2002 Ford Explorer Complaint Log

LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING FAILED DOING 65MPH, WHEEL LOST STABILITY, ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR. RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING ALSO FAILED 5/3/2010. *TR

WE HAVE A FORD EXPLORER XLT 2002. THE REAR WINDOW LIFT GATE WOULD NOT STAY UP ON ITS OWN, SO MY SON PUSHED IT UP, AND THE REAR WINDOW GLASS EXPLODED. HE AND MY HUSBAND RECEIVED MINOR CUTS AND IT CAME VERY CLOSE TO MY SONS EYES. I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND FOUND THAT OTHERS HAD VERY SIMILAR EXPERIENCES AT WWW. CARCOMPLAINTS.COM IN 2004 WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER SECONDARY TO A RECALL REGARDING THE SHOCKS ON THE REAR WINDOW. WE TOOK IT IN AND THEY SUPPOSABLY FIXED IT. I DON'T KNOW WHY IT MY WINDOW EXPLODED, BUT WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IT THE GLASS HAD GOTTEN IN MY SONS EYES WE WILL BE CALLING THE DEALERSHIP IN THE MORNING TO SEE WHAT THEY SAY. BY THE WAY IT IS GOING TO COST 1400 DOLLARS TO GET IT REPAIRED. *TR

O/D LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING DIVING ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY - RPM'S RAN AT 3RPM'S NO MATTER WHAT SPEED I TRAVELED. TRANSMISSION SHIFTS VERY HARD AND I AM EXPERIENCING A TERRIBLE CLUNKING NOISE - PIECE OF'!@#$% TRANSMISSION - WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION ACCORDING TO THE DEALER AND I HAVE HEARD IT IS HAPPENING VERY FREQUENTLY WITH THE 2002 EXPLORERS. *TR

I LIKE MANY OTHERS WAS JUST INFORMED THAT MY 2002 EXPLORER NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION. IT ONLY HAS 52,000 MILES ON IT. I AM ON A FIXED INCOME, AND BOUGHT THIS CAR BELIEVING THAT IT WOULD LAST ME A LONG TIME IF I TOOK CARE OF IT WHICH I HAVE. I CANNOT AFFORD THIS EXPENSE AND VERY UNHAPPY TO FIND THAT FORD KNOWS OF THIS DEFECT, AND DOES NOTHING ABOUT IT. I AM TRULY BEGINNING TO BELIEVE THAT FORD STANDS FOR FOUND ON ROAD DEAD. THIS CLEARLY INDICATES A "LEMON" PRODUCT TO ME, AND I FEEL THAT THE CONSUMERS ARE THE ONE PAYING FOR THE CEO'S RICH LIFE AT OUR EXPENSE. WHEN IS OUR GOVERNMENT GOING TO LOOK OUT FOR THE PEOPLE WHO FINANCE THIS COUNTRY? *TR

REAR BEARINGS GO OUT ON VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE - NO CRASH OCCURRED, BUT IT VERY WELL COULD HAVE IN HEAVIER TRAFFIC. *TR

AS I WAS PUTTING MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER IN REVERSE THE SHIFT HANDLE BROKE OFF THE STEERING COLUMN AND IS NOW JUST HANGING BY THE CRUISE CONTROL WIRING. UNLIKE OTHER EXPLORER OWNERS I WAS "LUCKY" ENOUGH TO GET STUCK ON PARK AND NOT DRIVE OR REVERSE WHERE THERE'S A POTENTIAL OF SOMEONE GETTING HURT. AS MANY OTHERS HAVE STATED BEFORE ME, THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT WHICH IF NOT TAKEN SERIOUSLY WILL EVENTUALLY LEAD TO INJURIES AND/OR DEATHS. PLEASE DON'T WAIT UNTIL REPORTS START COMING IN WITH NUMBERS OTHER THAN ZEROS ON THE "NUMBER OF DEATHS" & "NUMBER OF PERSONS INJURED" FIELDS FOR YOU TO HOLD FORD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS. THANK YOU. *TR

WHILE DRIVING O/D LIGHT STARTED TO FLASH AND CHECK TRANSMISSION LIGHT CAME ON. ORIGINAL OWNER WITH 59K MILES. DEALER STATES I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS TRANSMISSION ONLINE. NHTSA NEEDS TO INVESTIGATE THIS TYPE OF CLOSED SYSTEM TRANSMISSION DESIGN. LOSS OF DRIVE POWER DURING ENTRY TO HIGHWAY OR LANE CHANGES COULD RESULT IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT. *TR

