Ford Explorer Complaints (2002)

3,572 consumer complaints on file.

#10328279April 30, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT 6CYL FOUR WHEEL DRIVE. I LIKE THE VEHICLE BUT THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT HAD BEEN FLASHING ON IT FOR AWHILE AND THE TRANSMISSION FINALLY WENT OUT COMPLETELY. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. IT WOULD COST AT LEAST $2000 TO GET A REBUILT TRANSMISSION PUT IN WHICH FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND DOESN'T LAST VERY LONG ANYWAYS AND 5000 FOR A NEW ONE THAT WONT LAST A WHOLE LOT LONGER. I THINK FORD DID A VERY POOR JOB OF STANDING BEHIND THEIR VEHICLES. THEY HAVEN'T EVEN OFFERED A REDESIGNED TRANSMISSION OR ANYTHING SO IF IT HAPPENS TO YOU MITE AS WELL SCRAP THE VEHICLE CUZ IT WILL COST TOO MUCH TO FIX AND ITS NOT GOING TO LAST ANY WAYS. I THINK FORD NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10327524April 26, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE OD LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO GRIND , SLIP, THEN JUST STOPPED WORKING WITHOUT ANY WARNING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10327565April 26, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
O/D LIGHT CONTINUES TO BLINK. THE BLINKING AS OCCURRED BEFORE AND NO ONE KNOWS HOW TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I ALREADY SPEND A COUPLE THOUSANDS DOLLARS TO FIXED THE TRANSMISSION B/C TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10327579April 26, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT, STEERING:COLUMN
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SHIFTING INTO REVERSE, THE GEAR SHIFT BROKE OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE DEALER REPAIRED THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 89,930.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10327337April 25, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER THAT EJECTED A SPARK PLUG. THE SPARK PLUG WAS ORIGINAL (IT CAME WITH THE VEHICLE AND HAD NEVER BEEN CHANGED). MY WIFE WAS DRIVING TO CHURCH WHEN THE SPARK PLUG WAS COMPLETELY EJECTED AND BROKE THE COIL MOUNT. THIS ALLOWS FUEL VAPOR TO ESCAPE FROM THE CYLINDER HEAD AND COULD RESULT IN AN ENGINE FIRE. LUCKILY, MY WIFE DIDN'T EXPERIENCE AN ENGINE FIRE SINCE SHE WAS PULLING INTO HER DESTINATION WHEN IT HAPPENED AND SHUT OFF THE MOTOR. THE SPARK PLUG EJECTION STRIPPED THE THREADS FROM THE CYLINDER HEAD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10327210April 23, 2010
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE REAR WINDOW FELL OFF TRACK. HE ATTEMPTED TO KEEP THE WINDOW IN PLACE BY USING DUCT TAPE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT FOUND NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V442000, STRUCTURE BODY, HATCHBACK/LIFT GATE, HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS WHICH WAS RELATED TO HIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE; HOWEVER, HE WAS UNABLE TO CONFIRM IF HIS VIN WAS INCLUDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 112,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10326956April 22, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, WHEELS, SUSPENSION
FORD 2002 EXPLORER XLT LIMITED. I HAVE HAD A MYRIAD OF ISSUES, WHICH UPON RESEARCH APPEAR COMMON TO THE EXTREME. FRONT & REAR BEARINGS HAVE BEEN REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES. SPRINGS HAD TO BE REPLACED. NOW THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING -- O/D LIGHT BLINKS, SES LIGHT ACTIVATES, AND VEHICLES OVER-REVS, SLIPS, AND WILL NOT OPERATE IN OVERDRIVE. THE TRANSMISSION DESIGN IS COMPLETELY SEALED, SO I CANNOT EVEN CHECK FOR FLUID LEVELS, NOR DO ANY PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE WHATSOEVER. THERE IS NO WARNING, JUST FAILURE. ISSUES WITH THIS MODEL YEAR ARE SO PREVALENT THAT LOCAL MECHANICS NEED ONLY ASK THE MODEL AND YEAR AND CAN ITEMIZE THE PROBLEMS I HAVE EXPERIENCED, AND PUBLIC FORUMS ARE FULL OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. FORD NEEDS TO RECALL THIS MODEL YEAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10327076April 22, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT, STEERING:COLUMN
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN THE GEAR SHIFT SUDDENLY BROKE OFF IN THE CONTACTS HAND AND THE VEHICLE BECAME STUCK BETWEEN PARK AND REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER REPLACEMENT KIT WOULD REPAIR THE FAILURE OR THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 92,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10326676April 20, 2010
SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE AT AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHEN THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRING HAD FRACTURED. THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS PRIOR TO THE DEALER'S DISCOVERY OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 97,000. UPDATED 11/9/10 *CN UPDATED 11/16/10*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10326682April 20, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HER 2002 FORD EXPLORER TO CHURCH SUNDAY MORNING 4-18-10 WHEN THE ENGINE BLEW WITHOUT WARNING !! BITS OF A PISTON AND ROD CAME RIGHT THRU THE BLOCK, LEAVING A HOLE BIG ENOUGH TO PUT YOUR FIST IN ! THIS EXPLORER ONLY HAS 63,000 MILES ON IT, AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY SINCE I BOUGHT IT WITH ONLY 25,000 MILES ON IT FROM A FORD DEALER. WITH ALL THE PROBLEMS THIS YEAR AND MODEL HAVE HAD, WHY HAS FORD NOT HAD A RECALL??? IT IS ABSOLUTELY A LEMON - AND I FEEL LIKE SUING THEM !! CAN YOU HELP ME?? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10326284April 19, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2002 FORD EXPLORER. ONLY OWNER 115,000 MILES, MOSTLY HIGHWAY, WELL MAINTAINED. O/D LIGHT FLASHES, WARNING MESSAGE TO CHECK TRANSMISSION. IMMEDIATELY TAKEN INTO FORD SERVICE SHOP. CHARGED $90 FOR DIAGNOSIS: SLIPPING TRANSMISSION. DEALERSHIP TELLS ME THAT THEY WILL REQUIRE APPROVAL OF $720 TO FURTHER DIAGNOSE PROBLEM. WHEN ASKED FURTHER QUESTIONS, I WAS TOLD THAT IT COULD RANGE FROM THE $720 - $3,000 + . I PICKED UP THE VEHICLE AND HAVE AN APPOINTMENT WITH A LOCAL TRANSMISSION SHOP TODAY. WAS TOLD BY THE MAN AT THE SHOP THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS VEHICLE. HE ACTUALLY WAS ASKING ME IF IT DID THIS OR THAT....YES. HIS PRICE FOR REPAIR WAS THOUSANDS LESS THAN FORD'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND I AM NOT BEING ASKED TO PRE-PAY HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS. I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND IT APPEARS THAT THIS TRANSMISSION ISSUE IS HIGHLY COMMON ON THE 02 EXPLORER. I HAD JUST LEFT THE FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENT WHERE I HAD GONE FOR REGULAR OIL CHANGE AND MULTI-POINT INSPECTION. THEY TOLD MY THAT THEY VEHICLE WAS IN GREAT SHAPE. LITERALLY 5 MINUTES AFTER I LEFT THIS HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING HOME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10326295April 19, 2010
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DOOR AJAR LIGHT AND BEEPING SENSOR IS ALWAYS GOING OFF. CAUSING THE DOORS TO UNLOCK WHILE DRIVING AND ALSO CAUSING THE INSIDE DOME LIGHT TO TURN ON AND OFF. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND ALOT OF FORD EXPLORERS ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10326419April 19, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER HAS STARTING SLIPPING AND FAILING TO GET OUT OF FIRST GEAR. THE CHECK TRANSMISSION LIGHT WASN'T ON THEN COMES ON AND GOES OUT - DEPENDING ON WHICH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. IT APPEARS TO NEED A BRAND NEW TRANSMISSION NOW. IN LOOKING UP INFORMATION ON THIS I NOTICED A RATHER LARGE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT 2002 FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSIONS AND PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THEM. I REGARDED FORD AS A SUPERIOR BRAND AND DIDN'T THINK I'D HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. IT IS WELL MAINTAINED AND DOES NOT HAVE AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10326426April 19, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2002 FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSION FAILURE DUE TO FAULTY MACHINING OF PISTON PATHWAYS IN THE TRANSMISSION CASING. MY EXPLORER WILL NOT SHIFT INTO THIRD GEAR BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE AND IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE OUT ON THE INTERNET AND YET FORD WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR A RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10326232April 18, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2002 FORD EXPLORER O/D OFF LIGHT BLINKING, HARD SHIFTING. OUR 2002 EXPLORER (91,000 MILES) HAS THE ALL TOO COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. I'M VERY SURPRISED TO SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED THIS SAME PROBLEM. FROM ALL THAT I'VE READ, THIS IS A SERIOUS DEFECT THAT FORD HAS IGNORED. IF YOU DO A SEARCH ON THIS PROBLEM, YOU WILL FIND THOUSANDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. I'M REPORTING THIS TO YOU IN THE HOPE THAT SOMETHING CAN BE DONE TO FORCE FORD TO DEAL WITH IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10325948April 16, 2010
SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE UNDER THE DRIVERS REAR SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE COIL SPRINGS WERE BREAKING OFF IN PIECES. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 96,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 93,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10325904April 15, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2002 FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND UNCONTROLLABLE ACCELERATOR. THE TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN SHIFTING HARD FOR MONTHS BUT IT IS CONSIDERED BY FORD TO BE A "SEALED" UNIT AND IT IS NOT RECOMMENDED THAT THE CUSTOMER MAINTAIN THE FLUID LEVEL, SO THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO. IN JAN 2010 THE ACCELERATOR STUCK WHILE ENTERING THE FREEWAY AND WE WERE OUT OF CONTROL, I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO DIE AND HAD TO TURN OF THE CAR ON THE FREEWAY WITH NO SHOULDER AFTER BRUSHING THE GUARD RAIL AND WAS SUBSEQUENTLY REAR ENDED. THE O/D OFF LIGHT BEGAN BLINKING THAT DAY AND IT WAS TOUGH TO REACH 60MPH. SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I SHOPPED AROUND FOR DIAGNOSTIC. INDEPENDENT TRANS. GUY SAID IT NEEDS COMPLETE REBUILD, FORD DLR AGREES BUT FOR TWICE THE COST. NEW PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. IT MAKES NO SENSE WHY THIS CAR JUST STARTED TO FAIL ON ME LIKE THIS, I'M THE FIRST OWNER AND NOW ITS JUST DECIDED TO DIE AND FORD HAS BEEN NO HELP WHAT SO EVER. NOW I'M LOOKING AT A REPAIR THAT IS 80% OF THE BLUEBOOK VALUE. EACH MECHANIC I'VE BROUGHT IT TO SAYS THIS PROBLEM IS ENDEMIC TO THIS MODEL/YEAR AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. WHY WOULD THEY PUT IN A TRANS. THAT CANNOT BE REASONABLY SERVICED AND MAINTAINED AND DIES JUST AFTER 100K MI. I HAVE A VERY DIFFICULT TIME BELIEVING THIS WAS NOT PLANNED BY FORD AND I WILL NEVER BUY THEIR PRODUCTS AGAIN! MY CAR IS NO LONGER SAFE ENOUGH TO DRIVE TO THE GROCERY STORE LET ALONE THE FREEWAY. THIS IS A CLEAR CASE OF IRRESPONSIBLE MANUFACTURING PRACTICES ON FORDS PART AND WARRANTS A RECALL! *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10325767April 14, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, SUSPENSION:REAR
WHILE IN TRAFFIC TODAY, MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER SUDDENLY LOST DRIVE POWER. FORTUNATELY, THE DRIVER BEHIND ME WAS NOT TAILGATING AND NOTICED MY VEHICLE SLOW DOWN RAPIDLY. I NOW FIND THIS TRANSMISSION FAILURE IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORD 2002 EXPLORER. IN FACT ON ONE WEB SITE ALONE, WWW.AUTOBEEF.COM I SEE OVER 861 COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE ALONE ALL WITH 2002 EXPLORERS. TRANSMISSION FAILURES IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND AT HIGHER SPEED COULD CERTAINLY BE A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE. ALSO LAST YEAR REPLACED BOTH REAR SPRINGS THAT HAD FAILED AND BROKE COMPLETELY AFFECTING BRAKING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10325540April 13, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT O/D OFF LIGHT STARTED BLINKING WHILE I WAS DRIVING A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO;THEN THE TRANSMISSION SEEMED TO STICK WHEN ACCELERATING. AFTER I DRIVE FOR A FEW MINUTES, THE TRUCK SEEMS TO JERK AGAIN BEFORE GETTING IN GEAR. I WILL TAKE TO AUTO SHOP AGAIN THIS WEEK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10325269April 13, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2002 EXPLORER SHIFTED FUNNY FROM THE DAY I PURCHASED IT NEW. I FIGURED NATURE OF THE BEAST AS A 4X4. LITTLE DID I KNOW, THESE TRANSMISSIONS WERE JUNK FROM THE BEGINNING, AND NOW THEY ARE ALL FALLING APART. MINE SELF DESTRUCTED AT 61,000 MILES. AFTER THE REPAIR, IT STILL SHIFTED AS CRAPPY AS IT DID THE DAY I PURCHASED IT. NOW ONLY 10,000 MILES LATER, IT IS SHOWING SIGNS THAT FAILURE IS NEAR AGAIN. IF THESE TRANSMISSIONS ARE NOT RECALLED, I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER FORD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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