Ford Explorer Complaints (2002)

3,572 consumer complaints on file.

#10144388December 3, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2002 FORD EXPLORER HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS FROM THE BEGINNING. TOOK THE VEHICLE IN PRIOR TO THE 36K WARRANTY EXPIRING AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TROUBLE WAS DUE TO A NEW TYPE OF TRANSMISSION THAT WAS USED IN THIS MODEL. WAS TOLD IT WAS A "MEMORY TRANSMISSION" AND THAT WAS WHY IT SHIFTED SO HARD AND MADE NOISES. PROBLEM NEVER WENT AWAY AND HAD TO GET THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT IN 12/05 BECAUSE THE PROBLEM BECAME SO SEVERE. FROM RESEARCH WE HAVE DONE THIS IS NOT A RANDOM CASE BUT RATHER A RECURRING PROBLEM FOR OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE. FORD SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FIXING THE TRANSMISSIONS BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT THEY ARE NOT RELIABLE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10144191December 2, 2005
SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS
2002 FORD EXPLORER BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS BROKE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10144197December 2, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE BAND IN MY TRANSMISSION BROKE, IT WOULD NOT SHIFT TO THIRD GEAR, I HAVE SEEN IN FORUMS THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE THIS PROBLEM, I THINK FORD SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL AND FIX THIS PROBLEM, THE MINIMUM CHARGE TO REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION IS ABOUT $2500.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10144327December 2, 2005
STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE
IN MAY, 2005, FORD DEALER PERFORMED FIX FOR NHTSA RECALL 04V442000. THIS RECALL IS INTENDED TO PREVENT THE REAR TAILGATE GLASS FROM FAILING. THE ALARMING ISSUE IS THAT 5 MONTHS AFTER THE RECALL FIX WAS PERFORMED, THE REAL TAILGATE GLASS EXPLODED WHILE THE TAILGATE GLASS WAS IN THE OPEN POSITION. THIS OCCURRED INSIDE A CLOSED GARAGE SO WIND WAS NOT AN ISSUE. THE FORCE OF THE EXPLOSION SENT THOUSANDS OF PIECES A GLASS FLYING AS FAR AS 15 FEET. THIS COULD HAVE INJURED ANYBODY STANDING NEAR THE REAR OF THE CAR. IN THIS CASE, NOBODY WAS NEAR THE GLASS WHEN IT EXPLODED. PERHAPS THERE IS A DESIGN DEFECT IN THE RECALL FIX, OR PERHAPS THE RECALL FIX WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY. BOTH THE FORD DEALER AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAVE REFUSED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR REPAIRS COSTS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10144145December 1, 2005
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
CRACK BELOW REAR WINDOW. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10144171December 1, 2005
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT, WHEELS
WE OWN A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. IT WAS RECENTLY IN THE SHOP AT 45K MILES FOR A WHINING NOISE FROM THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL. THE SERVICE GUY SAID THAT THEY HAVE HAD QUITE A FEW VEHICLES WITH THIS PROBLEM. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID HE WAS SURPRISED IT DIDN'T START AT 12K. WE WERE TOLD WE NEEDED TO REPAIR THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL RING AND PINION IN ORDER TO FIX A LEAK AND WHINING NOISE FROM THE AREA. HE SAID WE WOULD NOT NECESSARILY SEE LEAKING FLUID BECAUSE IT WOULD LEAK WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHER SPEEDS IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND COST OF 1300. WE WERE ALSO TOLD THAT THE REAR WHEEL BEARING IS GOING OUT. 250.00 TO REPAIR THIS. THE SERVICE GUY ALSO TOLD ME THAT UNTIL FORD CAME OUT WITH A DIFFERENT REPAIR PART HE HAD NEEDED TO REPLACE IT SEVERAL TIMES ON AT LEAST ONE EXPLORER. THEY HAD ONE IN THAT DAY TO REPAIR OTHER THAN MINE IF I AM NOT MISTAKEN. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10144015November 30, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION BAND BROKEN -- ONLY 50,000 MILES FORD HAS PERFORMED ALL SERVICE REPAIRS INCLUDING OIL CHANGES EVER DONE ON THIS VEHICLE. ONE DAY WHILE DRIVING, I HEARD A POP AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE SPEED WOULD ONLY GO UP TO 30 MPH AND WOULD JERK AGAIN. I HAVE NOW BEEN TOLD IT WOULD COST 2500 DOLLARS TO FIX. AFTER RESEARCHING THE ISSUE, I FOUND OUT INFORMATION THAT THIS PROBLEM IS COMMON TO A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO OWN THE SAME YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL. THE PROBLEMS OCCURS AT THE SAME APPROXIMATE MILEAGE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10144087November 30, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHEN WE FIRST BOUGHT OUR 2002 EXPLORER XLT FROM FINKS USED CAR LOT IN ZANESVILLE OHIO IT HAD ABOUT 22 OR SO THOUSAND MILES ON IT AND WE REQUESTED A CHECK UP ON THE VEHICLE. THE BACK HATCH BRACKETS WAS REPLACED, AND THE BACK WHEEL BRAKES WERE STICKING AND BURNING, LOCKING UP. THAT PROBLEM SEEMED TO BE FIXED. THEN THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM LIGHT STARTED COMING ON AND THE FRONT BRAKES SEEMED TO BE GRABBING....JUST LAST MONTH. I HAD THE CRUISE CONTROL SET ON THE VEHICLE ONCE AND IT SMELLED LIKE SOMETHING SMOLDERING SO I SHUT IT OFF AND IT HASN'T BEEN ON SINCE. I CALLED THE FORD GARAGE TO ASK IF MY CRUISE CONTROL WAS ON THE FIRE HAZARD LIST BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS BUILT IN 2001. I WAS TOLD IF I DID NOT RECEIVE A LETTER IN THE MAIL IT WOULDN'T BE REPLACED. THIS VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY WHEN I BOUGHT IT. SO FAR I AM GETTING NOTHING BUT THE BACK HATCH BRACKETS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND IT NOW HAS 29,956.0 MILES ON IT. I AM DRIVING MY 1995 AUTO WITH 122,000 MILES ON IT WAITING FOR WINTER AND GRADUATION FROM COLLEGE. I AM AFRAID THE BRAKES ARE GOING TO LOCK UP IN THE WINTER AND SEND ME SAILING. I WANT TO KNOW IF THERE HAVE BEEN ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS EXPLORER BUILT IN 2001 THAT IS A 2002 EXPLORER. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143877November 29, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
OUR 2002 FORD EXPLORER HAD ISSUES ALMOST FROM THE BEGINNING, WHEN PUTTING IT INTO DRIVE IT SOMETIMES WOULD HESITATE AND THEN LURCH FORWARD, EVEN WITH THE BRAKE APPLIED. LATELY, AFTER 65,000 MILES, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO 3RD GEAR, THE ENGINE WOULD REV., BUT NOT SHIFT. IF YOU LEFT YOUR FOOT OFF THE GAS, IT MIGHT SHIFT. THEN THE O/D LIGHT WOULD BLINK. WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO A TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143912November 29, 2005
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
SAFETY CONCERN: 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT. DEFECTIVE APPLIQUE LOCATED BELOW TAILGATE GLASS HAS DEVELOPED A CRACK FROM TOP TO BOTTOM. THE LOCATION OF THIS CRACK IS APPROXIMATELY 3 INCHES TO THE LEFT OF THE FORD EMBLEM. THE DEALER SENT ME TO THE BODY SHOP, WHICH PROVIDED ME WITH AN ESTIMATE OF $334.68 TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PART. ALTHOUGH THE DEALERSHIP WAS FAMILIAR WITH THIS PROBLEM, MY VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY 105,000 MILES AND AS A RESULT THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT PURSUE THIS A WARRANTABLE REPAIR. THEY ESSENTIALLY IGNORED MY GRIEVANCE. AS A LEFT THE DEALERSHIP, I HAPPEN TO NOTICE A BLUE 2002 EXPLORER SIMILAR TO MINE ON THE USED CAR LOT. AS I APPROACHED THE VEHICLE I NOTICED IT HAD THE IDENTICAL CRACK (FROM TOP TO BOTTOM), LOCATED IN THE SAME POSITION (3 INCHES TO THE LEFT OF THE FORD EMBLEM). THIS VEHICLE; VIN #[XXX] HAD ONLY 56,069 MILES ON IT. I CONTACTED FORD AT 800 392-3673 AND SPOKE WITH [XXX]. THE REFERENCE NUMBER FOR MY COMPLAINT IS; REF #[XXX]. [XXX] INVESTIGATED AND CONFIRMED THAT A BULLETIN HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS COMPLAINT WITH INSTRUCTIONS FOR ITS REPAIR. HOWEVER, FORD HAS NOT YET AGREED TO PAY FOR ANY REPAIRS OR TO REIMBURSE THE CONSUMER FOR ANY REPAIRS ALREADY MADE. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN AS THIS APPLIQUE COULD BREAK OFF AND CAUSE SERIOUS DAMAGE TO ANOTHER VEHICLE OR PASSERBY. I MADE THIS CONCERN KNOW TO [XXX], BUT WAS ASSURED THAT IT HAD NOT BEEN DEEMED A RECALL REPAIR. *NM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143776November 28, 2005
SUSPENSION:REAR
