2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac Brakes Problems

IN THE MORNING OR WHENEVER DAMP MY FRONT BRAKES LOCK UP WHEN DRIVING, THEN STOPPING..

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS PULSATING, ACCOMPANIED BY AN ABNORMAL GRINDING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES WOULD HAVE TO BE REPAIRED. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD FEEL SPONGY WHEN DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT TWO OF THE ABS SENSORS WERE FAULTY AND WERE OVERRIDING THE BRAKES. THE MECHANIC DISCONNECTED THE ABS SENSORS. THE CONTACT DID NOT EXPERIENCE ANY FAILURES AFTER THE SENSORS WERE DISCONNECTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000.

THE FORD RECALL FOR CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH IS A JOKE. I JUST HAD THE DEALERSHIP PERFORM THE REPAIR ON MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC AND WAS SURPRISED TO FIND THEY ONLY INSTALLED A FUSED JUMPER INSTEAD OF REPLACING THE FAILING SWITCH. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF THE POTENTIAL FOR FIRE BUT ALSO THE SWITCH FAILURE COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID PRESSURE. WITH THE JUMPER INSTALLED A FAILURE WOULD BLOW THE FUSE AND REMOVE THE SWITCH FROM OVERHEATING BUT THE SWITCH COULD STILL LEAK BRAKE FLUID ONTO THE HOT EXHAUST MANIFOLD. I TALKED WITH THE SERVICE REP AND ASKED WHY FORD DOESN'T REPLACE THE SWITCH. HE STATED " GOOD QUESTION, PROBABLY BECAUSE THE JUMPER IS CHEAPER " . AFTER SPENDING $30,000.00 FOR A VEHICLE YOU WOULD THINK REPLACEMENT OF THE SWITCH WOULD BE A MINIMAL COST TO THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY. I WAS CONSIDERING GETTING A NEW FORD SPORT TRAC BUT WILL LOOK TO ANOTHER MANUFACTURER FOR MY NEXT VEHICLE. FORDS SAFETY AWARENESS AND RESPONSIBILITY SUCKS. *TR

BRAKE FAILURE 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC ONLY 38000 MI WHEN THIS OCCURRED IN AUG 07. I ALMOST HIT THE BACK OF A SCHOOL BUS WHEN DROPPING MY CHILDREN OFF AT SCHOOL. THE BRAKES WOULD GRIND AND NOT STOP THE VEHICLE AND SOMETIMES PULSATION WOULD OCCUR AT ANY SPEED. IT WAS LIKE THE ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM WAS COMING ON WHEN IT SHOULDN'T(SUMMER DRY ROADS) AND THEN GETTING STUCK IN THE BRAKE RELEASE STATE. SO WHEN TRYING TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITH THE FOOT PEDAL, THE ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM WAS WORKING AGAINST YOUR BRAKING ACTION. THIS CAUSES A VERY SCARY FEELING WHEN YOU HAVE YOUR FOOT TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE STILL REMAINS IN MOTION. THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED, BUT NOT THE PROBLEM. THE NEXT INCIDENCE OCCURRED IN A BUSY INTERSECTION WHEN WE WERE ALMOST HIT BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T STOP AT A RED LIGHT. WHEN TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC I ALMOST HIT 2 PEDESTRIANS IN A CROSSWALK AT A STOP SIGN. THE VEHICLE JUST KEPT ON GOING AND I QUICKLY BEEPED THE HORN FOR A NEAR MISS OF A MAN AND HIS LITTLE BOY. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM WHICH CAUSES THE BRAKES TO MALFUNCTION. HE SENT US TO ANOTHER MECHANIC AND HE SAID THIS IS A DEFECT IN CERTAIN FORD EXPLORER MODELS. THE ANTILOCK BRAKING SENSORS, ALONG WITH THE LOCATION OF THEM IS THE PROBLEM. HE SAID TO FIX THIS IT WOULD COST ANYWHERE BETWEEN 300-600 DEPENDING ON WHAT ELSE WAS DAMAGED, BUT HE STRESSED DRIVING THE VEHICLE LIKE THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD. I WAS UPSET BECAUSE OF THE LOW MILES ON THIS VEHICLE. IT WAS ONLY OVER WARRANTY MILES BY 2000 BUT 5 YRS OLD. I COULD NOT AFFORD TO FIX THIS SO I WAS INSTRUCTED TO PULL THE FUSE ON THE ABS BECAUSE IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE WITH THE ABS. I HAVE THREE CHILDREN AND THIS IS MY ONLY TRANSPORTATION. WITH THE ABS FUSE PULLED I DO NOT HAVE THE PROBLEM, BUT LACKING ABS. FORD NEEDS TO STAND BY THERE PRODUCT AND OFFER A RECALL ON THIS COMPLETELY UNSAFE MALFUNCTION OF THE ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM. *TR