AFTER FAILING INSPECTION BECAUSE BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS WERE BROKEN. VEHICLE HAS NEVER TOWED OR CARRIED HEAVY LOADS. *TR

2002 FORD EXPLORER 4.0L SOHC V6 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. IT HAS A PROBLEM SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC, CAR WILL NOT ACCEL UP TO SPEED AND DOESN'T SHIFT OUT OF 2ND GEAR INTO 3RD. HAVE HAD A FEW NEAR ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF CAR NOT ABLE TO SPEED UP. *TR

3/4/08 MOTOR SIZED NO STEERING NO BRAKES AT 62000 MI. BHT REBUILT MOTOR FROM FORD 3YR/75000MI WARRANTY 2/8/09 MOTOR SIZED NO STEERING NO BRAKES AT 71000MI -11MOS /9000MI LATER 2/16/09 TOWED TO MALOUF FORD S.B.NJ NEED OTHER MOTOR NO REBUILT MOTORS AVAILABLE FROM FORD I HAVE NO CAR-FORD WILL NOT GIVE LOANER OR RENTAL. *TR

O/D LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY BLINKING, TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AND ENGINE REVVING UP CAUSING LOTS OF JERKING EVERYTIME I DRIVE MY 2002 EXPLORER. IN ORDER FOR ME TO DRIVE MY SUV I HAVE TO TURN THE O/D OFF...AND SOMETIMES THE ENGINE WILL CONTINUOUSLY REV UP EVEN WHEN THE O/D IS MANUALLY TURNED OFF. THERE ARE TOO MANY PEOPLE WITH THIS PROBLEM FOR IT TO CONTINUE TO BE IGNORED. PLEASE HELP US CONSUMERS.*TR

FOUND PART OF MY REAR SPRING FOR MY 2002 EXPLORER LYING ON THE FLOOR OF THE GARAGE. UPON INSPECTION I SEE THE DRIVER'S SIDE SPRING AND THE TOP THAT HOLDS THE SPRING ARE BROKEN AND CRUMBLING. THE PASSENGER SIDE SPRING AND TOP HAS SEVERAL CRACKS. THIS IS AT 101,000 MI, NEVER DRIVEN OFF ROAD AND ONLY LIGHT TOWING. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IT COULD VERY WELL FAIL WITH A FULLY LOADED VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY LEADING TO LOSS OF CONTROL. *TR

I PURCHASED A 2002 EXPLORER NEW LATE IN 2001. EVERY WHEEL BEARING HAS FAILED AND NOW MY PASSENGER FRONT HAS FAILED A SECOND TIME SO I AM ON MY 3RD SET OF WHEEL BEARINGS IF YOU INCLUDE THE FACTORY BEARINGS AND I ONLY HAVE 112K ON THE CAR. THE BEARINGS ARE CLEARLY DEFECTIVE ON THESE CARS AND IF LEFT ALONE ARE ALSO A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

ACCELERATING FROM 0, FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION TO SHIFT FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR, ENGINE REVS TO 4000 RPM AND FAILS TO ACCELERATE OR SHIFT. *TR

NOTICED WHAT APPEARED TO BE A SMALL SCRATCH JUST BELOW THE GLASS ON THE PLASTIC PORTION OF 200 EXPLORER LIFTGATE. ON FRIDAY FEB 6, 2009 THERE WAS A SPLIT FROM TOP TO BOTTOM. FORD IS DOING NOTHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH IT SEEMS TO POSSIBLY BE RELATED TO THE LIFTGATE HINGE RECALL ALREADY ISSUED BY THE NHTSA. *TR

