Ford Explorer Complaints (2002)

3,572 consumer complaints on file.

#10167624September 8, 2006
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
AT ROUGHLY 45K MILES, MY 2002 EXPLORER ALSO HAD THE WHINING NOISE FROM THE REAR END AT 55-65 MPH, OIL DRIP MARKS ON THE DRIVEWAY - TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT I NEEDED A RIGHT WHEEL BEARING, REPLACED FOR $800. NEXT TIME WAS JUST THIS SUMMER (76K MILES) - AGAIN HAD THE WHINE RETURN, DRIPS ON THE DRIVEWAY AND THIS TIME IT WAS THE ENTIRE REAR END - ALL BEARINGS WERE SHOT. SPENT ANOTHER $1600. ON REPAIRS, PLUS RENTAL VEHICLE COSTS TO TRAVEL ON VACATION. FEW DAYS AGO (78K MILES), HAD "CHECK GAUGE" LAMP LIGHT WHEN OIL PRESSURE GAUGE DIPPED TO ZERO, THEN RECOVER IMMEDIATELY. THIS HAPPENED THREE OTHER TIMES BEFORE I GOT HOME, WITH NO FLUTTER IN THE ENGINE OR ANYTHING THAT WOULD INDICATE A REAL PROBLEM. NEXT EVENING WE STARTED THE VEHICLE, IT MADE A EVIL RACKET AND QUIT ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, NEVER TO START AGAIN. AAA TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER LEFT MESSAGE (ON MY VOICE MAIL AT HOME - I HAD TO SAVE IT) THAT THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED FOR ROUGHLY $5,000. PLUS TAX. I REALLY NEED TO SPEAK TO AN ATTORNEY. THIS IS WHAT I PAID $34,000 FOR 4 YEARS AGO? PERFECT CONDITION TRADE VALUE TODAY IS 9,200? *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10167683September 8, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TODAY THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO HANG IN 1ST GEAR, THEN SLAMMED INTO THE NEXT GEAR. 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. THE CAR IS A 2002 EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER 4X4 WITH THE 6 CYLINDER. I KNEW IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AS IT HAS 68,000 MILES ON IT. HOWEVER, 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
#10167527September 7, 2006
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
I HAVE TAKEN IN MY 2002 FORD TWICE TO HAVE THE HATCH HINGE REPAIRED. THE THIRD TIME I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP WAS BECAUSE I GOT A RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE. THE RECALL DESCRIPTION WAS FOR: THE LIFTGATE GLASS STRUT MAY BECOME DISENGAGED OR THE HINGE MAY FRACTURE ALLOWING THE GLASS TO FALL AND POSSIBLY BREAK. AFTER A YEAR OF IT'S RECALL THE HINGE AGAIN POPPED OUT BUT THIS TIME THE REAR GLASS OF MY VEHICLE DID SHATTER. I TOOK MY VEHICLE AGAIN TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP (WHERE I'VE TAKEN IT NOW FOR THE FOURTH TIME) AND THEY STATED THAT BECAUSE THEY ALREADY "FIXED" THE RECALLED PART THEY WERE NOT OBLIGATED TO REPLACE THE REAR WINDOW HATCH. TWO THINGS ARE POSSIBLE: 1. THE FORD DEALERSHIP INSTALLED THE RECALLED PART INCORRECTLY OR 2. THE RECALLED PART WAS ALSO DEFECTIVE. I AM NOT GOING TO PAY OUT OF MY POCKET FOR THE RECALLED PART TO BE FIX. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10167610September 7, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10167162August 31, 2006
POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED IT WOULD BE IN 4-WHEEL DRIVE HIGH. SOMETIMES WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BACKED UP AND/OR MAKING RIGHT OR LEFT TURNS THE VEHICLE WOULD GO INTO 4-WHEEL DRIVE HIGH ON ITS OWN. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE VEHICLE KICKED INTO 4-WHEEL DRIVE HIGH ON ITS OWN. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED BUT THE CONTACT PLANS TO CALL THEM SOON. THE 4X4 HIGH LIGHT ILLUMINATED EACH TIME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10167181August 31, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAS INTERMITTENTLY STALLED POSSIBLY DUE TO OUTDOOR HEAT. THE VEHICLE STALLED OR WOULD NOT START ON NINE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER AFTER EACH INCIDENT WHERE THE INERTIA SWITCH, THE FUEL PUMP AND THE PCM MODULE WERE CHANGED. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED EIGHT TIMES WHILE THE VEHICLE STOPPED, WHILE IT WAS STARTED, AT AN INTERSECTION, AND ONCE WITH THE VEHICLE IN MOTION AT 35 MPH. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THE GAS STORAGE TANK HAD DEVELOPED A HOLE AND WAS LEAKING GAS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10167053August 30, 2006
