Ford Explorer Complaints (2002)

3,572 consumer complaints on file.

#10181246January 31, 2007
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE, SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
RECENTLY THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON INDICATING A PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAG SYSTEM. ALSO, THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RETRACT WHEN THE DRIVER EXITED THE VEHICLE. THE ONBOARD COMPUTER INDICATED A CODE OF 33 IN MEMORY. THIS INDICATED THAT THE MECHANISM UNDER BOTH FRONT SEATS WAS FAULTY. THIS PROBLEM WOULD HAVE CAUSED THE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY UNNECESSARILY OR NOT DEPLOY AT ALL. THE FAULTY SEAT BELT RETRACTOR WOULD NOT HAVE PREVENTED THE DRIVER FROM BEING THROWN FORWARD IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION. THE WARNING LIGHT WAS INTERMITTENT AT FIRST AND EVENTUALLY STAYED ON SO THERE WAS 55,000 MILES RECORDED WHEN I FINALLY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO OUR DEALERSHIP. THE OWNER'S MANUAL REVEALED THAT THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS) IS WARRANTED FOR 5YEARS/50,000 MILES, SO I REALIZE THAT IT WAS BEYOND THE WARRANTY PERIOD. HOWEVER, THIS IS MY CONCERN AND COMPLAINT. THE SRS IS PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT SAFETY SYSTEM IN A VEHICLE AND SHOULD NOT REQUIRE THESE TYPES OF REPAIRS JUST 6 MONTHS AND 5,000 MILES AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRES. THIS SYSTEM SHOULD LAST FOR THE LIFE OF A VEHICLE UNLESS THE VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO BE CONCERNED THAT THEIR SRS SYSTEM WILL FAIL AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRES. I AM NOT A MECHANICAL ENGINEER, BUT THESE PARTS MUST NOT HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED PROPERLY. IF THEY WERE, THEY WOULD NOT HAVE FAILED. AS WAS STATED ABOVE, THIS EXPLORER WAS TOTALLY REDESIGNED AND SENT TO THE DEALER SHOWROOMS PRIOR TO THE START OF THE 2002 MODEL YEAR. WERE THINGS OVERLOOKED OR NOT DONE PROPERLY JUST TO RUSH THIS TOTALLY REDESIGNED EXPLORER TO THE DEALER SHOWROOMS? IF THIS WAS THE CASE, SHOULD THERE BE A RECALL FOR THIS MODEL YEAR IN ORDER TO CHECK THIS PROBLEM AND ENSURE THERE ARE NO SAFETY CONCERNS? THE COST OF THESE REPAIRS IS THE MINOR ISSUE OF MY COMPLAINT. THE MAJOR ISSUE IS THE SAFETY OF THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS. SAFETY PROBLEMS WITH A VEHICLE WILL CAUSE SERIOUS REPERCUSSIONS FOR THE COMPANY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10181276January 31, 2007
STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE
2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT. NOTICED A CRACK IN THE REAR PANEL LOCATED BELOW TAILGATE GLASS THE CRACK IS FROM TOP TO BOTTOM. THE LOCATION OF THIS CRACK IS APPROXIMATELY 3 INCHES TO THE RIGHT OF THE FORD EMBLEM UNDER THE REAR TAILGATE WINDOW.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10181163January 30, 2007
STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE
I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM BUT I BELIEVE IT IS A VERY COMMON OCCURRENCE. I AM (SORRY 'WAS') THE PROUD OWNER OF A 2002 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER V8 AUTO TRANSMISSION. IT HAS SUDDENLY DEVELOPED 2 STRESS CRACKS IN THE PANEL UNDER THE REAR WINDOW - ONE ACTUALLY GOES RIGHT THROUGH THE PANEL FROM END TO END!. THEY WERE MOST CERTAINLY NOT THERE THIS MORNING WHEN I PARKED MY VEHICLE OUTSIDE MY OFFICE BUT IT WAS EXTREMELY COLD IN ATLANTA TODAY, I'VE READ NUMEROUS ARTICLES ON THE INTERNET THIS EVENING AND I AM ABSOLUTELY ALARMED TO DISCOVER THAT THE CRACKING IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE IN THIS YEAR/MODEL EXPLORER IN COLD CONDITIONS - WHY IS FORD NOT DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT?? *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10181075January 30, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL* - THE CONTACT STATED SHE HAS BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH A 2002 FORD EXPLORER SINCE SHE PURCHASED IT IN FEBRUARY 2002. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE VIBRATED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE IS AT A FORD DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE MAY NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REPAIR SHOP TOLD HER THE PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE WAS INTERNAL. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10181152January 30, 2007
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
THE BACK LIFTGATE OR HATCH BACK OF MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED HAS A LARGE VERTICAL CRACK THAT HAS JUST MAGICALLY APPEARED. THE CRACK IS ABOUT 4 INCHES LONG AND ANOTHER 1 INCH BESIDE IT. IT IS LOCATED DIRECTLY UNDER THE REAR GLASS. I WAS ON A WEBSITE THAT HAS ABOUT 65 OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS FOR THIS YEAR'S MODEL OF EXPLORER. I FEEL THAT FORD HAS AN OBLIGATION TO PAY FOR THIS SINCE THEY DID HAVE A RECALL. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10181063January 29, 2007
