Ford Explorer Complaints (2002)

3,572 consumer complaints on file.

#10174956December 1, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. MY COMPLAINT IS HAVING THIS CAR FOR ONLY 2 YEARS AFTER BUYING IT FROM THE RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA FORD DEALER, NOW THE CAR HAS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. I HAVE LOOKED UP A LOT OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM WITH 2002 FORD EXPLORER. AND THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS AS MINE.. AND WE GET STUCK WITH $4K FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION. I THINK THEY SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE IT'S A COMMON PROBLEMS WITH THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE.. CONSUMERS SHOULDN'T BE PAYING $4K FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION AFTER ONLY 4 YEARS HAVING THE VEHICLE..SOME PEOPLE COMPLAINTS EVEN HAPPENS AFTER 2 YEARS BUYING THE VEHICLE. I THINK YOU SHOULD INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM AND MAKE SURE FORD COMPANY IS NOT MAKING MONEY FROM CONSUMERS THROUGH REPAIRS OF A NEW TRANSMISSION. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174808November 30, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKES FAILED, WHICH CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THE BRAKES WERE INSPECTED ABOUT ONE MONTH PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT, AND THE PADS AND BRAKES WERE DID NOT DISPLAY ANY PROBLEMS. THE BRAKES FAILED AND THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TO A SERVICE DEALER TO DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN, AND NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174827November 30, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
PURCHASED VEHICLE FROM CROSSROADS FORD , RALEIGH NC JUNE 24,06 WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC NOV 22,06 CHECK TRANSMISSION APPEARED ON MESSAGE CENTER, ODO LIGHT STARTED FLASHING, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT GEARS. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT INCREASE SPEED WHILE ENGINE RPM WERE INCREASING. VEHICLE GAVE NO PRIOR WARNING OF IMPENDING PROBLEM FROM JUN TO NOV AND HAD BEEN DRIVEN LOCALLY FOR THE PERIOD OF OWNERSHIP. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER CLOSE TO MY HOME I WAS INFORMED THAT AFTER DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND REFERRING TO FORD TSB THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE, THEY INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS AN UNFORTUNATE SITUATION, BUT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO FOR ME AND TO CALL THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. CALLED CROSSROADS FORD AND LEFT A MESSAGE FOR MIKE BEVAN (SERVICE ADVISOR) HE FAILED TO RETURN MY CALLS. MY HUSBAND CALLED MIKE BEVAN AND WAS ABLE TO SPEAK WITH HIM, MIKE INFORMED MY HUSBAND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO AND IF WE WOULD BRING THE VEHICLE TO HIM THEY WOULD LET US KNOW THE COST TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND WAS SURPRISED AT THE LARGE NUMBER OF OWNERS LISTED ON CARREVIEW.COM WITH THE SAME SITUATION. IF THIS HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY ANOTHER VEHICLE COULD HAVE REAR ENDED MY VEHICLE CAUSING DAMAGE AND INJURY. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174718November 29, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I OWN A 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT. I BOUGHT IT NOVEMBER OF 2004 WITH 40,000 MILES ON IT. IT NOW HAS 80,000 MILES ON IT AND SLIPS WHILE SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 1ST GEAR AND I ALSO HEAR A WHINING NOISE IN THE REAR END. IT JERKS AND SLIPS CONSISTENTLY. THE OVERDRIVE OFF LIGHT IS FLASHING, AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. THE CAR SAYS "CHECK TRANSMISSION" ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. I CALLED 4 FORD DEALERS AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THIS IS LOW MILEAGE TO HAVE TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM FOR THESE CARS, AND FORD DOESN'T CARE. I AM STUCK WITH THE CAR THAT CANNOT BE SAFELY DRIVEN NOW. OWNERS OF THESE CARS NEED HELP TO GET FORD TO ISSUE A RECALL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174431November 27, 2006
