Ford Explorer Complaints (2002)

3,572 consumer complaints on file.

#10177464January 2, 2007
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
THE PANEL BELOW THE REAR WINDOW GETS VERTICAL CRACKS. IT HAPPENED THE FIRST TIME AT ABOUT 60,000. THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED IT REPLACED THE REAR PANEL AS PART OF THE HINGE WARRANTY RECALL. AT THE TIME, IT HAD 1 VERTICAL CRACK. I NOW HAVE 100K ON MY CAR AND THE CRACKS HAVE HAPPENED AGAIN. I NOW HAVE 3 VERTICAL CRACKS. THIS IS DEFINITELY A DEFECT. MY DAUGHTER HAS THE SAME CAR AND HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. ON CARCOMPLAINTS.COM THERE ARE 48 PEOPLE WHO HAVE REPORTED THE SAME PROBLEM. THE FORD DEALER SAID THAT FORD DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT AND WILL NOT COVER REPAIR OF THIS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE WITH THE CRACKS THE UPPER REAR PANEL HAS LOST IT'S INTEGRITY AND THE WINDOW COULD DISLODGE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177522January 2, 2007
SUSPENSION, POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
FIX FOR CHATTERING AND REAR WHINE ON 02 EXPLORER. WHEN THE CAR WAS NEW 25,000 THE DEALER REPLACED THE REAR PUMPKIN, VERY LOUD WHINE.. LAST MONTH WITH 85,000 MILES ON THE CAR, DURING A TURN THE REAR WOULD CHATTER AND SHAKE THE CAR. I WAS TOLD THE REAR NEEDED A SPECIAL LUBE FOR THE REAR TO KEEP THE REAR CLUTCHES FREE, I HAD A LOCAL SHOP REPLACE THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL OIL WITH A SPECIAL BLEND AND IT HAS BEEN FINE SINCE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177611January 2, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
REGULAR DRIVING OF A FORD EXPLORER 2002 XLT, VERY EARLY TRANSMISSION FAILURE THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION JUST GIVES OUT O/D LIGHT STARTS FLASHING ALL OF A SUDDEN THE VEHICLE DOES NOT GO IN TO GEAR ALL OF THIS WHILE DRIVING. CHECKED ONLINE TURNS OUT MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE, CALLED FORD THEY SAID THAT IT WOULD COST ABOUT $4000.00 TO REPAIR. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177614January 2, 2007
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
I OWN A 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLS WITH 51,300 MILES. ON 11/23/06 TWO LONG CRACKS DEVELOPED IN MY LIFT GATE PANEL JUST TO THE RIGHT OF THE FORD EMBLEM. ONE CRACK EXTENDS THE FULL LENGTH OF THE PANEL. THE OTHER EXTENDS FROM THE TOP OF THE PANEL AND EXTENDS TO THE TOP OF THE FORD EMBLEM. THESE CRACKS DEVELOPED COMPLETELY WITHOUT ANY DAMAGE OR FORCE BEING APPLIED TO THE PANEL. THE TRUCK WAS PARKED IN THE CARPORT. I RESEARCHED MY DAMAGE AND FOUND OTHERS WITH THE SAME MODEL EXPLORER WITH THE SAME DAMAGE IN THE SAME LOCATION. SEVERAL OF THEM ADVISED THAT FORD WOULD NOT ACKNOWLEDGE OR REPAIR THE DAMAGE. THE LOCATION OF THE DAMAGE POSES A REAL DANGER IF THE PANEL COMPLETELY SEPARATES. IF SEPARATION OCCURS THE GLASS CAN POSSIBLY SHATTER CAUSING DEATH OR INJURY. I AM CONVINCED THE DAMAGE IS CAUSED BY A STRUCTURAL DEFECT IN THE PANEL WHICH IS IN NO WAY MY RESPONSIBILITY TO REPAIR. I AM REQUESTING THAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY REPAIR THE DAMAGE AND POSSIBLY ISSUE A RECALL ON THE PANEL FOR THE 2002 FORD EXPLORER. I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU SOON TO DISCUSS THE DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177627January 2, 2007
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
CRACKED ON THE BACK PANEL, BETWEEN THE WINDOW GLASS AND FORD LOGO. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177286December 29, 2006
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