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR, STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER SHUTTING THE LIFTGATE GLASS IT SHATTERED AND RAINED DOWN. THE BROKEN GLASS CUT THE ARM, LEG AND FOOT OF THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT A REPAIR WOULD NOT BE PERFORMED BECAUSE THE WINDOW CYLINDER DID NOT APPEAR TO BE DAMAGED. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL # 01I010000 WHICH PERTAINS TO THE SIDE AND REAR GLASS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10167102August 30, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, STEERING, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
AT A COMPLETE STOP VEHICLE SURGES (ACCELERATES). HAVE TO PLACE IN NEUTRAL AT STANDING STOPS TO PREVENT AN ACCIDENT. DRIVER'S SIDE POWER WINDOW SWITCH FAILED, HAD REPLACED, ALSO THE WINDOW WHINES WHEN ROLLING UP. PASSENGER'S SIDE POWER WINDOW REGULATOR(CABLE) SNAPPED?? WHEN REAR WINDOWS ARE DOWN AT A SPEED OF 20 MPH+ IT SOUNDS LIKE A HELICOPTER IS IN THE BACK SEAT(ACTUALLY PHYSICALLY HURTS YOUR EARS!!!) <<<<NO FIX OR REPAIR?? ANYONE ELSE HAVE THIS PROBLEM? 55-65 MPH STEERING WHEEL SHAKES. REPAIR ATTEMPT BALANCED AND ROTATED TIRES AND SUSPENSION WAS INSPECTED. STILL SHAKES. REAR SPARE TIRE ACCESSORIES COVER HANDLE BROKE. <<NOT ABUSED. HOW DO YOU CHANGE A FLAT WITH NO JACK OR NO TOOLS?? (SPARE TIRE CAME DOWN ALRIGHT THOUGH). EGR VALVE FAILURE @ 40,000 MILES. 4X4 INTEMITTENT SHIFTING ISSUES FROM LOW>AUTO AND AUTO>HIGH. CAN NOT PIN POINT PROBLEM. THAT ABOUT WRAPS UP MY LOVELY EXPERIENCE WITH THIS VEHICLE. I AM A MARRIED FATHER OF TWO AND THE ONLY ONE WORKING ON A LIMITED INCOME. I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK WITH VERY LOW MILES THINKING IT WOULD BE DEPENDABLE NOT UNAFFORDABLE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10166689August 28, 2006
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT. HIT ANOTHER CAR AT ABOUT 40 MILES AN HOUR AND THE FRONT DRIVERS AND PASSENGER AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE TWO INJURED. THE FRAME WASN'T BENT AND THE ENGINE WAS OKAY. WHAT SAVED THE PASSENGERS WAS AN ADD-ON BUMPER GUARD I HAD ON THE FRONT. TRUCK WAS TOWED TO A FORD DEALERSHIP AND THE SERVICE MANGER SAID THE SAME THING ABOUT THE BUMPER GUARD. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10166408August 24, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2002 FORD EXPLORER 71,000 MILES....TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD AND WHINING FROM REAR END WITH SOME VIBRATION....FORD SHOULD RECALL AS I HAVE READ MANY OTHERS HAVE SAME PROBLEMS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10166119August 21, 2006
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE, SEAT BELTS
I BOUGHT A 2002 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER IN NOV 2002. AROUND OCT 2005 MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND I WAS DUE FOR AN INSPECTION. I TOOK IT INTO A FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY "DIAGNOSED" IT AS A FAULTY SEAT BELT...THE SEAT BELT WORKED FINE, IT EVEN CONTINUED TO LOCK-UP DURING MODERATE BRAKING. THIS COST ME OVER $300. NOT A MONTH WENT BY AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. I CALLED THE FORD DEALER, EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IF IT WAS DETERMINED IT WAS A "NEW" PROBLEM I WOULD BE CHARGED FOR THAT EXPENSE AS WELL. I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THE LIGHT WOULD COME ON AFTER BEING "FIXED" SO SOON. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10166048August 20, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT:SEAL
THERE IS A SLIGHT LEEK OF DIFFERENTIAL FLUID FROM THE LEFT AXLE SEAL. I NOW HAVE NOISE AT HIGHWAY SPEED FROM REAR END. FLUID LEVEL HAS REMAINED GOOD. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10166023August 19, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE WITH 60,000 THOUSAND MILES ON IT AND NOW I AM FINDING OUT THAT IT MAY BE JUNK. IT IS EXPERIENCING MANY OF THE PROBLEMS YOU READ ABOUT THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS VEHICLE. IT SHIFTS REALLY HARD INTO 3RD AND THE REAR END MAKES A WHINING NOISE/GRINDING TYPE NOISE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10166026August 19, 2006
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE, POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
