Ford Explorer Complaints (2002)

3,572 consumer complaints on file.

#10154221March 30, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION (5R55W) HAS FAILED AT 30,300 MILES 10 MONTHS PAST LOUSY 3YR/36K BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY EXPIRATION! 1 MONTH PRIOR TO FAILING THERE WAS A SECOND OR SO DELAY SHIFTING INTO REVERSE OR A HARSH BUMP UPON ENGAGEMENT. ON 2/26/06 AFTER A 30 MINUTE DRIVE ON THE INTERSTATE AND THEN DOING AN IN-TOWN ERRAND, THE OVERDRIVE OFF LIGHT STARTED FLASHING. AFTER PARKING IT IN OUR GARAGE THERE WAS A BURNED FLUID SMELL. DUE FOR THE 30K TRANSMISSION SERVICE, I ALSO ASKED FOR A COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC TEST AT AN INDEPENDENT TRANS. SPECIALIST. THE MECHANIC CAME TO ME WITH THE PAN ASKING DO YOU POSSIBLY HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. (NO! I SHOULDN'T NEED ONE FOR A MAJOR COMPONENT SUCH AS A TRANSMISSION.) THE FLUID WAS COMPLETELY BLACK WITH NO HINT OF RED. ADDITIONALLY THE MAGNET WAS COVERED WITH A 1/2" THICK LAYER OF METAL SHAVINGS! THE COMPUTER CODE (P1783) REVEALED THAT THE FLUID HAD HEATED TO GREATER THAN 270 DEGREES F. THE TRANSMISSION IS FRIED AND HIS BEST ESTIMATE TO REBUILD IT WAS AROUND $3,000! LET ME STATE THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NEVER DRIVEN UNDER ANY HARSH CONDITIONS, EVEN THOSE YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO ACCORDING TO FORD ADVERTISEMENTS SUCH AS TOWING, OFF-ROAD OR USING THE 4 X 2 LOW GEAR. AFTER DOING AN INTERNET SEARCH AND READING HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE REPEATED FAILURES WITH THE REBUILT AND/OR NEW 5R55W'S INSTALLED, WHAT IS THE CONSUMER SUPPOSED TO DO? WE HAVE TO PAY FOR FORD'S MANUFACTURING DEFECT BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR POOR ENGINEERING ON THEIR VEHICLES. AS MANY OTHERS HAVE EXPRESSED, THIS VEHICLE IS NOT EVEN PAID FOR SO THIS IS A HUGE FINANCIAL BURDEN FOR OUR FAMILY. I RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE EXACTLY, BUT IT SURE IS HURTING THE POCKETBOOK OF CONSUMERS WHO HAVE NO PROTECTION FROM CONSUMER LAWS ONCE IT'S PAST THE 1 YR FOR LEMON LAW OR THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. HOW DO WE GET SUPPORT AS A GROUP TO GET A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT STARTED? NOT BUILT FORD TOUGH!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10153785March 27, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, MY O/D LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND MY CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT. I ENDED UP HAVING TO DRIVE AT 25 MPH AND AT 5000 RPMS IN ORDER TO GET HOME. I HAVE HEARD OF MORE THAN SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH 2002 EXPLORERS. FORD DID NOTHING TO HELP ME. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10153579March 24, 2006
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TAILGATE:LATCH
CRACK IN LIFTGATE THAT OCCURRED SPONTANEOUSLY WHEN WEATHER BECAME WINTER--REAR WIPERS WERE USED AND CRACK OCCURRED. RECALL WAS DONE AT THIS AREA DEALER SUMMER 2005 PRIOR TO CORRECT LIFTGATE RECALL.....WE INQUIRED ABOUT POSSIBLE OVER TIGHTENING DURING RECALL SERVICE AND IT WAS DENIED. WE HAVE HAD THIS CAR SINCE THE SUMMER OF 2002 AND HAVE HAD IT IN COLD WEATHER BEFORE AND UP UNTIL THE RECALL FIX IT NEVER CRACKED. CONCERNED ABOUT GLASS FALLING OUT SINCE THE TAILGATE IS CRACKED FROM TOP TO BOTTOM. THE DEALER ASSERTED THAT IT WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH CRACKS IN LIFTGATE... SINCE WE ARE NOT UNDER WARRANTY WE HAD TO PAY $600 TO GET THIS FIXED. MILEAGE ON THE CAR IS ONLY 23000!!!!! IT IS THE SAFETY ISSUE OF GLASS FALLING OUT WHILE DRIVING OR FALLING INTO THE CAR UPON MY CHILDREN THAT CONCERNS ME. MANY INTERNET WEBSITES I HAVE BEEN TO DISCUSS OTHER SUCH CRACKS OCCURRING IN THE TAILGATE I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY SOME DEALERS ARE WILLING TO HELP AND OTHERS DON'T. THE PRICES VARY TOO WHICH AMAZES ME. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10153543March 23, 2006
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 3-4 TIMES FOR REAR END NOISE / VIBRATION. IT HAS BEEN REPLACE, RE LUBRICATED AND ADJUSTED. THE CAR HAS 85000 MILES ON IT AND THE NOISE IS BACK AGAIN. ANY TIME YOU ARE ACCELERATING AND REACH 55-60 MPH, THERE IS LOUD WHINE THE COMES FROM THE REAR END. LET OFF THE GAS AND IT GOES AWAY.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10153459March 22, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE SUDDEN. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10153406March 22, 2006
