2002 Ford Explorer Complaint Log

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATES. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY A DEALER. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED BOTH FRONT SEAT BELTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO THE INTEGRATED AIR BAG/SEAT BELT SYSTEM. THE ENTIRE FRONT SEAT BELTS WERE REPLACED ACCORDINGLY BUT THE AIR BAG LIGHT LATER ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SUGGESTED REPLACING THE SEAT BELTS AGAIN. UPDATED 3/3/2006 - THE CONSUMER HAS ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR WASHER MOTOR, ODOMETER AND HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS. *NM

2002 FORD EXPLORER, WHEN THE CAR IS AT 30-40 MPH AND SHIFTING GEARS IT LURCHERS FORWARD. I SPENT $1000.00 FOR REPAIR 2 MONTHS AGO WITH FORD DEALER. I AM BACK AGAIN NOW THEY SAY I NEED A FULL TRANMISSION.*AK

WHINING NOISE IN REAR DIFFERENTIAL OF 2002 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER EDITION HAVE READ MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. *JB

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE TRAVELING 55 MPH ON A BUSY HIGHWAY, A TRUCK IN FRONT OF THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE STARTED LOOSING DEBRIS ALL OVER THE ROAD WAY. THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SWERVE; THIS IN TURN CAUSED A FOUR VEHICLE ACCIDENT. THIS WAS A FRONTAL IMPACT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. SEAT BELTS WERE IN USE. *JB

THE TRANSMISSION SOMETIMES SLIPPED WHEN WE FIRST BOUGHT THE VEHICLE NEW. WE WERE TOLD THAT WAS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE NOW WILL NOT LOCK INTO SECOND GEAR, TOLD WE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. IT IS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD AND HAS 58,000 MILES; TOO SOON FOR THIS KIND OF EXPENSE FOR A WELL CARED FOR CAR. WE ARE OUT OF WARRANTY. *NM

MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER LTD'S TRANSMISSION FAILED ON OR ABOUT 20 JANUARY WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING. THE VEHICLE HAD APPRX. 65,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN WITH THE VETERANS FORD DEALERSHIP IN METAIRIE, LA FOR OVER 3 WEEKS. THEY HAVE INFORMED ME THE TRANSMISSION WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF APPRX. $3000. I NOW UNDERSTAND THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH THE 2002 FORD EXPLORER AND URGE A RECALL. *JB

ON JANUARY 16, 2006 WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY I NOTICED A SHAKING FEELING UNDER THE DRIVER'S SIDE FLOOR. THERE WAS ALSO LOUD NOISE. I SLOWED DOWN AND CONTINUED TO DRIVE. ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 21, 2006 I BROUGHT FORD EXPLORER 2002 TO A FORD DEALER FOR THEM TO DRIVE AND TAKE A LOOK. THE RESULT WAS VEHICLE ALL OVER THE ROAD, WAS UNSTABLE AND NEEDED ALL 4 WHEEL BEARINGS, UPPER REAR BALL JOINTS. REPLACED. NOT SAFE TO DRIVE FOR VERY LONG, MUST GO SLOW AND A $3,000 APPROXIMATE COST TO REPAIR. I CONTACTED FORD TO COMPLAIN AND TO SEE IF THEY COULD HELP OUT BY REDUCING THE COST OF FIXING IT FOR FREE. THEIR RESPONSE WAS SORRY BUT THEY COULD NOT HELP. I CANNOT SEE HOW FORD CAN TELL ME THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO WHEN EVERY MECHANIC I HAVE SPOKEN TO SAID IT WAS UNHEARD FOR ALL 4 WHEEL BEARINGS TO GO AT THE SAME TIME, ESPECIALLY WITH ONLY 73,000 MILES ON THE TRUCK. I DRIVE MY 6 YEAR OLD SUN TO SCHOOL, LEFT TO FORD I'M SUPPOSED TO TAKE MY CHANCES WITH HIS SAFETY WHILE DRIVING ONE OF THEIR POORLY MADE VEHICLES. ALL THIS AFTER I HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION IN OCTOBER WHEN THAN WENT WHILE I WAS ON VACATION IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.*AK

DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WILL NOT LATCH OR LATCHES POORLY DURING COLD WEATHER AFTER OPENED. DOOR HAS SWUNG OPEN WHILE BEING DRIVEN. HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER 4 TIMES WITH NO REMEDY. DEALER HAS "ADJUSTED DOOR AND LUBED LOCK". DEALER OFFERED TO REPLACE LATCH AND CABLE BUT DID NOT THINK THAT WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. *NM

TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN MAKING SOFT SHIFTS AND SOUNDS AS IT SHIFTS. DEALER HAS "REPROGRAMMED" THE TRANSMISSION. NOW TRANSMISSION HAS COMPLETELY FAILED. DEALER CLAIMS THE 3 GEAR IN THIS HEAVY DUTY TRANSMISSION IS BROKEN AND TRANSMISSION MUST BE REPLACED. *JB

WHILE DRIVING THE SUV TO WORK ON 11 JAN 2006 @0800 ON THE INTERSTATE, EVERYTHING WAS OPERATING NORMALLY THEN SUDDENLY THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH AND THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLIP AND WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF 2ND GEAR, WITH NO PRIOR WARNING LIGHT TO THIS DAY OR MALFUNCTIONS. @ 0900 I TOOK THE SUV TO A LOCAL NEAR BY TRANSMISSION SHOP WHERE THEY DEEMED AFTER DRIVING AND RUNNING DIAGNOSTIC TESTING THAT IT NEEDED TO BE REBUILT,THEY FURTHER STATED THAT THEY HAVE HAD SEVERAL 2002 FORD EXPLORERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. AFTER TEARING THE TRANSMISSION APART FURTHER INSPECTION REVEALED THAT IT WAS IN NEED OF A TOTAL OVERHAUL COSTING $2079.00. THE SUV IS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER WITH 64,000 MILES . *JB

02 FORD EXPLORER, REAR DIFFERENTIAL CHATTERS AT LOW RPM/ LOW SPEEDS, HOWLS AT HIGHER SPEEDS. OUT OF WARRANTY, ONLY 4 YEARS OLD. FORD SAID IT WAS HARMONIC VIBRATION, WOULD BE FINE. *NM

TRANSMISSION HAS TO BE REPLACED. *JB

ENGINE KNOCK IN ALL 4.6 FORD EXPLORER ENGINES-KNOW BY FORD, DUE TO FAULTY CYLINDER HEADS

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLS (45K MILES) THAT WAS RECALLED IN SEPTEMBER 2004 FOR THE BACK LIFTGATE. I HAD THE RECALL WORK DONE IN AUGUST IN 2005 AT A LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP. IN JANUARY OF 2006, THE LIFTGATE SUDDENLY DEVELOPED A CRACK (3-4 INCHES IN LENGTH)RIGHT BELOW THE BACK WINDOW, JUST TO THE RIGHT OF CENTER. AFTER TAKING IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY ARE CLAIMING THAT SINCE IT IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY, I WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COSTS OF REPAIR (ABOUT $300). THEY ARE CLAIMING THAT FORD HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL ON THIS DEFECT BECAUSE FORD DOES NOT CONSIDER IT A "SAFETY ISSUE". I BELIEVE IT IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE CRACK IS DIRECTLY UNDER THE REAR WINDOW AND WILL PROBABLY GROW IN SIZE THE LONGER IT GOES UNREPAIRED. A NOTICEABLE CRACK THAT SUDDENLY DEVELOPS UNDER THE BACK WINDOW WOULD SEEM TO BE AN OBVIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. FURTHERMORE, IT IS A "CUSTOMER SERVICE" ISSUE WHICH FORD SHOULD ADDRESS. ALSO, I HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH CRACKING IN THE LIFTGATE UNTIL AFTER THE RECALL WORK WAS DONE. THESE APPEAR TO BE DIRECTLY RELATED. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND WOULD SEEM TO BE A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH AND I AM NOT THE ONLY FORD CUSTOMER HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH THE 2002 EXPLORER. I AM EXPECTING FORD TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM AND ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS DEFECT IN THE 2002 EXPLORER. *NM

THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT LATCH WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMP IS BELOW FREEZING. I HAD TO WARM THE TRUCK UP FOR 10 MINUTES TO HEAT UP SO THE DOOR WOULD CLOSE CORRECTLY. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND I THINK THE DOOR LATCH SHOULD BE RECALLED BECAUSE IF THE DOOR DOES NOT LATCH CORRECTLY SOMEONE CAN BE SERIOUSLY INJURED. *NM

