2002 Ford Explorer Complaint Log

SAFETY CONCERN: 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT. DEFECTIVE APPLIQUE LOCATED BELOW TAILGATE GLASS HAS DEVELOPED A CRACK FROM TOP TO BOTTOM. THE LOCATION OF THIS CRACK IS APPROXIMATELY 3 INCHES TO THE LEFT OF THE FORD EMBLEM. THE DEALER SENT ME TO THE BODY SHOP, WHICH PROVIDED ME WITH AN ESTIMATE OF $334.68 TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PART. ALTHOUGH THE DEALERSHIP WAS FAMILIAR WITH THIS PROBLEM, MY VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY 105,000 MILES AND AS A RESULT THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT PURSUE THIS A WARRANTABLE REPAIR. THEY ESSENTIALLY IGNORED MY GRIEVANCE. AS A LEFT THE DEALERSHIP, I HAPPEN TO NOTICE A BLUE 2002 EXPLORER SIMILAR TO MINE ON THE USED CAR LOT. AS I APPROACHED THE VEHICLE I NOTICED IT HAD THE IDENTICAL CRACK (FROM TOP TO BOTTOM), LOCATED IN THE SAME POSITION (3 INCHES TO THE LEFT OF THE FORD EMBLEM). THIS VEHICLE; VIN #[XXX] HAD ONLY 56,069 MILES ON IT. I CONTACTED FORD AT 800 392-3673 AND SPOKE WITH [XXX]. THE REFERENCE NUMBER FOR MY COMPLAINT IS; REF #[XXX]. [XXX] INVESTIGATED AND CONFIRMED THAT A BULLETIN HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS COMPLAINT WITH INSTRUCTIONS FOR ITS REPAIR. HOWEVER, FORD HAS NOT YET AGREED TO PAY FOR ANY REPAIRS OR TO REIMBURSE THE CONSUMER FOR ANY REPAIRS ALREADY MADE. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN AS THIS APPLIQUE COULD BREAK OFF AND CAUSE SERIOUS DAMAGE TO ANOTHER VEHICLE OR PASSERBY. I MADE THIS CONCERN KNOW TO [XXX], BUT WAS ASSURED THAT IT HAD NOT BEEN DEEMED A RECALL REPAIR. *NM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

OUR 2002 FORD EXPLORER HAD ISSUES ALMOST FROM THE BEGINNING, WHEN PUTTING IT INTO DRIVE IT SOMETIMES WOULD HESITATE AND THEN LURCH FORWARD, EVEN WITH THE BRAKE APPLIED. LATELY, AFTER 65,000 MILES, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO 3RD GEAR, THE ENGINE WOULD REV., BUT NOT SHIFT. IF YOU LEFT YOUR FOOT OFF THE GAS, IT MIGHT SHIFT. THEN THE O/D LIGHT WOULD BLINK. WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO A TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP. *NM

PURCHASED NEW 2002 FORD EXPLORER. I HAD THE ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT 63,658 MILES DUE TO ITS FAILURE. THE REBUILT ONE THAT COST $2,974 IS NOW SLIPPING @77,853 MILES. IT WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED SOON AND THE COMPANY THAT DID THE WORK IS NOW OUT OF BUSINESS, THUS THE WARRANTY IS WORTHLESS AND I AM PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE TO JUNK THE VEHICLE AND BUY A FOREIGN VEHICLE. *TR

THE NOW FAMOUS WHINING IN THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL AND THE OTHER FAMOUS 4X4 MODULE FAILURE. THE REAR DIFF HAS BEEN WHINING FOR APPROX. 18 MOS. NOW. I'M JUST WAITING FOR THE FAILURE TO OCCUR. *JB

THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER WITH ONLY 45,000 MILES HAS GONE OUT. I STARTED TO NOTICE PROBLEMS WHEN IT HARD SHIFTED BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR. ON NOVEMBER 24, 2005, THE OVERDRIVE OFF LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND THE VEHICLE NO LONGER SHIFTED INTO 3RD GEAR. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTED TO FIX IT AT THE DEALERSHIP, THEY FINALLY DETERMINED THE PROBLEM HAD TO DO WITH AN ALUMINUM CASE AROUND A STEEL MOVING PART. THE PART IS WEARING AWAY THE ALUMINUM CASE. THIS SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING AT ONLY 45,000 MILES. THIS WILL COST ME APPROXIMATE $2000 TO FIX. ABSOLUTELY ABSURD! I'VE TALKED TO FORD AND THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. MULTIPLE POSTS ON CARREVIEW.COM HAVE THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL. *JB

2002 FORD EXPLORER WITH TOWING PACKAGE, TWO WHEEL DRIVE. REAR-END WHINE AT 55-60 MPH. MANY PEOPLE HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND FORD IS NOT HELPING FIX IT. *JB

