2002 Ford Explorer Complaint Log

THE VEHICLE IS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER .THE REAR TRANSFER CASE BEARINGS WEAR OUT PREMATURELY AND CAN SEIZE UP WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND IS DUE TO MANUFACTURER DEFECT. *TR

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *TR

MY STEERING COLUMN SHIFTER BROKE WHILE TRYING TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK. IT WAS STUCK IN REVERSE SO I HAD TO TAKE THE COLUMN APART AND FIGURE HOW TO CHANGE GEARS AND GET MY KEYS OUT. FOUND OUT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO NUMEROUS PEOPLE WITH THIS STEERING COLUMN/GEAR SHIFT. WHY MAKE TWO THINGS THAT HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH EACH OTHER BE TOGETHER ON THE SAME HARDWARE IS BEYOND ME. THIS PART SHOULD'VE BEEN BOLTED ON SO IT CAN BE REPLACED EASILY. *TR

PROGRESSIVELY WORSE, STARTING IN JUNE 08. DOOR AJAR LIGHT COMES ON RANDOMLY WHEN DRIVING, PLUS THE INTERIOR LIGHTS COME ON AND OFF (FLICKER, DANGEROUS IF DRIVING AT NIGHT), BELLS GO ON/OFF, AND THE DOORS LOCK AND UNLOCK (NEVER SURE WHICH THEY ARE). IF NOT DRIVING, THE ALARM GOES OFF RANDOMLY. *TR

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 60MPH - CAR BEGAN TO SHIFT RANDOMLY AND THAN WOULD NOT SHIFT AT ALL (AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) - HAD TO COAST ACROSS SEVERAL LANES OF TRAFFIC AND TRY TO PULL OUT OF DANGER. TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED FOR THE COST OF 3,400.00. *TR

WELL, THE WIFE BOUGHT THIS PRE OWNED 2002 FORD EXPLORER. 10 MONTHS AGO. WE STARTED GETTING ROAD NOISE AFTER AN OIL CHANGE AND TIRE ROTATION. I THOUGHT THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE REAR TIRES BEING CUPPED, AND PLACED ON THE FRONT. WE LET THAT GO, I THEN TOLD THE WIFE TO GO GET NEW TIRES. THEY TELL HERE AFTERWARDS, THAT BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS ARE BROKEN, AND WOULD BE $660.00 DOLLARS TO FIX. SO I TOLD HER, TO JUST BRING THE EXPLORER TO ME, ILL FIX IT. SO AFTER A DAY OF WEB SEARCHES I FIND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS MAKE AND MODEL, JUST LIKE THE MAN AT TIREMAN SAID. AND THESE COIL SPRINGS ARE OF COURSE MADE IN CHINA. THIS COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS, I ALWAYS FELT THE REAR END SWAY WHEN GOING OVER SPEED BUMPS AT 10 MPH. AND NEVER KNEW THE SPRINGS WERE BROKEN FOR ALMOST A YEAR. AND NOBODY ELSE I READ ABOUT ONLINE KNEW, UNTIL A MECHANIC TOLD THEM AFTER OTHER REPAIRS WERE BEING DONE. I JUST HOPE THIS DOESN'T COST SOMEONE THEIR LIFE CHANGING LANES ONE THE EXPRESSWAY, GOING 65 MPH FROM THE REAR END GETTING SLOPPY AND ROLLING OVER. ALL BECAUSE FORD PUT CHEAP REAR COIL SPRING ON THEIR EXPLORERS. IF U SEARCH FORD COIL SPRINGS, IT LOOKS LIKE ALL THEIR MAKES AND MODELS HAVE THIS MAJOR PROBLEM. THIS COULD BE FIRESTONE TIRES ALL OVER AGAIN FOR FORD. *TR

DOOR AJAR LIGHT COMES ON. RECYCLED ENGINE CHECKED ALL DOORS AND AGAIN LIGHT COMES ON. OR WHILE DRIVING, THE DOORS AUTOMATICALLY UNLOCK. THE ALARM SOUNDS FOR NO REASON SOMETIMES. SOMETIMES THE INTERIOR LIGHTS COMES ON AND STAYS ON USUALLY WHEN I HAVE TROUBLE WITH THE DOOR AJAR ISSUES. *TR