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
VEHICLE OUT OF WARRANTY NOW AT 114K MILES. TRANSMISSION JUST REPLACED AT MY COST AND NOW THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL IS MAKING A BAD HOWLING NOISE. I SUPPOSE THAT WILL END UP NEEDING REPLACEMENT OUT OF WARRANTY. I'M HAVING A REAL PROBLEM UNDERSTANDING WHY THE VEHICLE IS HAVING SUCH BAD/EXPENSIVE PROBLEMS AT JUST OVER 100K MILES. ARE THEY REALLY BUILDING GARBAGE ??? *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10154090March 20, 2006
SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
2002 EXPLORER REAR COIL SPRINGS BROKE AT 76,000 MILES. *TS THE FRONT BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10153174March 20, 2006
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
REAR DIFFERENTIAL SEALS LEAKING OIL AND WHINE AT ROAD SPEED ON 2002 FORD EXPLORER WITH 51000 MILES. VIN [XXX]. *JB UPDATED 07/16/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10153268March 20, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2002 FORD EXPLORER EXHIBITING TRANSMISSION AND REAR END PROBLEMS FORD SHOULD RECALL ALL 2002 FORD EXPLORERS FOR THIS PROBLEM. IT APPEARS TO BE VERY WIDE SPREAD. COST ESTIMATED TO BE $6000 FOR REPAIR. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10153141March 19, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AXLE HUBS, POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT, SUSPENSION:REAR
REAR END HUM AND LEAK BACK TIRE WAS LOOSE DUE TO REAR WHEEL BEARINGS DETERIORATING, TOOK IT APART AND BEARINGS FELL APART. THERE WAS NO GREASE ON THEM. THIS '02 EXPLORER HAS 30,000 MILES ON IT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10152861March 16, 2006
WHEELS, SUSPENSION
I OWN A 2002 FORD EXPLORER, WITH 69.000 MILES ON IT. IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE EVER WHEEL BEARING ON MY CAR, THE WHEEL HAVE COME LOOSE, AND THE BEARING WERE SCRAPING. THE COST FOR THE BEARING AND THE LABOR WAS OVER $1,400 , I AM ALSO HAVE TO REPLACE MY TIRES BECAUSE OF THIS, WHEN I CONTACTED FORD ON THIS MATTER, THERE COMMIT WAS "THAT IS YOUR PROBLEM IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY, THERE IS NO REASON ALL 4 WHEEL BEARING WOULD HAVE GONE BAD WITH NO MORE MILES THAN THERE IS ON THE CAR. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE NEXT PERSON MAY NOT KNOW IN TIME THAT THERE IS FLAW IN THE BEARINGS AND MAY HAVE A WHEEL COME OFF. THIS SHOULD BE A VERY BIG SAFETY CONCERN. THIS COULD CAUSE SOMEONE THERE LIFE. I HOPE I CAN GET SOMEONE TO LISTEN BEFORE IT IS TO LATE AND CAUSES A CHILD'S LIFE. THANK YOU. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10152556March 13, 2006
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE SHIFTING GEARS, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MADE A CLUNKING NOISE AND THE VEHICLE DISPLAYED A JERKING MOTION. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY A DEALER AND THE SOLENOID HOUSING OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. AFTERWARDS, THE PROBLEM PERSISTED AND THE SOLENOID HOUSING WAS AGAIN REPLACED BY THE DEALER. THE FRONT PADS WERE REPLACED. THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WOULD POP OPEN. THERE WAS A DELAY WHEN SHIFTING GEARS, AND THEN THE VEHICLE WOULD SLAM INTO GEAR. UPDATED 04/06/06. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10152612March 13, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER
THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN LESS THEN TWO YEARS I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT. IT WAS BOUGHT ON 8/14/04 AS IS NO WARRANTY FROM A DEALER (DEMO) UNIT IT HAD 38547 MILES ON IT, 10/13/04 THE TRANSMISSION BLEW WITH 41675 MILES ON IT. THE DEALER WOULDN'T GIVE ME NO HELP AS WELL AS FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE, I PAID 2181.03 TO HAVE IT REBUILT INCLUDING THE TORQUE CONVERTER REPLACED, AND THE SOLENOID PAK (WHICH WAS REPLACED 2 MORE TIMES SHORTLY AFTER BEING INSTALLED EACH TIME) IT NEEDED A LS KIT, BAS HING KIT, 5 FORWARD STEELS, FILTER AND FLUIDS. MARCH 8TH 2006 I FIND MYSELF SPENDING ANOTHER 1412.56 TO HAVE IT REBUILT YET AGAIN NOW ONLY HAVING 64460 MILES ON IT, IT NEEDED AN OVERHAUL KIT, FILTER AND TRANS FLUIDS, INTERMEDIATE BAND, OD SERVO PISTON, INT SERVO PISTON AND ANOTHER SOLENOID PAK AS WELL AS THE TRANSMISSION CASE REPAIRED. I HAVE OWNED SEVERAL CARS IN MY LIFE TIME AND NEVER HAD TO REPLACE A TRANSMISSION ESPECIALLY TWICE IN LESS THEN TWO YEARS, THIS IS MY FIRST FORD AND WILL BE THE LAST FORD I OWN! I CAN'T AFFORD TO SPEND THIS MUCH MONEY EVERY TWO YEARS AND SHOULDN'T HAVE TO THE WAY I SEE IT!*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10152628March 13, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2002 EXPLORER TRANSMISSION IS BAD AFTER ONLY 33,000 MILES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10152368March 10, 2006
