Ford Explorer Complaints (2002)

3,572 consumer complaints on file.

#10160411June 22, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ON 2002 FORD EXPLORER 4WD EDDIE BAUER AT 85450 MILES - 3RD GEAR CLUTCH OUT AND REQUIRES REBUILD. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10160460June 22, 2006
STRUCTURE
CRACKING IN PANEL BELOW REAR WINDOW OF MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER. I FEAR THE NATURE OF THE CRACK HAS INCREASED THE POSSIBILITY FOR THE REAR WINDOW TO FALL OUT DURING DRIVING. CRACK HAS JUST APPEARED DUE TO NO CONSEQUENCE OR MISUSE. THIS APPARENTLY IS BECOMING A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS VEHICLE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10160332June 21, 2006
SUSPENSION:REAR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH, SUDDENLY CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WAS LOST. THE CONTACT THOUGHT THE VEHICLE'S TIRE BLEW OUT, BECAUSE BOTH REAR TIRES BEGAN WOBBLING. THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING ON A NORMAL FLAT SURFACE AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. THE FAILURE OCCURRED UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, AND WAS DRIVEN ABOUT 20 MILES TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT, THE CONTACT OBSERVED A LOW GRADE DEEP DRUM NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT AND THE DEALER NOTIFIED THE CONTACT THAT BOTH REAR BEARINGS WERE WEARING OUT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE INCIDENT, THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND DETERMINED THAT BOTH BEARINGS WERE SHOT AND THE REAR DRIVER SPRING WAS BROKEN. BOTH REAR BEARINGS AND THE REAR DRIVER SPRING ARE PERMANENTLY DAMAGED AND MUST BE REPLACED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10160371June 21, 2006
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
REAR DIFFERENTIAL ON 2002 EXPLORER STARTED HUMMING AT ~45K MILES AND BEGAN ROARING ~60K MILES. REAR DIFFERENTIAL STARTED LEAKING AROUND THE TIME THE NOISE WAS FIRST HEARD. DIFFERENTIAL NOW LEAKS BAD AND ROARING IS GETTING SEVERE AT 68K MILES. ODD THING IS, ALL THIS LEAKING AND THE LUBE LEVEL HAS NEVER BEEN LOW. THIS IS A DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD PROMPT A SAFETY RECALL DUE TO POTENTIAL OF THE DIFFERENTIAL LOCKING UP ON PEOPLE THAT ARE OBLIVIOUS TO THEIR VEHICLE MAKING ODD NOISES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10160377June 21, 2006
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON DASHBOARD, THUS DISABLING AIRBAGS IN VEHICLE. THE FORD DEALER SUPPOSEDLY REPAIRED THE SENSOR. LESS THAN ONE YEAR LATER, THE SAME ISSUE RECURRED, WITH THE SAME DIAGNOSTIC CODE, AND THE DEALER IS REFUSING TO HONOR THE REPAIR WARRANTY. AIR BAGS ARE NOW DISABLED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10160262June 20, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT 65,000 MILES. NOW ITS COSTING ME $3500 PLUS TAX TO HAVE A REFURBISHED ONE INSTALLED. TRANSMISSIONS SHOULD LAST MUCH LONGER THAN THIS AND I HAVE SEEN A HUGE NUMBER OF FORD TRANSMISSION FAILURES FOR THIS VEHICLE. FORD NEEDS A RECALL AND TO REIMBURSE US THAT HAVE ALREADY PAID. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10159983June 16, 2006
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER THAT WAS MAKING LOUD REAR END NOISES. I TOOK IT TO A FRIEND WHO REBUILDS REAR ENDS AND HE HAD TO REPLACE MOST OF THE PARTS IN THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL. UNFORTUNATELY, THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, BUT I AM COMPLAINING AS THIS IS A TYPICAL PROBLEM WITH THE 2002 FORD EXPLORER. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10159845June 14, 2006
