2002 Ford Explorer Complaint Log

LONG LIST OF REPAIRS MADE THIS SUMMER INCLUDING COMPUTER, AIRBAG SENSORS, A/C WHOLE SYSTEM, MAIN WINDOW CONTROLS AND NOW MY TRANSMISSION. *TR

MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED 4X4 HAD A CHIMING NOISE FOLLOWED BY A O/D BLINKING LIGHT ON WED. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND HIT THE BUTTON FOR O/D A COUPLE OF TIMES IT THEN WENT OUT. I DROVE IT STRAIGHT HOME. I WAS ONLY TWO MINUTES FROM MY HOUSE. THE NEXT DAY I DROVE IT AND IT ACTED LIKE IT WOULDN'T OR COULDN'T SHIFT RIGHT. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW A CAR THAT IS PAMPERED COULD GO SO WRONG. I HAD TO REPLACE BOTH FOUR WHEEL DRIVE MOTORS THIS WINTER AND I HARDLY USE IT. THE FOUR WHEEL WOULD NOT ENGAGE. NOW I AM TOLD THAT I PROBABLY NEED A NEW TRANNY AND THAT IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE.I DON'T HAVE ALOT OF MONEY. I HAVE ALWAYS OWNED FORD BUT NEVER AGAIN! I THINK FORD SHOULD RECALL ALL THESE TRANNYS AND FIX THEM JUST LIKE TOYOTA FIXED THEIR PROBLEMS. MAYBE I SHOULD BY TOYOTA. *TR

1. WAS DRIVING IN TOWN EXPLORER SHIFTED INTO 2ND HARD AND THEN 3RD GEAR SLOWED THE CAR DOWN THEN SHIFTED LIKE A HARD JERK 2.WAS OCCURRING SEEMS WHEN CAR GET WARMED UP THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD AND THE OD LIGHT BLINKS AND NOW EVEN COLD THE OD LIGHT BLINKS ALL THE TIME NOW TOOK TO TRANSMISSION SHOP TOLD ME I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION JUST BOUGHT IT 4 MONTHS AGO 3 CALLED FORD DEALERSHIP THEY TOLD ME TO THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL THIS IS HOW I WILL CORRECT THE PROBLEM WITH MY COMPLAINT SO WE CAN ALL GET FIX BY FORD. *TR

SPARK PLUG BLOWN OUT OF 2002 FORD EXPLORER. *TR

O/D DRIVE FLASHING AND CHECK TRANSMISSION LIGHT IS ON, VERY NOISE ON THE BACK OF VEHICLE,THE TRUCK ONLY 58,000 ON IT. *TR

2002 FORD EXPLORER SHIFTER BROKE WHILE PUTTING VEHICLE IN DRIVE LOOKED AT PART MADE OUT OF SOME TYPE OF GRANULATED ALUMINUM. CAN'T BELIEVE SUCH A UNSAFE METAL COULD BE USED IN A VEHICLE PART WILL CALL FORD FOR ESTIMATE READ OVER 50 COMPLAINTS ON CARCOMPLAINTS.COM COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT THE DOT HAS LET THIS GO ON FOR SO LONG. I WILL BE CONTACTING MY LOCAL NEWS TEAM AND OTHER MARINES WHO HAVE FORD EXPLORERS AND TELLING EVERYONE THAT HAS AN EXPLORER. *TR

REAR COIL SPRING FOUND BROKEN DURING ROUTINE BRAKE INSPECTION. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER, REAR PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE WINDOWS MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACTED MENTIONED THAT THE WINDOWS COULD NOT BE CLOSED OR OPENED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 149,983 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 206,000. UPDATED 11/07/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED ALL OF THE WINDOWS MALFUNCTIONED. UPDATED 11/07/12

