2002 Ford Explorer Complaint Log

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHEN STARTING FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE HESITATES AND THEN LURCHES FORWARD. OTHER TIMES THE VEHICLE DOES NOT WANT TO SLOW DOWN. MY O/D LIGHT IS BEGINNING TO FLASH FOR NO REASON WHILE DRIVING OR AFTER WARMING UP. *TR

2002 FORD EXPLORER XLS WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END ACCIDENT AT ABOUT 80MPH AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. AS A RESULT THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER HIT HER HEAD AGAINST THE DASH BROKE HER JAW AND RUPTURED THREE VESSELS IN HER BRAIN WHICH LEAD TO HER HAVING A STROKE AND LOST USE OF THE RIGHT SIDE OF HER BODY. *TR

THE O/D LIGHT ON MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER STARTED FLICKERING ABOUT A MONTH AGO. FOUR DAYS AGO, I NOTICED THAT MY TRUCK WOULDN'T GO FROM SECOND TO THIRD GEAR WHILE DRIVING. I WILL GET UP TO 25 MPH AND THE TRUCK WOULD REV UP TO 3500 RPMS AND NOT CHANGE GEARS. I HAVE TO EASE UP OFF THE GAS AND LET THE RPMS DROP AND THEN ACCELERATE AGAIN AND THAT'S HOW IT CHANGES GEARS. *TR

2002 FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 49,562 MILES. UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. *TR

"TAKATA RECALL" I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT IN MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER 3 TIMES. THE FIRST TIME IN 2008 WITH 107,262, SECOND TIME JUNE 2012 WITH 136671 MILES AND THE 3RD TIME IN SEPTEMBER 2015 WITH 184,086 MILES ON IT. I WOULD SAY THAT ANYTIME YOU HAVE TO REPLACE YOUR TRANSMISSION THAT MANY TIMES THERE IS DEFINITELY A DEFECT IN THE TRANSMISSION OF THE EXPLORER.

OVERDRIVE OFF LIGHT STARTED BLINKING, TOOK IT INTO A TRANSMISSION SHOP JUST IN CASE. THE OD UNIT WENT BAD CAUSING AN INTERNAL LOCK IN THE TRANNY. IT COST $3000 TO FIX, AND FROM WHAT I AM READING THIS IS HAPPENING QUITE A BIT TO THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT BOUGHT THIS YEAR OF EXPLORER. IF ANYONE KNOWS OF ANYTHING ELSE THAT CAN BE DONE TO MAKE FORD PAY FOR THIS PLEASE LET ME KNOW. *TR

2002 FORD EXPLORER WITH BROKEN COIL SPRING, CRACK UNDER REAR WINDOW, AND TRANSMISSION SLIP, BROKEN PARKING BRAKE SHOES IN ASSEMBLY. SAME COMPLAINTS THAT SEEM TO BE COMMON. AND SAME WITH EVERYONE ELSE, NO HELP FROM FORD. *TR

GEAR SHIFTER BROKE OFF STEERING COLUMN IN 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHEN PUTTING VEHICLE IN PARK THE GEAR SHIFTER BROKE OFF, LEAVING THE VEHICLE INOPERABLE. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEN DRIVEN TO OUR HOME. LEARNED FORM INTERNET SEARCH OF AT LEAST 26 SIMILAR COMPLAINTS REGARDING 2002 FORD EXPLORER AUTOMATIC. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER 2WD, SIX CYLINDER. IT HAS APPROXIMATELY 86,000 MILES AND I JUST SPENT $2,000 REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION. I NOW HAVE TO HAVE THE REAR END CHECKED DUE TO A ROAR THAT IS SO LOUD IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO HEAR THE RADIO. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN MAINTAINED AND DRIVEN IN A VERY CONSERVATIVE MANNER. I UNDERSTAND THAT FORD IS AWARE OF THESE PROBLEMS BUT WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THE VEHICLE WITH SERVICE. WE ARE ON OUR OWN. *TR