FORD IS A GREAT COMPANY. I LOVE THEIR F-350, MUSTANGS, AND VANS. BUT THE MAIN PROBLEM IS THE 2002 FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSION. I HAVE SEEN AND RESEARCHED THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS THE CITIZENS HAVE SENT TO FORD AND THROUGH YOURSELVES. AND YET TO NOW PREVAIL? WHAT RIGHT DOES A PERSON HAVE TO CREATE A VEHICLE AND NOT OWN UP TO ITS COMPLICATION. NOW I'M NOT SAYING THEIR ARE PERFECT CARS BUT A FORD EXPLORER HAS THEM. NOW I CAN SEND YOU A LIST OF WHAT I WANT. BUT I'M NOT GOING TO RANT LIKE SOME 5 YEAR OLD IN A CANDY STORE. BUT CHANGE NEEDS TO HAPPEN. HUNDREDS OF THESE INNOCENT PEOPLE WHO GO THROUGH OUT THEIR DAY DRIVING THIS VEHICLE NEED A BREAK. ACTUALLY THEY NEED A FIX. A "SHIFT"INTO THE RIGHT DIRECTION. AND HUNDREDS MORE ARE FILING LAWSUIT AGAINST EVERYONE THEY CAN ABOUT IT. YOUR CANT TRADE THIS CAR BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEM AND WHO HAS THE MONEY TO DISH OUT ALMOST OVER $3,000 FOR A HEADACHE THAT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED FROM THE START. ALL I NEED IF YOU. YES YOU IS TO SEND THIS MESSAGE TO ANYBODY. OR EVERYBODY AND HELP PUSH FOR A NEW TOMORROW A SUNNY DAY. A FIXED PROBLEM. BUT I AM FILING A LAWSUIT FOR EVERYTHING THEIR WORTH. OR AT LEAST A NEW TRANSMISSION FOR ALL EXPLORER OWNERS. REGARDLESS OF THE YEAR OR SUB MODEL. *TR

THE O/D LIGHT IS BLINKING FAST AND NOW IT IS BEGINNING TO SHIFT GEARS VERY ROUGH. ALL THE WEBSITES I HAVE SEEN MAKES THIS A COMMON ATTRIBUTE WITH THIS YEAR OF CAR. NOTHING REALLY LEAD UP TO THIS, IT JUST STARTED BLINKING ON MY WAY TO WORK. *TR

CRACK IN HATCHBACK DIRECTLY BELOW WINDOW. *TR

LOOKS LIKE THIS IS A FAIRLY COMMON COMPLAINT. I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER, WITH 84K MILES. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT BOTH REAR COILS ARE BROKEN. BASED ON WHAT I AM READING ON MISC BLOG SITES, A GREAT NUMBER OF 2002 FORD EXPLORERS HAVE HAD THESE ISSUES. OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A DEFECT ON THESE REAR COILS AND IT SEEMS LIKE FORD SHOULD STEP UP AND OFFER FREE REPLACEMENTS. I AM GOING TO TRY TO REPLACE MYSELF AS THE GARAGE WANTED $850 FOR THE WORK, BUT, AFTER SEEING THE WORK INVOLVED, I'M NOT WONDERING IF IT MIGHT BE EASIER TO SELL THE TRUCK AND GET A RELIABLE VEHICLE. *TR

GEAR SHIFT LEVER BROKE OFF. WHILE PARKING MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER, THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER SHEARED OFF IN THE STEERING COLUMN, LEAVING THE VEHICLE STUCK IN REVERSE GEAR. A QUICK SEARCH WITH GOOGLE REVEALS A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF IDENTICAL FAILURES, INDICATING A COMMON MANUFACTURING DEFECT. FORD HAVE NOT ISSUED ANY FORM OF RECALL OR OTHER ASSISTANCE FOR THIS PROBLEM. HAD THE FAILURE HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING (PERHAPS WHILE SHIFTING UP OR DOWN ON A MOUNTAIN ROAD) IT COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. GIVEN THE AGE OF THE AFFECTED 2002 MODEL VEHICLES, IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL THIS DOES OCCUR. MY VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED; THE BROKEN PART IS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER AND MY O/D LIGHT IS FLASHING ALONG WITH MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON. THIS SEEMS TO BE COMPLAINT #1 WITH THIS VEHICLE IN SEARCHING THE INTERNET. I SEEM TO HAVE A TRANSMISSION REBUILD COMING MY WAY. IT'S ALWAYS BEEN TOUGH TO SWITCH FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE. NOW MY LIGHTS ARE FLASHING AND IT HAS A HECK OF A TIME SWITCHING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. I HAVE 70,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. I ALSO HAVE ISSUE #2 FROM THE INTERNET COMPLAINTS ON THIS VEHICLE. MY TAILGATE MOLDED PLASTIC BENEATH MY REAR WINDOW SPLIT IN HALF AND FELL OFF. *TR

SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING OUR 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLS, WE BEGAN EXPERIENCING DELAYED SHIFTING ON OCCASION. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED TO GET WORSE UNTIL OCCASIONALLY, AFTER MAKING A TURN, IT WOULD SLIP OUT OF GEAR IMPEDING ACCELERATION IN TRAFFIC SITUATIONS. IT ALSO HESITATES GOING INTO GEAR AFTER BACKING UP OUT OF PARKING SPACES. THIS ALMOST CAUSED US TO BE HIT FROM BEHIND ONE DAY WHEN ANOTHER DRIVER BACKED OUT OF A PARKING SPOT BEHIND US WITHOUT LOOKING. LUCKILY IT WENT INTO GEAR JUST IN TIME SO THAT I COULD MOVE THE VEHICLE BACK INTO THE PARKING SPACE AND OUT OF THE WAY. EVENTUALLY THE O/D LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH AND NOW THE TRANSMISSION SLAMS INTO HIGH GEAR AND DOWNSHIFTS HARD WHEN COMING TO A STOP. MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS IN NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM WITH JUST OUR EXPLORER AS I HAVE READ NUMEROUS REPORTS OF THE EXACT PROBLEMS. NOT BEING ABLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE IN TRAFFIC POSES A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN THAT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED. *TR

DURING A SERVICE THE REAR SPRING WAS FOIND TO BE BROKEN IN TWO PLACES. THE FIRST TWO COILS OF THE RIGH REAR COIL SPRING WERE BROKEN. *TR

THIS 2002 FORD EXPLORER HAS ONLY 62,153 MILES AND THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY HUBS HAVE FAILED. THE PROBLEM IS IN THE DESIGN OF THIS PART BECAUSE IT HAS NO AXLE AND IS ASSEMBLE TO THE FRAME BY THREE BOLTS. IF THIS PART GOES BAD ON THE INTERSTATE AND THE WHEEL WILL COME OFF , GOD HELP THE DRIVER AND THE PEOPLE ON THE SAME PATH. THIS SUV NEEDS TO BE RECALL! *TR

2002 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER 4.6 HAS A LOUD WHINING/HOWLING NOISE COMING FROM REAR DIFFERENTIAL. THIS IS A KNOWN AND DOCUMENTED PROBLEM/DEFECT WITH THESE VEHICLES. FORD HAS MANY TSB'S ABOUT THE PROBLEM, BUT WILL ONLY REPLACE THE DIFFERENTIAL GEAR ASSEMBLY AT A COST OF $1100.00. *TR

I BOUGHT A 2002 FORD EXPLORER IN 2004 AND THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING BAD. THE OD OFF LIGHT IS BLINKING AND THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 95000 MILES. I TOOK IT TO THE FORD DEALER TO FIND OUT THE PROBLEM, THEY TOLD ME THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REBUILT OR REPLACE. THE COST IS BETWEEN $2400 - $3700. I HAD THE CAR FOR 4 YEARS AND STILL OWE ON THE CAR. I GOOGLED FOR OD OFF LIGHT AND FOUND THAT MANY FORD OWNERS WITH THE SAME MODEL AND YEAR HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS, EVERYONE CAN'T BE WRONG. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS ISSUE RESOLVED. I JUST WANT MY CAR FIXED. *TR

IT WAS AN EXTREMELY COLD DAY IN WISCONSIN AND MY SON WENT INTO TOWN, WHILE APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT THE GAS PEDAL ACCELERATED. HE APPLIED THE BRAKES AND IT KEPT ON ACCELERATING UNTIL HE SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN ON THE HIGHWAY, ONCE AGAIN THE WEATHER WAS COLD AND THIS TIME HE KEPT TAPPING ON THE ACCELERATOR AND PULLED OVER AND SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF. THIS WAS A FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE, ANY SUGGESTIONS TO RECTIFY THIS PROBLEM. *TR

I OWN A 2002 FORD EXPLORER AND FOR THE SECOND TIME 5 MONTHS THE SAME SPARK PLUG THAT WAS REPAIRED BY THE FORD DEALERSHIP HAS BLOWN OUT OF THE ENGINE. THERE WAS A LOUD POP AND VERY LOUD REPETITIVE ENGINE NOISE. THERE WAS A VERY STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE, AND LOSS OF POWER. FORD SAYS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND REFUSES TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS IS AN OUTRAGE!!!!!! *TR

ON 1/18/09 I WAS DRIVING MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER ON A 50 MPH ROAD AND NOTICED THAT IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE - LIKE I HAD THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON. 10 MINUTES LATER MY SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND MY O/D LIGHT STARTED TO FLASH AND I COULD NOT GET OVER 25 MPH. I MANAGED TO GET SAFELY TO A RELATIVES HOUSE BUT HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A REPAIR FACILITY - TO BE LOOKED AT. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THE TRANSMISSION IS SHOT AND AFTER GOING ON LINE HAVE FOUND THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WITH 2002 FORD EXPLORERS. I WAS DRIVING WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR AND ONE MINUTE WAS DOING 45 MPH AND THE NEXT I WAS BARELY AT 25 MPH ON A VERY BUSY ROAD. *TR