ON THE BACK LIFTGATE, THE MIDDLE BODY PIECE HAS CRACKED AGAIN AFTER BEING REPLACED AROUND THE FORD SYMBOL. DEALER HAS REPLACED ONCE AND WILL NOT REPLACE AGAIN. THE AXLE HOUSING IS LEAKING NEXT TO THE DIFFERENTIAL. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10165895August 18, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I PURCHASED MY 02 FORD EXPLORER 4X4 IN OCT 2005. THIS VEHICLE HAS A CLEAN TITLE AND 71K MILES. IN JUNE OF THIS YEAR, I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND NOTICED THAT MY OVERDRIVE LIGHT WAS FLASHING AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. I NOTICED AT THE SAME TIME THAT MY EXPLORER WAS HAVING DIFFICULTY SHIFTING GEARS. WHEN TRAFFIC WOULD COME TO A STOP, IT WOULD SHIFT INTO 3RD, THEN 1ST, THEN 4TH AND BACK TO 2ND. NEVER BEFORE HAD I EXPERIENCED SUCH A BIZARRE ACT WITH ANY PREVIOUS VEHICLE. MY EXPLORER WAS IN THE SHOP FOR THE NEXT 45 DAYS AND COME TO FIND OUT THAT NOT EVEN A LOCAL AUTHORIZED FORD DEALERSHIP COULD FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON. FINALLY THE PRIVATE SHOP THAT I TOOK IT TO FIXED IT AFTER REBUILDING THE TRANSMISSION 2 TIMES. VERY DISAPPOINTING, SINCE IN THE PAST I HAVE DRIVEN SEVERAL VEHICLES PAST 200K MILES AND OIL CHANGES AND TIRES WERE REQUIRED. ONCE I RECEIVED THE VEHICLE BACK AFTER 2 TRANSMISSION REBUILDS, NEW TORQUE CONVERTER AND NEW EGR VALUE, THE EXPLORER CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AFTER ONLY 1 DAY OR NORMAL DRIVING. RIDICULOUS. COME TO FIND OUT AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH TO SEE IF FORD HAD ANY RECALLS ON THE TRANSMISSION, I DISCOVER THAT NOT ONLY DOES FORD NOT HAVE ANY RECALLS FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT THEY ARE AWARE OF THE SITUATION AND HAVE YET TO ISSUE A RECALL. I CAME ACROSS SEVERAL WEBSITES THAT HAD 100'S OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE VERY SAME THING GOING ON WITH MY VEHICLE. APPARENTLY, FORD IS AWARE OF THE FAULTY 3RD GEAR SHIFT FAILURE AND HAS REFUSED TO ISSUE A RECALL. MY HUSBAND FOUND A CEO'S NUMBER TO FORD, LEFT HER A MESSAGE AND HAS NOT HEARD BACK FROM ANYONE. NOW AFTER $3K IN TOTAL REPAIRS, WE ARE FACED WITH THE DECISION TO TRY AND TRADE THE VEHICLE AND EAT OUR LOSSES. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I WILL NOT BE BUYING ANOTHER FORD BUILT VEHICLE. PLEASE HELP ALL OF US IN FINDING OUT WHY FORD IS IGNORING THIS COSTLY AND DISAPPOINTING ISSUE. PLEASE HELP OTHERS OUT AND GET FORD TO FACE THE FACT AND ISSUE A RECALL. THANK YOU FOR READING AND YOUR TIME. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10165673August 16, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE OVERDRIVE WARNING LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND THE ENGINE WAS WHINING AND RUNNING BETWEEN 3K TO 5K RPM. THE TRANSMISSION BAND BROKE AND CAUSED A SYSTEMATIC FAILURE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10165664August 16, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE'S AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING AND SLIPPED BETWEEN GEARS. THE VEHICLE HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS SINCE THE CONTACT ACQUIRED THE VEHICLE, AT 53000 MILES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER. UPDATED 9/15/2006 - *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10165688August 16, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT, I BOUGHT IT ON NOV. 29 2005. AFTER I BOUGHT IT I NOTICED THAT WHEN I WOULD PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN REVERSE THERE WOULD BE A DELAY AND THEN A LOUD BANG OR CLUNK. I TOOK IT TO A TRANSMISSION PLACE AND I WAS TOLD THAT THEY GOT A LOT OF EXPLORERS WITH THAT SAME PROBLEM. SO I HAD IT REPAIRED AND THE TOTAL CAME TO $ 3,855.13. THE CAR HAD A WARRANTY BUT IT DIDN'T COVER EVERYTHING, SO I HAD TO PAY $ 1,800.00 FOR THE REPAIRS. THEY HAD TO CHANGE THE MASTER KIT/PISTONS, FILTER, O/D DRIVE BAND, 2ND BAND, BYPASS VALUE, SOLENOID PACK, REVERSE BAND, O/D SERVO,2ND SERVE, SONNAX UPDATES, WHOLE CASE, RECONDITION VALVE BODY, RB CONVERTER, FLUID AND FLUSH THE COOLER SYSTEM. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10165622August 16, 2006
POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE), STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED AT VARIABLE SPEEDS, SOMETIMES NOT ENGAGING THE NEXT HIGHER GEAR OR AT TIMES THE ENGINE WOULD RACE, THEN SLAM INTO GEAR WITH A BANGING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER WHERE COMPUTER DIAGNOSTICS WOULD NOT RECOGNIZE THE 5TH GEAR IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSFER CASE WAS REBUILT, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN INSPECTED ON 7 OCCASIONS. THE REAR LIFT GATE WINDOW HINGE WAS REPLACED, BUT CONTINUED TO FALL OUT OF THE HINGE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10165518August 15, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THERE WAS A SENSATION OF RUNNING OVER SOMETHING. THE VEHICLE THEN STALLED COMPLETELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHERE THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT DUE TO THE ENGINE LOCKING UP, THE ENTIRE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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