TRANSMISSION IN 2002 FORD EXPLORER FAILED W/O WARNING. DIRECTLY (3 DAYS) AFTER GETTING IT BACK FROM TRANSMISSION SHOP, BOTH REAR HUB ASSEMBLIES WENT. AGAIN, SEEMINGLY OVERNIGHT. MY WIFE SAID, "IT FEELS LIKE THE WHEELS ARE GOING TO FALL OFF." SERVICE SHOP SAID, "IT'S A WONDER THE WHEELS DIDN'T FALL OFF." DID THIS THING JUST SELF-DESTRUCT OR WHAT? FORD NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THESE UNTIMELY FAILURES. I HAVE THREE SMALL CHILDREN. UPDATED 06/25/08

REAR HUB BEARINGS SHOT AND VERY COSTLY TO REPAIR. THIS IS HAPPENING ON 2002 FORD EXPLORERS IN GREAT NUMBERS AND SHOULD BE RESOLVED BY A RECALL. PLEASE REFER TO HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/EXPLORER/2002/WHEELS_HUBS/WHEEL_BEARING_FAILURE.SHTML WHERE AMONG OTHERS COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE ARE POSTED. *TR

WHILE PARKING MY CAR BETWEEN TWO OTHER CARS, I SHIFTED FROM REVERSE TO FORWARD TO ADJUST MY CAR TO THE MIDDLE OF THE PARKING SPACE. I HAD MY FOOT LIGHTLY ON THE BRAKE SO THAT THE IDLE SPEED WOULD INCH MY CAR FORWARD A LITTLE. WHEN I SHIFTED TO FORWARD, MY CAR LUNGED FORWARD 2 TO 3 FEET. BECAUSE MY FOOT WAS ALREADY ON THE BRAKE, I WAS ABLE TO HIT THE BRAKE HARD. THE CAR STOPPED WITHIN A FEW INCHES OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. *TR

MY WIFE AND I OWN A 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT. THE VEHICLE O/D LIGHTS STARTED BLINKING AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AS WELL. THE SUV THEN JUST QUIT. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND IT HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. AFTER READING MANY OTHER WEB SITES THIS APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE AND MODEL YEAR. FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, EVEN GOING SO FAR AS ISSUING A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ABOUT IT. IF IT HAS BECOME STANDARD PRACTICE FOR THESE TRANSMISSIONS TO FAIL THEN FORD NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE COST OF THE REPAIRS. *TR

MY VEHICLE HAS 79K MILES ON IT AND I HAVE ALL FOUR OF THE WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED ONCE AND THE LEFT REAR BEARING REPLACED TWICE. I HAVE NEVER TOWED A TRAILER, DRIVEN THROUGH STANDING WATER OR OVERLOADED THE VEHICLE AT ANY TIME. THE COMMENTS ON THE INTERNET WOULD INDICATE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THE 2002 EXPLORER. THIS PROBLEM COULD CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I HAVE NOT HAD TO REPLACE WHEEL BEARINGS ON OTHER VEHICLES AND I SUSPECT THAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY IS WELL AWARE OF THIS ISSUE. MY EXPERIENCE WITH THE DEALER WAS VERY GOOD. I DO NOT HOLD JOE COTTON FORD RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DEFICIENCIES WITH MY VEHICLE. *TR

THERE IS A LOUD WHINING SOUND FROM BACK END AND GET LOUDER THE MORE YOU ACCELERATE. THE REAR END OR BEARINGS NEED TO BE REPLACED. *TR

REAR COIL SPRINGS (LEFT & RIGHT) HAVE BOTH RUSTED THROUGH AND ARE ONLY HELD IN PLACE BY THE WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

