Ford Explorer Complaints (2002)

3,572 consumer complaints on file.

#10228618May 22, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, SUSPENSION:REAR
TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLIP WITH NO WARNING AND COMPLETELY WENT OUT ON MY WIFE'S WAY TO WORK. THIS HAPPENED AT 98,000 MILES. NOW THERE IS A ISSUE WITH THE WHEEL BEARINGS AND ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE MODULE TWO YEARS EARLIER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10228667May 22, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILED IN MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER..I WISH I WOULD HAVE RESEARCHED THE 2002 BEFORE I PURCHASED THE CAR. IF I KNEW THEN WHAT I KNOW NOW I WOULD HAVE NEVER BOUGHT THIS TRUCK. THIS IS THE SECOND ISSUE I'VE HAD WITH FORD, MY 1996 FORD EXPLORER HAD THE ISSUES WITH THE TIRES AND IT TOOK PEOPLE LOSING THEIR LIVES BEFORE FORD AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FINALLY RECALLED THE TIRES ON THE TRUCKS. I GAVE FORD ANOTHER CHANCE AND PURCHASED MY SECOND FORD EXPLORER..NEVER AGAIN WILL I EVER PURCHASE ANOTHER FORD EXPLORER OR ANY OTHER FORD PRODUCTS. I WILL NOT EVEN GET THE TRANS FIXED , I TRADED THE TRUCK IN FOR A CHEVY AND WILL NEVER PURCHASE FORD AGAIN. IF YOU LOOK ALL THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE TRANS , WHY WOULD FORD AND FEDS WAIT TO RECALL THESE CARS? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10228703May 22, 2008
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
I WAS LOADING GROCERIES INTO THE BACK OF MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER WHEN THE LIFTGATE WINDOW EXPLODED. THE HINGE ON THE LIFTGATE HAD ACTUALLY BROKEN, SHATTERING GLASS EVERYWHERE. MY HAND WAS CUT AND I WAS HIT IN THE HEAD BY THE LIFTGATE. WHILE DEVASTATING, IT COULD HAVE BEEN TRAGIC. I HAD THE HINGES AND LIFTGATE SERVICED AND REPAIRED SEVERAL YEARS AGO DUE TO A RECALL ISSUED BY FORD FOR A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. APPARENTLY, THE PROBLEM WAS REPAIRED WITH OTHER DEFECTIVE PARTS OR WASN'T REPAIRED AT ALL. WHEN I CONTACTED FORD, THEY REFUSED TO PAY FOR REPAIRS AND REFERRED ME TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY, WHO SAID IT WAS A FORD PROBLEM. I AM STUCK WITH THE 1,400.00 BILL BUT FORD LOSES MY BUSINESS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10228551May 21, 2008
SUSPENSION:REAR, PARKING BRAKE
BOTH REAR SPRING CRUMBLED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10228608May 21, 2008
STRUCTURE:BODY
CRACK ON REAR HATCH OF VEHICLE, THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT IT HAS HAPPENED. FIRST TIME IT WAS REPLACED AT OUR COST. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10228291May 20, 2008
STRUCTURE:BODY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT, A COUPLE WEEKS AGO I WENT TO OPEN THE BACK LIFT GLASS, AND THE WINDOW FELL, AND COMBUSTION IN THOUSANDS OF LITTLE PIECES, RIGHT IN MY FACE! I HAVE PICTURES, ANYWAY I PROCEEDED TO TAKE MY VEHICLE TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY IN HORSEHEADS, NY, THEY REPLACED THE WINDOW DUE TO THE EXPLOSION, AND I HAVE HAD MY TRUCK BACK THERE 4 TIMES BECAUSE THEY WIRED IT WRONG, AND THEY REFUSE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM, IF MY WIRING FROM THE BACK WINDSHIELD TO THE DASH OF MY TRUCK DOES NOT GET FIXED I AM SORRY TO SAY THAT I WILL BE FORCED TO OBTAIN AN ATTORNEY FOR FORD! PLEASE HELP!!!!