I AM ASKING YOU CONSIDER AN INVESTIGATION FOR THE 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT STEERING COLUMN. MINE BROKE AND RATHER EASILY AND IT COST ME $1,400.00 TO FIX. FORD TOLD ME THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THIS TO MY SURPRISE. AFTER DOING MY OWN ONLINE RESEARCH, I SEE 45+ OTHER FOLKS HAD SIMILAR OR SAME ISSUES AS I DID. SEE THE LINK: HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/EXPLORER/2002/STEERING/GEAR_SHIFT_BROKE_OFF.SHTML PLEASE GIVE THIS THE ATTENTION IT SO DESIRES. I CALLED FORD YESTERDAY 2/19/10 AND THEY BASICALLY SAID, WE ARE DOING NOTHING UNLESS YOU FOLKS WHO WORK WITH THEM CONSIDER THIS A RECALL SITUATION. PLEASE LET ME HEAR FROM YOU. LEN PACE THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000....MW

2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT WITH 4.0L ENGINE, 2WD: AFTER 100,000 MILES, THE O/D LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING. TRANSMISSION SERVICE TECHNICIAN NOTICED CHUNKS OF BRASS AND STEEL IN THE TRAN PAN (THIS HAD BEEN CHECKED 6 MONTHS EARLIER AND THERE WAS NO SIGN OF METAL IN THE PAN). TECHNICIAN DROPPED THE VALVE BODY, THINKING THAT THE VALVE BODY GASKET WAS BLOWN. HOWEVER, THE GASKET WAS FINE, BUT THERE WAS MORE METAL FOUND IN THE VALVE BODY. AT THIS POINT IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS AN INTERNAL PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE NEXT DAY, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO FAIL TO SHIFT INTO UPPER GEARS. AFTER CHECKING A COUPLE OF WEB-SITES, IT APPEARS THERE IS A FAIRLY WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION THAT IS USED IN THE 2002 EXPLORERS. FORD RELAYED TO ME THAT THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON THE TRANSMISSION. *JB

THE BACK PANEL BELOW THE REAR WINDOW DEVELOPED A 1/4 INCH CRACK FROM RUNNING FROM TOP TO BOTTOM. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WITHOUT WARNING, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP WHEN SHIFTING INTO SECOND OR THIRD GEAR. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REBUILT. *NM

ON A COLD DAY, I DISCOVERED THAT THE BODY PANEL BELOW THE GLASS ON THE REAR GATE OF MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER CRACKED. NOTHING HIT THE VEHICLE TO CAUSE THE CRACK. THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS AROUND 32 DEGREE F AT THE TIME. *JB

I HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH MY TRANSMISSION. IT HAS A HARD TIME GOING INTO GEAR, HAS NO PICKUP WHATSOEVER AND I AM AFRAID TO TAKE IT LONG DISTANCES. I HAVE READ THAT MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM WITH THE 2002 FORD EXPLORER. *JB

REAR HATCH CRACKED TWO SPOTS. *JB

REPLACE REAR END IN 2002 EXPLORER 2 TIMES. FORD VENTED THE DIFFERENTIAL WITH A TUBE THAT EXITS AROUND THE REAR WHEEL WELL. THIS DESIGN ALLOWS A LOT OF WATER TO GET INTO THE DIFFERENTIAL AND RUINS ALL THE WORKINGS. I HAD IT FIXED AND IN LESS THAN A YEAR LATER EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM - I NOW HAVE TO HAVE THE TUBE REWORKED AS WELL AS FIX THE BEARINGS AGAIN. MY MECHANIC SAYS IT IS VERY DANGEROUS! *TR

2002 FORD EXPLORER EMERGANCY BRAKE FAILURE. 1) PA STATE SAFETY INSPECTION WAS PERFORMED AT FORD DEALER. 2) DRUM BRAKE LININGS WERE FOUND IN TOTAL SEPERATION FROM METAL SHOES. CONDITION IS LIKELY DUE TO A COMBINATION OF COROSION AND LACK OF ADHESIVE BETWEEN LINING AND METAL SHOE. 3) PER THE FORD DEALER'S DISCCOVERY AND SUGESTED REPAIR... THE EMERGANCY BRAKE AND DRUM/ROTORS WERE REPLACED. FORD DID NOT TAKE LIABIITY OR COVER THE EXPENSE. (OLD PARTS ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST). *NM