STEERING:COLUMN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE GEAR SHIFT DETACHED FROM THE COLUMN WHILE TRYING TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS PRIOR TO THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO ALERTED OF THE PROBLEM. AFTER THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED THE KEY WOULD NOT FIT IN THE IGNITION PROPERLY AND THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN RETURNED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION TODAY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10159545June 11, 2006
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
THE BACK GLASS LIFT GATE WHICH HAD BEEN REPLACED ONCE BEFORE DUE TO A RECALL BROKE. THE GLASS DOOR OPENED WITH THE BUTTON ON THE KEY FOB, AND AS I REACHED INTO THE CAR TO PUT A STROLLER IN THE DOOR, IT SLAMMED DOWN AND HIT THE BACK OF MY HEAD FORCING MY CHIN TO ALSO SLAM INTO THE FRAME OF THE DOOR. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10159520June 10, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, TIRES, EQUIPMENT
ON OR ABOUT NOVEMBER 3, 2005, I PURCHASED A BREAK MODEL USED FORD EXPLORER XLT 2002 FROM NORM REEVES HONDA CAR DEALER IN CERRITOS, CA. THE CAR HAD 78,000 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE. I SIGNED THE PAPERS AND TOOK THE POSSESSION OF THE CAR. IT HAS NOT BEEN MORE THAN 2 MONTHS THAT THE CAR STARTED GIVING ME TROUBLE ON THE PICK UP OF THE SPEED, TRANSMISSION, GEAR ADJUSTMENT, OVER USE OF THE GAS, DIFFICULT HIGH ALTITUDE DRIVING EVEN AFTER CHANGE OF GEARS, AIR SUCTION INTO THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION, ACCELERATOR AND SIGNS LIKE SERVICE ENGINE SOON ON THE FRONT PANEL, ALTHOUGH I HAVE BEEN GETTING REGULAR LUBE AND TUNE ON THE CAR AFTER EVERY 3000 MILES. WHILE DRIVING THE, OCCASIONALLY, THE CAR GIVES A THUNDERING NOISE ON THE TIRES AS IF IT IS DRAGGING ITSELF AND RUNNING ON THE ROAD. THIS MAKES ME FEAR THAT MY CAR IS NOT SAFE FOR ME TO DRIVE! THE NORM REEVES HONDA SUPER STORE CAR DEALER KNEW THAT THE CAR IS DEFECTIVE AND THEY SIMPLY WANTED TO GET RID OF A USED 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT VEHICLE FROM THE FLEET AS THEY PRIMARILY SELL HONDA CARS AND SIMILAR VEHICLES. DESPITE REPEATED REQUESTS, THE NORM REEVES HONDA SUPER STORE AND THEIR SISTER COMPANY FORD OF CERRITOS REFUSED TO PROVIDE SERVICE ON THE CAR SINCE I STOPPED PAYMENTS ON THE CAR LOAN. OTHER FORD CAR DEALERS HAVE TEST DRIVEN THIS CAR AND OBSERVED THE SAME DEFECTS AS I HAVE MENTIONED. MY PURPOSE OF WRITING THIS COMPLAINT WITH THE NHTSA IS TO REQUEST THE INTERVENTION OF NHTSA IMMEDIATELY AS THE QUESTIONED VEHICLE IS LIKELY TO ENDANGER MY LIFE ON THE LOCAL ROADS AND/OR ON HIGHWAY/FREEWAYS. DUE TO MAJOR DEFECTS IN THE CAR, I CAN MEET WITH A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AND CAN BE CRIPPLED OR SUFFER SUCH PECUNIARY LOSSES THAT ARE IRREPLACEABLE AND/OR I CAN DIE ALSO WITH OUT ANY FAULT OF MINE. PLEASE RECALL FIRESTONE TIRES V. FORD MOTOR COMPANY CASE LAW. CRIMINAL CHARGES AGAINST NORM REEVES HONDA, FORD OF CERRITOS AND THEIR CEOS TO FOLLOW. PLEASE CONTACT ME AND THE DEALERS ASAP. RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED, AMARDEEP SINGH GILL. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10159498June 9, 2006
SUSPENSION:REAR
THE REAR WHEEL BEARING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE LOCKED UP WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HOME FROM 150 MILES AWAY. LUCKY SHE HEARD A WEIRD NOISE AND SLOWED DOWN PRIOR TO IT SEIZING THE TIRE UP. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10159169June 7, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
