Ford Explorer Complaints (2002)

3,572 consumer complaints on file.

#10115973March 28, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
GEARS BEGAN TO SLIP AT 59,000 MILES ON THREE YEAR OLD VEHICLE. ONE DAY OD LIGHT WENT OFF AND TRANSMISSION WAS COMPLETELY BURNED UP. WE HAD GIVEN VEHICLE REGULAR SERVICE. THERE WAS NO WARNING UP UNTIL THE DAY THE TRANNY WENT OUT. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN OUTSIDE SOURCE WHO CONCLUDED THAT THE SEAL LOOKED LIKE IT HAD NEVER BEEN BROKEN ON THE TRANSMISSION PLUG. THIS LEADS US TO BELIEVE THAT FORD NEVER EVEN CHECKED OUR FLUID WHEN WE DID TAKE IT IN FOR SERVICE. THIS CONSTITUTES FRAUD IN MY OPINION, ALTHOUGH WE HAVE NO PROOF. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10115951March 28, 2005
SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY
INVESTIGATED AFTER PASSENGER SEATED IN THE RIGHT REAR SEAT, MENTIONED UNUSUAL SEAT MOVEMENT AFTER A MODERATE TO HEAVY BRAKING OCCURRENCE. REAR WASHER HEAD ANCHOR BOLT/NUT WAS BROKEN/SHEERED OFF FLUSH AT THE FLOOR PAN, LEAVING THE SEAT TO TIP SLIGHTLY FORWARD. HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND UNKNOWN AS TO THE EXTENT OF REPAIR NEEDED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10114838March 27, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC PREMATURE FRONT BRAKE PAD WEAR, PARTICULARLY THE FRONT INSIDE PAD WORE DOWN TO ROTOR. HAD 30,000 FORD INSPECTION AND WAS ONLY 50% WORN ON FRONT, AT 34,000 MILES THE PADS WAS WORN OUT AND THE LOCAL DEALER BILL ALEXANDER FORD SAID THATS NOMINAL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10114731March 25, 2005
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
I OWN A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. ON 3/20/05 I NOTICED A CRACK ON THE BACK PANEL JUST BELOW THE UPPER LIFT GATE. THE CRACK IS TO THE RIGHT OF THE FORD EMBLEM AND EXTENDS FROM THE TOP TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS PLASTIC PANEL. UPON CONTACTING MY DEALER, I WAS INFORMED BY THEIR BODY SHOP THAT THIS REPAIR WAS COVERED BY THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY. WHEN I WENT TO THE BODY SHOP AT THE DEALERSHIP I WAS TOLD THAT THE ORGINAL WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED, MY ORIGINAL WARRANTY STARTED 6/29/01. I HAVE ONLY JUST REACHED 36,128 MILES TO DATE. I HAD PURCHASED AN ESP PREMIUM CARE CONTRACT, BUT WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIR MY VEHICLE REQUIRED EVEN THOUGH I WAS TOLD AT THE TIME I PURCHASED THE ESP THAT IT OFFERED "BUMPER TO BUMPER COVERAGE." IF I WANT THIS CRACK REPAIRED IT WILL HAVE TO BE OUT OF MY POCKET TO THE TUNE OF $450. IN ANY EVENT, I FEEL THAT THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM AS IT SEEMS AS THOUGH IT WILL INEVITABLY WEAKEN THE UPPER LIFTGATE WINDOW FRAME. I ONLY LEARNED ABOUT THE UPPER LIFTGATE HINGE RECALL WITH THIS VISIT TO THE BODY SHOP. I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED ANY RECALL INFO. FROM FORD. THIS CRACK SEEMS AS THOUGH IT COULD ONLY ADD TO THE DANGEROUS SITUATION ONLY READY IMPOSED BY THE UPPER LIFTGATE. AT THE VERY LEAST, I FEEL THAT MY EXTENDED SERVICE PLAN SHOULD COVER THIS REPAIR ENSURING THE SAFETY OF MY UPPER LIFT GATE WINDOW. I PAID OVER $900 FOR THE ESP COVERAGE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10114746March 25, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THREE MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING MY 02 EXPLORER, AND AT 39000 MILES, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLIPPING JUST A BIT. A WEEK LATER, THIRD GEAR COULD NOT ENGAGE AT ALL, AND I WAS FORCED TO DRIVE TO THE REPAIR SHOP IN SECOND GEAR, WITH MY HAZARD LIGHTS ON, AND WITH SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN IN THE CAR. MY REPAIR PERSON DROVE THE CAR FOR ABOUT 15 SECONDS AND KNEW IMMEDIATELY WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. HE KNEW BECAUSE HE HAD JUST FIXED THE SAME PROBLEM LAST MONTH ON AN 02 EXPLORER WITH LESS MILES THAN MINE. HE STATED THAT FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT WITH THE ADVENT OF EXTENDED WARRANTIES, THEY WOULD NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. I DID NOT PURCHASE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY BECAUSE WHO WOULD EXPECT THAT A TRANSMISSION SHOULD BE