Ford Explorer Complaints (2002)

3,572 consumer complaints on file.

#10433062October 27, 2011
POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLIP IN MAY OF 2011. I HAD THE TRANSMISSION SERVICED AND IT DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I AM UNABLE TO CHECK THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AS IT IS A SEALED UNIT NO DIP STICK. WE DROVE THE VEHICLE UNTIL IT NO LONGER MOVES. THE COST TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION IS 2800.00 PLUS... THERE WAS NO REASON WHY THIS SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10432959October 26, 2011
POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION (5R55) SOLENOID PACK AND SERVO BOTH WENT OUT AT SAME TIME SERVO IS TERRIBLE DESIGN. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FROM FORD ON THESE PROBLEMS ON THIS TRANSMISSION. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10432816October 25, 2011
SUSPENSION
REAR COIL SPRINGS BROKE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED FORD WOULD NOT WARRENTY. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10432817October 25, 2011
POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION DIED FORD WOULD NOT WARRENTY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10432539October 24, 2011
POWER TRAIN
WHEN SHIFTING INTO PARK THE SHIFT LINKAGE COUPLER SNAPPED AND THE SHIFTER CAME OFF IN MY HAND. UPON INSPECTION THE COUPLER IS A CHEAP RESIN AND SHOULD NOT SNAP WITH NORMAL WEAR USAGE. THIS IS A LINK TO A FORUM WITH 129 COMPLAINTS OF SIMILAR ISSUES. HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/EXPLORER/2002/ACCESSORIES-INTERIOR/GEAR_SHIFT_LEVER_PRNDL_FELL_OFF.SHTML. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10430740October 18, 2011
POWER TRAIN
PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE TODAY AND ON WAY HOME THE TRANSMISSION "OD OFF" LIGHT STARTED FLASHING. RESEARCH SHOWS THIS IS A MAJOR COMMON PROBLEM WITH A FAILED TRANSMISSION IN THIS MODEL. I AM ON SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY AND CANNOT AFFORD THE $3,000 PLUS TO FIX. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10429557October 12, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT
WHILE SHIFTING FROM DRIVE INTO PARK, THE GEAR SHIFT BROKE OFF IN MY HAND AND WAS STUCK IN REVERSE. I HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED AS WE COULDN'T GET THE CAR TO GO INTO PARK. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10429489October 11, 2011
VISIBILITY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR WINDOW HINGE WAS BROKEN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED A TOTAL OF THREE TIMES PRIOR TO THE MOST RECENT FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE WINDOW HINGE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10429373October 10, 2011
WHEELS
FOR THE SIXTH TIME SINCE 2009, I WAS DRIVING AND HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A POP. MY BOYFRIEND NOTICED MY RIGHT REAR TIRE WOBBLING. I KNEW IMMEDIATELY A STUD OR STUDS HAD BROKEN. WHEN HE POPPED OFF THE CAP, TWO STUDS WERE LITERALLY SNAPPED AT THE BOLT, CLEAN BREAK. THIS HAS HAPPENED SIX OTHER TIMES, ONE IN WHICH MY TIRE WAS HANGING ON BY ONE STUD AND NEARLY CAUSED ME TO WRECK INTO A TELEPHONE POLE. I THOUGHT IT WAS MY MECHANIC MAKING ERROR AFTER ERROR BUT COULD NEVER FIND AN ISSUE. NOW, AFTER DOING SOME EXTENSIVE RESEARCH, I SEE IT IS FORDS ERROR. THIS IS A LIFE THREATENING ISSUE. I HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS GETTING NEW ROTORS, NEW TIRES, ETC. THINKING THIS WAS IT. CLEARLY IT'S NOT. FORD NEEDS TO EITHER REIMBURSE OR RECALL THE VEHICLES. I'M DONE. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10428793October 5, 2011
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE OVERDRIVE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED ABNORMAL NOISES. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AND PERFORMED THE REPAIRS IN NOVEMBER 2008 HOWEVER, IN OCTOBER 2011 THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51,000 AND THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10428448October 4, 2011
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS WHEN THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE REAR COIL SPRINGS WERE FRACTURED AND WOULD HAVE NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10428338October 3, 2011
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO REVERSE THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER COMPLETELY DISENGAGED FROM THE HOUSING AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10428395October 3, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY WIFE WAS PICKING UP HER MOTHER AND SHE WENT TO PUT THE EXPLORER INTO REVERSE AND THE SHIFTER BROKE OFF IN HER HAND. SHE COULD NOT GET THE CAR INTO GEAR SO WE HAD IT TOWED HOME. I FOUND THE PIECE HOLDING THE SHIFTER WAS BROKEN OFF. FORD WANTED $1,000 FOR THE PIECE TO FIX IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10428138October 1, 2011
STEERING, POWER TRAIN
