Ford Explorer Complaints (2002)

3,572 consumer complaints on file.

#10179257January 20, 2007
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
WE HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WE BOUGHT IT NEW. OUR TRANSMISSION IS CURRENTLY GOING OUT ON THE VEHICLE. IT IS AT 110,000 MILES. HAD IT TO DEALERSHIP AFTER FIRST BOUGHT IT AND DEALERSHIP REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER AND THEN AT ABOUT 38000 MILES IT STARTED DOING IT AGAIN. HAVE NOW BEEN TOLD IT IS THE TRANSMISSION. WE ALSO HAVE A HUMMING COMING FROM OUR RIGHT REAR TIRE AND FRONT. NOW TOLD IT IS THE WHEEL BEARINGS. HAVE SEVERAL FRIENDS WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS ON THEIR 2002 EXPLORERS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10178907January 17, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL* - THE TRANSMISSION ON A 2002 FORD EXPLORER 4.0 LITER SLIPS GEARS OCCASIONALLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER ENGAGING THE ACCELERATOR WHEN AT A FULL STOP THE TRANSMISSION WILL SLIP INTO NEUTRAL AND THEN SEVERAL SECONDS LATER THE TRANSMISSION WILL JERK INTO GEAR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107000. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10178927January 17, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
VEHICLE ALWAYS SHIFTED HARD. SUDDENLY BEGAN SLIPPING BETWEEN GEARS. IMMEDIATELY TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REFERRED IT TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP. THE SOLUTION WAS A TOTAL REBUILD AT 66,700 MILES. PARTIALLY COVERED BY AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, BUT STILL COST $1300 OUT-OF-POCKET. LOVE THE TRUCK. DISLIKE THE MANUFACTURER FOR NOT STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE. THE TRANSMISSION ON A TRUCK/SUV SHOULD BE ONE OF THE MORE DURABLE COMPONENTS NOT ONE OF THE WEAKEST (OPINION). *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10178980January 17, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING. IT MAKES NOISE, TAKES A LONG TIME TO GET INTO 2ND AND 3RD GEAR, ALSO REVERSE. IT JUMPS WHEN IT FINALLY ENGAGES. I HAVE ALMOST HAD AN CAR ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF IT. I HAVE TO TAKE IN TO BE REPAIRED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10178702January 15, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
ALL OF A SUDDEN THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT GEARS AND THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING. WHEN TAKEN TO A MECHANIC, THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST THREW A CODE OF P0733 AND P0745. WE WERE TOLD THAT A BAND BROKE IN THE TRANSMISSION AND 3RD GEAR WENT OUT. THE FIX WAS TO OVERHAUL THE TRANSMISSION FOR $2700. UPON DOING SOME RESEARCH, IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2002 FORD EXPLORERS AND FORD SHOULD DO A RECALL. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10178725January 15, 2007
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:LOCK, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
FORD REPLACED THE LIFTGATE GLASS HINGE ON THIS EXPLORER PER YOUR RECALL NOTICE ON SEPT. 1, 2005. ON JANUARY 13, AS I CLOSED THE LIFTGATE (GENTLY, NOT SLAMMING IT) IT EXPLODED INTO SHARDS OF GLASS THAT WENT ALL OVER THE GARAGE AND CUT MY FACE. GLASS FLEW IN FRONT OF THE CAR. I HAD ONLY CLOSED THE LIFTGATE APPROXIMATELY 2 INCHES FROM ITS FULL OPEN POSITION WHEN THIS OCCURRED. THERE WAS NOTHING TO IMPEDE THE CLOSURE, AND THE LIFTGATE DID NOT STRIKE ANYTHING ON ITS WAY DOWN. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10178657January 14, 2007
