Ford Explorer Complaints (2002)

3,572 consumer complaints on file.

#10445904January 30, 2012
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE OVER-DRIVE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO UNEXPECTEDLY INCREASE ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN EVEN THOUGH THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED SEVERAL TIMES, AS A RESULT THE CONTACT LOSS CONTROL AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO A SAFE LOCATION. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TOWED OR REPAIRED FOR THE EXTENSIVE FRONT END DAMAGE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 157,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10445935January 30, 2012
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SHIFTER HANDLE FRACTURED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO EXIT A PARKING LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 187,000. UPDATED 03/05/12*LJ UPDATED 03/06/12
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10445785January 29, 2012
POWER TRAIN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I AM A SINGLE MOTHER OF 4 DRIVING 55MPH IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ON A 4 LANE HIGHWAY, WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE WHEN THE O/D LIGHT FLASHED A FEW TIMES AND THEN THE TRANSMISSION JUST STOPPED WORKING, AS THOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS IN NEUTRAL I COASTED SAFELY TO A STOP THANK GOD. I TOOK IT TO A FORD SERVICE CENTER AND THEY SAID IT WAS CAUSED BY THE SERVO BOAR????? NEVER HERD OF THIS. IT USED TO BE A SEPERATE LINE THAT COULD BE REPLACED NOW IT IS BUILT INTO THE TRANSMISSION AND THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION HAS TO BE REPLACED. IS WHAT I WAS TOLD TO ME BY THE CERTIFIED FORD SERVICE MAN AND THAT THERE WAS NOT A PROBLEM WITH THE OLD STYLE LINES BUT HE HEARS OF THIS OFTEN WITH THE NEWER TRANSMISSIONS. WAS THIS CHANGED JUST FOR PROFIT BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY? BECAUSE WITH THIS HAPPENING WITHOUT WARNING SOMEONE COULD GET INTO AN ACCIDENT AND BE SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED DEPENDING ON THE SITUATION. I AM VERY UPSET THAT MY FAMILY WAS PUT IN THIS SITUATION BUT WE GOT LUCKY. IF WE WERE ONLY LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX IT NOW, IT IS $2,400 FOR THE NEW TRANSMISSION AND LABOR. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10445683January 28, 2012
SEAT BELTS
THE SEAT BELTS ON THE FRONT DRIVERS & PASSENGERS SIDES DO NOT RETRACT . THE SEAT BELTS CONSTANTLY GET CAUGHT IN THE DOOR LOCK ASSEMBLY . THIS ACTUALLY RUINED MY DOOR LOCKS ONCE ALREADY , WHICH I HAD TO REPLACE AT MY EXPENSE . I HAVE READ NUMEROUS ISSUES WITH THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10445251January 25, 2012
POWER TRAIN
2002 FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSION I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND I NOTICED THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLIP. I DROVE ABOUT 10 MILES MORE TO MAKE IT HOME AND IT COMPLETELY FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE TOWED. I TOOK IT TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP AND THEY SAID IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM IN 2002 EXPLORERS. OVER $2000 LATER I THOUGHT IT WAS FINALLY FIXED AND NOW NOT EVEN 2 YEARS LATER THE TRANSMISSION WENT AGAIN. THIS TIME IT WAS THE OVERDRIVE. AS A COLLEGE STUDENT I CAN'T AFFORD TO GET IT FIXED AGAIN. THERE DEFINITELY NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON FORD'S TRANSMISSIONS FOR THAT YEAR. I HAVE BEEN DOING RESEARCH AND THERE IS WAY TOO MANY COMPLAINTS FOR FORD NOT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10445348January 20, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
AT A STOP, BEGAN ACCELERATING TO ENTER HIGHWAY, ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK AND CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE UP TO 90 MPH AT FULL THROTTLE BEFORE I SHUT VEHICLE OFF AND PUT IT IN NEUTRAL. HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, ALL EXACTLY THE SAME. VEHICLE ACCELERATES AT FULL THROTTLE AND HAS TO BE SHUT OFF BEFORE AN ACCIDENT OCCURS. ONLY WAY TO CORRECT PROBLEM IS TO EXIT VEHICLE AND PUSH GAS PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES; START VEHICLE AND SEE IF ENGINE IS STILL AT FULL THROTTLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10444568January 19, 2012
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
4X4 MODULE NOW THE TRANSMISSION IS SHIFTING INTO 2 GEAR HARD. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10444326January 18, 2012