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10228146May 19, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I BOUGHT MY FORD EXPLORER XLS ON FEB 5 2005. COMPLAINED ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION AT TIME OF PURCHASE AND THEY SAID THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG. ABOUT 6 MONTHS LATER I HAD IT CHECKED AT ANOTHER DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THE SHIFTER SOLENOID WAS BAD. I HAD IT REPLACED FOR A PRICE OF 2100.00 TO GO 50 MILES DOWN THE ROAD AND SAME THING STARTED AGAIN. THEY THEN SAID IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION ITSELF. NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS FROM DAY ONE AND NO ONE AT FORD CARES. NOW I AM PAYING FOR SOMETHING THAT I CANT DRIVE CAUSE I CANT AFFORD TO HAVE IT FIXED. PLEASE HELP ME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10228232May 19, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2002 FORD EXPLORER, I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN THE TRUCK JUST STARTED STALLING AND THE O/D LIGHT STARTED BLINKING. I ALMOST WAS HIT FROM BEHIND, AND THE VEHICLE ALMOST LOST CONTROL. AFTER PULLING OVER, AND PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN PARK, AND TURNING THE O/D BACK ON, THE TRUCK HESITATED TO GO INTO 1ST GEAR. NOW IT WON'T DRIVE NORMAL, AND I KEEP GETTING THE STAGGERED SHIFTING. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY FAILURE I BELIEVE, AS IT MAY EASILY CAUSE A CRASH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10228085May 17, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
THE FORD RECALL FOR CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH IS A JOKE. I JUST HAD THE DEALERSHIP PERFORM THE REPAIR ON MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC AND WAS SURPRISED TO FIND THEY ONLY INSTALLED A FUSED JUMPER INSTEAD OF REPLACING THE FAILING SWITCH. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF THE POTENTIAL FOR FIRE BUT ALSO THE SWITCH FAILURE COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID PRESSURE. WITH THE JUMPER INSTALLED A FAILURE WOULD BLOW THE FUSE AND REMOVE THE SWITCH FROM OVERHEATING BUT THE SWITCH COULD STILL LEAK BRAKE FLUID ONTO THE HOT EXHAUST MANIFOLD. I TALKED WITH THE SERVICE REP AND ASKED WHY FORD DOESN'T REPLACE THE SWITCH. HE STATED " GOOD QUESTION, PROBABLY BECAUSE THE JUMPER IS CHEAPER " . AFTER SPENDING $30,000.00 FOR A VEHICLE YOU WOULD THINK REPLACEMENT OF THE SWITCH WOULD BE A MINIMAL COST TO THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY. I WAS CONSIDERING GETTING A NEW FORD SPORT TRAC BUT WILL LOOK TO ANOTHER MANUFACTURER FOR MY NEXT VEHICLE. FORDS SAFETY AWARENESS AND RESPONSIBILITY SUCKS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10227882May 15, 2008
POWER TRAIN, EQUIPMENT
IT STARTED AROUND 78,000 MILES. MY TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLIP AS I WAS DRIVING UP A HILL. THE TRANNY WAS SLIPPING BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR. I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP - HAD TO REPLACE THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION ($3400). TRANSMISSION AGAIN AT 137,000 MILES SLIPPING BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR AGAIN - WARRANTY EXPIRED - FORD COULD ONLY GIVE ME A WARRANT FOR 36,000 MILES OR 3 YEARS - I'M UNDER MY 3 YRS BUT NOT MILEAGE. TOOK TO THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN, NOW ITS MY TRANSMISSION BAND ($2100) BUT WITH ALL THE WEAR ON THE TRANSMISSION AND THE COST. I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AGAIN. DURING THIS TIME THAT MY TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, I ALSO HAD THE RIGHT (I BELIEVE IT WAS THE RIGHT) REAR AXLE WENT OUT TWICE MY OVERDRIVE LIGHT CAME ON. I THINK THERE IS A CORRELATION WITH THE OVERDRIVE SYSTEM AND THE TRANNY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10227916May 15, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I'M THE FIRST OWNER OF A 2002 EXPLORER. AT 30K MILES, HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT DUE TO SLIPPING, OD LIGHT FLASHING AND WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR. AT 60K MILES, THE EXACT SAME SYMPTOMS HAVE RE-APPEARED AND FORD IS UNWILLING TO PROVIDE ANY COMPENSATION. LOOKING ON-LINE, MANY OWNERS OF THIS MODEL HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. OTHER CARS I HAVE OWNED AND HAVE MANY MORE MILES LOGGED HAVE NEVER HAD TRANSMISSION NEEDING REPLACEMENT. FORD'S IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECTIVE DESIGN/PRODUCT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10227950May 15, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I HAVE 2002 FORD XLT EXPLORER. 102K MILES NOW. I HAD ISSUE WITH THROTTLE CABLE STICKING BACK IN FEB 2008. WOULD NOT DECELERATE PROPERLY DRIVING HOME IN THE EVENING, THROTTLE STUCK OPEN. CAME CLOSE TO REAR ENDING ANOTHER VEHICLE. TRACED THE PROBLEM TO WHAT WAS THAT THE INNER LINER OF THE THROTTLE CABLE HAD BACKED OUT IN THE DRIVER COMPARTMENT APPRX 2 INCHES AND NOT ALLOWING THE CABLE TO RETRACT CORRECTLY. I REMOVED THAT SECTION OF THE LINER. AFTER RESEARCH FOUND THAT NHTSA ACTION NUMBER : PE05037 MATCHED MY PROBLEM EXACTLY. PLEASE NOTE HERE THAT MY ISSUE OCCURRED AFTER A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME THAN WHAT AS NOTED IN PE05037, YOU MAY HAVE TO OPEN NEW INVESTIGATION USING LONGER PERIOD. I CONTACTED FORD MOTOR CUSTOMER SERVICE ABOUT THIS AND THEY OFFERED NO REMEDY FOR THIS ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10227553May 13, 2008
SUSPENSION:REAR, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
BOUGHT THE CAR USED IN SEPT. 2007. A MONTH AND A HALF LATER, HAD TO REPLACE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL BEARING. A MONTH AFTER THAT, WE HAD TO REPLACE THE DRIVER SIDE REAR WHEEL BEARING. DRIVER DOOR WINDOW MOTOR WENT A WEEK AFTER THE WHEEL BEARINGS. ABS LIGHT IS ON. ALSO HAD TO REPLACE TWO COILS IN THE ELECTRICAL UNIT. PUT APPROXIMATELY 3,000.00 INTO CAR SINCE PURCHASE IN LESS THAN EIGHT MONTHS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10227628May 13, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
FUEL PUMP FAILED WHILE DRIVING INTO MY DRIVEWAY WITH ONLY 11,000 MILES ON THE CAR. COST $ 950.00 TO REPLACE THE PUMP AT DEALER. THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS IF IT OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY. A FEW WEEKS EARLIER I NOTICED A ONE TIME OCCURRENCE WHEN THE CAR DIDN'T WANT TO ACCELERATE WHILE DRIVING AT APPROX. 55 MPH BUT PROBLEM CORRECTED ITSELF. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10227627May 13, 2008
STEERING
THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER BROKE AWAY FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN I TRIED TO PUT IT IN PARK FROM DRIVE. IT JUST SNAPPED VERY EASY. THE BROKE COMPONENT IS THE PIECE THAT CONNECTS THE LEVER TO THE ROD AND THE WHOLE STEERING COLUMN COMPONENT HAD TO BE REPLACE BECAUSE THE LEVER AND ROD IS A SINGLE PIECE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10227667May 13, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