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:LOCK
THERE WERE NO EVENTS TO CAUSE THIS ISSUE, OTHER THAN FORD'S OWN RECALL FOR THE REAR LIFT HATCH. ONCE THE HATCH WAS REPAIRED, THE WINDOW TOOK MORE FORCE TO SHUT AND EVENTUALLY DEVELOPED STRESS CRACKS. I HAVE A VERTICAL CRACK ON THE LEFT SIDE WITH A 1/4 INCH GAP FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE GLASS TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PANEL. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174360November 26, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT
WITH VEHICLE STOPPED, WHILE SHIFTING GEAR LEVER UNDER STEERING WHEEL FROM DRIVE TO PARK, THE GEAR LEVER BROKE RENDERING THE GEAR LEVER HANDLE USELESS WITH TRANSMISSION BETWEEN PARK AND REVERSE AS INDICATED BY THE INDICATOR. A CAST CYLINDRICAL PART LINKED TO GEAR LEVER BROKE. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER TO BE REPAIRED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174029November 21, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION NEEDS REPLACING IN A 2002 FORD EXPLORER, 81,000 MILES. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10173342November 13, 2006
SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE RODE LOWER THAN NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE REAR COIL SPRINGS WERE BOTH FRACTURED. THE SPRINGS WERE REPLACED, BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FRACTURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED. UPDATED 12/12/2006 - *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10173363November 13, 2006
SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
APPARENT MANUFACTURING DEFECT CAUSES A SIMULTANEOUS BREAKAGE OF ONE OR BOTH REAR SUSPENSION COIL SPRINGS. IN MY CASE, BOTH REAR SPRINGS WERE DISCOVERED BROKEN ON A ROUTINE SERVICE VISIT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10173371November 13, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
UPON INSPECTION OF THE WIRING JUST ABOVE THE OIL FILTER DRAIN SHROUD DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE THERE WAS A WIRE HARNESS FOUND WITH EXPOSED WIRES. THE THREE WIRES WERE ENCASED IN ONE BUNDLE BUT ARE SUPPOSED TO BE ISOLATED. IT APPEARS THAT THE HARNESS HAS BEEN RUBBING AGAINST THE UPPER EDGE OF THE OIL DRAIN SHROUD SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS BUILT. THIS BUNDLE OF WIRES SHOULD BE CHECKED AND REPAIRED ON ALL 2002 FORD EXPLORERS. THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY OF A FIRE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10173177November 11, 2006
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT, STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
WELL....HERE IS THE 2ND COMPLAINT THAT I'M FILING ON MY VEHICLE. I PURCHASED MY EXPLORER BRAND NEW WITH ONLY 10 MILES. I THOUGHT I WOULD GET THE BRAKES CHECKED SINCE I HAD 68,000 MILES ONLY TO FIND OUT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS BAD AND NEEDING REPAIR. FORD DROPPED THE BALL ON THAT!!! NOW I DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR PANEL HAS CRACKED. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD AGAIN!!! THERE NEEDS TO BE A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FILED AGAINST THEM!!! *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10173149November 10, 2006
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
11/7/03 AT 20,272 MILES UNIT IN FOR REAR AXLE WHINE DEALER REPLACED THE DRIVE SHAFT BUT REAR AXLE WHINE NOT FIXED. 11/13/04 AT 34269 MILES VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER FOR REAR END HOWL AGAIN REPLACED REAR DIFFERENTIAL UNIT. NEXT MORNING WIFE WENT TO TAKE CHILD TO DAY CARE AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO OVER 35 MPH WITHOUT RESISTANCE. HAD TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THE WAS TOLD A FAULTY DIFFERENTIAL UNIT. PUT THE OLD ONE BACK IN AND REORDERED ANOTHER REAR DIFFERENTIAL UNIT AND PUT THE NEW UNIT IN ON 11//17/04 AT 34,291 MILES. WHEN THE SERVICE RECORDS STATE FOUND BAD BEARING IN THE UNIT. 6/12/06 REAR END AXLE SEAL LEAKING REPLACED THE REAR END WHINE WAS STILL EVIDENT. 6/12/06 AT 62,31 MILES REAR AXLE SEAL LEAK REPAIRED. 11/09/06 AT APPROX 68,000 MILES TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED. REFERENCE TSB#16898 REAR AXLE WHINE AND TSB#03254. HAVE SEEN A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THESE TRANSMISSION FAILURES ON LINE FOR THE 2002 FORD EXPLORER'S. LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THE REAR END WHINING IS BINDING THE TRANSMISSIONS AND CAUSING THEM TO FAIL. ALSO SEE TSB#06216, TSB#18466, TSB#18423. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10173016November 9, 2006