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10443968January 16, 2012
POWER TRAIN
THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT SUDDENLY BEGAN TO REV HIGHER THAN NORMAL. THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT INDICATOR ON THE DASH BEGAN TO FLASH AND 2ND AND 5TH GEAR SEEMED TO HAVE STOPPED WORKING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10442875January 9, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER THAT IS IN THE SHOP RIGHT NOW WITH A TORN DOWN ENGINE. I WENT OUT TO START IT ONE MORNING AND IT HAD A HARD START THEN IT STARTED TICKING. COME TO FIND OUT IT THE TIMING CHAIN. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ ONLINE IT IS A VERY COMMON COMPLAINT AND I AM REALLY SURPRISED THAT THIS TRUCK HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED AGAIN FOR THIS PROBLEM. I AM HAVING TO PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT FORD MADE A MISTAKE ON. THE PULLEY ON THE TRUCK IS PLASTIC, AND IT IS FAILING. I ALSO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH MY ELECTRICAL PARTS ON IT. THE LIGHTS INSIDE WILL STAY ON AFTER I TURN IT OFF AND GET OUT AND IF I TURN ON MY REAR DEFROST MY TRUCK DINGS AND SAYS DOOR AJAR..... THIS TRUCK IS AWFUL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10442372January 4, 2012
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON SHIFTING INTO REVERSE AND APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE PEDAL DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE SURGED BACKWARD. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. BOTH THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED AND WERE IN THE PROCESS OF ASSISTING THE CONTACT WITH AN INVESTIGATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 184,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10441766December 30, 2011
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SHIFTING FROM PARK TO REVERSE, THE GEAR SHIFTER FRACTURED. A LOCAL MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE GEAR HOUSING UNIT. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER HOUSING WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED.THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 143,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10441685December 29, 2011
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER MADE FOUR ATTEMPTS TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE BY REPLACING THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT PRETENSIONERS HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 165,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 01/10/12*LJ
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10441506December 28, 2011
STRUCTURE:BODY, POWER TRAIN
THE BODY MOUNTS HAVE DETERIORATED TO A POINT THAT THEY ARE CRUMBLING AND ARE NOT SUPPORTING THE FRAME TO THE BODY AND NEED TO BE REPLACED FOR SAFETY REASONS. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT ANY WARNING AND HAD TO BE REBUILT. NEITHER OF THESE PROBLEMS SHOULD EXIST ON A VEHICLE THAT IS WELL MAINTAINED AND HAS ONLY 52,000 MILES. THESE PROBLEMS APPEAR TO BE COMMON WITH THIS VEHICLE AND NEED TO BE ADDRESSED BY FORD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10440373December 19, 2011
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, POWER TRAIN
WHILE DRIVING MY CAR TO WORK, I CAME TO A STOP SIGN AT THE END OF MY ROAD, LIKE I DO EVERY MORNING. HOWEVER, ON THIS MORNING, AS I TRIED TO ACCELERATE FROM A COMPLETE STOP, MY CAR BOGGED DOWN WHICH LEFT ME IN THE ROAD FOR SECONDS LONGER THEN WAS SAFE. THERE WAS A CAR SPEEDING AROUND THE CURVE, AND MY CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE LIKE IT SHOULD. FINALLY, AND THANK GOD, IT JAMMED INTO GEAR, AND ME AND MY ONE YEAR OLD SON WERE NOT INJURED. ALSO, ON THAT SAME DAY, MY CAR STARTING SKIPPING WHILE IN FIRST GEAR, WHICH ALSO WAS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE IT WAS JERKING SO HARD, IT WAS HARD TO KEEP IN UNDER CONTROL, PLUS IT ALSO SLOWED MY PROGRESSION ACROSS HIGHLY CONGESTED AREAS DOWN, WHICH ALSO PUT MY SAFETY AT RISK. WE TOOK MY CAR TO THE SHOP, AND THE REPAIRMAN STATED THAT MY TRANSMISSION WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH FIRST GEAR AND OVERDRIVE. THERE HAD BEEN NO PREVIOUS WARNING OR INDICATORS THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH MY TRANSMISSION UNTIL THE DAY OF. WE HAD THE FLUID CHECKED AND THE ENGINE CHECKED. NOTHING WAS WRONG THAT WE COULD HAVE PREVENTED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10440207December 16, 2011
