Ford Explorer Complaints (2002)

3,572 consumer complaints on file.

#10233318July 6, 2008
SUSPENSION:REAR
LEFT REAR SPRING BROKEN APPROXIMATELY 3" FROM TOP OF SPRING. SPRING PROTECTIVE COATING ONLY 20% REMAINING AND ESSENTIALLY NON FUNCTIONAL. EXTREMELY HEAVY RUST IN THIS REGION OF SPRING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10233248July 5, 2008
STRUCTURE, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC, EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
PAINT IS BLISTERING AND CHIPPING ON THE HOOD AND FENDER OF MY 2002 EXPLORER. ABS LIGHT COMES ON AND AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10233250July 5, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2002 FORD EXPLORER O/D LIGHT GOES OFF AND THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ACTIVATED. THE TRANSMISSION SHORTLY THEREAFTER, STARTS SLIPPING. THE O/D LIGHT, IS BLINKING OUT OF CONTROL. EXCESSIVE COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER FORD CONSUMERS WHO BOUGHT A FORD EXPLORER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10233110July 3, 2008
POWER TRAIN
MY WIFE DRIVES A 2002 FORD EXPLORER WHICH AS ALREADY HAD EXTENSIVE REAR END REPAIR. IT MAKES A ROARING SOUND WHENEVER THE CAR IS MOVING AND IT IS LEAKING WHAT I BELIEVE IS TRANSMISSION FLUID FROM THE REAR END. FORD DENIES HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THAT PARTICULAR CAR THOUGH I HAVE FOUND HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINS ON LINE ABOUT TRANSMISSION AND DRIVE TRAIN FAILURES IN THIS PARTICULAR MODEL. A RELIABLE MECHANIC HAS TOLD ME THAT THE DRIVE TRAIN CAN SEIZE UP AN ANY TIME. IF THIS HAPPENS ON AN INTERSTATE DOESN'T THIS QUALIFY AS A SAFETY CONCERN? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10233172July 3, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE OD LIGHT ON MY 2002 EDDIE BAUER FORD EXPLORER BEGAN BLINKING ACCOMPANIED BY CHECK TRANSMISSION LIGHT. WE TRAVELED SLOWLY HOME AMIDST WHIRRING AND CRUNCHING SOUNDS. THE CAR IS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY AND OBVIOUSLY THE TRANSMISSION IS SHOT. THE FORD MECHANIC TOLD ME IT WOULD CLOSE $2800 TO FIX THE TRANSMISSION AND IN RESPONSE TO MY QUESTIONS REGARDING POWER TRAIN, SUGGESTED THAT WE FIX THE REAR POWER TRAIN FOR $1600. JUST A WEEK AGO, ON THE WAY TO MY DAUGHTER'S WEDDING, 4 HOURS FROM HOME, THE LOW OIL PRESSURE LIGHT BEGAN BLINKING WITH WARNING SOUNDS. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A FORD DEALER AND REPAIRED. WE PICKED IT UP A WEEK LATER DRIVING 4 HOURS ON BUSY THROUGH WAYS AND HIGHWAYS, WHEN THE TRANSMISSION LIGHTS, AS NOTED ABOVE, STARTED BLINKING. ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO, WE HAD THE WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED AS WELL AS OTHER REPAIRS. HOWEVER, THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND UPCOMING POWER TRAIN FAILURE MAKE THE CAR UNRELIABLE AND DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10233045July 2, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, STEERING, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT FROM DRIVE TO PARK, THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER BROKE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO CHANGE GEARS. THE ENGINE REMAINED RUNNING WITH IT IN DRIVE. I TURNED THE IGNITION OFF & IT COULD NOT BE RESTARTED (IE, IGNITION/INTERLOCK SYSTEM). THE STEERING WHEEL WOULDN'T TURN EITHER. THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN (NOT JUST SMALL BROKEN PIECE) HAD TO BE REPLACED (COST=$1372, $897 FOR PARTS). AS OF 7/2/08, 61 EXACTLY THE SAME INCIDENTS HAVE BEEN REPORTED VIA COMPLAINTS FILED WITH NHTSA WEBSITE. SOME VEHICLES COMPLAINED ABOUT HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PART FAILURE TWICE. THESE COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN FILED UNDER THE COMPONENTS - STEERING: COLUMN, POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION: GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL), POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION: LEVER AND LINKAGE: COLUMN SHIFT, STEERING: GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION), STEERING: GEAR BOX: SHAFT SECTOR, STEERING: WHEEL AND HANDLE BAR, OTHER OR UNKNOWN THIS IS AN OBVIOUS DESIGN AND/OR MFG/MATERIAL DEFECT & IT CORRELATES (IN MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS) WITH ANOTHER DEFECT - VERY DIFFICULT SHIFTING OF GEAR LEVER TO OR FROM ?PARK? & ?REVERSE?. 