NOTICED A GRINDING AND WHINING NOISE COMING FROM RIGHT SIDE OF MY 2002 FORD XLT EXPLORER. ALSO THOUGHT THAT I NEEDED A NEW EXHAUST THE CAR WAS MAKING SUCH LOUD NOISE. WENT TO 2 DIFFERENT GARAGES FOR PRICING, I NEEDED BOTH FRONT AND REAR BEARINGS REPLACED ACTUALLY THE FRONT BEARING WAS ABOUT TO FALL OFF BOTH GARAGES STATED. ALSO THE LOUD NOISE FROM MY EXHAUST IT WAS MISSING ONE BOLT TO THE COVER, COVERING THE EXHAUST AND OR CATALYTIC CONVERTER. ALSO 8MONTHS PRIOR THE CARS TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. ALL OF THIS EXPENSIVE AND COSTLY REPAIRS HAPPENED AT 79,000 MILES. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS VEHICLE AND READING ALL OF THE OTHER COMPLAINTS THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE CONSIDERED FOR RECALLS FROM FORD. MY FAMILY IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME AND I USE THIS CAR TO TRAVEL AND TRANSPORT MY FAMILY. I AM VERY CONCERNED AND FORDS NEEDS TO INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEMS ARISING WITH THE 2002 FORD XLT EXPLORER PROBLEMS AND FIX THEM. SO FAR I HAVE INVESTED $5500 INTO THIS CAR I WOULD NOT EVEN GET THIS FOR A TRADE IN VALUE. PLEASE CONSIDER MY COMPLAINT AND THE MANY OTHERS VERY IMPORTANT. THANK YOU *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10227669May 13, 2008
STEERING
GEAR STICK BROKE OFF IN MY HAND WHEN SHIFTING TO REVERSE IN MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER, IT HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AS IT HAPPENED TODAY, BUT WILL PROBABLY REQUIRE A NEW STEERING COLUMN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10227443May 12, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2002 FORD EXPLORE XLT V6 TRANSMISSION FAILED IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC WHILE MY CHILDREN WERE ON BOARD. FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE AND QUITE SAD THAT FORD DID NOTHING. TRUCK WAS ONLY 4 YRS OLD AND SHOULD NOT HAVE NEEDED A REBUILT TRANSMISSION. I HAD TO GET IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC AND GET TRANSPORTATION HOME. THEY HAD TO REBUILD IT COMPLETELY! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10227486May 12, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
1. MY FAMILY WAS DRIVING ON A STATE HIGHWAY AND THE CAR'S O/D OFF LIGHT STARTED FLASHING. NO OTHER WARNING LIGHTS WERE GOING OFF. IT WAS A MATTER OF MILES BEFORE THE CAR STOPPED GOING. IT'S EXTREMELY DANGEROUS FOR A CAR TO SUDDENLY SLOW DOWN ON A FAST MOVING HIGHWAY. 2. AFTER THE LIGHT FLASHED, THE CAR STOPPED GOING INTO GEAR. WE WERE GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WITH OTHER CARS WHEN OUR CAR SUDDENLY SLOWED DOWN BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR. WE WERE BARELY ABLE TO GET UP A HILL BEFORE COASTING TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THIS OCCURRED IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE WITH OTHER TRAFFIC GOING HIGH RATES OF SPEED. 3. THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10227275May 11, 2008
WHEELS
A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER 4.0 XLS STARTED TO MAKE A ROARING SOUND FROM THE REAR WHEELS AND THE GAS MILEAGE SEEMED TO BE A COUPLE MPG LESS. I THINK I HAD ABOUT 25K MILES AT THE TIME. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND ASKED THEM TO CHECK IT OUT, I THOUGHT IT COULD BE THE BEARINGS, THEY FOUND NOTHING. I WAS VERY CONCERNED SINCE I WAS GOING TO TAKE MY FAMILY ON VACATION... NOW, STILL CONCERN I DID AN INTERNET SEARCH SEEING IF ANYONE ELSE WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I FOUND HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/EXPLORER/2002/WHEELS_HUBS/WHEEL_BEARING_FAILURE.SHTML AND NOW I AM EVEN MORE CONCERNED. I THINK I AM SITTING ON A TIME BOMB. THERE WERE SO MANY COMPLAINTS, THAT I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS TRULY A DESIGN FLAW THAT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED. I HAVE HAD IDENTICAL ISSUES AND I DON'T ABUSE THE CAR. COULD YOU PLEASE INVESTIGATE BEFORE I END UP IN AN ACCIDENT? THANK YOU. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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