THIS HAS HAPPEN TOO. I FEEL THIS REALLY NEEDS TO BE ADDRESS ASP, AND A RECALL ON IT. WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN SOME ONE LOSE A EYE FOR ANYTHING TO BE DONE. JUST CHECK THE REPORT ON THIS, ITS NOT A ONE TIME THING.. IT HAS HAPPEN TO LOST OF THEM WHY ISN'T ANY THING BEING DONE ABOUT IT ? IS FORD PAYING SOMEONE OFF. *LN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10378227January 22, 2011
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER, ORIGINAL PLUGS IN IT FROM DEALER. TODAY I HAD A PLUG EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE RESTING ON TOP OF THE HEAD. LUCKILY I KNOW ABOUT CARS AND HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP. INCIDENT IS COMMON IN FORDS AND COULD LEAD TO POSSIBLE INJURY, SINCE EJECTED PLUG COULD LEAD UP TO EXCESSIVE GASOLINE VAPORS WHICH COULD BE IGNITED BY LOOSE PLUG CAUSING FIRE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10378174January 21, 2011
STRUCTURE:BODY
REAR PANEL CRACKED IN HALF, VEHICLE WAS NOT HIT IT JUST HAPPENED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10377155January 19, 2011
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, INTERIOR LIGHTING, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
THE SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED UPON SIDE DOOR CLOSURE OF A FORD EXPLORER. THE VEHICLE WAS SITTING AFTER RE-FUELING. CONCURRENT WITH AND IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG, THE DOOR ALARM SYSTEM WAS CHIMING THAT A DOOR WAS AJAR, AND AFTER INSPECTION BY A MECHANIC IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE SECURITY/DOOR WARNING SYSTEM MODULE HAS FAILED. FORD WAS SENT THE AIRBAG MODULE FOR INSPECTION, AND HAS YET TO PROVIDE THE RESULTS OF THE MODULE INSPECTION - AFTER A PERIOD OF MORE THAN 5 MONTHS. FURTHER PROBLEMS PERSIST WITH THE ELECTRONIC SYSTEM. THE DOOR AJAR ALARM CONTINUES TO SOUND AT RANDOM INTERVALS, THE INTERIOR LIGHTS FLICKER ON AND OFF AT RANDOM INTERVALS, AND THE DOOR LOCKS REPEATEDLY LOCK AND UNLOCK, ALL OF WHICH CAUSE A DISTRACTING POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD WHILE DRIVING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10378896January 19, 2011
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE PLASTIC PANEL BELOW THE REAR WINDOW CRACKED. FOUND OUT IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND LOCAL DEALERSHIP WILL DO NOTHING TO HELP OUT. MY REPAIR COST WILL BE ABOUT $500. IT IS OBVIOUSLY A DESIGN DEFECT. FORD SHOULD REPAIR AT NO COST TO ME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10377945January 19, 2011
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC FUEL FILL PROBLEM.TANK WILL NOT FILL AND SPLASHES OUT EVERY TIME I TRY TO GET GAS COVERING ME WITH GAS AND SPRAYING OUT EVERY WHERE. FORUMS SHOW THIS IS VARY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE SPORT TRAC. VARY UNSAFE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10377042January 18, 2011
SUSPENSION:REAR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WHICH CAUSED THE BACK WHEEL TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL SYSTEM, REAR WHEEL AND BACK HUB NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $3,600. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED BUT STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,816.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10376564January 13, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY ISSUE STARTED LATE IN 2009. THE O/D LIGHT STARTED COMING ON AND FLASHING AND FOR A FEW MONTHS MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT PROPERLY INTO 3RD GEAR AND OVERDRIVE. IT WOULD SLIP AND CLUNK INTO GEAR. THEN WHILE DRIVING UP HILL ON A MAIN ROAD THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING. IT WOULD NOT PROPEL MY VEHICLE AND SHUT DOWN RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY ROAD WHICH NEARLY CREATED A MULTI-CAR ACCIDENT. BOTH FORWARD AND REVERSE DID NOT WORK MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO GET MY CAR OFF THE ROAD. MY CAR HAS BEEN SITTING IN THE BACK YARD SINCE I CAN NOT AFFORD THE COSTLY REPAIRS. I FEEL THERE IS AN OVERWHELMING AMOUNT OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND FORD SHOULD RECALL THIS ITEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10376297January 11, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AT 105K MILES, OUR 2002 FORD EXPLORER STARTED SHAKING AS IT SHIFTED THROUGH THE GEARS. WE TOOK IT TO A FORD DEALER WHO CHARGED $2,000 FOR "FIXING" THE PROBLEM. DRIVING AWAY FROM THE DEALER, THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. WE TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER WHO SAID THERE WAS ANOTHER ERROR CODE THAT COST US $30. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED, AND TODAY FORD SAID THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED. AT JUST OVER 100K MILES, THERE IS NO REASON THAT THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD COMPLETELY GO OUT. WE ARE NOW LEFT WITH A VEHICLE THAT WE CAN'T SELL AND CAN'T DRIVE. LOOKING AT SEVERAL OTHER DESCRIPTIONS ON THIS WEBSITE, IT IS APPARENT THAT FORD CONTINUES TO IGNORE THIS TRANSMISSION ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10376307January 11, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THIS IS THE SECOND TIME MY O/D OFF LIGHT HAS STARTED FLASHING AND NOW THE TRANSMISSION HAS STARTED SHIFTING EXTREMELY HARD. I HAVE NOW BEEN TOLD THAT I NEED TO HAVE MY TRANSMISSION REBUILT. THAT IS A $2800 JOB. THIS IS AFTER A YEAR AND HALF AGO I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE AND HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. WHICH WAS A $2400 JOB. I DON'T SEE EXACTLY HOW I COULD HAVE GONE THROUGH TWO TRANSMISSIONS IN LESS THAN TWO YEARS WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10375537January 10, 2011