SUSPENSION:REAR
FUNNY THING, MY EXPLORER ONLY HAS 30,000 MILE, THERE WAS NO EVENT, ONE DAY IT WAS FINE THE NEXT DAY COME THE WHINE AND GRIND. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10152410March 10, 2006
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
PASSENGER SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG DEPLOYED UPON CLOSING REAR DOOR OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS NOT IN MOTION, NOR WAS IT PARKED NEAR ANOTHER VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP RAN DIAGNOSTIC, COMPUTER CODE INDICATED VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. MANUFACTURER INITIALLY DECLINED REPAIR VIA CONVERSATION WITH MECHANIC, AFTER I PURSUED CLAIM, WAS TOLD BY DEALERSHIP THAT VEHICLE WOULD BE REPAIRED AND I WOULD HAVE AN EXPENSE TO DO SO OF $300. I CONTACTED SVC MANAGER FOR EXPLANATION OF $300, TOLD CONSUMER ALWAYS SHARES IN EXPENSE OF REPAIR FOR OUT OF WARRANTY ITEMS. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER AGAIN, ASKED FOR REVIEW AS NHTSA WEBSITE STATES SAFETY ISSUES SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AT NO EXPENSE TO VEHICLE OWNER. YET TO BE RESOLVED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10152267March 9, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2002 FORD EXPLORER WITH A V6 ENGINE, PURCHASED NEW, MAINTAINED, HAS 77,000 MILES. WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE IT BECAME ERRATIC, AS IF WATER IN TANK, DROVE ABOUT 1/2 MILE WHEN IT DIED. NOW THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED: ACCORDING TO WARRANTY INSPECTOR THE "CASSETTE FAILED DUE TO THE HYDRAULIC TENSIONER AND IT IS CLOGGED WITH SLUDGE, SLUDGE IS GETTING THICKER AND IT HAS CLOGGED A PIN HOLE IN THE TENSIONER AND CAUSED A LOSS OF PRESSURE". GEICO WILL NOT COVER THE ENGINE REPLACEMENT BECAUSE THEY CLAIM IT WAS CAUSED BY LACK OF MAINTENANCE; HOWEVER, I PROVIDED THEM WITH RECORDS OF THE MILEAGE AND DATE OF OIL CHANGES AT INTERVALS BETWEEN 3K AND 5K MILES, PROBLEM I HAVE RECEIPTS FOR ONLY 75% OF THOSE CHANGES. THE HIGHEST GAP BETWEEN A RECEIPT BACKED CHANGE AND NON RECEIPT CHANGE IS 7000 MILES. THIS PROBLEM SEEMS AWFULLY SIMILAR TO THE 1996 - 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY ENGINES. I THINK FORD HAS A LOT OF EXPLAINING TO DO. PREVIOUSLY, THIS SUV HAD TO HAVE A TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT 50K MILES AND A REAR DIFFERENTIAL AT 65K MILES, THANK GOODNESS THEY WERE COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10152208March 8, 2006
STEERING:COLUMN
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO PUT THE VEHICLE SHIFTER INTO THE DRIVE POSITION HOWEVER, THE STEERING COLUMN COMPLETELY FELL APART. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME AND THEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10152247March 8, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BEGAN HAVING SHIFTING DIFFICULTIES SHIFTING UP AND DOWN BETWEEN GEARS. THE OCCASION THAT PROMPTED THIS OCCURRED AS I ATTEMPTED TO PLACE THE CAR IN REVERSE AND IT DID NOT ENGAGE IMMEDIATELY. I WAS ALMOST BROADSIDED BY AN APPROACHING VEHICLE BEFORE REVERSE ENGAGED AND I WAS ABLE TO AVOID THE COLLISION. IT SEEMS IT TOOK APPROXIMATELY UP TO 1 MINUTE FOR REVERSE TO ENGAGE AND THE VEHICLE LURCHED BACKWARDS ONCE ENGAGED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10152176March 8, 2006
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 15MPH THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WOBBLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE LUG NUTS WERE BROKEN WHICH RESULTED IN THE LOOSE REAR WHEEL. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE BROKEN LUG NUTS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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