REAR DIFFERENTIAL MAKES A HOWLING NOISE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. NOISE GOES AWAY WHEN LETTING OFF ACCELERATOR. IT'S BEEN REPORTED TO DEALER MANY TIMES. THIS PROBLEM IS COMMON TO EXPLORERS OF THE SAME YEAR AS EVIDENCED BY NUMEROUS INTERNET FORUMS. TRANSMISSION ALSO SHUDDERS IN 3RD GEAR, ESPECIALLY WHEN COLD. *JB

2002 FORD EXPLORER XLS - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT HANDLE ON THE STEERING COLUMN BROKE OFF WHILE SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE. THE BRAKE PAD WAS DEPRESSED DURING THE ATTEMPTED SHIFT. MY MECHANIC AND I NEVER SAW THIS HAPPEN BEFORE. *NM

I HAVE HAD MY VEHICLE IN TO FORD FOR TRANSMISSIONS AND DIFFERENTIAL PROBLEMS OVER THE LAST 2 YEARS. THEY COULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM WHILE UNDER WARRANTY AND NOW THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND LEFT ME STRANDED ON A CROSS COUNTRY MOVE. I HAD THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE RIGHT BEFORE THE TRIP STATING THE TRUCK WAS NOT RIGHT. THEY COULD NOT FIX IT. *NM

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER THAT HAS A LOUD HUMMING/WHINING SOUND FROM THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL AT SPEEDS 50-70 MPH AND NOW HAS STARTED LEAKING GEAR OIL FROM ONE OF THE DIFFERENTIAL AXLE BEARING/SEAL. I HAVE READ MANY MANY COMPLAINTS FROM OTHERS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM ON 2002 EXPLORERS AND BELIEVE THIS IS NOT NORMAL AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED/FIXED BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY BEFORE ACCIDENTS OCCUR. *JB

REAR END STARTED WHINING WHILE ON ROAD TRIP FROM NASHVILLE TO HOME. LEFT REAR WHEEL STARTED TO WOBBLE AND THEN SEIZED. VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVABLE. *JB

FORD EXPLORER 2002 2 WHEEL DRIVE WAS DRIVING AT 65 MPH ON FREEWAY. A CAR CUT OFF THE FORD AND ANTI LOCK BRAKES WERE APPLIED. BRAKES LOCKED AND DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF SUV. SUV ROLLED OVER AND OFF THE FREEWAY. SIDE AIR BAGS AND FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *JB

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER, AT 30,000 MILES I COMPLAINED ABOUT A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR END, THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID IT WAS THE TIRES CUPPING BECAUSE I DIDN'T ROTATE THEM. AT 43,000 MILES I REPLACE THE TIRES BEFORE THEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, THE NOISE WAS LOUDER. NOW AT 87,000 MILES THE NOISE IS EVEN LOUDER AND THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID FOR A NEW DIFFERENTIAL WAS $1,500. FORD SHOULD BE MADE TO RECALL THE BAD DIFFERENTIALS THAT THEY PUT IN THE 2002 EXPLORERS. *NM

FOIA REQUEST FOR COMPLAINTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE MODEL YEAR 2002 FORD EXPLORER REAR LIFT GLASS BREAKING. *NM ATTORNEY LOCATED 2 BULLETINS. ONE WHICH WARNED THAT THE LIFTGATE GLASS STRUT MAY BECOME DISENGAGED. THE OTHER WARNED THAT THE BRACKETS CONNECTING THE LEFT CYLINDERS TO EACH SIDE OF THE LIFTGATE GLASS COULD ROTATE OUT OF POSITION IF EITHER THE URETHANE BOND OR TORQUE ARE NOT SUFFICIENT. *NM