REBUILT AT 39000 MILES (INCIDENTALLY 3000 MILES PAST MY WARRANTY COVERAGE). LUCKILY NO ONE WAS INJURED BECAUSE I PARKED THE TRUCK ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. BUT NOW I AM FACED WITH THE COST OF REBUILDING THIRD GEAR INTO MY TRUCK, WITH NO ONE ACCEPTING RESPONSIBILTY FOR THE DEFECT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10114617March 24, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLS, 4.0 ENGINE, THAT HAS TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 59,000 MILES. I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE AND HAVE NOTICED A HIGH NUMBER OF TRANSMISSION FAILURES AT LOW MILEAGE SUCH AS MY VEHICLE. I CALLED FORD TO SEE IF THEY WOULD PROVIDE ASSISTANCE FOR THE REPAIR AND THEY SAID NO AND DENY ANY MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THOSE TRANSMISSIONS. I AM NOW FACED WITH HAVING TO PAY $1500 - $2000 FOR A MAJOR REPAIR OF A LOW MILEAGE VEHICLE. THE CAR WAS DIAGNOSED AT A FORD DEALERSHIP UNDER THE ADVICE OF FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE. I AM NOW GOING TO REMOVE THE VEHICLE FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND TAKE IT TO AN OUTSIDE REPAIR STATION BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIP WANTS $600 TO TEAR DOWN THE TRANSMISSION AND DO FURTHER DIAGNOSIS. I AM UPSET AT THE POOR QUALITY OF THE VEHICLE WHICH WAS A MAJOR INVESTMENT FOR ME AND THE ADDITIONAL EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS VECHICLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10114672March 24, 2005
ENGINE
NONE - JUST DRIVING AND ENGINE STOPS WITHOUT A SPUTTER ON HIGHWAY AT 55-65 MPH OR JUST IDLING, 2/3 DEALER DETERMINES IDLE AIR BYPASS DEFECTIVE, 2/3 - DRIVING HOME FROM DEALER IT DOES THE SAME THING, 2/8 - DEALER GETS VEHICLE BACK AND REPROGRAMS POWER CONTROL MODULE, NOW IT RUNS ROUGHER THAN BEFORE AND DIES OUT MORE FREQUENTLY. 2002 FORD EXPLORER 49K MILES [XXX]. 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
#10115640March 23, 2005
STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID
WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED CONSUMER SAW THE TAILGATE FRAME CRACKED AROUND THE GLASS WINDOW. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10114534March 23, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AXLE HUBS
THE LUGS: BOLTS ON THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL HAVE BROKEN OFF TWICE CAUSING THE WHEEL TO COME OFF. THE FIRST TIME WAS IN OCTOBER 2004 AND SECOND TIME WAS IN JANUARY 2005. 1ST TIME I WAS GETTING ON THE EXPRESSWAY AND THE 2ND TIME I WAS JUST GETTING OFF THE EXPRESSWAY. THIS PROBLEM HAS COST ME OVER $2000 IN REPAIRS, TIME LOST ON MY JOB, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY - IT COULD HAVE COST ME MY LIFE OR THE LIVES OF OTHERS. WHEN I SPOKE WITH A FORD REPRESENTATIVE, I WAS TOLD, " SORRY" AND SENT A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION SURVEY. I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS HAS NOT OCCURRED TO OTHERS. I AM RELUCTANT TO EVEN DRIVE THIS THING ANYMORE BUT OWE TOO MUCH ON IT TO GET RID OF IT. IF NOTHING IS DONE TO MAKE ME FEEL SAFE IN MY EXPLORER, THEN IT WILL BE THE LAST FORD PRODUCT I WILL EVER OWN AND WILL ENCOURAGE EVERYONE I COME IN CONTACT WITH TO AVOID FORD PRODUCTS AS WELL AND I'M GOING TO PUT A SIGN ON THE BACK FOR EVERYONE TO SEE LETTING THEM KNOW THAT THE EXPLORERER IS AN UNSAFE VEHICLE. ALL I WANT IS PEACE OF MIND WHEN DRIVING MY VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10114452March 22, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2002 FORD EXPLORER HAS HAD 2 REBUILT TRANSMISSIONS AND OVER $1,800 IN TRANSMISSION WORK NOT RELATED TO THE REBUILT TRANSMISSIONS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10114397March 21, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILED DURING ORDINARY DRIVING. TRANSMISSION REQUIRED NEARLY THREE WEEKS TO REPAIR AT A COST OF $2,800.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10114320March 19, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:SPRINGS