AS I WAS PUTTING MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER IN PARK THE COLUMN SHIFT HANDLE CAME OFF IN MY HAND. I COULD NOT MOVE THE VEHICLE. I HAD TO HAVE THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN REPLACED. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH AND THIS IS NOT AN UNUSUAL PROBLEM. IN FACT IN SOME CASE IT HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN ONCE TOT HE SAME VEHICLE SO THERE IS NO GUARANTEED PERMANENT SOLUTION. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND I THINK SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE BEFORE SOME GETS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. SOME PEOPLE'S CARS HAVE BEEN STUCK IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. I WAS LUCKY. MY REPAIR PLACE TOLD ME THIS WAS THE SECOND FORD LINCOLN MERCURY WITHIN A MONTH THEY SAW THIS HAPPEN IN. THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS A MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THIS IS AN UNACCEPTABLE SITUATION AND YOU HAVE MANY COMPLAINTS ON YOUR SITE ABOUT THIS SPECIFIC ISSUE. I WOULD SOME ACTION TAKEN NOW. IT IS NOT ONLY INCONVENIENT AND EXPENSIVE, IT IS DANGEROUS. *TR

APPROXIMATELY A YEAR AGO THE TOP PANEL OF THE BACK TAILGATE BEGAN CRACKING ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE "FORD" SYMBOL. YESTERDAY MORNING I CAME OUT TO FIND ANOTHER CRACK IN THE PANEL IN THE EXACT SAME SPOT EXCEPT ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE "FORD" SYMBOL. THE FIRST CRACK IS ABOUT 1/8" WIDE AND SPLIT APPROXIMATELY HALFWAY DOWN THE BACK PANEL. THE SECOND CRACK SPANS FROM THE TOP OF THE PANEL TO THE BOTTOM AND IS APPROXIMATELY 1/4-1/2" WIDE. I DID NOT HIT ANYTHING AND THERE IS NO STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO THE CAR OTHERWISE. THE PANEL HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED OR FIXED YET. *TR

MY WIFE AND I OWNED A 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT WITH 4WD. AND A 4.0L ENGINE. ON THE NIGHT OF 1-15-2009 ,I PICKED MY WIFE UP FROM WORK AT 11:35PM WE WENT TO THE GROCERY STORE AND AFTERWARDS PROCEEDED TO OUR HOME , THIS WHOLE TRIP TOOK A TOTAL OF TWENTY TO TWENTY FIVE MINUTES AND A DISTANCE OF ABOUT ONE MILE OF DRIVING ROUND TRIP TO MY WIFE'S WORK THE GROCERY STORE AND THEN TO OUR HOUSE.WE ARRIVED HOME ,PARKED THE VEHICLE BEHIND OUR RESIDENCE AND PREPARED TO GO TO BED . AROUND 2:00AM I GOT UP FROM MY SLEEP TO GET A GLASS OF WATER IN OUR KITCHEN, WHICH FACES THE AREA THAT WE PARK IN , AS I WAS FILLING MY GLASS I NOTICED AN ORANGISH RED GLOW IN THE BACK YARD , UPON LOOKING OUT THE WINDOW , I SAW THAT THE FRONT END OF OUR VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE . MY WIFE CAME DOWN FROM OUR BEDROOM CRYING AS I CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT . I WENT OUT WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO SEE IF I COULD PUT THE FIRE OUT MYSELF BUT THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS BURNING TOO MUCH FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO DO ANYTHING .THE FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT THE FIRE OUT AND MY VEHICLE WAS TOWED . THERE WAS HARDLY ANYTHING LEFT OF THE FRONT END, JUST THE FRAME,MOTOR,RIMS AND SOME OTHER PARTS . THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAD A FIRE INVESTIGATOR OF THEIRS DO AN INSPECTION OF MY VEHICLE AND THEY DETERMINED THAT THE FIRE HAD STARTED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AROUND THE MASTER CYLINDER , PROBABLY AS A RESULT OF THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH LOCATED ON IT . DO TO THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE FROM THE FIRE AND THE FACT THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO LOCATE THE SWITCH BECAUSE THE MASTER CYLINDER HAD MELTED , THEY WERE UNABLE TO PROCEED ANY FURTHER IN CONTACTING FORD . THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS , UNREPAIRABLE ! ABOUT 1 - 2 MONTHS BEFORE THE FIRE, I HAD CHECKED WITH DEALERS AND ONLINE MYSELF AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL ON MY VEHICLE FOR THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM ,THE SAD PART ABOUT THIS WHOLE MESS IS WE ONLY HAD ABOUT SIX MORE MONTHS AND THE VEHICLE WAS PAID FOR , NOW WE HAVE TO START ALL OVER AGAIN . *TR