AIR BAG LIGHT. *TR

REAR COIL SPRINGS BROKE ON 2002 EXPLORER FOR UNKNOW REASON. *TR

ONLY 83,000 MILES ON MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER AND I AM FACED WITH A BILL OF AROUND $2,500 FOR REPAIRS. THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS AND HUBS NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE REAR STRUTS NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE FRONT STABILIZER BAR BUSHINGS NEED TO BE REPLACED. WHEN THE CAR IS DRIVEN YOU CAN HEAR NOISES LIKE A WHINING SOUND. IT SOUNDS ALMOST LIKE A PLANE IS LANDING IN MY BACK SEAT. *TR

THE LIFTGATE CRACKED IN 3 PLACES. IT STARTED A YEAR AGO WITH ONE CRACK, THEN ANOTHER CRACK APPEARED 6 MONTHS LATER. A FEW WEEKS AGO A 3 CRACK APPEARED. THE FORD DEALER REFUSED TO HELP AND A CALL TO FORD WAS NOT RETURNED. *TR

THERE IS A KNOCKING NOISE IN THE BACK OF MY EXPLORER WHICH IS A 2002 AND MY FRIEND HAS A 2003 EXPEDITION AND HERS IS DOING THE SAME THING IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE HEAT IN THE BACK BUT IT KNOCKS ALL THE TIME AND WHEN YOU TURN THE REAR HEAT ON IT GETS REALLY LOUD. IT KNOCKS ALL THE TIME AND IT IS ANNOYING AND LOUD I KNOW OF 3 VEHICLES THAT ARE FORD AND THEY ARE DOING THE SAME THING WHY HAS IT NOT BEEN RECALLED COULD IT NOT CATCH FIRE OR SOMETHING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS THE CONTACT HEARD A BUZZING NOISE IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIANS STATED THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL BEARING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED, THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND WOBBLE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIANS STATED THE HUB AND THE WHEEL BEARING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

MY DOOR WAS FROZEN SHUT, I PULLED IT OPEN AND NOW I CANT CLOSE IT. IT "BOUNCES" OFF THE DOOR HINGES WHEN I TRY. IT HAPPENED WHEN I GOT OUT OF WORK AT MIDNIGHT AND I DROVE ALL THE WAY HOME WITH MY CAR DOOR OPENING AND CLOSING AS I WAS DRIVING. GOOD THING IT HAPPENED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT BECAUSE NO ONE WAS DRIVING AROUND. IF SOMEONE WAS I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE HIT THEM WITH MY DOOR. I HAD TO HOLD MY DOOR SHUT WITH THE WINDOW DOWN WHILE DRIVING. I HAD TO DRIVE 10 MPH THE WHOLE WAY TO MY HOUSE. TAKING TURNS WAS VERY HARD BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH I WAS HOLDING THE DOOR, IT STILL WAS OPENING. WHAT HAPPENED TO ME WAS VERY DANGEROUS. I COULD'VE HURT MYSELF AND OTHERS. HOPEFULLY THIS IS SOMETHING TO GET FIXED QUICKLY BECAUSE I HAVE FINALS THIS WEEK AND I WONT BE ABLE TO GET THE SCHOOL WITHOUT MY CAR. *TR

MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER GEAR SHIFT LEVER BROKE OFF. I WAS GOING TO PICK UP MY SON FROM SCHOOL, AND WHEN I PULLED IT OUT OF PARK TO PUT IT IN REVERSE THE SHIFTER BROKE OFF. I FOUND 26 COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME ISSUE AT HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/EXPLORER/2002/STEERING/GEAR_SHIFT_BROKE_OFF.SHTML IF THIS IS A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR OF VEHICLE I BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. ON THIS SITE IT STATES THAT AT AN AVERAGE THIS ISSUE OCCURS AT 91,000 MILES, AND HAS A COST OF AN AVERAGE OF $950.00 TO FIX. MANY OF THE PEOPLE WHO POSTED COMMENTS SAID THEY HAD TO PAY $1,300.00 TO GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED. *TR