SUSPENSION
2002 FORD EXPLORER HUB ASSEMBLY/WHEEL BEARING FAILURE. THE LEFT REAR TIRE COMPLETELY LOCKED UP AND HAD TO BE TOWED. UPON INSPECTION THE BEARING HAD RIPPED APART SO BAD YOU COULD SEE THE METAL COMING OUT OF THE REAR SIDE OF THE TIRE, WHERE THE AXLE SHAFT CONNECTS. IN ADDITION TO THAT, RIGHT REAR HUB ASSEMBLY WAS VERY LOOSE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. 2 WEEKS LATER, THE FRONT LEFT HUB IS SO BAD THAT IT'S ROARING AND THUMPING AND FEELS LIKE IT'S ALSO READY TO LOCK UP. 88K MILES ON EXPLORER, THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THE REAR HUB WERE REPLACED. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY EITHER A FLAW IN THE DESIGN OR JUST SUBSTANDARD DANGEROUS DEFECTIVE PARTS PRODUCED BY FORD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10377297January 10, 2011
AIR BAGS, POWER TRAIN, STEERING
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON,PULLED PLUG APART UNDER DRIVERS ,SEAT SPRAYED CLEANER ON IT PUT IT BACK TOGETHER, TOOK CARE OF THAT PROBLEM. GEAR SHIFT LEVER SHEARED OFF. FORD SAYS YOU NEED TO REPLACE STEERING COLUMN. WENT ONLINE FOUND A MAN IN SWEDEN THAT MADE A REPLACEMENT PART,ORDERED IT ,PUT IT ON ,WORKS GREAT. (WHY COULDN'T FORD SUPPLY ONE?) THE TRANSMISSION IS STARTING TO ACT UP, YOU SHIFT IN TO DRIVE IT HESITATES AND LEAPS FORWARD, QUITE HARD, SAME IN REVERSE. FORD SHOULD RECALL THIS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10375272January 9, 2011
SUSPENSION
I'VE HAD TO REPLACE TWO BALL BEARINGS IN MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLS. FIRST THE BACK LEFT AND NOW THE BACK RIGHT. WITH THE LATEST, THE BACK LEFT, THE TIRE ON THE BACK LEFT WAS ALMOST SEIZING UP FROM THE PROBLEM AND MY CAR WAS LEADING TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT FROM THE GRINDING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10375325January 9, 2011
SUSPENSION:REAR
THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO REPLACE REAR BRAKES WHERE A TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS FRACTURED. REPAIRED BRAKES AND REAR SPRINGS. WAS INFORMED BY SHOP THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH 2002 FORD EXPLORERS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 76,000. ADDED NOTE, THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN USED TO TOW OR CARRY HEAVY LOADS, ONLY USED AS PERSONAL TRANSPORT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10375241January 8, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE TRANSMISSION ON OUR 2002 FORD EXPLORER NEEDED TO BE REBUILT AT 36,000 MILES AND IS NOW NEEDING TO BE REBUILT AGAIN AT 74,000 MILES. THE FIRST REPAIR WAS DONE AT A FORD DEALERSHIP AND AFTER MUCH COMPLAINING WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE SOME OF THE COST ABSORBED BY PURCHASING AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE CAR STARTED SHIFTING ROUGH AGAIN A FEW WEEKS AGO AND THEN QUICKLY PROGRESSED TO FULLY SKIPPING 3RD GEAR. WE ARE NOW FACING REBUILDING IT AGAIN. WE HAVE READ UP ON THE PROBLEM AND HAVE DISCOVERED THAT IT IS VERY COMMON FOR THE EARLIER BUILT 2002 FORD EXPLORERS. WE HAVE EVEN DISCOVERED A POSTING ON A FORD TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN EXPLAINING EXACTLY OUR SITUATION (HTTP://216.198.221.184/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?P=2595868) TSB 04-24-17. THE MOST FRUSTRATING THING IS THAT FORD IS AWARE THEY BUILT A FAULTY TRANSMISSION THAT WILL NEED TO BE REBUILT EVERY 35,000-40,000 MILES AND THEY ARE DOING NOTHING ABOUT IT. UPON PURCHASING A CAR I FEEL THAT IT IS NOT UNREASONABLE TO EXPECT THE TRANSMISSION TO LAST MORE THAN 40,000 MILES. WE ARE NOW IN THE UNUSUAL SITUATION WHERE WE NO LONGER WANT TO OWN THIS VEHICLE BUT FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE SELLING IT TO ANYONE KNOWING THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM AND THAT THE NEW OWNER WILL ALSO HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE EXPENSIVE REPAIRS OF REBUILDING THE TRANSMISSION IN ANOTHER 40,000 MILES. *LN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10375066January 7, 2011
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH THE ENGINE SURGED AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED AND THE GEAR SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL THE RPMS WOULD INCREASE EXCESSIVELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS OR WARRANTIES ON THE VEHICLE AND THEY OFFERED NO ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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