There are 5 owner-reported brakes complaints for the 2002 Ford Explorer Sportin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
THE FORD DEALER HAS REPLACED THE ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS TWICE IN 4 YEARS DUE TO RUSTING ROTORS. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, THE RUST WAS TOO DEEP FOR THE ROTORS TO BE TURNED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE FIRST REPLACEMENT WAS AT 15,857 MILES AND THE SECOND REPLACEMENT OF THE ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS AT 29701 MILES. I DRIVE THIS VEHICLE UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS, IT IS NOT USED OFF-ROAD OR ANY OTHER WAY TO CAUSE THE RUST. THE FIRST TIME, FORD PAID FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF ROTORS BUT NOT THE BRAKE PADS. THE SECOND TIME, I HAD TO PAY $401.00 FOR THE ENTIRE ROTOR AND BRAKE REPLACEMENT. FURTHERMORE, AT TIMES, THERE IS A METAL GRINDING SENSATION WHEN APPLY THE BRAKES. IT CREATES THE SOUND OF METAL GRINDING ON METAL. I HAVE TO PUMP THE BRAKES TO STOP THE GRINDING SENSATION. THANK YOU *TR
WHILE BRAKING AT 35 MPH THE FRONT/REAR WHEELS LOCKED UP TEMPORALLY. THIS CAUSED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HE HAS HAD 5 INSTANCES OF THE VEHICLE SLIDING ON PAVEMENT. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT ABS WORKS OCCASIONALLY. *TC
WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP FROM ANY SPEED BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED. AS A RESULT, CONSUMER HAS TO STAND ON THEM IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE DEALER STATED THE ROTORS HAD BEEN CUT AND HOT SPOTS DEVELOPED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH AND COMING INTO A TURN CONSUMER STARTED TO BRAKE. THE BRAKES GRABBED SEVERELY, AND CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHICH COLLIDED WITH A GUARD RAIL ON THE RIGHT SIDE, AND BOUNCED TO THE LEFT, COLLIDING WITH AN EMBANKMENT. CONSUMER STRUCK HER HEAD ON THE LEFT WINDOW, AND THEN DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. CONSUMER SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES FROM THE GLASS, AND BURNS FROM THE AIR BAGS. THE POLICE DID ARRIVED, AND CONSUMER WAS CITED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 60-65 MILES HOUR,I SAW THE BRAKE LIGHTS OF THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES ON MY CAR ( EXPLORER SPORT 2002 )FOR THE FIRST 15 FEET MY CAR PARTIALLY SLOWED DOWN THEN IT FELT LIKE IT LOST TRACTION AND THE BACK SWUNG TO THE RIGHT,I GOT IT GOING STRAIGHT AGAIN AND KEPT THE PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE CAR KEPT GOING AT THE SAME SPEED CRASHING ON THE OTHER VEHICLE. LATTER I SAW STREAKS MARKS OF FLUID COMING OUT OF THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. TS
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026