WHEN I SAW A CRACK ON THE FORD APPLIQUE, I WENT TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALER TO SEE WHO I SHOULD CONTACT ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I'VE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH MY EXPLORER; TOOK EXCELLENT CARE OF IT; NO DENTS, DINGS, ACCIDENTS. THE DEALER TOLD ME I MUST HAVE SLAMMED THE TRUNK TOO HARD IN COLD WEATHER. IF THAT WERE THE CASE, I SHOULD HAVE CRACKS IN ALL FOUR DOORS (AND THE HOOD). THEY WANTED TO GIVE ME THE NAME OF A BODY SHOP TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. I SAID, NO, THIS SHOULD BE FORD'S RESPONSIBILITY. I CONTACTED FORD'S CORPORATE OFFICE, THEY REPLIED THAT THERE'S NO RECALL NOR IS IT UNDER WARRANTY AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. I WILL NOT! THIS WAS NOT SOMETHING THAT I DID! THIS IS POOR WORKMANSHIP! I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS FORD TAURUS STATION WAGONS BEFORE THIS EXPLORER, AND HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THEM... I PLACED THIS COMPLAINT ON "AUTO BEEF". MY COMPLAINT WAS #304, THERE ARE NOW 315 COMPLAINTS ON THE SAME PROBLEM. I'M AFRAID THIS COULD FALL OF WHILE DRIVING. *TR

WHEN I SAW A CRACK ON THE FORD APPLIQUE, I WENT TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALER TO SEE WHO I SHOULD CONTACT ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I'VE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH MY EXPLORER; TOOK EXCELLENT CARE OF IT; NO DENTS, DINGS, ACCIDENTS. THE DEALER TOLD ME I MUST HAVE SLAMMED THE TRUNK TOO HARD IN COLD WEATHER. IF THAT WERE THE CASE, I SHOULD HAVE CRACKS IN ALL FOUR DOORS (AND THE HOOD). THEY WANTED TO GIVE ME THE NAME OF A BODY SHOP TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. I SAID, NO, THIS SHOULD BE FORD'S RESPONSIBILITY. I CONTACTED FORD'S CORPORATE OFFICE, THEY REPLIED THAT THERE'S NO RECALL NOR IS IT UNDER WARRANTY AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. I WILL NOT! THIS WAS NOT SOMETHING THAT I DID! THIS IS POOR WORKMANSHIP! I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS FORD TAURUS STATION WAGONS BEFORE THIS EXPLORER, AND HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THEM... I PLACED THIS COMPLAINT ON "AUTO BEEF". MY COMPLAINT WAS #304, THERE ARE NOW 315 COMPLAINTS ON THE SAME PROBLEM. I'M AFRAID THIS COULD FALL OFF WHILE DRIVING. *TR

FORD EXPLORER O/D FLASHING AND CHECK TRANSMISSION COMING ON IT WAS AT THE FORD DEALER FOR 3 WEEKS THEY SAID IT WAS MY PCM AND NOW THEY ARE SAYING IT A WIRING PROBLEM BUT MY CAR IS DOING THE SAME THING IT WAS BEFORE I TOOK IT TO THEM. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER AND AT LESS THAN 90,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION IS FAILING. IT TAKES 5-10 SECONDS TO ENGAGE AND THEN 'CLUNKS' AND JUMPS BADLY. ROUGH SHIFTING BETWEEN GEARS. AFTER SOME WEB RESEARCH I SEE THAT THIS IS IN FACT A COMMON PROBLEM IN THIS MODEL. THIS IS CRAZY. THE ESTIMATED COST OF REPAIR/REPLACEMENT IS OVER $3,000. *TR