FORD EXPLORER REAR DIFFERENTIAL - REPLACED 3 X'S OVER 6 YEARS. *TR

WHEEL BEARINGS AND REAR DIFFERENTIAL. *TR

PURCHASED VEHICLE USED IN APRIL 2007 - VEHICLE WAS CERTIFIED BY THE DEALER PRIOR TO THE PURCHASE, I INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND TEST DROVE IT. THERE WERE NO ISSUES AT THIS TIME. OVER THE LAST 3 MONTHS, BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS ARE BROKEN. THE RIGHT SIDE IS BROKEN IN MULTIPLE PIECES AND DAMAGED THE STRUT. I HAVE DONE ZERO TOWING / HAULING ANYTHING OTHER THAN PEOPLE. THE VEHICLE IS DIFFICULT TO HANDLE WHEN YOU HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD - FEELS LIKE YOU ARE GOING TO LOSE CONTROL. I HAVE NO IDEA WHEN THEY ORIGINALLY CRACKED/BROKE. I NOTICED A LOUD NOISE IN THE REAR AND FINALLY DID SOME ONLINE RESEARCH AND THEN TOOK IT TO A SHOP. A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR. *TR

WE OWN A 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT WITH A V6 ENGINE. IT HAS APPROXIMATELY 149,000 MILES BUT HAS BEEN WELL-MAINTAINED. ON 5/24/08 WE EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF OUR TRANSMISSION WHEN DRIVING IN DOWNTOWN SEATTLE. THE O/D LIGHT WOULD BLINK AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. ATTEMPTS TO RESOLVE THIS FOUND THAT FIRST GEAR WAS AVAILABLE IF WE WOULD ONLY GO FOR ABOUT 100 YARDS AT BEST. WE ENDED UP HAVING IT TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED IT AS A TOTAL FAILURE AND REQUIRED A FULL REBUILD. HE ALSO FOUND THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN MAINTAINED TO SPEC AND THERE WERE NO SERVICE-RELATED ISSUES. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED WHEN WE WERE ON I-5 OR GOING UP A STEEP HILL (OF WHICH THERE ARE MANY IN SEATTLE) THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM. AS IT WAS, A FAMILY OF 5 WAS LEFT STRANDED ON A LONG HOLIDAY WEEKEND BY A PROBLEM THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED. *TR

WAS DRIVING MY 2002 FORD EXPLODER, WHEN I EXCITED THE VEHICLE I SAW SMOKE AND FLAMES COMING FROM THE DRIVER SIDE REAR WHEEL. I GRABBED MY SON AND GOT HIM FROM THE VEHICLE. A PASSERBY CAME OVER TO HELP GET MY SON FROM THE VEHICLE. HE INFORMED ME THAT MY EMERGENCY BRAKE HAD SEIZED ON. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW THIS HAPPENED WHEN I HAVE NOT USED MY EMERGENCY BRAKE. FIRE DEPT CALLED AND VEHICLE IS NOW SITTING IN A PARKING LOT. UNTIL I CAN GET THE MONEY TO REPAIR IT. *TR

AT 75,000 MILES, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO MAKE AN EXTREME GRINDING NOISE IN THE REAR. TOOK TO A CAR REPAIR SHOP AND THEY INDICATED THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS SHOT. ALL THE BEARINGS IN ALL FOUR WHEELS WERE SHOT. THE CAR REPAIRMAN INDICATED THAT HE HAS SEEN MANY OF EXPLORERS COME IN WITH THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM. TO MAKE MATTERS EVEN WORSE, THE PARTS ARE NOT ENGINEERED TO REPAIR ECONOMICALLY. YOU MUST BUY ALL NEW ASSEMBLIES JUST TO REPAIR BEARINGS. THE TOTAL COST OF THE REPAIR IS $2,500. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH AND ACCELERATING TO 60 MPH, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY ROARED AND BEGAN RACING. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE, WHICH CAUSED OTHER VEHICLES TO SWERVE AROUND HER TO AVOID CRASHING. SHE ACTIVATED THE HAZARD LIGHTS AND PULLED OFF THE ROAD. SHE ATTEMPTED TO SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE, BUT EVEN WITH THE KEYS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION, THE ENGINE STILL RACED FOR APPROXIMATELY ANOTHER 30 SECONDS UNTIL IT FINALLY STOPPED. THE CONTACT GRABBED HER CHILDREN, EXITED THE VEHICLE, AND WAITED FOR SOMEONE TO COME PICK HER UP. SHE LATER CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO HER HOUSE. THE VEHICLE REMAINS AT HER RESIDENCE AND HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 51,761. UPDATE 06/10/08 *BF

