Ford Explorer Complaints (2002)

3,572 consumer complaints on file.

#10172751November 6, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION OUT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10172652November 5, 2006
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES
ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECOMES STUCK AT TIME CAUSING HIGH IDLE SPEED. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO CAL WORTHINGTONS 4 TIMES IN THE PAST COMPLAINING OF STUCK ACCELERATOR OR EXCESSIVE IDLE. THE DATES WERE 6/20/02, 12/04/03, 5/23/05, 10/17/05 AND NOW THE ACCELERATOR IS STUCK COMPLETELY AT 4000 RPM. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10172654November 5, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER, TIRES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
ONGOING SHIFTING AND SLIPPING WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION. ALSO A LOUD SHRILL AT THE END OF THE ACCELERATION. THE TRANSMISSION CONVERTER HAS BEEN REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES AND THE TRANSMISSION LEAKED OUT FLUID AT HIGHWAY SPEED. AFTER THE REPAIR OF A STRIPPED TRANSMISSION LINE CONNECTOR AND A PILE OF GLUE TO FIX A BROKEN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO SERVICE BY THE DEALERSHIP AND THE WARRANTY COMPANY. THE CONVERTERS ARE "REMANUFACTURED" WHICH HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO FAIL. THE GLOB OF GLUE ON THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR WILL BE REVIEWED BY THE STATE AS TO THE PROPER REPAIR PROCEDURE. A LAW SUIT MAY FOLLOW DUE TO SEPARATE REPAIRS INCLUDING A TIRE WITH A NAIL, WHERE A NEW TIRE WAS PURCHASED AND A USED ON WAS INSTALLED (BF GOODRICH). THE TIRE WAS ALSO NOT BALANCED AND WAS OFF BY 1.5 OZ. THERE WAS ALSO A GASKET REMOVED FROM THE COOLING SYSTEM THAT CAUSED ANTIFREEZE TO SPILL OUT ONTO THE ENGINE. THE COOLING SYSTEM HAD BEEN SERVICED TWO MONTHS PRIOR AND WAS NEVER LEAKING UNTIL THE DAY THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED. THERE WAS ALSO THE DISCOVERY OF THE POSITIVE ELECTRICAL HARNESS TO THE STARTER HAVING EXPOSED WIRES DUE TO THE OIL FILTER DRAIN HOUSING MADE OF PLASTIC RUBBING AGAINST THE WIRES. THERE ARE THREE WIRES EXPOSED AND THERE MAY BE THE POTENTIAL FOR FIRE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10172595November 3, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLS, 85,000 MILES, STARTED WITHOUT WARNING TO FLASH THE O/D LIGHT AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10172472November 2, 2006
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH HAD MALFUNCTIONED. THE ORIGINAL SWITCH WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. UPDATED 12/28/06. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10172378November 1, 2006
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER WITH 52,000 MILES ON IT AND THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL IS STARTING TO WHINE VERY LOUD. THE WHINING STARTED AT ABOUT 30K MILES. IT HAS THE 3.73 LIMITED SLIP DIFFERENTIAL. I HAVE TALKED TO OTHER EXPLORER OWNERS AND THEY TOLD ME ABOUT THIS SITE TO FILE A COMPLAINT AS THIS SEEMS TO BE A GROWING PROBLEM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10171953October 27, 2006
SUSPENSION:REAR
REAR WHEEL ALMOST FELL OFF ON MY WIFE'S 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THERE WAS NO LEADING SUSPICION TO THIS PROBLEM UNTIL IT HAPPENED. VERY DANGEROUS AND WITH MY WIFE BEING PREGNANT IT MAKES IT THAT MUCH MORE FRUSTRATING. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10171988October 27, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2002 FORD EXPLORER - OVERDRIVE LIGHT FLASHING, TRANSMISSION HAS DIFFICULTY SHIFTING. WINDS UP TO EXCESSIVE RPM'S BEFORE SHIFTING. VEHICLE HAS ONLY 57,000 MILES. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10171810October 25, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
VEHICLE MAKES A WHINNING SOUND FROM THE REAR DRIVE SHAFT WHEN ACCELLARATING OVER 35 MPG.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10171813October 25, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD BOTH IN/OUT OF PARK AS WELL AS BETWEEN GEARS. CYLANOID REPLACED TWICE WITHIN 2 YEARS. LOUD WHINE IN REAR ASSEMBLY/AXLE FLUID LEAK. NHTSA RELECTS NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS/SERVICE BULLETINS ON THIS ISSUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10171814October 25, 2006
AIR BAGS
AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT, FLASHES SEVERAL TIMES AND THEN STAYS ILLUMINATED