2002 FORD EXPLORER 4X4 EDDIE BAUER. LEFT REAR SUSPENSION HUB/BEARING FAILURE. VEHICLE LOCATED AND DRIVEN IN SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN (DETROIT AREA) WHERE ROADS ARE SALTED IN WINTER. VEHICLE IN SERVICE DATE (12/12/2001). INCIDENT DATE (12/10/2008 - 108845 MILES). RIGHT REAR SUSPENSION HUB/BEARING FAILURE AT AN EARLIER DATE. *TR

2002 FORD EXPLORER 4X4 EDDIE BAUER. LEFT REAR SUSPENSION COIL SPRING FRACTURE. VEHICLE LOCATED AND DRIVEN IN SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN (DETROIT AREA) WHERE ROADS ARE SALTED IN WINTER. VEHICLE IN SERVICE DATE (12/12/2001). INCIDENT DATE (12/10/2008 - 108845 MILES). RIGHT REAR SUSPENSION COIL SPRING FRACTURED AT AN EARLIER DATE. *TR

1. O/D LIGHT STARTED FLASHING, CAR WAS JERKING WHEN SLOWING AND ACCELERATING. 2. ALMOST EVERY TIME STARTING AND STOPPING VEHICLE JERKS. 3. REMOVE AND REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION, FM68 TORQUE CONVERTER, TRANSMISSION OVERHAUL KIT, OVERDRIVE BAND ASSEMBLY, INTER BAND ASSEMBLY, SERVO BUSHING KIT, BUSHING KIT. AS OF APRIL 5TH 2010 O/D LIGHT FLASHING AGAIN AND VEHICLE JERKS WHEN SLOWING AND ACCELERATING. *TR

I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE STRUTS LOOKED AT AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING WAS IN NEED OF REPAIR AND BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS WERE BROKEN. I HAVE NOTICED ON OTHER CHAT ROOMS THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE FOR THIS MAKE/MODEL OF VEHICLE AND I WAS REFERRED TO THIS SITE. *TR

I REPLACED MY TRANSMISSION IN 2005 WITH A BRAND NEW ONE. I OWN A FORD EXPLORER JEEP 2005 AND IT NOW NEEDS ANOTHER TRANSMISSION. I SPOKE WITH SEVERAL PERSONS AND FORD HAS A HISTORY OF NEEDING TRANSMISSIONS, WHAT CAN I DO? *TR

IN DECEMBER 2008 MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER, EDDIE BAUER WAS HAVING PROBLEMS SHIFTING GEARS AROUND 30-40 MPH. THE RPM'S WOULD REV UP HIGH THEN JUMP INTO THE NEXT GEAR. AT TIMES IT SOUNDED LIKE SOMETHING WAS ABOUT TO BREAK BECAUSE THE JUMP AND NOISE IT MADE WAS SO LOUD. I TOOK IT INTO A CAR SHOP AND THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. SO I PAID FOR A REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION AND WITHIN 3 MONTHS MY CAR IS DOING THE SAME EXACT THING. I HAVE HAD TO TAKE IT BACK 2 MORE TIMES SINCE BRINGING IT IN MARCH 18. I THEN STARTED RESEARCHING ONLINE 2002 EXPLORER TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND HAVE FOUND AN OVERWHELMING AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME EXACT THING. *TR

AFTER PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT, THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER FELL OFF INTO MY HANDS WHILE TRYING TO PUT THE CAR INTO PARK. I WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR; THEREFORE, IT NEEDED TO BE TOWED TO A FORD DEALER. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN SAID HE HAD NEVER SEEN THIS PROBLEM BEFORE AND PROCEEDED TO TELL ME THAT I WOULD NEED TO HAVE THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN REPLACED. THE ESTIMATE FOR THIS JOB WAS $1200. THE TECHNICIAN LOCATED A USED PART AND WAS ABLE TO REPLACE THE COLUMN FOR A FEW DOLLARS CHEAPER. I WAS WITHOUT A CAR FOR NINE DAYS. THERE WERE NO PREVIOUS INDICATIONS THAT THIS PROBLEM WOULD OCCUR. THE CAR (WHICH IS 6 YEARS OLD) ONLY HAS 50,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