61 REPORTED INCIDENTS OF THE PARTS FAILURE ARE SIGNIFICANT, BUT THERE ARE OBVIOUSLY FAR MORE THAN HAVE BEEN REPORTED VIA NHTSA COMPLAINTS. THE DEFECTIVE GEAR SHIFT PART POSES SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERNS. IF THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER BREAKS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS ON A STREET OR EXPRESSWAY (BUT STOPPED MOMENTARILY BY NECESSITY), THE DRIVER WOULD BE UNABLE TO CHANGE GEARS OR PUSH AND/OR STEER IT TO SAFETY, THEREBY CREATING A DANGEROUS TRAFFIC SITUATION WITH A HIGH POTENTIAL FOR BODILY INJURY. NHTSA HAS MORE THAN ADEQUATE DATA TO INITIATE A DEFECT INVESTIGATION & SHOULD IMMEDIATELY REQUIRE FORD TO PROVIDE A FULL DISCLOSURE OF THE NUMBER OF STEERING COLUMNS THAT IT HAS SOLD AS A RESULT OF THIS DEFECT. I HAVE THE OLD STEERING COLUMN (AND THE BROKEN PIECE) AS WELL AS SEVERAL PICTURES OF THEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10232975July 1, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE GEARSHIFT LEVER BROKE OFF WHILE SHIFTING INTO PARK. NO EXCESSIVE PRESSURE WAS EXERTED AT THIS TIME OR ANY OTHER TO MY KNOWLEDGE. FORTUNATELY THIS OCCURRED IN MY DRIVEWAY BUT I FEAR THIS FAILURE COULD HAVE HAPPENED DURING A GEAR CHANGE ON THE ROAD (FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE, OR VICE VERSA IN A TRAFFIC SITUATION). MY REPAIR SHOP SAID THE PARTS TO REPAIR THIS WERE BACK ORDERED, APPARENTLY DUE TO FREQUENT FAILURES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10232656June 29, 2008
SUSPENSION, POWER TRAIN
NOISE AND FLUID LEAKAGE IN REAR DIAGNOSED BY LOCAL MECHANIC AS FAILING WHEEL BEARING AND DIFFERENTIAL SEAL. REPLACED DIFFERENTIAL SEAL AND ONE REAR WHEEL BEARING AT 57,000 MILES. AT 69,000 REPLACED ONE FRONT WHEEL BEARING BECAUSE OF NOISE. AT 80,000 MECHANIC REPORTED THAT BOTH REAR SPRINGS HAD CORRODED AT THEIR UPPER ENDS AND CRACKED THROUGH. BOTH THESE ISSUES ARE COMMON ON 2002 MODELS BASED ON THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS IN THE DATA BASE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10232612June 28, 2008
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
THIS IS THE SECOND TIME MY REAR PANEL BELOW THE WINDOW HATCH ON MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER HAS CRACKED. THIS TIME IT CRACKED AND FLEW OFF ON THE HIGHWAY. 2 VEHICLES BEHIND ME HAD TO DODGE THE DEBRIS, AND FORTUNATELY THERE WERE NO ACCIDENTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10232499June 27, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I BOUGHT A 2002 FORD EXPLORER IN JULY OF 2007 IN JAN OF THE NEXT YEAR OUR O/D LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND WE LOST 3RD GEAR. SO WE NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. AFTER GETTING ONLINE AND SEEING HUNDREDS OF OTHER PROBLEMS THAT ARE ALMOST EXACTLY THE SAME ITS HARD TO UNDERSTAND WHY FORD WON'T ISSUE A RECALL, THIS IS OUR ONLY VEHICLE TO DRIVE 3 KIDS AROUND IN AND WE ARE STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON SOMETHING THAT JUST SITS BECAUSE WE CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10232506June 27, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
O/D LIGHT CAME ON IN CAR,,, ACORDING TO FORDS DRIVERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM,,,NOTHING IS BRING DONE ABOUT THIS,, WHICH LEAVES ON BIG PROBLEM FOR THE COSUMERS LIKE MY SELF ! AND FORD IS FULL AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM !
