Ford Explorer Complaints (2002)

3,572 consumer complaints on file.

#10252022December 16, 2008
SUSPENSION:REAR
2002 FORD EXPLORER 4X4 EDDIE BAUER. RIGHT REAR SUSPENSION HUB/BEARING FAILURE. VEHICLE LOCATED AND DRIVEN IN SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN (DETROIT AREA) WHERE ROADS ARE SALTED IN WINTER. VEHICLE IN SERVICE DATE (12/12/2001). INCIDENT DATE (03/08/2006 - 69216 MILES). LEFT REAR SUSPENSION HUB/BEARING FAILURE AT A LATER DATE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10252023December 16, 2008
SUSPENSION:REAR
2002 FORD EXPLORER 4X4 EDDIE BAUER. LEFT REAR SUSPENSION HUB/BEARING FAILURE. VEHICLE LOCATED AND DRIVEN IN SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN (DETROIT AREA) WHERE ROADS ARE SALTED IN WINTER. VEHICLE IN SERVICE DATE (12/12/2001). INCIDENT DATE (12/10/2008 - 108845 MILES). RIGHT REAR SUSPENSION HUB/BEARING FAILURE AT AN EARLIER DATE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251799December 15, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE A '02 FORD EXPLORER XLT WITH 91,000 MILES AND THE 'O/D OFF' LIGHT NOW FLASHES CONSTANTLY. IN HAVING A AUTOMOTIVE MECHANIC LOOK AT IT AND IN DOING RESEARCH ONLINE, I HAVE COME TO FIND OUT I WILL NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION! BASED ON RESEARCH IT APPEARS THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS OF THIS SAME ISSUE AND FORD IS APPARENTLY DOING NOTHING TO CORRECT IT. OBVIOUSLY WITH THE POPULARITY OF THE EXPLORER IT WOULD COSTS THEM MILLIONS TO CORRECT THIS DEFECT. I FIND THIS DESPICABLE THAT A COMPANY FULLY KNOWS ABOUT AN ISSUE WITH THEIR VEHICLES YET DOES NOTHING TO BACK UP THEIR REPUTATION (AND WE WONDER WHY CAR COMPANIES ARE CRYING ABOUT BAILOUTS?!?!?). I AM IN NO POSITION TO AFFORD A $2-3K REPAIR AND THIS IS THE VEHICLE I USE TO GO BACK AND FORTH TO WORK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251704December 14, 2008
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
MY DOOR WAS FROZEN SHUT, I PULLED IT OPEN AND NOW I CANT CLOSE IT. IT "BOUNCES" OFF THE DOOR HINGES WHEN I TRY. IT HAPPENED WHEN I GOT OUT OF WORK AT MIDNIGHT AND I DROVE ALL THE WAY HOME WITH MY CAR DOOR OPENING AND CLOSING AS I WAS DRIVING. GOOD THING IT HAPPENED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT BECAUSE NO ONE WAS DRIVING AROUND. IF SOMEONE WAS I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE HIT THEM WITH MY DOOR. I HAD TO HOLD MY DOOR SHUT WITH THE WINDOW DOWN WHILE DRIVING. I HAD TO DRIVE 10 MPH THE WHOLE WAY TO MY HOUSE. TAKING TURNS WAS VERY HARD BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH I WAS HOLDING THE DOOR, IT STILL WAS OPENING. WHAT HAPPENED TO ME WAS VERY DANGEROUS. I COULD'VE HURT MYSELF AND OTHERS. HOPEFULLY THIS IS SOMETHING TO GET FIXED QUICKLY BECAUSE I HAVE FINALS THIS WEEK AND I WONT BE ABLE TO GET THE SCHOOL WITHOUT MY CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251639December 13, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I REPLACED MY TRANSMISSION IN 2005 WITH A BRAND NEW ONE. I OWN A FORD EXPLORER JEEP 2005 AND IT NOW NEEDS ANOTHER TRANSMISSION. I SPOKE WITH SEVERAL PERSONS AND FORD HAS A HISTORY OF NEEDING TRANSMISSIONS, WHAT CAN I DO? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251669December 13, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER GEAR SHIFT LEVER BROKE OFF. I WAS GOING TO PICK UP MY SON FROM SCHOOL, AND WHEN I PULLED IT OUT OF PARK TO PUT IT IN REVERSE THE SHIFTER BROKE OFF. I FOUND 26 COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME ISSUE AT HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/EXPLORER/2002/STEERING/GEAR_SHIFT_BROKE_OFF.SHTML IF THIS IS A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR OF VEHICLE I BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. ON THIS SITE IT STATES THAT AT AN AVERAGE THIS ISSUE OCCURS AT 91,000 MILES, AND HAS A COST OF AN AVERAGE OF $950.00 TO FIX. MANY OF THE PEOPLE WHO POSTED COMMENTS SAID THEY HAD TO PAY $1,300.00 TO GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251619December 12, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIGHT SWITCH THAT CONTROLS THE HEADLIGHTS HAS BEEN REPLACED FOUR TIMES. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ONCE WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH. HE FEELS THAT THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE THE LIGHT SWITCH MAY NOT WORK WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 22,000. UPDATED 01/06/09. *LJ UPDATED 01/06/09. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251453December 11, 2008
STRUCTURE:BODY
A CRACK APPEARED ON THE REAR HATCH DOOR UNDER THE REAR WINDOW. THE CRACK JUST APPEARED ONE MORNING WITHOUT ANY DIRECT ACTION. NOW I HAVE 2 CRACKS. A SEARCH ON THE INTERNET SHOWED THAT THIS PROBLEM IS HAPPENING TO MANY 2002 FORD EXPLORERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251489December 11, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
FIRST THE CAR WOULD NOT ENGAGE INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE, THEN THERE IS A HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING, THE O/D LIGHT COMES ON AND REVS THE ENGINE WHILE TRAVELING, SOMETIMES IT LURCHES FORWARD WHILE SITTING AT A LIGHT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251491December 11, 2008
SEAT BELTS
THE REAR RESTRAINING DEVICE (SEAT BELT) ON THE DRIVERS SIDE STOPPED WORKING, IN THAT IT NO LONGER HAS THE LOCKING MECHANISM/ACTION. THIS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD WITH THE SEAT BELT BEING USED BY MY INFANT SON'S CAR SEAT BASE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251438December 10, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER AND AT LESS THAN 90,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION IS FAILING. IT TAKES 5-10 SECONDS TO ENGAGE AND THEN 'CLUNKS' AND JUMPS BADLY. ROUGH SHIFTING BETWEEN GEARS. AFTER SOME WEB RESEARCH I SEE THAT THIS IS IN FACT A COMMON PROBLEM IN THIS MODEL. THIS IS CRAZY. THE ESTIMATED COST OF REPAIR/REPLACEMENT IS OVER $3,000. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251283December 10, 2008
SUSPENSION:REAR
I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE STRUTS LOOKED AT AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING WAS IN NEED OF REPAIR AND BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS WERE BROKEN. I HAVE NOTICED ON OTHER CHAT ROOMS THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE FOR THIS MAKE/MODEL OF VEHICLE AND I WAS REFERRED TO THIS SITE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251296December 10, 2008
TIRES
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE VEHICLE HAS NEXEN HT SUV OWL TIRES (NA), SIZE 235/70R/16 (NA). THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO A LOCAL TIRE SHOP FOR INSPECTION AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE WAS DEFECTIVE. THE MECHANIC REBALANCED, ROTATED, AND PLACED FOUR NEW NEXEN TIRES ON THE VEHICLE. A WEEK LATER, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES WERE MAKING A HIGH PITCHED NOISE AND ALSO HYDROPLANED DURING WET ROAD CONDITIONS. THE DEALER CALLED THE MECHANIC AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOTIFY THE MANUFACTURER ON HIS BEHALF. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT YET BEEN NOTIFIED. THE TIRES HAVE NOT BEEN REPLACED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000. UPDATED 01/09/09.*LJ UPDATED 01/12/09. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251176December 9, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2002 FORD EXPLORE 4L SIX, STARTING IN 2006 I BEGAN TO HAVE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, MY INITIAL PROBLEM DEVELOPED WHEN THE EXPLORER HAD AROUND 57,000 MILES, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT TO DRIVE. IN NOVEMBER 2008, NOW WITH ABOUT 74,000, MILES THE TRANSMISSION HAS DEVELOPED MORE PROBLEMS IT CURRENTLY JUMPS FORWARD WHEN I SHIFT TO DRIVE. AFTER CHECKING AUTOBEEF.COM, WITH OVER 500 COMPLAINTS POSTED, I FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A RE-OCCURRING PROBLEM WITH 2002 FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSIONS. THE INITIAL REPAIR COST OVER $700.00 AND I DO NOT KNOW WHAT IT IS GOING TO COST THE SECOND TIME. I BELIEVE THAT THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM SHOULD BE CHECKED BY YOUR AGENCY FOR POSSIBLE RECALL BECAUSE OF THE BURDEN IT PLACES ON CONSUMER TO KEEP REPAIRING THE PROBLEM. THIS MAY ALSO A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10250968December 7, 2008
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE, STRUCTURE:BODY
1. DUE TO A RECALL (FORD RECALL NO. 04S20. ), THE LIFTGATE GLASS OPERATION SYSTEM WAS REPLACED IN 2005. SINCE EARLY 2007, THE SAME GLASS STRUTS AND HINGES ARE APPARENTLY HAVING PROBLEM -- FIRST IT TOOK EXTRA EFFORT TO RAISE THE GLASS TO THE FULLY OPENING POSITION, THEN WHILE THE GLASS IS LIFTED OPEN, IT UNEXPECTEDLY DROPPED DOWN. I GOT HIT 3 TIMES AT MY HEAD OR HANDS BY THE SUDDEN DROPPED GLASS AND FRAME; IT COURSED BLEEDING ON MY HAND ONCE. THIS IS CERTAINLY OF SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. I REALLY DOUBT IF THE FORD DEALER (GAINESVILLE FORD IN GAINESVILLE, FL) CORRECTLY PERFORMED THE RECALL JOB IN 2005, AS THEY HAVE A REPUTATION OF LOW STANDARDS OF SERVICE AND TECHNIQUE . BUT, FORD, AS THE MANUFACTURER, SHOULD HAVE ALSO TAKEN THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ENFORCING THE RECALL JOB MEET THE STANDARD. OTHERWISE, WHAT IS POINT OF GOING THROUGH THE RECALL? 2. SINCE JULY OF 2008, I STARTED TO NOTICE THAT THE BACK LIFTGATE PANEL START HAVING CRACKING UNDER THE REAR WINDOW. I SUSPECT THAT THIS IS RELATED TO THE MALFUNCTION OF THE LIFTGATE GLASS STRUTS OR HINGES, THE SAME SYSTEM THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY RECALLED. NONETHELESS, THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE AS WELL, SINCE THE CRACK APPEARING REFLECTS THE LIFTGATE BEING UNSTABLE AND THE GLASS HAVING MUCH HIGHER RISK OF ACCIDENTALLY BREAKING, THEREFORE COURSING INJURY. THIS VEHICLE, WITH ONLY 60 K MILES, HAS BEEN TAKEN GOOD CARE. THROUGH SEARCHING INTERNET, I FOUND THIS APPEARS TO BE A QUITE COMMON ISSUE FOR EXPLORER 2002 MODEL. IT IS ABSOLUTELY NOT ACCEPTABLE TO HAVE THIS KIND SAFETY ISSUE IGNORED BY FORD FOR SO LONG. PLEASE HELP TO GET FORD TO TRULY REALIZE THEIR RESPONSIBILITY AND GIVE THE MASSIVE AFFECTED PUBLIC JUSTICE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH! *TR J. JAMES JIA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10250907December 5, 2008
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE
TRANSMISSION LIGHT BLINKING. TRANSMISSION SLIPPING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10250265December 1, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AFTER BUYING MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER USED IN 2006, I HAD NO PROBLEMS UNTIL AUG. OF 2008 WHEN O/D LIGHT STARTED BLINKING. AT THIS POINT, VEHICLE WAS JUST UNDER 80,000 MILES. TRANSMISSION SHIFTS ROUGH BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEARS. WHEN TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP, WAS TOLD THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL AND WOULD NEED TO SPEND $2000 FOR A TRANSMISSION REBUILD. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE MANY COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME NATURE REGARDING THE EXPLORER TRANSMISSIONS. THIS IS RIDICULOUS CONSIDERING I STILL HAVE 3 1/2 YEARS LEFT ON MY LOAN. FORD NEEDS TO RECALL THIS AND FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10250161November 29, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I OWN A 2002 FORD EXPLORER WITH A V8 AUTO TRANSMISSION. THIS TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN HAVING ISSUES SINCE I REACHED 60,000 MILES. IT WOULD TAKE OVER 5 SECONDS TO ENGAGE INTO GEAR WHICH COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IF ON A STOPPED AND SWITCHING GEARS. THEN ONE DAY I AM DRIVING AND THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT BEGINS TO FLASH. I WENT HOME AND SINCE IT WAS A SATURDAY NIGHT , I DECIDED TO DO A GOOGLE SEARCH ON 2002 OVERDRIVE LIGHT FLASHING. OH BOY DID I WISH I KNEW THAT ALL 2002 FORD EXPLORERS ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE BEFORE I BOUGHT IT. FORD HAS PUT A SEALED TRANSMISSION IN THIS VEHICLE WHICH IS FLAT OUT DANGEROUS!! HOW CAN THEY PUT A TRANSMISSION INTO A VEHICLE THAT YOUR NOT EVEN ABLE TO CHECK YOUR FLUID LEVEL. YOUR TRANSMISSION COULD BE LOW CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO GO OUT, AND THE OWNER WOULD NEVER KNOW. NOT ONLY ARE THERE MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF EXPLORERS WITH THIS ISSUE, BUT WITH THE SAME EXACT ISSUE. BETWEEN 20 TO 30 MPH (GOING FROM 2ND TO 3RD) THE TRANSMISSION WILL SLIP ALLOWING THE VEHICLE RPM'S TO SOAR TO 5000 + AND THEN SLAMS INTO GEAR. IF YOU DO A INTERNET SEARCH THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME EXACT ISSUE. SOME VEHICLES REPORT AS LOW AS 20,000 MILES WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FAILS. FORD SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR PUTTING TRANSMISSIONS THAT ARE OBVIOUSLY FAULTY. READ THE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS OUT THERE FROM THE HARD WORKING CONSUMER, AND I THINK YOU WILL AGREE. I HOPE TO HEAR BACK FROM YOU SOON ABOUT THIS ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10250090November 28, 2008
STRUCTURE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHEN THE CONTACT CLOSED THE REAR HATCH, THE LEFT HINGE FAILED AND THE GLASS SHATTERED. NHSTA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V442000 (STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS) WAS REFERENCED. THE INSURANCE AGENCY WAS NOTIFIED, BUT THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 124,996.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10249932November 26, 2008
STRUCTURE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HE LIFTED THE LIFTGATE ON THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, IT WOULD ONLY HOLD FOR A FEW SECONDS BEFORE COMING BACK DOWN. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, ONE OF WHICH INJURED THE CONTACT'S BACK. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIRS BECAUSE THE FAILURE WAS NOT DEEMED AS A SAFETY RELATED DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0

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