TRANSMISSION LIGHT BLINKING. TRANSMISSION SLIPPING. *TR

THE BACK PLASTIC PANEL UNDER THE REAR WINDOW OF MY FORD EXPLORER 2002 CRACKED FOR NO REASON. I NOTICED THAT MANY FORD AND MERCURY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM - THIS IS A DEFECT. *TR

MY EXPLORER HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS EVERYONE ELSE. 82,000 MILES AND THE TRUCK WONT SHIFT INTO WHAT SEEM LIKE 3RD GEAR I REALLY WISH FORD WOULD HELP US OUT. THIS IS WHY THE ARE FAILING. I WOULD LOVE TO CONTINUE TO PURCHASE AMERICAN MADE BUT HOW CAN I KNOWING THIS IS THE SERVICE YOU GET. *TR

2002 FORD EXPLORER XLS 4.0L V-6 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. AT ABOUT 90,000 MILES, VEHICLE STARTED TO SLIP WHILE CHANGING GEARS. PROBLEM WORSENED AND NOW SHUTTERS DURING UP SHIFTING. VEHICLE ALSO JUMPS FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL UNDER HARD BRAKING. VEHICLE ALSO HESITATES DURING SHIFTING. TRANSMISSION WILL ONLY SHIFT AFTER RELEASING THE ACCELERATOR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHEN THE CONTACT CLOSED THE REAR HATCH, THE LEFT HINGE FAILED AND THE GLASS SHATTERED. NHSTA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V442000 (STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS) WAS REFERENCED. THE INSURANCE AGENCY WAS NOTIFIED, BUT THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 124,996.

A CRACK APPEARED ON THE REAR HATCH DOOR UNDER THE REAR WINDOW. THE CRACK JUST APPEARED ONE MORNING WITHOUT ANY DIRECT ACTION. NOW I HAVE 2 CRACKS. A SEARCH ON THE INTERNET SHOWED THAT THIS PROBLEM IS HAPPENING TO MANY 2002 FORD EXPLORERS. *TR

LIKE OTHERS ON YOUR BLOG, MY 2002 EXPLORER O/D LIGHT IS FLASHING. I WAS LUCKY AND HAD A FRIEND WHO COULD REBUILD THE BROKEN PARTS FOR $950 INSTEAD OF THE $3,000 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION. WHEN I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THIS, IT WAS STARTLING HOW MANY COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN LOGGED ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION. I AM NOT SURPRISED THAT FORD IS UNWILLING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. AFTER ALL, THIS IS THE SAME COMPANY WHO TRIED TO COVER UP THE FACT THE PINTO WAS A FIRE BOMB. *TR

2002 FORD EXPLORER WITH 81,000 AND TRANNY IS ALREADY ON THE WAY OUT. *TR

THE REAR RESTRAINING DEVICE (SEAT BELT) ON THE DRIVERS SIDE STOPPED WORKING, IN THAT IT NO LONGER HAS THE LOCKING MECHANISM/ACTION. THIS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD WITH THE SEAT BELT BEING USED BY MY INFANT SON'S CAR SEAT BASE. *TR