2002 FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSION CONTINUES TO NEED REPAIR. I'VE REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION TWICE AND IT HAS GONE OUT AGAIN. IT BEGAN WITH THE O/D LIGHT FLASHING, THEN, WITHOUT WARNING, IT SLIPS OUT OF GEAR, NEVER TO RETURN. I SPEND ABOUT $2,000 WITH EACH REBUILD. I CAN NO LONGER AFFORD THE COST. HAVING READ THE VOLUMINOUS REPORTS OF THE IDENTICAL FAILURE, I BELIEVE IT'S TIME FOR A RECALL BY FORD! *TR

WENT TO LEAVE A BASEBALL GAME AND ATTEMPTED TO PUT MY CAR IN REVERSE ONLY TO HAVE THE GEAR SHIFT COME LOOSE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AND WAS JUST DANGLING THERE. OF COURSE CUSTOMER SERVICE AT FORD COULD NOT HELP. *TR

I BOUGHT MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER USED BUT ALSO HAVE A FATHER-IN-LAW WITH A FORD AND HE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. WHEN WE BOUGHT IT THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT WAS ON ALL THE TIME AND THE DOME LIGHT WOULD STAY ON BUT AS WE DROVE THE LIGHT WOULD TURN OFF BUT THE LIGHT WOULD STAY ON. RECENTLY LAST WEEK THE LIGHT STAYS ON LIKE NORMAL BUT NOT THE LIGHTS GOES ON AND OFF, IT DINGS CONSTANTLY, AND THE DOORS LOCK AND UNLOCK WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD. IT IS VERY DISTRACTIVE AS WELL AS ANNOYING. WE GOT ONLINE TO SEE WHAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE DONE AND THERE WERE LOTS OF COMPLAINTS. WE TRIED THE WD40 BUT THEY SAY THAT ONLY WORKS FOR A DAY OR SO. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT 60 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN DECREASING IN SPEED AND BECOME SLUGGISH.THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE, HE COASTED INTO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED HAVING THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 142,957.

RE NHTSA # 04V-442. 2002 FORD EXPLORER. LIFTGATE GLASS HINGE SHEARED AND GLASS FELL ON ME. I WAS TOLD BY SERVICE DEPT THAT FORD RECALL 04S20 (PERFORMED IN 2004) WAS ONLY WARRANTEED FOR 1 YEAR, SO I PURCHASED NEW HINGE KIT (2L2Z-78420A68-AA) AND INSTALLED MYSELF. AFTER EXAMINING OLD PARTS, I NOTICED SIGNIFICANT REDESIGN. AFTER DISCUSSION WITH A FORD SERVICE MANAGER IT APPEARS THAT INITIAL RECALL REPAIRS WERE INSUFFICIENT AND BY HIS ESTIMATE THE HINGES LAST ABOUT 3 YEARS. THERE WERE SEVERAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE RECALLED PARTS AND PROCEDURES SINCE 12/04. MY VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED 12/20/04 SO THE MOST RECENT PROCEDURE WAS NOT FOLLOWED AT THE TIME AND MOST RECENT PARTS WERE NOT INSTALLED. FORD WILL NOT COMPENSATE FOR ADDITIONAL EXPENSES ONCE ANY RECALL REPAIR WAS COMPLETED. I WAS NOT INJURED BECAUSE I WAS OPENING THE HATCH SLOWLY AND HAD NOT LET GO BEFORE THE HINGE BROKE AND THE GLASS FELL. I BELIEVED THAT THE SAFETY DEFECT HAD BEEN REPAIRED. THIS IS NOT THE CASE. THE DANGER STILL EXISTS. I SUGGEST A WARNING NOTICE BE SENT TO ALL OWNERS THAT HAD RECALL PERFORMED BEFORE THE FINAL PROCEDURES (RCRIT-04V442-7848) WERE DEVELOPED. IT WOULD ALSO ENCOURAGE FORD TO COVER THE COST OF REPAIRS FOR THE DEFECTIVE RECALL REPAIR - INCLUDING GLASS BREAKAGE - AS THEY DID FOR THE ORIGINAL RECALL. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN I NOTICED THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT FLASHING. THEN THE PASSENGER ASKED ME IF I COULD SMELL TRANSMISSION FLUID AND I HAD SAID YES. THIS ENDED UP COSTING ME $2800 AND MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER WAS FAILING AND SENSE HE HAD IT APART HE SHOULD GO AHEAD AND REBUILD IT. *TR