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10171710October 24, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, AND THE VEHICLE OPERATED AT A REDUCED SPEED. IT WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, WHO DETERMINED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE REPLACEMENT, THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10171644October 23, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT:SEAL
I NOTICED A FLUID LEAK FROM THE REAR AXLE OF MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. IT TURNED OUT THAT BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT REAR AXLE SEALS HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE HAD ONLY 75K MILES ON IT WHEN THE LEAK BEGAN. I DOUBLE CHECKED THE RECOMMENDED SERVICE SCHEDULE TO SEE IF I HAD MISSED SOMETHING BUT THEY DO NOT RECOMMEND THAT THE REAR AXLE FLUID BE CHANGED UNTIL 150K MILES. SO THIS IS NOT A CASE OF OWNER NEGLECT. AFTER SOME DISCUSSION AT THE DEALER SERVICE CENTER THEY INFORMED ME THAT THIS REPAIR IS FAIRLY COMMON ON EXPLORERS, MOUNTAINEERS AND AVIATORS AND THAT THE REPAIR KIT HAS A NEWLY DESIGNED SEAL. IF THERE IS A NEWLY DESIGNED SEAL AVAILABLE, THIS STRONGLY SUGGESTS THAT THE ORIGINAL SEALS ARE INSUFFICIENT. THIS IS ALSO PROVEN BY THE FACT THAT BOTH SEALS FAILED, NOT JUST ONE. THE COST OF THE REPAIR WAS QUOTED AT $490 ($380 OF WHICH WAS LABOR COST). THIS IS TOO MUCH TO ASK A CONSUMER TO PAY FOR A PART THAT WAS UNDER DESIGNED AND NOT PROPERLY TESTED PRIOR TO BEING PUT INTO PRODUCTION. THEREFORE, I BELIEVE THESE REAR AXLE SEAL PARTS SHOULD BE RECALLED AND THE OEM SHOULD BE FORCED TO REIMBURSE VEHICLE OWNERS FOR REPAIR COSTS. I ALSO NOTICED THAT THERE ARE TSB'S REGARDING EXPLORER, MOUNTAINEER, AND AVIATOR VEHICLES THAT MAY HAVE BEEN FILLED WITH THE WRONG REAR AXLE FLUID AT TIME OF PRODUCTION BUT HAVE NO WAY TO GET MORE INFORMATION ON THIS TO SEE IF MY VEHICLE IS AFFECTED. I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN ANY INFORMATION NHTSA MAY HAVE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10171517October 21, 2006
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
THE HEADLIGHTS CONTINUES TO GO ON AND OFF. MOST OF THE TIME IT IS THE PASSENGER SIDE LIGHT BUT THE DRIVERS SIDE ALSO DOES THE SAME THING. I HAVE REPLACED THE PASSENGER SIDE PIGTALE BUT THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10171349October 19, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
VEHICLE O/D LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH. STOPPED VEHICLE AND TRIED TO GET IT TO GO OFF - WON'T GO OFF. STARTED HOME AND VEHICLE SHIFTED "VERY HARD" INTO 3 OR 4TH GEAR. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP THE NEXT AVAILABLE DAY - TRANS MISSION NEEDS PRESSURE SOLENOID, VALVE BODY AND OTHER PARTS - $2000 WORTH OF REPAIRS. VEHICLE IS 4 YEARS OLD AND HAS 75,000. NOW TAKING TO ANOTHER DEALER TO GET RESOLVED. CALLED FORD - WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. ADVISED THEM OF THE MULTIPLE NTSB COMPLAINTS, SAID WE KNOW NOTHING ABOUT RECURRING PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10171040October 17, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
EXPERTS DETERMINED THAT THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE LEFT FRONT DRIVERS SEAT SUFFERED AN ELECTRICAL FAULT, RESULTING IN A FIRE WHICH TOTALED THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, THE INTERIOR CABIN FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED, PRESERVING THE REMAINDER OF THE SEAT AND ADJACENT CENTER CONSOLE BURN AREA. OCCUPANTS WERE ABLE TO ESCAPE THE VEHICLE AND AVOID PERSONAL INJURY. A YEAR AND A HALF LATER, FORD STILL REFUSES TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE MALFUNCTION, AND THE CASE IS IN LITIGATION. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10171123October 17, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
OVERDRIVE LIGHT FLASHES LEADING TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON MY 2002 FORD EXPLORE XLT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10170736October 13, 2006
SUSPENSION:REAR