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TAILGATE:LATCH
LIFT GATE CAUSES THE BODY FRAME TO SPLIT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10173027November 9, 2006
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE FRONT SEAT BELT RETRACTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10173036November 9, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PUT THE GEAR SHIFTER INTO PARK, THE SHIFTER DETACHED FROM THE COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP, WHERE THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS REPLACED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10173096November 9, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AXLE HUBS, SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
A WHINING SOUND COMES FROM THE FRONT END END OF THE VEHICLE, UPON FIRST INSPECTION BY A MECHANIC A BAD TIRE WAS FOUND AND BLAMED ON THE NOISE. AS IT WAS BEARABLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, WE IGNORED IT TRUSTING THE DIAGNOSIS. WE PLANNED ON PURCHASING TIRES SOON AND BELIEVED THE PROBLEM WOULD BE SOLVED. NEW TIRES WERE PURCHASED AND AN ALIGNMENT DONE AND THE SAME SOUND CAME FROM THE FRONT END MOST NOTICEABLY 45-65 MPH. NOW WE ARE TOLD IT IS A WHEEL BEARING AND THE COST FOR THE PARTS ALONE IS $350.00 NOT TO MENTION THE $55/HR. LABOR. WE ALREADY HAD THE REAR END REPLACED FOR NOISE AND NOW WE ARE TOLD THAT A DANGEROUS SITUATION INVOLVING ANOTHER PART OF THE DRIVETRAIN IS LOOMING. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND I WOULD HOPE THAT FORD WOULD ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM THAT THE VEHICLES HAVE AND REMEDY IT. I HAVE HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING TO VEHICLES WITH FAR LESS THAN MY 65,000 MILES AND THESE PARTS WERE BUILD TO LAST A WHOLE LOT LONGER AS THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE SEALED AND MAINTENANCE-FREE, INSTEAD THEY FAIL TOO OFTEN AND COST A FORTUNE. I BELIEVE THIS WILL BE MY LAST FORD PRODUCT IF I DO NOT RECEIVE SOME SORT OF SATISFACTORY RESPONSE FROM FORD. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10172976November 8, 2006
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
PASSENGER SIDE REAR DOOR WILL NOT OPEN EXCEPT FOR FROM THE OUTSIDE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10172688November 6, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ACCELERATING, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED AND A NOISE WAS HEARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES WHERE THE TRANSMISSION CONVERTER WAS REPLACED TWICE, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RECURRED. ALSO, WHILE THE CONTACT WAS CHANGING THE OIL IT WAS NOTICED A WIRE FROM THE BATTERY WAS BARE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION IS STILL NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY AND DURING ACCELERATION, THE VEHICLE STILL VIBRATES. UPON INSPECTION THE 02 SENSOR WAS FOUND DAMAGED. THE SENSOR WAS COVERED IN GLUE AND WRAPPED AROUND TO THE TRANSMISSION MOUNT. UPDATED 12/01/06. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10172696November 6, 2006
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE BRACKET CONNECTING THE RIGHT STRUT TO THE LIFTGATE ROTATED OUT OF POSITION, CAUSING THE LIFTGATE GLASS TO FALL AND SHATTER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL # 01I010000 WHICH PERTAINED TO THE SIDE AND REAR GLASS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10172740November 6, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A SMELL OF GASOLINE IN AND AROUND THE VEHICLE. THE SMELL BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE, AND THE FUEL MILEAGE DECREASED OVER TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP, WHERE THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE FUEL LINE ABOVE THE TANK. THE PARTS WERE ORDERED, AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. UPDATED 11/30/06. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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