O/D OFF LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING ON DASH, FOLLOWED BY SERVICE ENGINE SOON. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN TO FORD WHERE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE COMPLETELY REBUILT WITH ONLY 53,000 MILES ON IT. KNOWN DEFECT ACCORDING TO FORD TSB. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10159199June 7, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:ABS WARNING LIGHT, SUSPENSION, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
MY 2002 EXPLORER IS ALSO HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS WHICH HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY NOTED BY OTHER EXPLORER OWNERS. THE WHINING WHEN REACHING 50-60 KM/HR, WHICH GOES AWAY WHEN YOU TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE GAS, THE SLIPPING AND SHUDDERING OF GEARS AND SOMETIMES PASSING GEAR NEVER KICKS IN, THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON (USUALLY AFTER THE TRUCK HAS WARMED UP AND IT DOESN'T SEEM TO HAPPEN WHEN THE WEATHER IS REALLY COLD), THE ABS IS NOW STARTING TO ACT UP, WHEREIN IT RANDOMLY ACTIVATES ITSELF EVEN WHILE ON DRY PAVEMENT AND THE BRAKES FEEL MUSHY WHEN THIS HAPPENS. NOW THE LOCKS ARE RANDOMLY NOT WORKING. I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE ONE INSTANCE ABOUT THE PASSING, SHUDDERING, SLIPPING WAS WHEN I WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY KIDS, I PULLED OUT TO PASS, AND WHEN I STEPPED ON IT THE TRUCK SHUDDERED SO HARD, THAT MY DAUGHTER, WHO WAS COLORING A MOTHER' DAY CARD, ACTUALLY SCRIBBLED WHEN IT SHUDDERED, IF THAT MAKES ANY SENSE. SHE WAS PO'D AT ME ASKING ME WHY DID I DO THAT AND NOW HER CARD WAS RUINED. WE HAVE HAD THE TRANSMISSION IN FOR SERVICE AND WERE TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG. WE HAD THE TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGED AND THE TRUCK WORKED FINE FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS AND THEN BACK TO THE SAME OLD PROBLEMS. MY HUSBAND AND I ARE SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING TRADING THIS PIECE OF CRAP VEHICLE OFF AND WE HAVE DECIDED THAT IT WILL ONLY BE IMPORTS FROM NOW ON. FORD NEEDS TO WAKE UP AND START FIXING ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS OR THEY WILL BE FINDING THEMSELVES BANKRUPT IN NO TIME. I WAS BROUGHT UP AS A KID IN FORDS; 67 T-BIRD, FORD LTD, 1/2 TON TRUCK, 3/4 TON TRUCK, 78 FORD T-BIRD, FORD TAURUS, MY FIRST CAR BEING A MERCURY LYNX, THEN A 93 FORD FESTIVA, HUBBY OWNED A 93 FORD RANGER 4X4, 98 WINDSTAR, MY MOM OWNS A 96 EXPLORER AND SO ON. MY FRIEND JUST GOT RID OF HER 2000 EXPLORER WHICH SHE LOVINGLY NAMED HER 'FORD EXPLODER'. THANKS FOR LISTENING TO MY RANT AND I REALLY HOPE THAT WITH EVERYONE'S INPUT THAT SOMETHING CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10159224June 7, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE SHIFTING GEARS, THE COLUMN SHIFT FRACTURED INSIDE THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHERE THE GEAR SHIFT WAS REPLACED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10159235June 7, 2006