2002 FORD EXPLORE 4L SIX, STARTING IN 2006 I BEGAN TO HAVE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, MY INITIAL PROBLEM DEVELOPED WHEN THE EXPLORER HAD AROUND 57,000 MILES, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT TO DRIVE. IN NOVEMBER 2008, NOW WITH ABOUT 74,000, MILES THE TRANSMISSION HAS DEVELOPED MORE PROBLEMS IT CURRENTLY JUMPS FORWARD WHEN I SHIFT TO DRIVE. AFTER CHECKING AUTOBEEF.COM, WITH OVER 500 COMPLAINTS POSTED, I FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A RE-OCCURRING PROBLEM WITH 2002 FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSIONS. THE INITIAL REPAIR COST OVER $700.00 AND I DO NOT KNOW WHAT IT IS GOING TO COST THE SECOND TIME. I BELIEVE THAT THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM SHOULD BE CHECKED BY YOUR AGENCY FOR POSSIBLE RECALL BECAUSE OF THE BURDEN IT PLACES ON CONSUMER TO KEEP REPAIRING THE PROBLEM. THIS MAY ALSO A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. *TR

HAVE ENGINE PROBLEM WARRANTY WILL NOT COVER BECAUSE DEALER PUT BACK ODOMETER. *TR

THE GEAR SHIFTER BROKE AWAY FROM THE STEERING COLUMN ON MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE SHIFTER ITSELF DID NOT BREAK, BUT RATHER A PIECE OF METAL ATTACHED TO THE COLUMN, REQUIRING THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN BE REPLACED AT $1100. THE REQUIRED COST TO GET YOUR VEHICLE FIXED IS EXTREME AND CAUSED BY A DESIGN FLAW. I GOOGLED BROKEN GEAR SHIFT ON '02 EXPLORER AND FOUND AN UNLIMITED NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME ISSUE. FORD CLEARLY SHOULD RECALL THIS PART AND COVER EXPENSES INCURRED TO REPAIR THEIR PROBLEM. THIS HAPPENED IN MY DRIVEWAY, BUT THE OWNERS MANUAL SUGGESTS SWITCHING GEARS WHILE DRIVING WHICH COULD CLEARLY BE DANGEROUS AND POSSIBLY CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH TO THE DRIVER. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE OVERDRIVE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED ABNORMAL NOISES. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AND PERFORMED THE REPAIRS IN NOVEMBER 2008 HOWEVER, IN OCTOBER 2011 THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51,000 AND THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000.

WAS HEARING A BANGING NOISE IN THE HOOD, MY HUSBAND FOUND OUT THAT THE SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT AND STRIPPED THE HEAD. *TR

2002 FORD EXPLORER REAR LIFTGATE PANEL CRACKING BELOW GLASS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE VEHICLE HAS NEXEN HT SUV OWL TIRES (NA), SIZE 235/70R/16 (NA). THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO A LOCAL TIRE SHOP FOR INSPECTION AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE WAS DEFECTIVE. THE MECHANIC REBALANCED, ROTATED, AND PLACED FOUR NEW NEXEN TIRES ON THE VEHICLE. A WEEK LATER, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES WERE MAKING A HIGH PITCHED NOISE AND ALSO HYDROPLANED DURING WET ROAD CONDITIONS. THE DEALER CALLED THE MECHANIC AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOTIFY THE MANUFACTURER ON HIS BEHALF. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT YET BEEN NOTIFIED. THE TIRES HAVE NOT BEEN REPLACED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000. UPDATED 01/09/09.*LJ UPDATED 01/12/09. *JB

2002 FORD EXPLORER DEVELOPED A CRACK BELOW THE REAR HATCH WINDOW EXTENDING DOWN AND TO THE RIGHT OF THE FORD EMBLEM. SINCE THEN I HAVE OBSERVED THESE ON DOZENS OF EXPLORERS. MY VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, NOR WAS THE HATCH BEING USED WHEN THIS OCCURRED. I FEEL IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE THE GLASS COULD FALL OUT ON THE HIGHWAY. FORD IN NO WAY ACKNOWLEDGES THE ISSUE THAT HAS HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON MESSAGE BOARD. *TR