I WAS LOADING GROCERIES INTO THE BACK OF MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER WHEN THE LIFTGATE WINDOW EXPLODED. THE HINGE ON THE LIFTGATE HAD ACTUALLY BROKEN, SHATTERING GLASS EVERYWHERE. MY HAND WAS CUT AND I WAS HIT IN THE HEAD BY THE LIFTGATE. WHILE DEVASTATING, IT COULD HAVE BEEN TRAGIC. I HAD THE HINGES AND LIFTGATE SERVICED AND REPAIRED SEVERAL YEARS AGO DUE TO A RECALL ISSUED BY FORD FOR A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. APPARENTLY, THE PROBLEM WAS REPAIRED WITH OTHER DEFECTIVE PARTS OR WASN'T REPAIRED AT ALL. WHEN I CONTACTED FORD, THEY REFUSED TO PAY FOR REPAIRS AND REFERRED ME TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY, WHO SAID IT WAS A FORD PROBLEM. I AM STUCK WITH THE 1,400.00 BILL BUT FORD LOSES MY BUSINESS. *TR

TRANSMISSION FAILED IN MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER..I WISH I WOULD HAVE RESEARCHED THE 2002 BEFORE I PURCHASED THE CAR. IF I KNEW THEN WHAT I KNOW NOW I WOULD HAVE NEVER BOUGHT THIS TRUCK. THIS IS THE SECOND ISSUE I'VE HAD WITH FORD, MY 1996 FORD EXPLORER HAD THE ISSUES WITH THE TIRES AND IT TOOK PEOPLE LOSING THEIR LIVES BEFORE FORD AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FINALLY RECALLED THE TIRES ON THE TRUCKS. I GAVE FORD ANOTHER CHANCE AND PURCHASED MY SECOND FORD EXPLORER..NEVER AGAIN WILL I EVER PURCHASE ANOTHER FORD EXPLORER OR ANY OTHER FORD PRODUCTS. I WILL NOT EVEN GET THE TRANS FIXED , I TRADED THE TRUCK IN FOR A CHEVY AND WILL NEVER PURCHASE FORD AGAIN. IF YOU LOOK ALL THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE TRANS , WHY WOULD FORD AND FEDS WAIT TO RECALL THESE CARS? *TR

2002 FORD EXPLORER, I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN THE TRUCK JUST STARTED STALLING AND THE O/D LIGHT STARTED BLINKING. I ALMOST WAS HIT FROM BEHIND, AND THE VEHICLE ALMOST LOST CONTROL. AFTER PULLING OVER, AND PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN PARK, AND TURNING THE O/D BACK ON, THE TRUCK HESITATED TO GO INTO 1ST GEAR. NOW IT WON'T DRIVE NORMAL, AND I KEEP GETTING THE STAGGERED SHIFTING. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY FAILURE I BELIEVE, AS IT MAY EASILY CAUSE A CRASH. *TR

WHILE DRIVING OUR 2002 FORD EXPLORER IT STALLED WITHOUT ANY WARNING AND WOULD NOT START. CAR HAD TO BE PUSHED OFF TO THE SIDE AND TOWED TO DEALER. THE MECHANIC SAID IT PROBABLY BROKE A VALVE SPRING WHICH CAUSED MASSIVE INTERNAL ENGINE DAMAGE. THE TRUCK HAS ONLY 49,000 MILES ON IT AND FORD BASICALLY TOLD US IT'S OUR PROBLEM. THEY REFUSE TO CONTRIBUTE ANYTHING TO THE ESTIMATED REPAIR OF $4,800.00. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO OPEN THE LIFT GATE SHE WAS ABLE TO OPEN IT, AS A RESULT, THE HINGE BROKE AND THE BAR THAT HELD THE GLASS BROKE THEN THE GLASS SHATTERED. AS OF MAY 27, 2008, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 101,000.