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V442000 DATE: 2004-SEP-13 COMPONENT: STRUCTURE: BODY: HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE: HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS THE FORD EXPLORER HAD THE RECALL WORK PERFORMED FALL OF OCT 11,2005. ON JUNE 3,2006, ABOUT 8 MONTHS, THE EPOXY/TAR USED TO "SECURE" THE STRUT BRACKET ON THE GLASS FAILED IN 90+DEGREE WEATHER (MODERATE SUNNY DAY, IT WILL GET HOTTER). FROM OBSERVATION, USING ADHESIVE TO PREVENT THE BALL JOINT FROM PIVOTING WAS A BAD DESIGN. I OPENED THE GLASS LIFTGATE AND STARTED TO REACH IN AND THE GLASS LIFT GATE SLAMMED DOWN ON MY HEAD. DUE TO LOCAL TEMPERATURE AND REGULAR VIBRATION FROM DRIVING AND THE LOAD FROM THE STRUT, THE ADHESIVE YIELDED AND THE BALL JOINT ROTATED CAUSING THE STRUT TO POP OFF CAUSING THE GLASS LIFTGATE TO COME DOWN ABRUPTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. HAD THIS HAPPEN TO MY WIFE, SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED BEING PETITE. I NOTIFIED THE FORD COMPANY AND THE DEALER, BOTH DECLINE TO REPAIR THE REPAIR PERFORMED UNDER RECALL AS IT WAS PASS THEIR WARRANTY OF 12 MONTH OR 12,000 MILES. IT WAS OVER THE 12,000 MILES. SO I GUESS AFTER 12 MONTH OR 12000 MILES, FORD IS NO LONGER LIABLE IF THE RECALL REPAIR INJURES OR KILLS SOMEONE AS IT WAS A REPAIR UNDER A RECALL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10159247June 7, 2006
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
AT 43000 MILES ON MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT 4X4 THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL STARTED MAKING A LOUD WHIRRING WHINING NOISE. I WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE REAR END NEEDED REBUILT. I WAS ALSO TOLD BY THE DEALER AND LEARNED VIA INTERNET BULLETIN BOARDS THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR AT VERY LOW MILES, AS THE LOCAL DEALER HAS HAD TO REBUILD QUITE A FEW. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10159279June 7, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
REPEATED REAR AXLE AND SEAL FAILURE, TRANSMISSION ISSUES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10159074June 6, 2006
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILS TO ACTIVATE UNTIL MODERATE BRAKE PEDAL FOOT PRESSURE IS APPLIED; RESULTING IN DELAYED/INADEQUATE BRAKE LIGHT ACTIVATION AND DIFFICULTY DISENGAGING GEAR SELECTOR FROM PARK. ALSO, SPEED CONTROL WILL NOT TURN OFF UNTIL PRESSING HARD ENOUGH TO ENGAGE SECONDARY/BACKUP DISCONNECT ON SPEED CONTROL. INITIAL APPLICATION OF BRAKE WILL RESULT IN VEHICLE ATTEMPTING TO MAINTAIN SPEED, INCURRING INCREASED THROTTLE APPLICATION AND AUTO TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFTING. REMOVAL AND OBSERVATION OF THE SWITCH ACTION APPEARS TO SHOW THE MECHANICAL INTERFACE BETWEEN PLUNGER AND CONTACTS RESULTS IN CONTACTS OPENING WIDER IN THE INITIAL TRAVEL OF THE SWITCH BEFORE ACTUALLY CLOSING, RESULTING IN DELAYED CLOSING OF THE SWITCH. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10159020June 5, 2006
AIR BAGS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE VEHICLE WAS HIT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, SPUN AROUND AND FLIPPED SIDE TO SIDE SEVERAL TIMES. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH SIDE CURTAIN AND FRONTAL AIR BAGS. SEAT BELTS WERE IN USE HOWEVER MINOR INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN ALERTED. UPDATED 7/13/2006 - *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10159060June 5, 2006
POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)
1.) MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER 4WD TENDS TO SURGE IN 1ST,2ND, AND 3RD GEAR. IT FEELS AS THOUGH THERE SOME SLIPPAGE ISSUES. 2.) NO "FAILURE", YET. 3.) NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO FIX THE ISSUE YET. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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