WHEELS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 60 MPH WHEN THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THERE WERE THREE LUG NUTS THAT HAD BECOME LOOSE AND CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC TO HAVE THE WHEEL REPLACED. LESS THAN ONE MONTH LATER, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE LUG NUTS HAD BECOME LOOSE AGAIN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LUG NUTS WERE BECOMING LOOSE FROM THE VIBRATION OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS OR REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10440220December 16, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES AT APPROXIMATE SPEED OF 3 TO 5 MPH, ANTI LOCK BRAKES ACTIVATE. FORD DEALERSHIP HAD THE VEHICLE FOR 7 DAYS, REPLACED THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE SENSOR AND ADVISED ME THAT THE VEHICLE WAS FIXED. AS SOON AS I LEFT THE DEALERSHIP, I NOTICED THE SAME PROBLEM. TO DATE, FORD HAS NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM, OR REFUNDED MY MONEY FOR THE REPAIR THAT WAS NOT NECESSARY (ANTI LOCK BRAKE SENSOR.) *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10440111December 15, 2011
EQUIPMENT, POWER TRAIN, SUSPENSION, WHEELS
MY NAME IS[XXX] AND I OWN A 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT (V6). I HAVE OWNED IT FOR ALMOST A YEAR NOW (WILL BE IN JAN 2012) AND LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT UNTIL RECENTLY. ABOUT 4 MONTHS AGO, I HEARD A STRANGE LOUD WHINING NOISE. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND FOUND THAT REAR WHEEL BEARING WAS GOING. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT IF I WOULD HAVE TOOK THE INTERSTATE TO WORK THAT EVENING I COULD HAVE POSSIBLY DIED OR CAUSED SERIOUS INJURIES TO OTHERS ON ROAD. VERY SCARY! MIND YOU THIS BEARING WENT WITH NO WARNING. IMMEDIATELY AFTER I HEARD THE NOISE I TOOK IT IN. WELL THE BEARING GOT FIXED AND I COULDN'T HAVE BEEN HAPPIER. HOWEVER, ABOUT A MONTH AGO I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE WITH MY TWO YEAR OLD DAUGHTER DOING ABOUT 70MPH WHEN MY TRUCK BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. I ASSUMED I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING A TIRE BLOW-OUT AND BEGAN SLOWLY BREAKING AND LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. LUCKILY I MADE IT ONTO THE SHOULDER OF THE INTERSTATE. MY TIRE HOWEVER WAS NOT AS LUCKY. ALL 5 STUDS ON MY RIGHT REAR TIRE SNAPPED CAUSING THE TIRE TO COMPLETELY FLY OFF AND PROCEED DOWN THE ROAD AT A FAST SPEED JUST PASSING THE TURN RAMP AND MISSING SEVERAL OTHER VEHICLES. IN THE PROCESS OF LOSING THE TIRE, IT ALSO CAUSED DAMAGE TO REAR END OF MY SUV. IT LOOKED AS IF THE TIRE GOT CAUGHT AND CAUSED THE REAR TO DENT IN.REPLACED STUDS AND EVERYTHING SEEMED FINE. TODAY (DEC.15TH) NOT EVEN AN ENTIRE MONTH LATER, VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING AGAIN. OH HOW I REMEMBERED THAT SCARY SHAKE. EXAMINED TIRE AND ONCE AGAIN, STUDS SNAPPED. 2 THIS TIME WITH A THIRD ONE MISSING THE CAP. THE TIRE WAS ONLY HELD BY 2 STUDS. THANK THE LORD I NOTICED THIS PROBLEM BEFORE GOING ONTO THE INTERSTATE AND ONCE AGAIN HAVING MY TIRE FLY OFF! I HAVE BEEN DOING RESEARCH THIS EVENING TO FIND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 02-04 EXPLORERS. PLEASE MAKE A RECALL FORD AND OTHERS HELP ME TO GET ONE MADE! THIS IS A SCARY AND DANGEROUS SITUATION! IT CAN CAUSE THE LOSS OF MANY LIVES AS IT HAS ALMOST DONE MINE AND MY DAUGHTERS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION A
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10439942December 14, 2011
SUSPENSION
I AM A MECHNICAL ENGINEER, AND DO A LOT OF MY OWN CAR REPAIRS, WHEN I WAS ADJUSTING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE I NOTICED THAT MY REAR COIL SPRING WAS BROKEN IN 2 PLACES AND RUSTED THROUGH, I WENT ONLINE TO BUY REPLACEMENT SPRINGS AND STRUTS, AND I CAME UPON A WEBSITE WITH OTHERS ALSO WITH THIS ISSUE OF BROKEN SPRINGS ON THIS FORD MODEL. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, A BROKEN SPRING COULD DROP AND PUNCTURE THE TIRE. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THIS COULD LEAD TO SERIOUS INJURY AND FATALITIES. THE NHTSA SHOULD HOLD FORD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS SERIOUS MANUFACTURING FLAW I AM LEAD TO BELIEVE THAT THE SPRINGS WHERE MANUFACTURED IN CHINA. THE NHTSA SHOULD GET SOME GUTS AND EXPOSE THIS SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. AS A PERSONAL NOTE THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN OFF-ROAD . *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10439364December 12, 2011
STRUCTURE:BODY, VISIBILITY
THE REAR HINGES GAVE WAY, AND THE BACK HALF GLASS EXPLODED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Ford Explorer