MY WIFE AND I OWNED A 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT WITH 4WD. AND A 4.0L ENGINE. ON THE NIGHT OF 1-15-2009 ,I PICKED MY WIFE UP FROM WORK AT 11:35PM WE WENT TO THE GROCERY STORE AND AFTERWARDS PROCEEDED TO OUR HOME , THIS WHOLE TRIP TOOK A TOTAL OF TWENTY TO TWENTY FIVE MINUTES AND A DISTANCE OF ABOUT ONE MILE OF DRIVING ROUND TRIP TO MY WIFE'S WORK THE GROCERY STORE AND THEN TO OUR HOUSE.WE ARRIVED HOME ,PARKED THE VEHICLE BEHIND OUR RESIDENCE AND PREPARED TO GO TO BED . AROUND 2:00AM I GOT UP FROM MY SLEEP TO GET A GLASS OF WATER IN OUR KITCHEN, WHICH FACES THE AREA THAT WE PARK IN , AS I WAS FILLING MY GLASS I NOTICED AN ORANGISH RED GLOW IN THE BACK YARD , UPON LOOKING OUT THE WINDOW , I SAW THAT THE FRONT END OF OUR VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE . MY WIFE CAME DOWN FROM OUR BEDROOM CRYING AS I CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT . I WENT OUT WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO SEE IF I COULD PUT THE FIRE OUT MYSELF BUT THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS BURNING TOO MUCH FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO DO ANYTHING .THE FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT THE FIRE OUT AND MY VEHICLE WAS TOWED . THERE WAS HARDLY ANYTHING LEFT OF THE FRONT END, JUST THE FRAME,MOTOR,RIMS AND SOME OTHER PARTS . THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAD A FIRE INVESTIGATOR OF THEIRS DO AN INSPECTION OF MY VEHICLE AND THEY DETERMINED THAT THE FIRE HAD STARTED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AROUND THE MASTER CYLINDER , PROBABLY AS A RESULT OF THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH LOCATED ON IT . DO TO THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE FROM THE FIRE AND THE FACT THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO LOCATE THE SWITCH BECAUSE THE MASTER CYLINDER HAD MELTED , THEY WERE UNABLE TO PROCEED ANY FURTHER IN CONTACTING FORD . THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS , UNREPAIRABLE ! ABOUT 1 - 2 MONTHS BEFORE THE FIRE, I HAD CHECKED WITH DEALERS AND ONLINE MYSELF AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL ON MY VEHICLE FOR THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM ,THE SAD PART ABOUT THIS WHOLE MESS IS WE ONLY HAD ABOUT SIX MORE MONTHS AND THE VEHICLE WAS PAID FOR , NOW WE HAVE TO START ALL OVER AGAIN . *TR

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER 4.0L V6. I HAD THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT 10 DAYS AGO. I HAVE HAD TO TAKE MY VEHICLE BACK TO THE TRANSMISSION SHOP NOW FOR THE THIRD TIME IN 10 DAYS DUE TO PROBLEMS THAT THE SHOP SAYS ARE CHRONIC WITH, AND KNOWN BY, FORD. FORD NEEDS TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS INHERENT WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN THIS YEAR MODEL. CONSUMERS ARE CONTINUING TO SHOULDER THE FINANCIAL BURDEN OF A PROBLEM OF WHICH FORD AND THE NHTSA ARE BOTH AWARE AND ABOUT WHICH NEITHER ARE ADDRESSING. THERE HAVE BEEN THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN FOR THE NHTSA TO SUPPORT CONSUMERS ON THIS ESTABLISHED AND KNOWN ISSUE? *TR

APPEARED OUT OF NOWHERE. LARGE CRACK IN VEHICLE BELOW REAR WINDOW POSSIBLY DUE TO PREVIOUS RECALL IN OCT 2004 - SAFETY RECALL 04S20. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE BECAME HESITANT TO ACCELERATION. AFTER SHUTTING THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTARTING, THE CHECK ENGINE AND OD WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.