CRACK IN LIFTGATE THAT OCCURRED SPONTANEOUSLY WHEN WEATHER BECAME WINTER--REAR WIPERS WERE USED AND CRACK OCCURRED. RECALL WAS DONE AT THIS AREA DEALER SUMMER 2005 PRIOR TO CORRECT LIFTGATE RECALL.....WE INQUIRED ABOUT POSSIBLE OVER TIGHTENING DURING RECALL SERVICE AND IT WAS DENIED. WE HAVE HAD THIS CAR SINCE THE SUMMER OF 2002 AND HAVE HAD IT IN COLD WEATHER BEFORE AND UP UNTIL THE RECALL FIX IT NEVER CRACKED. CONCERNED ABOUT GLASS FALLING OUT SINCE THE TAILGATE IS CRACKED FROM TOP TO BOTTOM. THE DEALER ASSERTED THAT IT WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH CRACKS IN LIFTGATE... SINCE WE ARE NOT UNDER WARRANTY WE HAD TO PAY $600 TO GET THIS FIXED. MILEAGE ON THE CAR IS ONLY 23000!!!!! IT IS THE SAFETY ISSUE OF GLASS FALLING OUT WHILE DRIVING OR FALLING INTO THE CAR UPON MY CHILDREN THAT CONCERNS ME. MANY INTERNET WEBSITES I HAVE BEEN TO DISCUSS OTHER SUCH CRACKS OCCURRING IN THE TAILGATE I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY SOME DEALERS ARE WILLING TO HELP AND OTHERS DON'T. THE PRICES VARY TOO WHICH AMAZES ME. *JB

REAR DIFFERENTIAL HAS TO BE REPLACED AT 63000 MILES. ALL MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN DONE EVERY 3000 MILES! ALREADY REPLACED TRANSFER CASE. ALSO IMPOSSIBLE TO GET INTO 4WD HIGH.

O/D LIGHT FLASHING SO I TOOK CAR INTO DEALER. TRANSMISSION IS BAD AND NEEDS NEW SOLENOIDS AT 45,000 MILES. *NM

UPSIDE DOWN "Y" CRACK FOUND IN LIFTGATE/HATCH FROM BOTTOM OF REAR WINDOW TO BOTTOM OF HATCH DOOR, TO THE LEFT OF THE FORD EMBLEM. BROUGHT CAR TO DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED IT 3 YRS AGO, BUT WAS TOLD IT WASN'T COVERED - OUT OF WARRANTY. AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE STABILITY OF THE REAR WINDOW AND LIFTGATE. THIS PRODUCT DEFECT SHOULD BE RECALLED BY FORD AND REPLACED AT NO CHARGE. *JB

AT 60,000 MILES THE DIFFERENTIAL ON MY 2002 EDDIE BAUER EXPLORER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IT WAS REPLACED AT DEALERSHIP. NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. AFTER SEARCHING THE INTERNET, IT APPEARS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2002 EXPLORER. *JB

I PURCHASED A 2002 FORE EXPLORER XLT 10/2004 WITH 69,500 MILES. I NOW HAVE 17,500.00 MILES. I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR APPROX 4 YEARS AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE WHEEL BEARINGS FOR ALL 4 WHEELS. THE FIRST TIME WAS 12/05. ALL FOUR TIMES THE REPAIRS WERE DONE AT A FORD DEALERSHIP. THEY OFFER NO REASON WHY THIS MIGHT HAPPEN. THIS WAS MY FIRST FORD VEHICLE. *TR

WHINING NOISE FROM REAR END OF MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT. SMALL DRIPS IN GARAGE FROM REAR END. DEALER SAID REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS LEAKING BUT NO BIG DEAL. NOW MY OVERDRIVE LIGHT IS FLASHING WHICH PER THE OWNERS MANUAL SAYS GET TO A REPAIR SHOP RIGHT AWAY AS MY TRANSMISSION IN TROUBLE. *NM

TWO LARGE CRACKS BELOW LIFTGATE WINDOW . I TOOK TRUCK IN FOR RECALL 04S20 AND DEALERSHIP SAID CRACKS WERE NOT FORDS PROBLEM BULL ----- SHAME ON FORD I HAVE BEEN LOOKING ON INTERNET COMPLAINTS AND MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM . I THINK THEY SHOULD FIX IT CORRECTLY THE FIRST TIME. *JB