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED AT 22,000 MILES FROM LOCAL FORD DEALER. AT 27,380 FORD DEALER FURNISHED MULTI-POINT INSPECTION, SHOWED NO BRAKE ISSUES. AT 43,000 MILES THE BRAKES STARTED GRINDING METAL TO METAL. UP TO THIS TIME THERE WAS NO AUDIBLE WARNING AS I USUAL. TO MY SUPRISE THE ROTORS COULD NOT BE TURNED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED . THE BRAKES COULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND ROTORS TURNED BEFOR MY PURCHASE BUT SOUNDED LIKE STRETCH OF THE IMAGINATION, INFERIOR PRODUCTS ?? *AK

2002 FORD SPORT TRAC 8 YEAR OLD CHILD BROKE DOOR HANDLE WHEN TRYING TO OPEN DOOR WITH CHILD LOCK ON. 5 YEAR OLD CHILD BROKE THE OTHER DOOR HANDLE THE SAME WAY. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS. THESE HANDLES ARE NOT HEAVY DTY ENOUGH FOR THE WEIGHT THAT IS FORCED ON THEM WHEN TRYING TO OPEN EVEN WITH THE CHILD LOCK OFF. THESE AUTOMAKERS SHOULD BE FORCED TO STOP USING THE PUBLIC AS GUINEA PIGS TO FIND OUT WHAT PROBLEMS THEY HAVE AND THEN NEVER ISSUE RECALLS. THEY JUST MODIFY IT ON THE NEXT MODEL AND BLOW OFF PRIOR OWNERS. THE HANDLES ACTUALLY CUT MY DAUGHTERS HAND WHEN IT BROKE. IT IS UTTERLY RIDICULOUS. ALSO THE BRAKES ON THE SAME VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE CALIPER ON THE PASS SIDE TWICE AND THEY EAT BRAKE PADS UP LIKE MAD. IT IS NOT DRIVING HABITS THAT CAUSED THIS IT IS A DESIGN FLAW. NO WONDER THEY WENT TO 4 WHEEL DISC BRAKES( ANOTHER WAIT AND MODIFY ROUTINE) I'M SURE THIS WAS THEIR FIX FOR THAT PROBLEM AND THEY AVOIDED ANOTHER RECALL. WE PAY THOUSAND OF DOLLARS FOR THESE VEHICLES THEY SHOULD PAY THE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO FIX THEIR ENGINEERING AND QC DEPARTMENTS LACK OF DETAIL WHEN TESTING THESE VEHICLES. THANK YOU FOR ANYONE CARING. *TR

2002 FORD SPORT TRAC- VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 40,000 MILES ON IT. HAD TO HAVE BRAKES AND ROTORS REPLACED. BRAKES WERE REPLACED AND ROTORS TURNED FIRST TIME AT 21,532 MILES ON 01-19-04. COMPLAINED SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT EXCESSIVE BRAKE DUST, ROTORS WERE TURNED AGAIN AT 26,885 ON 08-27-05. ON AUGUST 23, 2005 WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE JUST STOPPED, HAD TOWED TO FORD DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE AIR FLOW VALVE. ASKED FORD TO FIX AND ALSO CHANGE OIL, SERVICE CALLED BACK TO SAY I NEEDED NEW BRAKES AND ROTORS NEEDED TO BE TURNED. GAVE PERMISSION TO FIX. RECEIVED ANOTHER PHONE CALL SHORTLY AFTER SAYING ROTORS COULD NOT BE TURNED THEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE IN MICHIGAN AS WAS TOLD THAT BRAKES WERE ONLY UNDER WARRANTY FOR 12,000 MILES. HAVING HAD THE ROTORS TURNED TWICE AND THEN REPLACED AND HAVING LESS THAN 40,000 MILES ON VEHICLE SEEMED EXCESSIVE.

DT: CALLER HAS HAD TO REPLACE THE ROTORS ON HER VEHICLE TWICE. THE FIRST TIME WAS AT 26000 MILES AND THE SECOND TIME WAS AT 53000 MILES. THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING BOTH TIMES. DEALER FIXED THEM THE FIRST TIME. CALLER SAID YESTERDAY SHE HEARD A NOISE AND TOOK IT IN AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE ROTOR. TODAY BELL TIRE CO. IS FIXING THE SECOND MISHAP. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. CALLER DOES NOT REMEMBER WHEN THE FIRST TIME WAS. *AK

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.

THE VEHICLE HAD A DIFFICULT TIME SLOWING DOWN WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. TAKEN TO DEALER FOR REPAIR OF THE BRAKE PADS FOUR TIMES, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BY OWNER.*AK

ALL FOUR TIRES WERE SLIGHTLY CUPPING, AND THE BRAKES MADE A THUMPING NOISE WHEN THEY WERE DEPRESSED. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE PADS, LUBED THE FRONT CALIPER SLIDE PIN, AND REPLACED ROTORS. *AK VEHICLE EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH TIRES CUPPING. THE FOLLOWING REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE: ENGINE REPLACED, BRAKES, REPLACED, ALIGNMENT, BATTERY WIRING ASSEMBLY REPAIRED, DPFE SENSOR REPLACED. CONSUMER ASKED DEALER FOR A FULL REFUND ON VEHICLE.*MR

I'VE HAD TWO INCIDENTS WHERE THE LEFT REAR BRAKES HAS LOCKED UP: FIRST, AFTER ENTERING PARKING GARAGE FROM SNOW COVERED STREETS 02/21/03. SECOND, MAKING A LEFT TURN FROM A COMPLETE STOP WHILE RAINING. LOSES TRACTION OVER BUMPY ROAD ARES AND DIPS.