I'M THE FIRST OWNER OF A 2002 EXPLORER. AT 30K MILES, HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT DUE TO SLIPPING, OD LIGHT FLASHING AND WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR. AT 60K MILES, THE EXACT SAME SYMPTOMS HAVE RE-APPEARED AND FORD IS UNWILLING TO PROVIDE ANY COMPENSATION. LOOKING ON-LINE, MANY OWNERS OF THIS MODEL HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. OTHER CARS I HAVE OWNED AND HAVE MANY MORE MILES LOGGED HAVE NEVER HAD TRANSMISSION NEEDING REPLACEMENT. FORD'S IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECTIVE DESIGN/PRODUCT. *TR

GEAR STICK BROKE OFF IN MY HAND WHEN SHIFTING TO REVERSE IN MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER, IT HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AS IT HAPPENED TODAY, BUT WILL PROBABLY REQUIRE A NEW STEERING COLUMN. *TR

1. MY FAMILY WAS DRIVING ON A STATE HIGHWAY AND THE CAR'S O/D OFF LIGHT STARTED FLASHING. NO OTHER WARNING LIGHTS WERE GOING OFF. IT WAS A MATTER OF MILES BEFORE THE CAR STOPPED GOING. IT'S EXTREMELY DANGEROUS FOR A CAR TO SUDDENLY SLOW DOWN ON A FAST MOVING HIGHWAY. 2. AFTER THE LIGHT FLASHED, THE CAR STOPPED GOING INTO GEAR. WE WERE GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WITH OTHER CARS WHEN OUR CAR SUDDENLY SLOWED DOWN BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR. WE WERE BARELY ABLE TO GET UP A HILL BEFORE COASTING TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THIS OCCURRED IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE WITH OTHER TRAFFIC GOING HIGH RATES OF SPEED. 3. THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TR

NOTICED A GRINDING AND WHINING NOISE COMING FROM RIGHT SIDE OF MY 2002 FORD XLT EXPLORER. ALSO THOUGHT THAT I NEEDED A NEW EXHAUST THE CAR WAS MAKING SUCH LOUD NOISE. WENT TO 2 DIFFERENT GARAGES FOR PRICING, I NEEDED BOTH FRONT AND REAR BEARINGS REPLACED ACTUALLY THE FRONT BEARING WAS ABOUT TO FALL OFF BOTH GARAGES STATED. ALSO THE LOUD NOISE FROM MY EXHAUST IT WAS MISSING ONE BOLT TO THE COVER, COVERING THE EXHAUST AND OR CATALYTIC CONVERTER. ALSO 8MONTHS PRIOR THE CARS TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. ALL OF THIS EXPENSIVE AND COSTLY REPAIRS HAPPENED AT 79,000 MILES. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS VEHICLE AND READING ALL OF THE OTHER COMPLAINTS THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE CONSIDERED FOR RECALLS FROM FORD. MY FAMILY IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME AND I USE THIS CAR TO TRAVEL AND TRANSPORT MY FAMILY. I AM VERY CONCERNED AND FORDS NEEDS TO INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEMS ARISING WITH THE 2002 FORD XLT EXPLORER PROBLEMS AND FIX THEM. SO FAR I HAVE INVESTED $5500 INTO THIS CAR I WOULD NOT EVEN GET THIS FOR A TRADE IN VALUE. PLEASE CONSIDER MY COMPLAINT AND THE MANY OTHERS VERY IMPORTANT. THANK YOU *TR

THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER BROKE AWAY FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN I TRIED TO PUT IT IN PARK FROM DRIVE. IT JUST SNAPPED VERY EASY. THE BROKE COMPONENT IS THE PIECE THAT CONNECTS THE LEVER TO THE ROD AND THE WHOLE STEERING COLUMN COMPONENT HAD TO BE REPLACE BECAUSE THE LEVER AND ROD IS A SINGLE PIECE. *TR