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2002 FORD EXPLORER TWO ISSUES 1/1/07 - GRINDING OF REAR WHEEL. 1/2/07 - O/D LIGHT STARTED FLASHING, WITHIN 7 MILES SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE UNTIL LETTING OFF THE GAS. 1/2/07 - CALL AAA TO HAVE CAR TOWED TO LOCAL FORD DEALER. FORD QUOTED $5,100 FOR REPAIRS. WE DENIED REPAIR AT FORD. DUE TO OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES WE HAD A LOCAL TRANSMISSION SHOP DO THE REPAIRS. WE DID NOT WANT TO GIVE FORD ANY MORE MONEY SINCE WE WERE TOLD BY SEVERAL REPAIR SHOPS THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORD EXPLORERS. THE LOCAL SHOP INDICATED THERE WERE TSBS PUBLISHED AND THEY HAD TO BUY SPECIAL EQUIPMENT FROM FORD TO FIX THE PROBLEMS. IF COMPANIES ARE BUYING SPECIAL TOOLS BECAUSE THE PROBLEM IS SO COMMON, ISN'T THERE A PROBLEM? WE ALSO INVESTIGATED MANY NUMEROUS WEBSITES TO READ ABOUT MANY COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. TO REPAIR THE CAR WE PURCHASED REAR WHEEL BEARINGS AND THE TRANSMISSION SHOP PURCHASED AN OVERHAUL TRANSMISSION KIT. THEY REPAIRED BOTH PROBLEMS FOR LESS THAN $5,100. UNFORTUNATELY, A CO-WORKER HAD THE EXACT PROBLEM WITH HER CAR JUST LAST WEEK. SHE CAME TO WARN ME OF THE PROBLEM WITH HER CAR ONLY TO FIND OUT I PICKED MINE UP FROM THE SHOP THE SAME DAY! *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10178556January 12, 2007
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
MY LIFT GATE ON MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER JUST CRACKED LAST NIGHT AND UPON RESEARCH I FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR EXPLORER. IT IS A DEFECT WITH THE REAR LIFT GATE AND FORD NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AS I HAVE THAT I FOUND WHILE DOING A QUICK SEARCH. THIS PIECE IS GOING TO NEED TO BE REPLACED AND THEN PAINTED TO MATCH THE COLOR OF THE VEHICLE WHICH IS GOING TO COST $500 OR MORE WHICH SHOULD BE FORDS RESPONSIBILITY. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10178575January 12, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I BOUGHT A 2002 FORD EXPLORER NEW IN 2002 AND NOTICED SIX MONTHS LATER THAT THERE WAS OCCASIONAL SLIPPING BETWEEN 3RD AND 4TH GEAR AND THE OVERDRIVE IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. I HAD MENTIONED IT TO THE FORD SERVICE GUYS BUT THEY SAID IT WAS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. NOW WITH THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AND 43,000 MILES ON THE CAR THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE FORD DEALER PULLS THE TRANSMISSION AND FINDS A SENSOR PLUG (PRESSURE CONTROL SOLENOID) HAD CRACKED THEN BROKEN, BANDS NEED TO BE REPLACED, AND SOME OTHER DAMAGE RECOMMENDED FOR REPAIR. CHOICES WERE $2800 FOR REBUILDING (CHANGING BAD PARTS) OR $3800 FOR REFURBISHING WITH 75K 3 YEAR WARRANTY. A TRANSMISSION THIS YOUNG SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE REPLACED AND FROM RESEARCHING THE WEB (JUST TYPE IN FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSION) LOTS OF FOLKS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH LOW MILES. FORD SEEMS TO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS TRANSMISSION THAT THEY DO NOT WANT TO ADMIT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10178577January 12, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE, AND OVERDRIVE LIGHTS WILL TURN ON INTERMITTENTLY. THIS FAILURE DOES NOT HAPPEN AT ANY PARTICULAR SPEED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT ABOUT 67,000 MILES. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD HE WOULD NEED A NEW OR REBUILT TRANSMISSION. *NM UPDATED 03/07/07*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10178441January 11, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2002 FORD EXPLORER - 58,000 ORIGINAL MILES. NO INDICATION OF PROBLEM, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR. LOCAL FORD DEALER SAYS THE 3RD GEAR IS GONE AND WILL COST $1800 TO FIX. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10178461January 11, 2007