[XXX] GOT BEHIND THE WHEEL OF HER 2002 FORD EXPLORER, INTENDING TO PICK UP HER SON FROM SCHOOL. WHEN SHE TRIED TO SHIFT THE CAR INTO REVERSE, SHE SAYS THE ENTIRE GEAR SELECTOR BROKE OFF AND FELL IN HER LAP. IT TURNS OUT SHE'S NOT ALONE. TEAM 4 INVESTIGATOR JIM PARSONS REPORTED THAT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRANSPORTATION SAFETY ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN INVESTIGATING SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AROUND THE COUNTRY -- SOME OF WHICH INVOLVED VEHICLES SLIPPING INTO GEAR AND CRASHING -- FOR MORE THAN TWO YEARS. NHTSA'S OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION SAYS IT HAS IDENTIFIED 200 ALLEGED INCIDENTS OF UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT AFTER CONSUMERS BELIEVED THEY HAD SHIFTED THE SUVS INTO PARK, RESULTING IN 85 ALLEGED CRASHES AND 32 ALLEGED INJURIES. EARLIER THIS YEAR, NHTSA UPGRADED ITS INVESTIGATION TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS FOR 2002-2005 FORD EXPLORERS AND MERCURY MOUNTAINEERS. [XXX] SAYS FORD TOLD HER SHE WOULD NEED TO REPLACE HER ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN TO FIX THE BROKEN GEAR SELECTOR AT A COST OF MORE THAN $1,500. INSTEAD, SHE WORKED WITH HER LOCAL MECHANIC TO FIND AN AFTER-MARKET REPLACEMENT PART THAT RETAILS FOR $30. SO FAR, FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL ON THE GEAR SELECTOR. MORE INFORMATION: NHTSA WEBSITE DETAILS ON EXPLORER INVESTIGATION (TYPE IN ACTION NUMBER EA09013) READ MORE: HTTP://WWW.WTAE.COM/NEWS/29353127/DETAIL.HTML#IXZZ1ZYUBPJEG 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
#10428071September 30, 2011
SUSPENSION
I RECENTLY HAD THE DEALER INSTALL 2 NEW REAR WHEEL BEARINGS (2ND TIME IN 2 YEARS) AND WAS TOLD THAT BOTH REAR SPRINGS ARE BROKEN. I WAS TOLD THAT THE BROKEN PIECES CAN COME OUT WHILE DRIVING AND PUNCTURE THE TIRE. I DID AN INTERNET SEARCH AND FOUND OVER 100 COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME BROKEN SPRINGS ON OTHER EXPLORERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10427543September 27, 2011
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE TRANSMISSION HAS A 5 SECOND DELAY WHEN GOING INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE. THE CAR TRANSMISSION JERKS FORWARD SUDDENLY AND RANDOMLY SHIFTS INTO A HIGHER OR LOWER GEAR WHILE DRIVING. THERE IS A LOUD GRINDING NOISE WHILE THE CAR IS RUNNING AND WHILE THE GEARS ARE SHIFTING. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10427026September 24, 2011
POWER TRAIN
GEAR SHIFT BROKE OFF IN MY HANDS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10426515September 20, 2011
STEERING:COLUMN, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SHIFTING INTO PARK, THE GEAR SHIFTER FRACTURED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO MANEUVER THE SHIFTER SO THE CONTACT TOWED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER REPLACED THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 151,957. UPDATED 11/03/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE SHIFT LEVER BROKE OFF. THE DEALER STATED THE STEERING COLUMN WHERE THE SHIFTER ATTACHED AND IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER CAME APART. THE STEERING COLUMN HAD TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 03/08/12
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10426304September 19, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
#3 CYCLINDER PLUB BLEW. HAD TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER SAID THEY COULD FIX EASILY BY INSTALLING A HELIX COIL ADAPTER & COULD HAVE CAR READY NEXT DAY. DEALER CALLS BACK AND SAYS THEY FIXED IT BUT IT WAS REALLY RUNNING BAD AND THAT THEY WOULD NOT RECOMMEND DRIVING IT. I ASKED WHAT THE SOLUTION WAS AND THEY SAID THEY COULD PULL THE HEAD AND REFINISH IT BUT THAT THEY WOULD NOT RECOMMEND DOING SUCH. I ASKED ABOUT A JASPER AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT RECOMMEND AS JASPER HAS A POOR WARRANTY (12 MONTHS+LIMITED MILEAGE & NO LABOR) WHILE A NEW FORD ENGINE WOULD HAVE 3 YEARS, NO MILEAGE LIMIT & BE WARRANTED FOR BOTH LABOR AND PARTS. AS I NEEDED THE VEHICLE - AS IT IS I HAD TO RENT A VEHICLE. AFTER GETTING THE VEHICLE BACK AND TALKING WITH SEVERAL OTHER FORD DEALERS - IT WOULD SEEM THAT THERE IS A STRONG POSSIBILITY THAT THE FORD DEALER INSTALLING THE HELIX COIL MAY HAVE DROPPED DEBRIS INTO THE ENGINE - AS NONE OF THE OTHER DEALERS SAID THEY HAVE EVER HAD TO REPLACE AN ENGINE FOR A BLOWN SPARK PLUG. PS: THE PLUGS WERE THE ORIGINALS FROM THE FACTORY. I HAVE TRIED TO WORK WITH THE DEALER TO GET SOME SORT OF REDUCTION IN WHAT I HAD TO PAY BUT THEY HAVE BEEN LESS THAN INTERESTED IN TALKING WITH ME. SO AM TRYING FIGURE OUT WHAT MY NEXT STEP SHOULD BE. ALL ADVISE WOULD BE APPRECIATED AS APPARENTLY THE PLUG BLOWING PROBLEM IS COMMON! THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD - THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A FIRE. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10425886September 17, 2011
POWER TRAIN
THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER FAILED AT ABOUT 86,000 MILES AND REQUIRED $3000.00 TO REPAIR. FORD ACKNOWLEDGED THAT IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW BUT WOULD DO NOTHING TO COVER ANY OF THE REPAIR COSTS. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ONLINE AND TALKING TO MECHANICS THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF 2002 FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSIONS THAT HAVE FAILED. THIS IS A TEXTBOOK CASE OF THE NEED FOR A RECALL REQUIRING FORD TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSIONS AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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