1) COULD HEAR HIGH PITCH NOISE WHILE DRIVING. 2) JACKED UP REAR OF EXPLORER AND REAR WHEEL(S) COULD WOBBLE ON THE AXLE. 3) BY 70,000 MILES, BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARINGS HAVE NOW FAILED AND HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY A FORD DEALER. I NOW HAVE 77000 MILES ON THE EXPLORER AND I AM BEGINNING TO HEAR THE HIGH PITCH SOUND AGAIN. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143691November 26, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT. HAVE HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS SINCE ABOUT 58000 MILES AND HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 5 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM OF HARD SHIFTING TO TRANSMISSION HAVING PROBLEMS FINDING THE CORRECT GEARS TO FINALY, 3RD GEAR BAND FINALY BROKE AT 68000 MILES. JUST GOT FIXED BUT STILL HAVING ISSUES. NOW I HAVE A SHUTTER AND THIRD GEAR STILL SLIPS SLIGHTLY. THIS IS JUST FRUSTRATING!! *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143699November 26, 2005
POWER TRAIN
REAR-END WHINES EXCESSIVELY WHEN DRIVING AT 45-65 MPH. VERY LOAD. I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE AS I RESEARCHED IT ON THE INTERNET IT IS APPARENT THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE SUFFERING FROM THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143595November 24, 2005
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
FORD REPLACED HINGES ON BACK WINDOW 3 TIMES PER SAFETY RECALL BEFORE GETTING IT RIGHT. NOW, THE PANEL ON THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDOW IS CRACKED IN SEVERAL PLACES, THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT CLAIMS IT IS NOT RELATED. FORD BODY SHOP SAYS IT IS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143601November 24, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, TIRES:TREAD/BELT
2002 EXPLORER, STARTED TO NOTICE A BIT OF A LAG FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR, THEN A BIG LAG AND LURCH, FOLLOWED BY O/D LIGHT FLASHING FOLLOWED BY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. HAD SOLENOID PACK REPLACED FOR $320 LASTED FIVE WEEKS AND FAILED AGAIN, WITH O/D FLASHING AND CAR LURCHING AND GRABBING HARD BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD SHIFT ON AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. ALSO NOTICED AFTER FIRST REPAIR , HARD TO SHIFT FROM DRIVE TO PARK, WOULD HANG UP TRYING TO GET IN PARK. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143586November 23, 2005
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
2002 FORD EXPLORER WITH TOWING PACKAGE, TWO WHEEL DRIVE. REAR-END WHINE AT 55-60 MPH. MANY PEOPLE HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND FORD IS NOT HELPING FIX IT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10142925November 16, 2005
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
2002 FORD EXPLORER REAR DIFFERENTIAL HAS ALREADY FAILED. I AM HAVING IT REPLACED BY MY MECHANIC. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10142924November 16, 2005
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:LOCK, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL
DANGEROUS CRACK OCCURRED IN 2002 FORD EXPLORER REAR LIFTGATE IN DEC. 2002, WAS REPAIRED. RECURRED IN SEP. 2005, AND FORD REFUSED TO REPAIR 2 WEEKS AFTER WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED, EVEN THOUGH PART WAS DEFECTIVE AND VEHICLE HAD ONLY 28,000 MILES. APPLIQUE MAY COME OFF, THREATENING STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF LIFTGATE AND GLASS. INTERNET SHOWS DOZENS OF CUSTOMERS HAD EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10142758November 15, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
SUDDEN ACCELERATION WITH FOOT OFF OF GAS UPON STARTUP OF VEHICLE AND SHIFTING INTO GEAR. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10142780November 15, 2005
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT, SUSPENSION:REAR
WE NOTICED A HUMMING NOISE AND A SMALL OIL LEAK COMING FROM THE REAR AXLE. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE FORD DEALER AND WERE INFORMED THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS IN NEED OF REPAIR AND THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH EXPLORERS. WE WERE GIVEN A DISCOUNTED RATE FOR THE REPAIR. TWO WEEKS LATER THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING WENT OUT (WITH ONLY 59,000 MILES) AND WERE TOLD THAT THIS HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL REPAIR AND WOULD COST A TOTAL OF $700 FOR BOTH REAR WHEEL BEARINGS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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