I PURCHASED A FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC IN DEC. 2002. I HAVE BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT A NUMBER OF TIMES. THE FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF ITEMS THAT I'VE HAD REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY: 1.) FRONT BRAKES: A LOUD RUBBING/GRIDING SOUND BECAME INCREASINGLY LOUDER. THE FIRST TIME THE SERVICE DEPT. FOLKS SAID THAT IT WAS NORMAL. THE NEXT TIME I BROUGHT THE CAR IN, THEY COULD DENY THE NOISE AND THEY SUBSEQUENTLY REPLACE ONE ROTOR AND RESURFACED THE OTHER. 2.) REAR AXLE: A BROKEN SEAL ALLOWED HYDROULIC FLUID TO COVER INSIDE OF THE REAR WHEEL CAUSING DIFFICULTY IN BRAKING. THE SERVICE DEPT. REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY 3.) THE TRANSFER CASE FOR THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE WAS LEAKING FLUID. THE SERVICE DEPT. REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. 4.) THE VEHICLE STALLS A NUMEROUS AMOUNTS OF TIMES (10-15 TIMES) SINCE I'VE OWNED IT. IT STALLS WHILE I'M DRIVING AT 35 MILES PER HOUR, IN REVERSE, DAY OR NIGHT. WHEN I GO FOR AN ERRAND AND PARK, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START. AN HOUR LATER, WHEN THE TOW TRUCK IS THERE, THE VEHICLE START. IT DRIVES ME CRAZY!! THE SERVICE DEPT. SAYS THEY CANNOT DO ANYTHING BECAUSE NOTHING REGISTERS ON THE COMPUTER AND THEY CANNOT SIMULATE THE PROBLEM. THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED (08-04-04) MERGING ON TO THE FREEWAY IT STALLED. UPON START-UP, BLACK SMOKE POURED OUT OF THE EXHAUST AND IDLING WAS EXTREMELY ROUGH. I HAD IT TOWED TO A FORD DEALERSHIP. THE SERVICE DEPT REPLACED A MASS AIRFLOW METER UNDER WARRENTY. THE VEHICLE RUNS...I'LL CROSS MY FINGERS!! MY CURRENT PROBLEM IS THAT THE FRONT TIRES ARE SEVERLY CUPPING AND THE FRONT END VIBERATES AT 60 MPH AND OVER. THE VEHICLE HAS 25K MILES AND THE TIRES HAVE BEEN ROTATED 5 TIMES ABOUT EVERY 5K MILES. I HAD THE WHEELS CHECKED FOR ALIGNMENT AND BALANCE AND IT IS TO SPECIFICATIONS. THE SERVICE DEPT SAYS ITS NORMAL AND TO CONTINUE WITH THE ROTATIONS. THE TIRES ARE WEARING UNEVENLY AND PREMATURELY. THE TIRE SHOP RECOMMENDS THAT THE SHOCKS AND STRUTS BE REPLACED. THE SERVICE DEPT DOES NOT.*AK

DEFECTIVE BRAKE CALIPER 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC WITH LESS THAN 6000 MILES AT TIME OF INCIDENCE APPROXIMATELY NOVEMBER 2002. A BRAKE CALIPER WAS STUCK ON AFTER PUTTING ON THE BRAKES WHILE IN MOTION. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO A GARAGE. THE CALIPER WAS REPLACED AND THE ROTOR WAS DAMAGED BUT STILL USABLE. I ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE ABS MALFUNCTIONING WHERE THE BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE(SUMMER, DRY ROADS). THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION SLAVE AND MASTER CYLINDERS WERE REPLACED (DO HAVE THESE PARTS). THE ABS AND TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS OCCURRED BETWEEN AUG 2007 AND DECEMBER 2007. THE VEHICLE HAD 38000-40000 MILES AND LIGHTLY DRIVEN. CURRENTLY THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 470000 MILES AND HAS BEEN DRIVEN 6.5 YEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER USED FOR TOWING. IT WAS USED PRIMARILY FOR TAKING CHILDREN TO SCHOOL, ACTIVITIES, AND FAMILY VACATIONS. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY TRUCK AND ALL OF A SUDDEN BRAKES STARTED GRINDING AND TRUCK WOULD BARELY STOP. PH

DRIVER 'S SIDE SEAT RECLINER BOLT BROKE. BRAKES SQUEALED CONSTANTLY. REPLACED LEFT REAR AXLE AND SEAL. *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING HE SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING AND SAW THE VEHICLE WAS FILLED WITH SMOKE IN THE BED AREA FROM THE BRAKES ON PASSENGER SIDE. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKES WERE TOO TIGHT. *TC *JB