VEHICLE IS A 2002 FORD EDDIE BAUER EXPLORER. VEHICLE WAS DRIVING ON EXPRESSWAY WHEN WILL CHANGING LANES TO PASS A SLOWER MOVING VEHICLE, OUR VEHICLE BEGAN TO UNCONTROLLIBLY EXCELLERATE AND CONTINUE TO EXCELLERATE PUSHING THE CAR TOWARD SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 70 MILES PER HOUR. ENGINE CONTINUED TO RACE. AN EMERGENCY STOPPING OF THE VEHILCE WAS BROUGHT UNDER CONTROL AFTER PUTTING CAR INTO NEUTRAL, APPLYING BRAKES AND GETTING OFF OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO WESTFILED FORD DEALER SHIP WHERE THEY ARE INSPECTING THE THRODDLE AND OTHER PARTS ESTIMATED COST TO REPAIR $400. HAVE NOT PICKED UP VEHICLE YET FOR FULL DESCRIPTION OF PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10114295March 18, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
1ST TIME WAS THE REAR HOWLING NOISE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, PRIMARILY DURING ACCELERATION. IT WAS REMEDIED ONCE FOOT WAS OFF THE GAS PEDAL. INNER/OUTER AXLE BEARINGS, RACERS, PINION SEAL WERE REPLACED. 2ND INCIDENT OCCURED LESS THAN 30 DAYS, AND 3000 MILES LATER, WHEN THE TRUCK DECIDED TO PULL ME FROM 75 MPH TO 25 MPH IN SECONDS. THERE WAS A MAJOR LEAK UNDER THE REAR AXLE, AND THE TRUCK REQUIRED TOWING. THERE WAS A MAJOR REPLACEMENT TO THE REAR END, DO NOT HAVE THE DOCUMENTATION AT HAND, BUT IT WAS EXPENSIVE. NOW, 2 YEARS LATER, 30000 MILES LATER, THE REAR END NEEDS AN EXPENSIVE PART FOR REPLACEMENT. WHEN I MADE SHARP RIGHT/LEFT HANDED TURNS, THERE WAS A SHUDDER, A GRIND, THAT WAS COMING FROM THE REAR. FORD SERVICE NOTIFIED ME SAME DAY THAT A PACK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED FOR $725, ABOUT THE SAME REGION WHERE ORIGINAL PROBLEMS HAVE OCCURRED. SHOULD I EXPECT TO SEE SIMILAR PROBLEMS CONTINUING DURING THE NEXT 30K MILES? I FEEL THAT I HAVE BEEN PRETTY CARING TO THE VEHICLE BY HAVING IT SERVICED EVERY 3K MILES. DIDN'T SEE THIS COMING. HOW MANY MORE COMPLAINTS UNTIL RECALL?*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10115362March 17, 2005
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 03V281000 CONCERNING HIGH BACK SEAT. NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10115668March 15, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
THE CONSUMER'S 2002 FORD EXPLORER WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT WHEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. *NM *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10114098March 15, 2005
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
THE BACK HATCH ON MY FORD EXPLORER HAS A CRACK IN THE PLASTIC. FORD HAS TOLD US THAT THIS IS AN ON GOING PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. MY TRUCK IS NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT I HAVE SEEN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10115162March 15, 2005
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V442000 CONCERNING REAR LIFTGATE GLASS. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO GET THE DEALER TO HONOR THIS RECALL SINCE MID DECEMBER 2004. DEALER KEPT INSISTING THAT NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10114120March 15, 2005
SEAT BELTS
GOT STUCK IN SEAT BELT & HAD TO BE CUT OUT. ON PASSENGER SIDE, FELL ASLEEP WITH SEAT BELT AROUND ME AND WHEN WOKE COULDNT GET OUT. TRIED UNBUCKLING BUT THE SEAT BELT WOULDNT GIVE & KEPT GETTING TIGHTER AND TIGHTER AND HAD TO BE CUT OUT. SEATBELT IN BACK BEHIND PASSENGERSIDE ALSO BROKE, WONT PULL-DOWN ANYMORE EITHER.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10113984March 12, 2005
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLS WHICH STARTED TO EXPERIENCE A WHINING NOISE FROM THE REAR END SHORTLY AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED. IT CONTINUED TO GET WORSE. THE FLUID WAS CHECKED, ALL O.K. NOW AT 75,000 MILES THE REAR END HAS FAILED. COST TO REPAIR EST $1200 - $1500. THERE APPEARS TO BE A DESIGN OR DEFECTIVE PART ISSUE. DEALERS TELL ME THIS IS AN ISOLATED CASE, WHICH IS NOT TRUE AS I PERSONALLY KNOW 2 OTHER INDIVIDUALS WHO HAD SAME PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10113961March 11, 2005
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
DIFFERENTIAL HUMS AT 55-75 MPH. 50,000 MILES ON VEHICLE HUM STARTED AFTER WARRANTY PERIOD EXPIRED. READ THAT MANY OWNERS WITH THE SAME YEAR EXPLORER 2002 ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. FORD SHOULD BE RECALLING/REPAIRING THIS PROBLEM FREE OF CHARGE BECAUSE IT IS CLEARLY A FACTORY DEFECT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Ford Explorer