2002 FORD EXPLORER, TRANSMISSION TOTAL FAIL WHILE DRIVING. *TR

BROKEN TAILGATE PANEL ON EXPLORER MY 2003 AND 2002. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT HIS RESIDENCE WHEN HE OBSERVED THAT THE REAR LIFTGATE EXHIBITED A CRACK NEAR THE EMBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 2/22/10 *CN UPDATED 05/10/10

HAVE HAD TO REPLACE BOTH REAR WHEEL BEARINGS ON 2002 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED, ALSO HAD TO REPLACE BOTH REAR SPRINGS. LUCKY MY WIFE HAS GOOD HEARING SO SHE NOTICED THE NOISE AS SOON AS IT STARTED OR ELSE MAY HAVE WENT FAR ENOUGH TO LOOSE WHEEL. HAD REAR SPRINGS AND WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $1100.00 . AFTER READING COMPLAINTS AND TALKING WITH OTHER EXPLORER OWNER I FEEL IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL FOR FACTORY TO FIX. ALSO HAVE RECURRING PROBLEM WITH AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT COMING ON. HAVE TO JIGGLE WIRES UNDER PASSENGER SEAT TO MAKE LIGHT GO OUT. *TR

2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT. TRANSMISSION PROBLEM, OD LIGHT FLICKERS, TRANNY SLIPPING. MY WIFE WAS PUT IN GRAVE DANGER TRAVELING AT A REASONABLE SPEED IN MODERATE TO HEAVY TRAFFIC. SEARCHING THE WEB FOR OTHER ISSUES I FOUND A HOST OF THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE SAME MODEL AND YEAR. HERE IS A LINK TO THE SITE I VISITED...HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/EXPLORER/2002/TRANSMISSION/O_D_LIGHT_IS_BLINKING.SHTML THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE RECALLED BY FORD! WITH SUCH A OVERWHELMING RESPONSE ON THIS SITE ONE CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW MANY OTHERS HAVE NOT FOUND THE SITE. *TR

BROKEN COIL SPRINGS-CAR IS NOT USED FOR TOWING OR OTHER ACTIVITIES. MANY SUCH REPORTS OF PREMATURE COIL BREAKAGE. MY CAR HAS 66K MILES ON IT--NO THIRD SEAT. BOTH COILS BROKEN. *TR

PLACED AN ITEM INTO THE REAR STORAGE AREA OF MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WINDOW DIDN'T STAY UP, SO I GAVE IT ANOTHER PUSH WITH MY HAND. I DIDN'T PUSH HARD. THE WINDOW EXPLODED IN MY HAND. GLASS FLEW EVERYWHERE. FORD HAD A RECALL ON THIS WHICH I HAD FIXED EARLY ON IN MY OWNERSHIP OF THE VEHICLE. I ENDED UP WITH GLASS SLIVERS IN MY HAND AND NOW I HAVE A VEHICLE WITH NO REAR WINDOW. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER AND THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER BROKE. I FOUND 27 COMPLAINTS ON THE SAME PROBLEM HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/EXPLORER/2002/STEERING/GEAR_SHIFT_BROKE_OFF.SHTML WHEN WE BOUGHT THE EXPLORER WE TOLD THE SALESMAN THAT IT WAS HARD TO GET OUT OF PARK AND HE SAID HE FIXED IT. *TR