CAME HOME TO FIND STOING GASOLINE FUMES AND A STREAM OF GAS LEAKING ON THE DRIVEWAY FROM UNDER THE EXPLORER. CLIMBED UNDERNEATH IT TO FIND A HOSE LEAKING. *TR

I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY AND WENT TO PUT MY VEHICLE INTO PARK AND THE GEAR SHIFT WAS LIKE A BROKEN LIMB IN MY HAND. I CHECKED WITH SEVERAL AUTO PART STORES AND THE REPLACEMENT PART IS A DEALER ONLY PART. FORD WILL NOT SELL THE PART TO CUSTOMER FOR PERSONAL REPAIR. PLUS THE COST TO REPAIR IS VERY COSTLY. I WAS SEEKING INFORMATION AND FOUND SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS ON AUTOBEEF-CAR COMPLAINTS.COM. SEEMS LIKE FORD NEEDS TO RECONSIDER THIS AS RECALL. *TR

I WAS DRIVING IN TOWN AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WHEN I DROVE OVER A CRACK AND IT FELT LIKE A LARGE POTHOLE. I HEARD A GRINDING NOISE AND PULLED OVER. MY REAR SPRINGS WERE BOTH BROKEN. THE DRIVER SIDE ONE AT THE TOP AND THE PASSENGER SIDE ONE AT THE TOP IN 3 PLACES. WHEN I TURN NOW IT FEELS LIKE MY VEHICLE IS GOING TO ROLL OVER. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AS STATED BY MANY OTHERS ON MANY INTERNET SITES. THIS IS GOING TO CAUSE A SERIOUS IF NOT DEADLY ACCIDENT. FORD NEEDS TO DO A RECALL ON THIS PART AND REPLACE THEM FOR FREE, SINCE THEY WERE THE ONES WHO USED BAD PARTS IN THEIR VEHICLES. THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND SHOULD BE TREATED AS SUCH. *TR

THE SUV, WHICH IS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. JUST STARTED TO DRIVE REALLY SLOWLY AND AN O/D LIGHT CAME ON WHICH TELLS ME THAT I PRETTY MUCH NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MY VEHICLE. THE CONSEQUENCES ARE THE VERY EXPENSIVE PRICE ON FIXING THE PROBLEM. THE FIRST 2 TIMES FORD FIXED IT WITH A REBUILT TRANSMISSION AND NOW THEY WANT ME TO PAY AGAIN. SORRY NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE PLEASE MAKE FORD RECALL THESE VEHICLES. *TR

2002 FORD EXPLORER DIFFERENTIAL SUBJECT TO INCREASED WHINING @ 85000 MILES AND RAPIDLY FAILED OVER THE COURSE OF ONE WEEK @ 99,000 MILES. R SIDE WHEEL BEARINGS HAVE FAILED AT SAME TIME. DIFFERENTIAL HAS LOCKED UP AND DRIVE GEAR JUMPS GEAR TEETH DURING ANY TURN. DEALER CLAIMS THEY'VE NEVER SEEN SUCH A FAILURE BUT LOCATED A FORD 'FIX KIT' VERY QUICKLY SO AM VERY SUSPICIOUS OF THEIR STATEMENT. I PULLED THE EXPLORER FROM THE DEALER FOR SECOND OPINION AND REP TOLD ME TO 'PARK IT' AND NEVER TO DRIVE IT UNTIL REPAIRED DUE TO POTENTIAL OF HIGHWAY LOCKUP WITH EXTREME CONSEQUENCES. FORD IS HIDING THIS DEFECT FROM THE PUBLIC. HAVE JUST FILED COMPLAINT WITH FORD ONLINE WHO ARE REPLYING WITH FORM LETTER EMAIL REFUSALS TO HELP . DRIVE GEAR FAILURE ON ANY VEHICLE IS UNHEARD OF, AND SHOULD NEVER FAIL. VEHICLE SITS ON A TRUCK CHASSIS AND SHOULD BE STURDIER THAN IT IS. *TR