REAR DIFFERENTIAL HAS TO BE REPLACED AT 63000 MILES. ALL MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN DONE EVERY 3000 MILES! ALREADY REPLACED TRANSFER CASE. ALSO IMPOSSIBLE TO GET INTO 4WD HIGH.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177262December 28, 2006
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2002 FORD EXPLORER- SPOUSE ALMOST SERIOUSLY INJURED WHEN THE GAS PEDAL THROTTLE WAS STUCK AND WOULD NOT RELEASE. CAR LUNGED OUT OF CONTROL. SLAMMING BRAKES ONLY SLOWED IT BUT DID NOT STOP IT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177272December 28, 2006
SUSPENSION:REAR
HUMMING/WHINNING SOUND COMING FROM REAR-END ESPECIALLY WHEN ACCELERATING. BROUGHT IN TO DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES, REPAIRED 2 TIMES WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. REAR-END COMPLETELY CHANGED 2ND TIME. MAKING THE WHINNING SOUND AGAIN NOW EVEN LOUDER, DROWNS OUT RADIO. NOT UNDER WARRANTY ANYMORE BUT OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT WITH THE 2002 MODEL, CONSIDERING ALL THE COMPLAINTS WITH THE EXACT PROBLEM I HAVE READ UPON RESEARCH. WILL A RECALL BE ISSUED TO PREVENT ANY ACCIDENTS THAT COULD OCCUR FROM A REAR-END GOING OUT WHILE DRIVING? MY EXPLORER IS A FAMILY HAULER, HATE TO PUT MY BABIES AT RISK... *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10176818December 22, 2006
VISIBILITY
TL* - THE CONTACT STATES THAT ON JANUARY OF 2005 HER 2002 FORD EXPLORER HAD A DEFECTIVE APPLIQUE LOCATED BELOW TAILGATE GLASS HAD DEVELOPED A CRACK FROM TOP TO BOTTOM. THE LOCATION OF THIS CRACK IS APPROXIMATELY INCHES TO THE LEFT OF THE FORD EMBLEM. CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THAT THE CRACK WAS A STRESS CRACK, PROBABLY DUE TO TEMPERATURE EXPAND. ON OCTOBER OF 2006 CONTACT EXPERIENCE THE SAME CRACK THIS TIME IT CRACKED INTO TWO PIECES. CONTACT STATES THAT SHE CAN PROVIDE PICTURES IF NEEDED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10176826December 22, 2006
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER HAS A REAR DIFFERENTIAL WHICH HAS WORN OUT. THE VEHICLE BOARDS ONLINE ARE FILLED WITH COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM, IF THERE IS ANY RELIEF AVAILABLE BY FORD FOR THIS PROBLEM, I WOULD LIKE TO BE MADE AWARE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10176741December 21, 2006
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER WITH 102,000 MILE ON IT. FOR THE PAST 3 YEARS, ONCE A YEAR, I'VE HAD TO HAVE THE REAR END WORKED ON. THIS LAST WEEK IT STARTED MAKING A WHINING NOISE AGAIN. I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP THIS MORNING AND THEY STATED THAT THE RING AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE BEARINGS. I JUST HAD ALL THAT DONE 11 MONTHS AGO. THEY SAY THE WARRANTY IS OUT ON IT BY 4K MILES. AGAIN, THIS IS THE THIRD TIME I'VE HAD THIS PROBLEM. EVERY YEAR IT SEEMS I HAVE TO SPEND $1500+ ON THE SAME ISSUES. AFTER MUCH RESEARCH, I SEE THAT THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM IN THE 2002 FORD EXPLORERS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10176315December 16, 2006
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
02 FORD EXPLORER, REAR DIFFERENTIAL CHATTERS AT LOW RPM/ LOW SPEEDS, HOWLS AT HIGHER SPEEDS. OUT OF WARRANTY, ONLY 4 YEARS OLD. FORD SAID IT WAS HARMONIC VIBRATION, WOULD BE FINE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10176184December 14, 2006
SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS
AFTER NOTICING PROBLEMS WITH THE REAR SUSPENSION, IT WAS DISCOVERED BY MY DEALER THAT BOTH REAR SPRINGS WERE CRACKED, AND ALSO THE SHOCKS WERE FROZEN IN PLACE. I ASKED FOR THE OLD PARTS AND IT IS OBVIOUS FROM SEEING THE SPRINGS THAT THE BREAKAGE RESULTED FROM BAD STEEL. DEALER ADVISED ME IT IS NOT CURRENTLY UNDER RECALL. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10175969December 12, 2006
STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE
CRACK APPEARED UNDER BACK GLASS ON DRIVERS SIDE ALL THE WAY THROUGH PANEL DOWN PAST FORD EMBLEM, ANOTHER CRACK IS ON PASSENGER SIDE BACK ALL THE WAY THREW , BUT NOT DOWN QUITE AS FAR. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10175974December 12, 2006
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
CRACKED PANEL BELOW REAR WINDOW (FORD CALLS THIS AN APPLIQUE). *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10175822December 11, 2006
STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE
VERTICAL CRACK ALL THE WAY THROUGH REAR-PANEL BELOW REAR GLASS ABOUT 2 INCHES TO THE RIGHT OF THE FORD EMBLEM. HAVE SEEN OTHER EXPLORERS AROUND WITH THE SAME CRACK.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10175617December 8, 2006
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUT
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PARKED, THE REAR HATCH WAS LIFTED UP, AND THE HYDRAULIC SUPPORT DEVICE FAILED. THIS CAUSED THE REAR HATCH TO CLOSE FORCEFULLY ON THE ARM OF THE CONTACT. THE LEFT ARM OF THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A HUGE BRUISE, AND WAS WEARING 3 LAYERS OF CLOTHING AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE DEALER SHOULD BE CONTACTED FOR REPAIRS. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND THE SUPPORT DEVICE WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT A CHILD COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED IF THE REAR HATCH FAILED WITH A CHILD PRESENT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10175511December 7, 2006
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
REAR LIFTGATE ON MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER HAS A CRACK IN IT. I WORKED FOR FORD FOR 2 1/2 YEARS AND CAN NOT BELIEVE THAT THEY WILL NOT FIX THIS PROBLEM. I PERSONALLY HAVE SEEN HUNDREDS OF THE SAME THING HAPPEN TO OTHER PEOPLE. WITH FORD HURTING FOR BUSINESS YOU WOULD THINK THAT THEY WOULD REPAIR THESE TO KEEP THEIR CUSTOMERS. I PERSONALLY OWN TWO FORD PRODUCTS AND UNLESS THEY FIX THIS PROBLEM THEN I WILL PURCHASE MY NEXT VEHICLES FROM A DIFFERENT MANUFACTURER. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10175347December 6, 2006
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE, VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND BEING WASHED BY HAND, THE LIFTGATE GLASS BECAME UNFASTENED AND FRACTURED WHEN THE GATE WAS OPENED. THIS MALFUNCTION CAUSED PERSONAL INJURIES. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNALS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10174883December 1, 2006
SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
WHILE DRIVING MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER WITHIN THE CITY, I WAS STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN WHEN I HEARD A POPPING SOUND AND THE CAR'S RIGHT REAR TIRE DEFLATED. I MOVED OUT OF TRAFFIC, CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE RIGHT COIL SPRING HAD BROKEN OFF AND PUNCTURED THE REAR TIRE (WHICH BY THE WAY WAS BRAND NEW). IT WAS VERY FORTUNATE THAT I WAS NOT TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED WHEN THIS OCCURRED. THE FORD DEALER REPLACED THE RIGHT SPRING, BUT SAW NO NEED TO REPLACE THE LEFT. SOUNDS LIKE DEFECTIVE HEAT TREATING TO ME. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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