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10232338June 26, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, SUSPENSION:REAR, STRUCTURE:BODY
MARCH '07: REAR GATE SPLIT UNDER WINDOW DECEMBER '07 THROUGH JAN '08: REAR DIFFERENTIAL REBUILT TWICE, REAR AXEL HUBS AND BEARINGS REPLACED; DIFFERENTIAL NOISE STILL LOUD JUNE '08: TORQUE CONVERTER REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10232358June 26, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10232457June 26, 2008
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE, POWER TRAIN
2002 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED, 4WD, 4.6L - 84,000 MILES: REAR DIFFERENTIAL UNIT WHINING/ROARING FOR A FEW MONTHS AND GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. I HAVE MECHANICAL BACKGROUND AND LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE ON RACK WITH MECHANIC. REAR DIFFERENTIAL IS OBVIOUSLY VERY BAD AND I AM LUCKY I DID NOT TAKE MY FAMILY ON VACATION WITH THIS PROBLEM AS IF THE WHEELS WOULD HAVE LOCKED AT HIGHWAY SPEED IT COULD CAUSE SERIOUS ACCIDENT/INJURY. I HAVE NOT HEARD OF PROBLEMS SUCH AS THESE WITH REGULAR/EASY USE AT SUCH LOW MILES AND WITH PROPER MAINTENANCE (AS I HAVE DONE). I HAVE ALSO REPLACED LEFT FRONT WHEEL BEARING AND AM SUSPICIOUS OF RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING, WHICH WILL BE EVALUATED AFTER REPAIR OF REAR DIFFERENTIAL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10232240June 25, 2008
STRUCTURE
I HAVE PROBLEMS CLOSING THE BACK WINDOW. YESTERDAY I WAS SIMPLY TRYING TO CLOSE THE BACK WINDOW, THEN ABOUT 1/3 WAY DOWN OUT OF NO WHERE THE BACK WINDOW SHATTERED ALL OVER ME FOR THE SECOND TIME! VERY DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY AROUND CHILDREN. (GOOD THING MY CHILDREN WERE ABOUT 15FT AWAY, BUT THEY WITNESS THE WHOLE THING). THE FIRST TIME THE WINDOW SHATTERED, IT WAS MAYBE AROUND 2004-05. (I CAN VERIFY UPON REQUEST). SUPPOSEDLY DEALERSHIP FIXED THE PROBLEM. (YEAH RIGHT!) VERY DISAPPOINTED IN FORD!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10232279June 25, 2008
STEERING
THE GEAR SHIFT ON MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER BROKE OFF THE STEERING COLUMN. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS BEFORE THIS OCCURRED. I WAS IN THE CAR WITH MY 3 YEAR OLD SON & MY WIFE WHO IS 8 MONTHS PREGNANT. I PULLED OUT OF A DRIVEWAY AT A FRIEND'S HOUSE IN REVERSE, WHEN I PROCEEDED TO PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE, THE GEAR SHIFT BROKE OFF THE STEERING COLUMN. MY CAR WAS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD ON REVERSE. I HAD TO TURN OF THE ENGINE TO BE ABLE TO PUSH IT OUT OF HARMS WAY AND COULD NO LONGER TURN IT ON BECAUSE IT WAS STUCK ON THE REVERSE GEAR. I HAD TO GET THE CAR TOWED TO MY HOUSE, FIND A MECHANIC THAT COULD HELP ME BECAUSE MY CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND THEN HAVE IT TOWED TO THE MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC HAD TO CHANGE THE STEERING COLUMN BECAUSE FORD DOES NOT SELL THE SINGLE PART TO FIX THE GEAR SHIFT, THEY ONLY SELL THE ENTIRE COLUMN. THE MECHANIC GOT ME A GOOD DEAL ON THE COLUMN AND THE TOTAL COST OF THE REPAIR WAS $360 AS OPPOSED TO THE $850 THAT FORD WANTED TO CHARGE FOR THE PART. THERE IS A DATABASE ONLINE OF NUMEROUS FORD EXPLORER 2002 OWNERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. HERE IS THE LINK: HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/EXPLORER/2002/STEERING/GEAR_SHIFT_BROKE_OFF.SHTML THIS IS A DEFECT THAT THREATENS THE SAFETY OF DRIVERS AND THEIR FAMILIES AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED, RECALLED AND THE VICTIMS OF THIS DILEMMA SHOULD BE REIMBURSED BY FORD FOR THEIR EXPENSES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10232288June 25, 2008
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
2002 FORD EXPLORER, O/D LIGHT IS BLINKING, CHECK ENGINE SOON LIGHT STAYS ON CONTINUOUSLY. REAR END MAKES NOISE, ABS LIGHT STAYS ON. TRUCK SHIFTS HARD FROM REVERSE TO FORWARD. SHIFTS HARD AND MAKES CLUNCKING SOUND FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR AND WILL NOT GO IN TO OVER-DRIVE AT ALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10232012June 23, 2008
SUSPENSION
REAR HUB BEARINGS SHOT AND VERY COSTLY TO REPAIR. THIS IS HAPPENING ON 2002 FORD EXPLORERS IN GREAT NUMBERS AND SHOULD BE RESOLVED BY A RECALL. PLEASE REFER TO HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/EXPLORER/2002/WHEELS_HUBS/WHEEL_BEARING_FAILURE.SHTML WHERE AMONG OTHERS COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE ARE POSTED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10232032June 23, 2008
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR, STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE REAR TAILGATE HATCH WINDOW WAS A QUARTER OF THE WAY DOWN, THE CONTACT'S SON RETRIEVED ITEMS FROM THE TRUNK AND THE MIDDLE PIECE OF THE REAR END WAS LITERALLY HANGING OFF. THE WINDOW GLASS SHATTERED EVERYWHERE. HIS SON WAS UNINJURED, BUT THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED IF NO PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE WINDOW ITSELF. THE CONTACT DROVE TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, NOR A RECALL. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 136,739.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10231958June 22, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON 2002 FORD EXPLORER WITH 36,000 MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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