WHEEL BEARING ON MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER IS COMPLETELY SHOT AND CAUSES VEHICLE TO LOOSE CONTROL AND SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY. WELL SIMPLE WEAR AND TEAR AND EXTREMELY POORLY MANUFACTURED PARTS ON A 2002 FORD EXPLORER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FAILURE. ON MOST VEHICLES THESE PROBLEMS DON'T OCCUR UNTIL WELL AFTER 160+ THOUSAND MILES I HAVE PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH THIS PROBLEM RIGHT NOW AND FROM WHAT I HAVE READ THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM ON ALL FORD EXPLORER BETWEEN 2002 AND 2004. I HAVE READ THAT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THAT THE WHEEL ON THE VEHICLE WOULD COME TO THE POINT OF FALLING OFF. AS FOR REPLACEMENT AND CORRECTION YOU COULD REPLACE ALL FOUR BEARING AND BETWEEN 8 AND 24 THOUSAND MILES THEY WOULD HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. TYPICAL REPAIR COST RANGE FROM $500- $2500 WHICH REALLY ISN'T TOO AFFORDABLE WHEN IT OCCURS MORE THAN TWICE IN A 12 MONTH PERIOD. I ALSO READ THAT NUMEROUS PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO FORD AND ALL FORD SAYS SOME ONE MAY CALL YOU OR THAT ITS NOT UNDER RECALL SO WE CAN'T DO NOTHING FOR YOU. *TR

FORD 2002 6 CYLINDER EXPLORER XLT O/D OFF LIGHT FLASHING ON DASHBOARD. TRANSMISSION PROBLEM STARTED WITH 100,800 MILE. HAD REBUILT TRANSMISSION DONE AT 100,800 MILES. NOW VEHICLE HAS 109,900 MILES AND OD/OFF LIGHT FLASHING AGAIN. WAS TOLD THAT TRANSMISSION IS FALLING APART. BACK IN TRANSMISSION SHOP AGAIN. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF SAME COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM ON 2002 FORD EXPLORERS. FORD WILL NOT HELP AT ALL! FORD NEEDS TO RECALL TRANSMISSION. *TR

I OWN A 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT I WAS LIFTING MY REAR GLASS WINDOW NOT THE WHOLE LIFTGATE JUST THE GLASS I WAS ABOUT 3/4 OF THE WAY UP WHEN I HEARD THIS LOUD NOISE AND WAS SHOWERED BY FALLING GLASS AND THEN EVENTUALLY STRUCK BY THE BOTTOM OF THE DOOR. I CALLED FORD THEY SAY THERE IS NOTHING THEY WILL DO TO FIX THIS ISSUE I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH ON THIS AND IT SEEMS THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WITH THIS ISSUE. *TR

2002 FORD EXPLORER WITH 140,000 HIGHWAY MILES. BOUGHT BRAND NEW BY OWNER IN 2005, AT 90,000 MILES TRANSMISSION WAS MAKING LOUD CLUNKING NOISES. TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGED, BUT STILL CLUNKING NOISES. NOW AT 140,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING AND NOT GOING INTO 1ST OR SECOND GEAR. I HAVE BEEN ON NUMEROUS WEBSITES, AND HAVE SEEN THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME EXACT PROBLEM WITH FORD'S ENCLOSED TRANSMISSIONS ON THEIR EXPLORERS AND OTHER VEHICLES. THIS NEEDS TO BE A RECALL DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT IS A REDESIGNED TRANSMISSION AND FAILING FOR THOUSANDS OF FORD'S CUSTOMERS. I OWNED A JEEP CHEROKEE FOR TEN YEARS, AND HAD OVER 350,000 MILES ON IT, AND NEVER HAD A PROBLEM LIKE THIS. PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT I AM ONLY ONE OF THOUSANDS OF CONSUMERS WHO HAS THIS PROBLEM. OUR ECONOMY IS NERVOUS BECAUSE OUR AMERICAN CAR MANUFACTURERS ARE FALLING APART. THIS IS THE REASON WHY. *TR

REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION TWO TIMES IN 30,000 FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. O/D BAND. *TR