THE SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED UPON SIDE DOOR CLOSURE OF A FORD EXPLORER. THE VEHICLE WAS SITTING AFTER RE-FUELING. CONCURRENT WITH AND IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG, THE DOOR ALARM SYSTEM WAS CHIMING THAT A DOOR WAS AJAR, AND AFTER INSPECTION BY A MECHANIC IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE SECURITY/DOOR WARNING SYSTEM MODULE HAS FAILED. FORD WAS SENT THE AIRBAG MODULE FOR INSPECTION, AND HAS YET TO PROVIDE THE RESULTS OF THE MODULE INSPECTION - AFTER A PERIOD OF MORE THAN 5 MONTHS. FURTHER PROBLEMS PERSIST WITH THE ELECTRONIC SYSTEM. THE DOOR AJAR ALARM CONTINUES TO SOUND AT RANDOM INTERVALS, THE INTERIOR LIGHTS FLICKER ON AND OFF AT RANDOM INTERVALS, AND THE DOOR LOCKS REPEATEDLY LOCK AND UNLOCK, ALL OF WHICH CAUSE A DISTRACTING POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD WHILE DRIVING. *TR

JUST BOUGHT THE TRUCK RECENTLY THE PREVIOUS OWNER TOOK VERY GOOD CARE OF IT LOOKS JUST LIKE NEW EVEN THE ENGINE AND INSIDE PARTS LOOK LIKE NEW. BUT RECENTLY THE TRUCK WOULDN'T REVERSE WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THE ESTIMATE SCARED US IT WAS RIDICULOUS. WE TOOK IT TO ANOTHER MECHANIC AND HE JUST CHANGED THE OIL AND FILTER BUT HE TOLD US THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD SOME DAMAGED ALREADY. AFTER WE BROUGHT IT BACK FROM THE MECHANIC IT WORKED FINE FOR TWO DAYS THEN THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN AND THE YELLOW LIGHT KEEPS ON BLINKING. WE HAVEN'S USED IT SINCE THE PROBLEM DOESN'T HAPPEN ALL THE TIME BUT WE'RE AFRAID OF IT HAPPENING WHILE DRIVING IT OR IN A PARKING LOT OR SOMETHING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT CALLED A LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE IN FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AT HIS EXPENSE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 121,000.

AFTER STARTING THE IGNITION ON MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER, MY HUSBAND AND I NOTICED AN OBNOXIOUS SMELL IN THE CAR. MY HUSBAND PULLED OVER AND LOOKED UNDER THE CAR AND DID NOT SEE ANYTHING. I LOOKED AT THE DRIVER'S DOOR AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE POWER WINDOW BUTTONS. MY HUSBAND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. HE FELT THE BUTTONS AND THEY WERE VERY HOT. EVENTUALLY THE SMOKE SUBSIDED. HE LATER ON REMOVED THE FUSE THAT CORRELATED WITH THE POWER WINDOWS. HE DROVE THE CAR HOME WITHOUT INCIDENT. *TR

1. TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WHEN I STOPPED FAST 2. TRANSMISSION GOES INTO NEUTRAL AND TAKES ABOUT 10 SECONDS TO POP BACK INTO GEAR. 3. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP WHERE I WAS TOLD THEY COULD REPLACE A $1,000 PART. *TR

I HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER. I STARTED GETTING THE CRACK IN MY HATCH BY THE REAR WINDOW IN 2005. IT HAS SPREAD AND GOTTEN WORSE AND I STILL HAVE NOT FIXED IT. LAST YEAR IN 2009 OUR ABS LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON AND OFF AND WHEN I GO TO BRAKE AT TIMES IT FEELS LIKE THEY KICK ON AT IRREGULAR TIMES, BUT I ALSO FEEL I DO NOT HAVE THE BRAKING POWER I SHOULD. IN JUNE 2010 I WAS DRIVING THE EXPLORER AND THE O/D LIGHT STARTING BLINKING AND THE EXPLORER WAS SHIFTING OUT OF CONTROL. WE HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACE AND THE U-JOINTS AND THE REAR AXLE FIXED FOR AROUND $2900. WE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY IN JULY 2010. I CALLED FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND TOLD THEM ALL OF MY ISSUES AND THEY TOLD ME THAT SINCE THEY DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH COMPLAINTS THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. TO THIS POINT I WAS AGGRAVATED AND COULDN'T BELIEVE THE WAY THEY HAD TREATED ME AND LET ALONE OTHERS WHO I AM SURE MADE THE SAME CALL. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE EVEN NOW WHEN IT IS IN GEAR IN PARK THE CAR SEEMS TO MOVE BACK AND FORTH. *TR

O/D LIGHT KEEPS FLASHING AND TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 80 THOUSAND MILES. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE BY FORD PLEASE DO SOMETHING THEY ARE TAKING WE THE CONSUMERS FOR GRANTED. *TR

I HAVE FORD EXPLORER 2002 O/D LIGHT IS BLINKING AND HAVING PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SHIFTING THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE, THE GEAR SHIFT SELECTOR BROKE OFF FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN IN TO BE EXAMINED AND THERE WERE NO REPAIRS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECREASE IN SPEED WITHOUT WARRANT. THE OVER DRIVE WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO HIS RESIDENCE WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 120,000.

OH WHERE DO I BEGIN. I HAVE 90,000 MILES ON MY SUV. MY RADIO GOES OFF AND ON RANDOMLY. DOOR AJAR IS ON RANDOMLY. WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE, IT STICKS AND I HAVE TO TAP IT TO GO INTO DRIVE. REAR WHEEL BEARING HAD TO BE REPLACED. O/D LIGHT CAME ON AND FLASHING. ONE TIME I THOUGHT IT WAS IN PARK AND WHEN GETTING OUT OF MY CAR, IT BEGAN TO ROLL AFTER TAKING MY FOOT OF THE BRAKE. I SEE THESE SEEM TO BE PROBLEMS FOR SEVERAL FORD EXPLORER OWNERS. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE GET THIS ACROSS TO FORD THAT THESE NEED TO BE RECALLED, IF NOT I WILL NOT BE A FORD OWNER EVER AGAIN AND TELL EVERYONE I KNOW NOT TO BUY A FORD! WHAT IS GOING TO TAKE, A DEATH OR INJURY?? TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FORD! HOPE THIS NEVER HAPPENS TO YOU BUT THEN AGAIN, YOU PROBABLY DON'T EVEN DRIVE A FORD. *TR

ALL 4 WINDOWS ON MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER NO LONGER WORK PROPERLY. YOU EITHER CAN HEAR THEY ARE GOING TO SOON FAIL OR HAVE ALREADY FAILED (THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW HAS ALREADY FAILED AND I HAD TO SPEND OVER $500 FOR THE REPAIR AND NOW MY PASSENGER-REAR WINDOW HAS FAILED AND WILL NO LONGER GO BACK UP). *TR

I'M AN OWNER OF A 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT. RECENTLY WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, I NOTICED THE O/D LIGHT WAS FLASHING/BLINKING AND MY TRANSMISSION WAS VIBRATING WHILE SHIFTING GEARS. I IMMEDIATELY ACTED QUICKLY BY GRADUALLY PULLING OVER TO COME TO A STOP. AS I LATER TRIED TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE, IT WOULD NOT GO PAST 10 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION WAS STUCK IN 1ST GEAR. THANK GOD MY KIDS WERE NOT IN THE TRUCK AT THE TIME. THIS FAULTY TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE ACKNOWLEDGE BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY. PLEASE DO NOT LOOK AT THIS AS ANOTHER COMPLAINT, THIS COULD POTENTIALLY BECOME A LIABILITY ISSUE IF NOT ADDRESSED. THE SAME AS WITH ANY OTHER SAFETY ISSUE ITS INVESTIGATED THOROUGHLY, I'M PRAYING THIS IS LOOKED AT AS SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN ON THE HIGHWAYS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATE SPEEDS OF 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. SHE PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN SMOKING AND CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED ON SCENE HOWEVER; THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO CONFIRM IF A FIRE OR POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 145,000. UPDATED 8/2/10 *CN UPDATED 08/09/10*JB