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
2002 FORD EXPLORER REAR LIFT GATE PANEL BELOW THE WINDOW CRACKED AT AROUND 65,000 MILES. TWO WEEKS LATER IT CRACKED AGAIN. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND A LARGE NUMBER OF PROBLEMS REPORTED ON THE 2002 FORD EXPLORER WITH THIS SAME ISSUE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10180921January 28, 2007
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
BACK SEAT DOOR HANDLE WERE IN CHILD LOCK POSITIONS AND BROKE WHEN PULLED TO OPEN. FIRST THE PASSENGER SIDE AND THEN THE DRIVER SIDE. THE ONE ON THE DRIVER SIDE WAS BROKEN BY THE DEALER WHEN THEY WERE DOING THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE BOLT RECALL. OF COURSE THEY SAY THEY DIDN'T BREAK IT. THE SEAT BACK ADJUSTMENT WAS ALSO BROKEN DURING THE BOLT INSTALLATION. I ONLY HAD 37,000 MILES ON THE TRUCK BUT THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. THEY WANT $300 PER DOOR HANDLE. THIS IS A "DEATH TRAP', AS YOU CANNOT EXIT THE BACK SEAT IF THE POWER IS NOT WORKING ,AS YOU CAN'T EVEN PUT DOWN A WINDOW TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE IF THE ELECTRIC IS OFF. I AM SURE THAT I AM NOT THE FIRST PERSON TO HAVE THE PLASTIC HANDLE BREAK! I NEED TO KNOW IF ANY RECALLS ARE OUT REGARDING BOTH THESE PROBLEMS. FORD SAYS "NO" *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10180885January 27, 2007
STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE
THE PROBLEM IS MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER REAR WINDOW LIFTGATE, MY PANEL BELOW THE REAR WINDOW IS CRACKING FOR NO REASON, I DO NOT USE IS PART OF THE LIFTGATE, AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET I FOUND OVER 100 OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS A DESIGN AND ENGINEERING SAFETY PROBLEM THAT WILL ALLOW THE REAR WINDOW TO FALLOUT OR EXPLODE WHEN OPERATING THE DOOR OR NORMAL DRIVING OF THE VEHICLE . FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD REPLACE THE PANELS AT NO CHARGE TO THE OWNER OF 2002 AND UP FORD EXPLORER WITH THIS TAILGATE DESIGN. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10180773January 26, 2007
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE, STEERING:COLUMN, FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM
THE MIDDLE PANEL UNDER THE GLASS IN THE BACK OF THE CAR HAS CRACKED. I SUSPECT IT WAS DUE TO COLD WEATHER. I HAVE SINCE SEEN OTHER EXPLORERS WITH THIS PROBLEM AND NOTICE THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THIS. IN ADDITION, THIS PAST SUMMER MY SHIFTER SNAPPED OFF THE BARREL. I HAD 4 KIDS IN THE CAR AT THE TIME. FORD RESPONDED BY TELLING ME THAT I HAD 75K MILES AND NO WARRANTY AND I DIDN'T TYPICALLY GET MY CAR SERVICED THERE SO THEY WEREN'T GOING TO BE WILLING TO "WORK WITH ME" TO GET IT RESOLVED. WHEN I TOLD HIM I HAD MY 'REGULAR' MECHANIC LOOK AT IT HE SAID THAT THE LABOR RATE WAS PROBABLY CHEAPER WITH HIM THAN AT FORD. WELL - NOW TELL ME WHY I WOULD SERVICE MY CAR AT A FORD DEALERSHIP? OH YEAH...IN CASE I GET CRACKS OR SHIFTERS FALL OFF AND MAYBE THEY'LL 'WORK WITH ME' ON THE PRICE. BIG INCENTIVE. OH YEAH, MY FUEL GAUGE DOESN'T WORK - ANOTHER COMMON PROBLEM. MY PREVIOUS EXPLORER (ABOUT 10 YEARS BACK) HAD THE SAME PROBLEM . THE GUY UP THE STREET HAS AN EXPLORER (2003) AND IT DOESN'T WORK EITHER. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10180780January 26, 2007
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:LOCK
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT EVERY TIME THE CONTACT WAS UNLOADING GROCERIES OR BOOK BAGS FROM THE BACK OF THE 2002 FORD EXPLORER, THE LIFTGATE GLASS STRUTS BECAME DISENGAGED. ONCE THE STRUTS WERE DISENGAGED THE GLASS CAME DOWN ON THE CONTACT'S HEAD. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10180803January 26, 2007
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR, STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
TL *- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE REAR WINDOW HAS A CRACK NEAR THE WINDOW MOLDING. NO INCIDENT OCCURRED WHICH WOULD HAVE CAUSED THE WINDOW TO CRACK. THE CONTACT ALSO OBSERVED ANOTHER VEHICLE, SAME MAKE AND MODEL WITH AN IDENTICAL PROBLEM. *AK UPDATED 03/07/07*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10180806January 26, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED EDITION. WHILE UNDER WARRANTY, @ 52,000, I HAD MAJOR ISSUES W/ THE TRANSMISSION, AN OVERHAUL WAS COMPLETED, AND MY TRANSMISSION WAS "REBUILT". LESS THAN 2 YEARS LATER AND A LITTLE UNDER 40,000 MILES LATER, MY O/D LIGHT GOES OFF, GEARS SLIPPING AND I AM TOLD I NOW HAVE METAL IN THE PAN AND I DO NOT HAVE 2 GEARS, HENCE, I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. NOW