SUSPENSION, POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT:SEAL
THUMPING NOISE FROM DRIVERS SIDE FRONT END IN THE WHEEL AREA. THE NOISE IS MOST NOTICEABLE AT BETWEEN 40 AND 60 MPH DURING ACCELERATION. IT ALSO BECOMES A HUMMING NOISE AS THE GAS PEDAL IS RELEASED AND THE CAR IS COASTING OR DECELERATING. HAD NEW TIRES PUT ON THEN NEW BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS. NOTHING FIXED THE PROBLEM. TALKED TO MY BROTHER, ANOTHER LOYAL EXPLORER OWNER, AND HE HAD SAME PROBLEM DIAGNOSED AS A BEARING NEEDING REPLACING. HE ALSO TOLD ME ABOUT A LEAK ON HIS GARAGE FLOOR IN THE REAR MIDDLE OF THE CAR WHERE THE REAR AXLE IS. I TOLD HIM I HAVE SAME EXACT SPOT OF SOMETHING LEAKING ON MY GARAGE FLOOR. WE READ ABOUT ALL THE SEAL PROBLEMS WITH THE AXLE AND NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. HE SPENT OVER $1000 ON THE FRONT BEARINGS AND NOW IN FOR ANOTHER BIG BILL FOR THE SEAL PROBLEM. I SEE WE ARE NOT ALONE IN OUR EXPLORER DISAPPOINTMENTS. ALL WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. COME ON FORD, BACK UP YOUR VEHICLE AND PAY FOR THESE DEFECTS TO YOUR SUVS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10178456January 11, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
IN MAY OF 2005 THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT AT THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE HAD 34,767 MILES. IN MAY OF 2006 THE REBUILT TRANS CONVERTER FAILED WITH ABOUT 47,000 MILES. THIS WAS JUST A FEW HUNDRED MILES OUT OF THE 12 MONTH, 12,000 FORD SERVICE WARRANTY. THERE WAS AN AFTERMARKET WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE THAT COVERED IT. UPON WRITTEN NOTIFICATION TO THE DEALER AND FORD WE SET AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED AND TEST DRIVEN AGAIN DUE TO MORE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED THEN THE SHIFT LEVER LOCKED UP BETWEEN PARK AND REVERSE AND HAD TO BE SERVICED WITHIN HOURS OF PICKUP. THEN A COOLANT GASKET WAS DISCOVERED TO HAVE BEEN REMOVED AND A ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR DAMAGED AND GLUED TOGETHER AND TIE WRAPPED TO THE TRANS. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED IN WRITING OF THE DISCOVERIES. THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED INDEPENDENTLY. A SHOP DIAGNOSED A POOR SHIFT, SHORT SHIFT, LONG SHIFT, AND CLUNKING WITH VIBRATION CONDITION IN THE TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER WAS CALLED TWICE WITH NO RESPONSE. ON DECEMBER 20, 2006 THE TRANS FAILED FOR THE THIRD TIME AT 57,231 MILES. THE AFTER MARKET WARRANTY WAS NOTIFIED AND DIRECTED US TO THE FORD SERVICE WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP DUE TO A CERTIFIED LETTER THAT WAS RECEIVED BY THE FIRST STATING THAT OUR TRANS PROBLEMS WERE "PERCEIVED" AND THAT THEY WERE ENDING OUR "BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP." THE NEXT DEALERSHIP PERFORMED THE EEC CODE CHECK. A TSB HAD BEEN ISSUED,CODES 733 AND 745. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD US THAT WE MUST GUARANTEE THEIR FEE TO TEAR DOWN THE TRANSMISSION AND THAT THE REPAIR MAY NOT BE COVERED. THEY ALSO STATED THAT WE HAD "NO WARRANTY" ON THE VEHICLE. THE SERVICE MANAGER AFTER SOME DISCUSSION STATED "WE ARE NOT INVOLVED IN YOUR TRUCK REPAIR AT ALL." WE IMMEDIATELY HAD OUR VEHICLE REMOVED FROM THEIR DEALERSHIP. ANOTHER SHOP STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAS IN FACT FAILED AGAIN. WE ARE WAITING FOR A POSSIBLE COVERAGE DETERMINATION FROM THE AFTER MARKET COMPANY. FORD WAS NOTIFIED.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10178254January 9, 2007