BOUGHT 2002 EXPLORER XLT 4X4 NEW. HAS BEEN IN FOR TRANSMISSION-RELATED PROBLEMS MULTIPLE TIME DURING WARRANTY AND EXTENDED WARRANTY. A COUPLE TIMES, THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND DID NOTHING. # OTHER TIMES, THEY FOUND THING WRONG AND 'SUPPOSEDLY' FIXED THEM. WENT BACK INTO THE DEALER AGAIN TODAY WITH O/D OFF LIGHT FLASHING. WARRANTY HAS NOW EXPIRED. I AM WAITING FOR A CALL BACK FROM THEM TO TELL ME WHAT'S WRONG 'THIS TIME'. I'M RELATIVELY CERTAIN I HAVE KEPT ALL THE DEALER STATEMENTS FROM ALL THE TIMES IT HAS WENT IN FOR SERVICE. *NM

2002 TRANSMISSION FAILURE CAUSING ME TO BUY A NEW TRANSMISSION AT ONLY 45,000 MILES..2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT 2WD 4.0L V6. IT HAS BEEN REBUILT 2 TIMES SINCE I WAS MADE TO BUY A NEW TRANSMISSION. THIS IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE AND THERE ARE OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS AT THIS SITE. WE SHOULDN'T BE FORCED TO PAY $4000.00 TO FIX A PROBLEM ON A VEHICLE THAT IS NOWHERE NEAR THE EXPECTED TIMEFRAME FOR THIS SORT OF MALFUNCTION (I.E. 150K TO 200K MILES). HTTP://FORUMS.CARREVIEW.COM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=93&PAGE=2&PP=25. *NM

2002 FORD EXPLORER - OD LIGHT FLASHING AND ENGINE OVER-REVVING WHEN GOING FM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. WHEN IT DOES FINALLY SHIFT INTO GEAR, IT IS VERY HARD AND JOLTING. 73,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND IT WAS PURCHASED NEW. I'M BEING TOLD BY THE FORD DEALERSHIP THAT THE TRANSMISSION WILL HAVE TO BE "OVERHAULED" AT A COST OF $1500-MINIMUM. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A HISTORY OF THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM WITH THE 2002 FORD EXPLORER. IS THE NHTSA LOOKING INTO IT?*JB

DT: THE CONTACT HAD NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 01I010000 REPAIRS PERFORMED ON THE REAR LIFTGATE GLASS IN FEBRUARY 2005. THEN, THE REAR LIFTGATE GLASS SHATTERED WHEN HE SHUT THE LIFTGATE. HE CONTACTED THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER, AND THEY OFFERED NO FREE REMEDY. *AK

2002 FORD EXPLORER BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS BROKE. *JB

REAR END WHINING NOISE. SUSPECT DIFFERENTIAL AND/OR PINION GEA/BEARING. *NM

CONSUMER FORD EXPLORER REAR WINDOW CRACKED. DEALER STATED THIS WAS A PROBLEM AND THAT IT WAS COVERED IN WARRANTY UP TO 3 YRS. *TS THE CONSUMER HAD HIS VEHICLE FOR 4 YEARS. *JB

THE REAR COIL SPRINGS ON THE 2002 FORD EXPLORER FELL APART! PIECES OF THE COIL ARE BREAKING APART WITH RAZOR SHARP EDGES. I'VE NEVER SEEN SPRINGS FALL APART LIKE THIS,THE METAL HAS TO BE DEFECTIVE. I HAVE FOUND PARTS OF THE COILS IN MY DRIVEWAY, SO I'M SURE THERE HAS TO BE SOME COMING OFF ON THE ROAD. I HAVE PICTURES IF YOU WOULD LIKE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.*AK

CRACK BELOW REAR WINDOW. *NM

TRANSMISSION BAND BROKEN -- ONLY 50,000 MILES FORD HAS PERFORMED ALL SERVICE REPAIRS INCLUDING OIL CHANGES EVER DONE ON THIS VEHICLE. ONE DAY WHILE DRIVING, I HEARD A POP AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE SPEED WOULD ONLY GO UP TO 30 MPH AND WOULD JERK AGAIN. I HAVE NOW BEEN TOLD IT WOULD COST 2500 DOLLARS TO FIX. AFTER RESEARCHING THE ISSUE, I FOUND OUT INFORMATION THAT THIS PROBLEM IS COMMON TO A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO OWN THE SAME YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL. THE PROBLEMS OCCURS AT THE SAME APPROXIMATE MILEAGE. *JB