2002 FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSION FLEW INTO 4X4 LOW AUTOMATIC WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH. THE 4X4 MODULE PART HAD BEEN REPLACED ONCE ALREADY,AND IS THE CULPRIT OF THROWING IT INTO AN UNSAFE POSITION. THE ISSUE KEEPS COMING UP, AND THE DEALER HAS HAD NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR REPLACING THE "KNOWN FORD PROBLEM" IN OVER 7 YEARS. THIS ISSUE IS EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR, BUT THE PROBLEM IS THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE AND THE PASSENGERS AT HIGHER SPEEDS. IT CAN CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO FIRST SLOW DOWN BY THE PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS OF THE TRANSFER CASE, AND CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO BE OUT OF CONTROL AND FLIP. IT'S SO PRESENT ON THE INTERNET NOW, I WONDER WHY NO ONE HAS GOTTEN FORD TO FACE THE ISSUE, EVEN THE DEALERS KNOW, BUT GET NO RESPONSE BACK FROM PARENT FORD. THE VEHICLE MENTIONED IS WELL CARED FOR, AS WELL AS ONLY IN THE LOW 80,000 MILE AREA PRESENTLY. THIS HAPPENED AROUND 38,000, 43,000, 58,000, 63,000, AND NOW AT 84,000. EVEN THE DEALER AGREES THAT THE 4 WHEEL AUTO FEATURE, (WHICH IS THE IDLE STATE OF THE TRANSAXLE) CANNOT BE STARTED WHEN THE VEHICLE IS FIRED UP. THIS CAUSES NUMEROUS ISSUES WITH OTHER COMPONENTS RELIABLE TO THE MODULE. THE MODULE, IS BUILT BY MOTOROLA AND I'VE BEEN ADVISED THAT THE ANY NEW OWNER OF AN EXPLORER IN THE DATE RANGE SHOULD HAVE IT REPLACED OR INSPECTED DUE TO IT NOT BEING ABLE TO HANDLE TYPICAL SURGE SPIKES FROM THE VEHICLES POWER SYSTEMS. THE REPLACEMENTS SHOULD HAVE IT. BUT THAT DOESN'T HELP WITH THE ADVISE IF IT ALREADY OCCURS. WHICH IT HAS BEEN. NOW I'VE GOT A $45,000 PAPERWEIGHT IN MY DRIVEWAY AGAIN. CORRECTIONS ARE MADE, BUT RESULTS ARE ALWAYS THE SAME. FORD NEEDS TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE PUBLICLY BEFORE OTHERS ARE IN ACCIDENTS OR FATALITIES OCCUR. *TR

I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM FLORIDA IN MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE O/D LIGHT STARTED BLINKING. I WAS TOWING A TRAILER AND PULLED OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO SEE IF IT NEEDED COOLED OFF. THE O/D LIGHT CONTINUED TO FLASH, MEANWHILE WHILE I WAS TOWING THE VEHICLE STARTED JERKING LIKE A HUGE HAMMER WAS HITTING THE TRANSMISSION. *TR

SEVERE CRACKS IN BACK WINDOW HOUSING. CRACK IS SO SEVERE, CONSIDERATION OF WINDOW FALLING OUT IS POSSIBLE. INFORMATION PANEL REGISTERS DOOR AJAR WHICH CONSEQUENTLY FLASHES INTERNAL LIGHTS, RE-LOCKS DOORS, SETS WARNING BELLS TO GO OFF. OFTEN, DOOR AJAR DOES NOT REGISTER, BUT ELECTRIC LOCKS LOCK RE-LOCK AND LOCK MANY TIMES WITH WARNING BELLS GOING OFF, INTERIOR LIGHTS FLICKERING,MANY TIMES IN ONE INSTANCE. ALL ACTIVITIES HAPPEN INTERMITTENTLY, WITHOUT CAUSE OR REASON CAUSING SEVERE DISTRACTION TO DRIVER. THEFT ALARM GOES OFF AFTER VEHICLE HAS BEEN LOCKED SEVERAL HOURS; FOR NO APPARENT REASON. WHEN UNLOCKED AND RE-LOCKED, CONTINUES TO GO OFF INTERMITTENTLY. I BELIEVE THE REAR WINDOW HOUSING BREAK IS THE ROOT OF ALL THIS ACTIVITY. *TR

MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT CURRENTLY HAS 79,000 MILES. LOUD GRINDING NOISES COULD BE HEARD AND A GRABBING SENSATION COULD BE FELT FROM THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE. I THOUGHT THE TIRES WERE CUPPED SO I PURCHASED NEW TIRES AND HAD THE VEHICLE ALIGNED. THE NOISE WAS STILL EVIDENT. A CERTIFIED MECHANIC STATED TO ME THAT BOTH REAR WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED AND THEY NEED TO BE REPAIRED. ALONG WITH THAT, HE STATED MY DIFFERENTIAL NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED. LASTLY, BOTH REAR COIL SHOCKS WERE BROKE INTO PIECES. I HAD THEM REPLACED AT 78,500. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER AND THE PANEL BELOW THE BACK WINDOW HATCH HAS CRACKED FOR SEEMINGLY NO REASON. I FOUND ON THE INTERNET THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE 2002-2004 BLOCK OF FORD EXPLORERS. I HAVE JUST OVER 100K MILES ON MY VEHICLE AND FORD SAID THAT BECAUSE IT'S OUT OF WARRANTY THAT THEY WON'T COVER THE REPAIR. THIS SEEMS TO BE THE COMMON ANSWER THAT FORD IS GIVING TO EVERYONE THAT IS EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM TOO. *TR

HAD TO HAVE BOTH FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED. *TR