HUGE PROBLEMS WITH REAR DIFFERENTIAL ON 02 FORD EXPLORERS. FORD SHOULD TAKE ACCOUNTABILITIES FOR THERE LACK QUALITY IN TERMS OF ENGINEERING AND MANUFACTURING. THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GOOD FAMILY VEHICLE. UNFORTUNATELY IT IS UNSAFE AND A DRAIN ON THE FINANCES. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. EVER SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED APPROXIMATELY 1.5 YEARS AGO, SHE HAS HAD TO TAPE THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR SHUT TO KEEP IT FROM OPENING WHILE DRIVING. THE FAILURE OCCURS AT SPEEDS OF 35 MPH OR LOWER. THE DEALER CLAIMED THAT THEY WOULD REPAIR THE DOOR AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

I PURCHASED A PRE-OWNED 2002 FORD EXPLORER AT THE END OF 2007. AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE, THE VEHICLE HAD JUST UNDER 60,000 MILES. AROUND 65,000 I BEGAN TO HEAR A HIGH PITCHED HOWLING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. I HAD THE NOISE INVESTIGATED AND HAD BOTH REAR WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED AS A RESULT. THIS DID NOT, HOWEVER, SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE NOISE CONTINUED AND INTENSIFIED. RECENTLY, THE SOUND BEGAN TO BE ACCOMPANIED BY A LOW GRINDING SOUND AND A DEFINITELY PERCEPTIBLE 'DRAGGING' AFFECT. THIS HAPPENED JUST SHY OF 80,000 MILES. AFTER EXTENSIVE RESEARCH, MY PROBLEM HAS BEEN RE-DIAGNOSED AS A REAR DRIVE TRAIN/AXLE PROBLEM. I HAVE ALSO RECENTLY DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A PERSISTENT PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE/MODEL, BUT FORD IS REFUSING TO ACKNOWLEDGE/ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEM AND THE POTENTIAL SAFETY CONCERNS ASSOCIATED WITH THE REAR AXLE SEIZING UP DURING NORMAL OPERATION. THIS LINK: HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/EXPLORER/2002/DRIVETRAIN/REAR_DIFFERENTIAL_PROBLEMS.SHTML REPRESENTS A LIST OF ONGOING COMPLAINTS RELATIVE TO THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING AN OIL CHANGE, THE MECHANIC FOUND A CRACK IN THE REAR COIL SPRINGS. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE ANY PRIOR FAILURES. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 106,000. UPDATED 6/9/08 *CN

SAME AS ALL THE OTHERS. O/D LIGHT STARTED FLASHING, STARTED SHIFTING HARD, THEN LOST ALL GEARS EXCEPT FIRST. TRANSMISSION NEEDS REPLACED! CALLED FORD THEY DON'T CARE. *TR

REAR BEARINGS IN 2002 FORD EXPLORER. MAJOR GRINDING AND LOUD SCRATCHING NOISES COMING FROM DRIVERS SIDE REAR END. I SEE THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE 2002 FORD EXPLORER, AND THAT POSSIBLE FATALITIES COULD OCCUR BY THE TIRE FALLING OFF. I HAVE 3 CHILDREN, ALL UNDER 10 YEARS OLD, AND THIS IS MY PRIMARY VEHICLE. *TR

NEEDED LOWER TIEROD ENDS REPLACED AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS WERE RUSTED AND BROKEN. *TR

I HEARD A HUMMING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT TIRES ABOUT A YEAR AGO. I THOUGHT IT WAS THE TIRES HUMMING BECAUSE I HAD A BRAKE JOB AND TIRES ROTATED AND I NOTICED THE HUMMING SOME TIME AFTER THAT. NOW I FIND OUT IT WASN'T TIRES BUT THE WHEEL HUB BEARINGS WENT BAD IN THE FRONT. IT IS AT THE DEALER NOW BEING REPAIRED. *TR