THAT I AM NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, I AM TOLD THIS WILL NOW COST ME $3,000 TO REPLACE. AFTER LOOKING ON-LINE FOR ONLY 10-15 MINUTES, I FIND THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING 2002 EXPLORER TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. I SPOKE TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT MANAGER, AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO SINCE THE "REBUILT" TRANSMISSION ONLY HAS A 1-YEAR WARRANTY ON IT. I CALLED FORD MOTORS, AND AGAIN, WAS TOLD THAT MY WARRANTY IS UP, AND THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PAYMENT. SINCE THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM, I FEEL THAT SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE! FORD NEEDS TO BACK THEIR PROBLEMS AND EITHER ISSUE A RECALL, OR FOOT THE BILL FOR THE THOUSANDS OF TRANSMISSIONS THAT ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND NEED TO BE REPAIRED OR REPLACED. I CAN HONESTLY SAY THAT I WILL NEVER AGAIN BUY A FORD, AND I WILL MAKE SURE I TELL ALL MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY THE LACK OF SUPPORT THAT THIS COMPANY GIVES TO THEIR CUSTOMERS. NO WONDER THEY ARE HAVING FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES!!*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10180808January 26, 2007
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
ICE ON ROAD, LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. CRASHED HEAD ON INTO DITCH EMBANKMENT AND AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY (FAILURE 1) THEN VEHICLE ROLLED OVER ONTO THE PASSENGER SIDE. UNSTABLE VEHICLE MODEL. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10180764January 25, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I BOUGHT MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLS IN NOV 05 WITH 37000 MILES, IN JUNE 06 WITH 43000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED. NOW, HERE IN JAN 07, WITH 52000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION HAS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. IN MY RESEARCH, I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 02 EXPLORERS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10179533January 24, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
OVERDRIVE LIGHT ON DASH OF 2002 FORD EXPLORER FLASHING ROUGH SHIFTING INTO REVERSE AND FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND 2ND TO 3RD. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10180643January 24, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I BOUGHT A USED (FLAWLESS) 2002 FORD EXPLORER WITH 32,000 MILES. I TOOK IT TO A DEALERSHIP WITH WHAT I THOUGHT WAS TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AT WHICH TIME THEY REPLACED THE CILANOILD BODY. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. I HAD THE TRANSMISSION FLUSHED. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED, AND AT 44,000 MILES THE TRANSMISION IS BEING REPLACED. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE 2002 EXPLORER'S TRANSMISSION. OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A PROBLEM BUT FORD WON'T HAS NO RECALL! $3,500 LATER AND A NEW TRANSMISSION THE PROBLEM IS SOLVED. FORD BLEW ME OFF AND I BELIEVE THEY KNEW OF THE PROBLEM!. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10179488January 23, 2007
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT, POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
REAR END ROAR AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND REDUCED GAS MILEAGE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10179512January 23, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH SHE NOTICED THAT THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT WAS FLASHING ON AND OFF. AS SHE APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND AND THE ENGINE IDLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND DIAGNOSED. THE TRANSMISSION BAND FOR THIRD GEAR HAD FAILED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10179525January 23, 2007
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
TSB 05-12-6 REAR-END NOISE IN A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. I HAVE FOUND THAT THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF OTHERS WITH THE SAME SITUATION. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT AND OBVIOUSLY A FLAW ON FORD'S PART. THE COST OF THIS FIX SHOULD CLEARLY BE PLACED ON FORD. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10179292January 21, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH MY TRANSMISSION. IT HAS A HARD TIME GOING INTO GEAR, HAS NO PICKUP WHATSOEVER AND I AM AFRAID TO TAKE IT LONG DISTANCES. I HAVE READ THAT MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM WITH THE 2002 FORD EXPLORER. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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