IN APRIL OF 2005 MY 2002 EXPLORER WITH JUST OVER 40,000 MILES STARTED MAKING GRINDING NOISE IN THE RIGHT REAR. TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND THEN TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP, BOTH SAID THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, HAD IT REPLACED ON 5/11/05. WITHIN 2 WEEKS, THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING ALSO STARTED MAKING A GRINDING NOISE, HAD IT REPLACED ON 5/25/05. CALLED FORD CUSTOMER CARE WHO SAID THEY COULD DO NOTHING. IN OCTOBER, 2006, AT 80,000 MILES (MOSTLY E-WAY MILES, NO OFF-ROAD DRIVING, ONLY ONE DRIVER AND I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER), THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN AND ONE OF THE FRONT BEARINGS IS GOING AS WELL. CALLED FORD CUSTOMER CARE AGAIN TO REPORT THE FAILURES, AND THEY STILL AREN'T INTERESTED. HAVE BEEN TOLD BY SEVERAL MECHANICS THAT THIS IS A KNOW DEFECT WITH 2002 EXPLORERS, WHEEL BEARINGS SHOULD LAST WELL OVER 100K MILES. FORD HAS NO PLANS TO RECALL OR EVEN REDESIGN THE DEFECTIVE WHEEL BEARINGS. AFTER READING COMPLAINTS FROM OTHERS, WHO HAVE HAD THE BEARINGS EXPLODE WHILE DRIVING, I SUSPECT THAT IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THE DEATHS FROM ACCIDENTS DUE TO THE DEFECTIVE WHEEL BEARINGS START GETTING REPORTED. I PERSONALLY DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. DUE TO FORD'S LACK OF CONCERN REGARDING THIS VERY EXPENSIVE AND DANGEROUS DEFECT IN THEIR VEHICLES, THE NEXT NEW VEHICLE I PURCHASE WILL NOT BE A FORD. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10170738October 13, 2006
SUSPENSION:REAR
IN APRIL OF 2005 MY 2002 EXPLORER WITH JUST OVER 40,000 MILES STARTED MAKING GRINDING NOISE IN THE RIGHT REAR. TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND THEN TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP, BOTH SAID THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, HAD IT REPLACED ON 5/11/05. WITHIN 2 WEEKS, THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING ALSO STARTED MAKING A GRINDING NOISE, HAD IT REPLACED ON 5/25/05. CALLED FORD CUSTOMER CARE WHO SAID THEY COULD DO NOTHING. IN OCTOBER, 2006, AT 80,000 MILES (MOSTLY E-WAY MILES, NO OFF-ROAD DRIVING, ONLY ONE DRIVER AND I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER), THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN AND ONE OF THE FRONT BEARINGS IS GOING AS WELL. CALLED FORD CUSTOMER CARE AGAIN TO REPORT THE FAILURES, AND THEY STILL AREN'T INTERESTED. HAVE BEEN TOLD BY SEVERAL MECHANICS THAT THIS IS A KNOW DEFECT WITH 2002 EXPLORERS, WHEEL BEARINGS SHOULD LAST WELL OVER 100K MILES. FORD HAS NO PLANS TO RECALL OR EVEN REDESIGN THE DEFECTIVE WHEEL BEARINGS. AFTER READING COMPLAINTS FROM OTHERS, WHO HAVE HAD THE BEARINGS EXPLODE WHILE DRIVING, I SUSPECT THAT IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THE DEATHS FROM ACCIDENTS DUE TO THE DEFECTIVE WHEEL BEARINGS START GETTING REPORTED. I PERSONALLY DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. DUE TO FORD'S LACK OF CONCERN REGARDING THIS VERY EXPENSIVE AND DANGEROUS DEFECT IN THEIR VEHICLES, THE NEXT NEW VEHICLE I PURCHASE WILL NOT BE A FORD. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10170740October 13, 2006
SUSPENSION:REAR, SUSPENSION:FRONT
IN APRIL OF 2005 MY 2002 EXPLORER WITH JUST OVER 40,000 MILES STARTED MAKING GRINDING NOISE IN THE RIGHT REAR. TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND THEN TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP, BOTH SAID THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, HAD IT REPLACED ON 5/11/05. WITHIN 2 WEEKS, THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING ALSO STARTED MAKING A GRINDING NOISE, HAD IT REPLACED ON 5/25/05. CALLED FORD CUSTOMER CARE WHO SAID THEY COULD DO NOTHING. IN OCTOBER, 2006, AT 80,000 MILES (MOSTLY E-WAY MILES, NO OFF-ROAD DRIVING, ONLY ONE DRIVER AND I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER), THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN AND ONE OF THE FRONT BEARINGS IS GOING AS WELL. CALLED FORD CUSTOMER CARE AGAIN TO REPORT THE FAILURES, AND THEY STILL AREN'T INTERESTED. HAVE BEEN TOLD BY SEVERAL MECHANICS THAT THIS IS A KNOW DEFECT WITH 2002 EXPLORERS, WHEEL BEARINGS SHOULD LAST WELL OVER 100K MILES. FORD HAS NO PLANS TO RECALL OR EVEN REDESIGN THE DEFECTIVE WHEEL BEARINGS. AFTER READING COMPLAINTS FROM OTHERS, WHO HAVE HAD THE BEARINGS EXPLODE WHILE DRIVING, I SUSPECT THAT IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THE DEATHS FROM ACCIDENTS DUE TO THE DEFECTIVE WHEEL BEARINGS START GETTING REPORTED. I PERSONALLY DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. DUE TO FORD'S LACK OF CONCERN REGARDING THIS VERY EXPENSIVE AND DANGEROUS DEFECT IN THEIR VEHICLES, THE NEXT NEW VEHICLE I PURCHASE WILL NOT BE A FORD. **NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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