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
AIR BAG DISABLED DUE TO DESIGN DEFECT IN 2002 EXPLORER. A CABLE HARNESS RUNNING UNDER THE FLOOR TO THE DRIVERS SEAT IS TOO SHORT. MOVING THE SEAT BACK CAUSES THE CABLE TO DISCONNECT AND DISABLES THE DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10178097January 8, 2007
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
(1) EXCELLENT CARE OF VEHICLE, NO ACCIDENTS (2) REAR PANEL ON HATCH CRACKED ALL THE WAY THROUGH ON FIRST COLD DAY OF FALL 2006 (APPEARS TO BE STRESS FROM THERMAL EXPANSION/CONTRACTION) (3) DEALER SAID $350 TO REPLACE PANEL AND PAINT AND WAS NOT UNDER ANY WARRANTY FROM FORD
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10178147January 8, 2007
STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE
THERE ARE NO IDENTIFIABLE EVENT LEADING UP TO THE DISCOVERY OF THE PROBLEM. IT WAS COLD AT NIGHT WHEN I FOUND THE PROBLEM, BUT THE CAR IS IN THE GARAGE. PROBLEM: FORD EXPLORER 2002 REAR TAILGATE CRACK. THE TAILGATE HAS A CLEAN CRACK FROM TOP TO BOTTOM UNDER AND TO THE RIGHT OF THE FORD OVAL. I HAVE NOT YET REPLACED THE TAILGATE. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF THIS SAME PROBLEM ALL OVER NORTH AMERICA. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177997January 6, 2007
STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE
THE TAILGATE UNDER THE GLASS THAT LIFTS UP IS CRACKED ALL THE WAY DOWN FROM THE GLASS TO THE PART WHERE YOU CAN LIFT THE WHOLE TAILGATE RIGHT BY THE KEY HOLE. I HAVE NOTICED A FEW OTHERS CRACKED IN THE EXACT SAME PLACE WHILE DRIVING AROUND TOWN. I HAVE INFORMED MITSIBISHI WHERE I BOUGHT IT USED BUT THEY SAY I HAVE TO CONTACT FORD. WHAT DO I DO? *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177765January 4, 2007
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
2002 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER V6 4X4 REAR WINDOW LOWER PLASTIC PANEL COMPLETELY CRACKED THROUGHOUT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177641January 3, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2002 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED, O/D LIGHT FLASHING AND TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 72,000 MILES. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177659January 3, 2007
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
AT 74000 MILES OUR TRANSMISSION WENT OUT COMPLETELY WHILE WE WERE ON VACATION! THE DEALERSHIP WHERE WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE, SAID THAT "WE WERE THE ONLY ONE'S WHO HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM" (YEAH RIGHT!) IT COST US $6000 OUT OF OUR POCKET TO FIX. AT 86000 MILES THE REAR WINDOW CRACKED RIGHT BELOW THE WINDOW. FORD AND THE DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO FIX IT. AGAIN, STAYTON FORD TOLD US THAT,"WE WERE THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE." AT AROUND 85000, 95000 AND 105000 MILES, THE REAR SEALS LEAKED. WE WERE PROMISED EACH TIME THAT THEY WOULD LAST "FOR AT LEAST 50000 MILES." WE WERE ALWAYS A FEW MILES AWAY FROM GETTING THEM REPLACED FOR FREE SINCE THEY'RE LIMITED WARRANTY IS ONLY GOOD FOR 10000 MILES. AT 111000 MILES THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WENT "HAYWIRE." EVEN WHEN ALL OF THE DOOR AND HATCH ARE CLOSED, THE DOME LIGHT CONTINUES TO GO ON AND OFF (MAKING IT HARD TO DRIVE AT NIGHT) BECAUSE IT SENSES THAT A "DOOR IS A JAR." SOMETIMES, THE KEY PAD THAT'S LOCATED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW SETS OFF THE ALARM WHEN WE PUSH THE FIRST NUMBER ON THE KEY. TOTALLY UNRELIABLE VEHICLE THAT I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE! *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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