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER AND THE O/D LIGHT BEGAN BLINKING AND TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLIPPING, 110K MILES ON IT AND NO PROBLEMS. THIS SEEMS LIKE A COMMON ONE, AND FORD SEEMS TO BE LOSING A LOT OF CUSTOMERS BECAUSE NO ACTIONS ARE DONE TO FIX OR HELP US. HAVEN'T GONE TO DEALERSHIP YET BUT AM NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO THE RESULTS. *TR

OVERDRIVE LIGHT FLASHING LATE SHIFTING HIGH RPMS HARD SHIFTING. A COMMON COMPLAINT FOR THIS VEHICLE. FORD SAYS TOUGH LUCK TO A 3-5K FORD FIX WHICH WILL RECUR. *TR

I HAVE OWNED MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER NOW FOR 3 YEARS, WITHIN THIS 3 YEARS I HAVE HAD TO MAKE 2 MAJOR REPAIRS AND AM NOW FACING MY 3RD. THE TRANSMISSION IN MY CAR NEEDED TO BE FIXED WITH 6 MONTH OF OWNING MY CAR AND NOW A YEAR AND HALF LATER I AM FACING MORE TRANSMISSION ISSUES. THE CAR CONTINUOUSLY KICKED HARD WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. ALSO IF I WERE TO PUT INTO PARK IT WOULD STILL ROLL OR IF I PUT IT INTO REVERSE IT WOULD ROLL FORWARD AS IF IT WERE IN REVERSE. NOW IT IS USING UP TO 5/6 RAMS TO SHIFT GEARS. I TOOK IT TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP AND IT MISSING ALL OF ITS 3RD GEAR. I HAVE FOUND OVER 280 COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE ON THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL AND THAT'S JUST ON ONE WEBSITE. I BELIEVE THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND AS A NEW MOTHER AM WONDERING WITH ALL THE COMPLAINTS IS THIS CAR SAFE? I DON'T BELIEVE IT IS. THE TRANSMISSION IN THIS CAR NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. THIS IS NOT JUST ONE INSTANCE OF BAD LUCK. THIS IS HAPPENING REPEATEDLY WITH THE SAME VEHICLE! I HOPE IT DOESN'T TAKE SOMEONE GETTING HURT FOR SOMETHING TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS. THANK YOU FOR LOOKING INTO THIS MATTER. *TR

APPARENTLY THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE HUBS AND BEARINGS ON THE 2002 FORD EXPLORER. I HAVE A "RUBBING SOUND", HAD IT CHECKED, AND WAS TOLD I HAVE TO REPLACE THEM. IT IS APPROXIMATELY, $1000.00 (LOWEST I COULD FIND) TO REPLACE THEM. FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUED BY FORD (TSB 05-25-8, AND 051710) WHICH CLEARLY DESCRIBES THE BEARING ISSUE TO MECHANICS. UNFORTUNATELY FORD REFUSED TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE. *TR

TRANSMISSION FAILURE, OD LIGHT FLASHING. *TR

THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT ON MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER IS FLASHING (BLINKING) AND THE TRANSMISSION IS ACTING ERRATIC. SHORTLY AFTER BUYING THIS CAR(IN 2003) A SIMILAR ISSUE HAPPENED. I TOOK IT TO A FORD SHOP. THE MECHANIC REQUESTED THE TRANSMISSION BE REPLACED. FORD DENIED THE REQUEST & HAD THE MECHANIC CHANGE ONLY THE SOLENOID(I BELIEVE FOR THE 1ST& 2ND GEAR?). THANKFULLY, THIS WAS UNDER WARRANTY. I'VE TAKEN DECENT CARE OF MY TRANSMISSION SINCE IN REGARDS TO MAINTENANCE. NOW, THIS ISSUE(OR SIMILAR) IS BACK. BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO BRING MY CAR TO FORD OR ANOTHER SHOP, I DECIDED TO CHECK ON THE INTERNET. I CAME ACROSS HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM OR MORE SPECIFICALLY: HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/EXPLORER/2002/TRANSMISSION/O_D_LIGHT_IS_BLINKING.SHTML. TO MY SURPRISE, THIS INCIDENT IS NOT CLOSE TO UNIQUE. I LIKE MY CAR & FORD, BUT THIS IS JUST NOT RIGHT. I HOPE THIS ISSUE CAN PROPERLY BE ADDRESSED BY FORD. THIS WILL PROBABLY BE THE ONLY WAY THEY CAN RETAIN ME AND MY FAMILY AS REPEAT CUSTOMERS... *TR

BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS (STRUT ASSEMBILES) BROKEN ON 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT. BREAKS IN STEEL COIL SPRINGS DISCOVERED DURING DEALER INSPECTION IN 2010. VEHICLE IS USED FOR STANDARD DAILY DRIVING ON PAVED ROADS. RESULTED IN SAGGING REAR OF VEHICLE AND DEGRADED VEHICLE CONTROL IN BUMPY TERRAIN. PARTS LIKELY BROKEN FOR SOME TIME BEFORE DETECTION. REPLACEMENT PARTS HAVE BEEN INSTALLED TO CORRECT PROBLEM. PHOTOS OF BROKEN PARTS AVAILABLE. *TR

2002 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED 4.6L V8. SPARK PLUG EJECTED FROM HEAD UPON START-UP. THIRD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. *TR

2002 4 X 4 FORD EXPLORER, WHILE DRIVING IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC THE TIMING CHAINS WENT ON THIS TRUCK. OF COURSE THE ENGINE STOPPED WORKING AND I HAD THE HUGE PROBLEM OF PUSHING IT OFF THIS 3 LANE BUSY HIGHWAY. DID GET IT OFF AND NOW WAITING TO RAISE ENOUGH MONEY FOR REPLACEMENT ENGINE. YES THE OIL WAS CHANGED EVERY 3200 - 3400 MILES, DEFAULT WITH THE FORD ENGINES, PLASTIC SPROCKS. SO I AM WITHOUT A TRUCK UNTIL MONEY IS RAISED OR FORD DOES A RECALL. I KNOW! THERE WAS NO SIGN OTHER THAN A SLIGHT NOISE STARTING AND CALLED THE GARAGE AND NEVER GOT THERE. MY TRUCK IS IN GREAT SHAPE, NO RUST, NO ACCIDENTS AND I LOVE TO DRIVE IT! THE GAS IS NOT BAD AT ALL IF YOU DON'T HORSE IT! *TR

REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE VEHICLE. *TR

TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR

2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT. TRANSMISSION O/D LIGHT FLASHES AFTER VEHICLE WARMS UP. THIS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. THIS MAY LEAD TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. RESEARCH HAD FOUND THAT THIS MAY COST SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS TO REPAIR AND MAY NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAS JUST OVER 100K MILES ON IT AND WE ARE NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNERS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A SHARP LEFT TURN AND THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE SWERVED OUT OF CONTROL. HE WAS ABLE TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP WITHOUT INCIDENT AND NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR TIRE WAS SHREDDED WHICH CAUSED HIM TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TWO REAR COIL SPRINGS WERE FRACTURED WHICH SHREDDED THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. THE MECHANIC ALSO REPLACED THE TWO REAR TIRES, SPRING SET WITH STANDARD SUSPENSION, PINION SHAFT SEAL, TWO REAR RIMS AND BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS. ALL REPAIRS WERE MADE AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,898. UPDATED 06/29/10. *LJ UPDATED 09/21/10

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

1. NORMAL DRIVING 2. BLINKING O/D OFF LIGHT, CHECK TRANSMISSION LIGHT, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, TRANSMISSION BEGINS TO SLIP 3. REPLACED TRANSMISSION, STILL INTERMITTENT O/D OFF LIGHT BLINKING. *TR

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

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