CHECK ENGINE SOON LIGHT WENT OFF , THEN O/D LIGHT KEPT BLINKING, FAILED TO GO INTO GEAR AND LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING HOME. TOOK IT TO SHOP AND MECH SAID IT WAS A BAD TRANSMISSION AND IS NOW REBUILDING IT FOR 1,900 USD. *TR

WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF REPLACING THE LEFT REAR OUTER TIE ROD AND WHICH THE MECHANIC SAYS DISPLAYS EXCESSIVE WEAR AND MOVEMENT. ALSO REPLACING REAR GAS CHARGED STRUTS (DISPLAYS EXCESSIVE WEAR AND MOVEMENT), REAR COIL SPRINGS (BENT, CRACKED, AND LOOSE), AND REAR STRUT MOUNTS. $1100.00 ON A CAR WITH 61109 MILES ON IT. THIS VEHICLE IS NEVER USED TO HAUL OR TOW ANYTHING. WE HAVE TRUCKS FOR THAT. I'M SICK TO SEE ALL OF THESE COMPLAINTS ON THE SAME PROBLEM - IT CAN'T BE A COINCIDENCE. *TR

2002 FORD EXPLORER NO PRIOR WARNING O/D LIGHTS STARTS TO FLASH THEN SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT SOON CAME ON NOW TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT INTO THIRD UNLESS I LET OFF THE ACCELERATOR ONLY 66,000 MILES AND 1 DAY OUT OF WARRANTY I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON WEB SITES ABOUT THIS PROBLEM FORD REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS PROBLEM BUT MANY MECHANICS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE AWARE OF IT FORD SAYS IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE NOT A SAFETY ISSUE A TRANSMISSION WHEN MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER RIDE IN THIS VEHICLE EVERY DAY AND GOD FORBID THEY GET STUCK AND END UP IN AN ACCIDENT THEN WHAT IT STILL ISN'T A SAFETY ISSUE!!!! *TR

WHEEL BEARING FAILURE ON FORD EXPLORER 2002. *TR

THE FUEL SYSTEM ON MY FORD EXPLORER WENT OUT COMPLETELY AT 40,000 MILES. ALSO, THE BLACK PANELS BETWEEN THE WINDOWS ARE FADED AND PEELING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE CONTACT COULD HEAR A RUBBING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. WHILE THE WHEEL BEARINGS WERE BEING SERVICED, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE REAR COIL SPRINGS FAILED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 81,979. UPDATED 06/17/08. *LJ

DROVE INTO THE CARWASH WENT TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND THE GEARSHIFT GOT STUCK AND BROKE OFF IN REVERSE, HAD TO BACK CAR OUT OF CARWASH WITH MANY CARS BEHIND ME TOWED THE CAR TO DEALERSHIP WAS TOLD THE STEERING COLUMN HAD TO BE REPLACED WHICH COST $1,200.00 AFTER RESEARCH TODAY I SEE THAT ALOT OF EXPLORER OWNERS HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN AND I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A VERY DANGEROUS DEFECT IN THE CAR THAT FORD SHOULD HAVE PAID TO HAVE FIXED AND RECALLED SO THAT THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN TO OTHERS. *TR

BOTH REAR SPRING CRUMBLED. *TR

HEARD LOUD ROARING NOISE COMING FROM BACK REAR TIRES. HAD EXPLORER CHECKED TO FIND OUT THAT RIGHT REAR TIRE WAS ALMOST READY TO COME OFF EXPLORER. HUBS/BEARINGS WEARING OUT . THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM AND FORD NEEDS TO RECALL THESE EXPLORERS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. *TR

FAILURE OF WHEEL BEARINGS, CAUSING LACK OF CONTROL AND POSSIBLE WHEEL LOSS. *TR

TRANSMISSION WON'T GO INTO GEAR SOMETIMES WHEN PULLING AWAY FROM A STOP. IT ALSO SLIPS OCCASIONALLY WHEN ACCELERATING. *TR