FORD REPLACED HINGES ON BACK WINDOW 3 TIMES PER SAFETY RECALL BEFORE GETTING IT RIGHT. NOW, THE PANEL ON THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDOW IS CRACKED IN SEVERAL PLACES, THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT CLAIMS IT IS NOT RELATED. FORD BODY SHOP SAYS IT IS. *JB

WE OWN A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. IT WAS RECENTLY IN THE SHOP AT 45K MILES FOR A WHINING NOISE FROM THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL. THE SERVICE GUY SAID THAT THEY HAVE HAD QUITE A FEW VEHICLES WITH THIS PROBLEM. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID HE WAS SURPRISED IT DIDN'T START AT 12K. WE WERE TOLD WE NEEDED TO REPAIR THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL RING AND PINION IN ORDER TO FIX A LEAK AND WHINING NOISE FROM THE AREA. HE SAID WE WOULD NOT NECESSARILY SEE LEAKING FLUID BECAUSE IT WOULD LEAK WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHER SPEEDS IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND COST OF 1300. WE WERE ALSO TOLD THAT THE REAR WHEEL BEARING IS GOING OUT. 250.00 TO REPAIR THIS. THE SERVICE GUY ALSO TOLD ME THAT UNTIL FORD CAME OUT WITH A DIFFERENT REPAIR PART HE HAD NEEDED TO REPLACE IT SEVERAL TIMES ON AT LEAST ONE EXPLORER. THEY HAD ONE IN THAT DAY TO REPAIR OTHER THAN MINE IF I AM NOT MISTAKEN. *JB

IN NOVEMBER 2005, THE REAR LIFTGATE APPLIQUE OF MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER CRACKED OVERNIGHT. THE CRACK IS DIRECTLY IN LINE WITH THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER. THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP CLAIMS THAT THEY HAVE SEEN SEVERAL FORD EXPLORERS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM AND IT IS CAUSED BY COLD TEMPERATURES AND WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID GETTING INTO THE PLASTIC APPLIQUE AND FORCING A CRACK. THE NIGHT THIS OCCURRED THE TEMPERATURE REACHED 10 DEGREES ABOVE ZERO. BECAUSE OF THIS CRACK, I NO LONGER CAN USE THIS PORTION OF THE LIFTGATE FOR FEAR THAT IT WILL CAUSE FURTHER DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE. I CALLED THE FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE WHERE THE REPRESENTATIVE DID AN INVESTIGATION INTO MY CLAIM AND NO WARRANTY OR RECALL WILL COVER THIS DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE COST OF THE REPAIR IS $300.00. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS DEFECT IN THE MANUFACTURING OF THE VEHICLE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPAIRED AT FORD'S EXPENSE. THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED TO A VEHICLE THAT IS MADE FOR INCLEMENT WEATHER. *JB

I HAVE HAD THE REAR BEARINGS REPLACED 4 TIMES AND THE COMPLETE REAR HUB ASSEMBLIES AND BEARINGS REPLACED ONCE (TOTAL 5 TIMES) THE CAR IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AND SWAYS GOING DOWN THE ROAD. THE SWAY LINKS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE. THE PROBLEMS KEEPS RECURRING. I HAVE ALL PARTS BILLS DATING BACK TO 11/2005 WHEN PROBLEMS STARTED AND CONTINUE TO DATE. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT. HAVE HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS SINCE ABOUT 58000 MILES AND HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 5 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM OF HARD SHIFTING TO TRANSMISSION HAVING PROBLEMS FINDING THE CORRECT GEARS TO FINALY, 3RD GEAR BAND FINALY BROKE AT 68000 MILES. JUST GOT FIXED BUT STILL HAVING ISSUES. NOW I HAVE A SHUTTER AND THIRD GEAR STILL SLIPS SLIGHTLY. THIS IS JUST FRUSTRATING!! *NM

TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND REAR AXLE NOISES AS WELL AS REAR WHEEL BEARINGS. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL IMPACT AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO OCCUPANT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. SHE WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED HEAD AND NECK INJURIES THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED EXTENSIVELY, ESPECIALLY IN FRONT AREA. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER OR MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED, AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY CURRENTLY HAS POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE. *AK

TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED ON 2002 EXPLORER V-6 WITH 76,721 MILES. HAS BEEN TO SHOP 3 TIMES. TORQUE CHANGED, THEN TRANSMISSION REBUILT, NOW STILL JERKING AND LURCHING-WILL HAVE TO GO BACK. NO WARRANTY. *NM

LOUD TIRE ROAR WHEN I REACH SPEEDS OVER 45 MPH. TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE. DEALER NOTICED THE NOISE BUT DIDN'T ACKNOWLEDGE HOW TO FIX IT. VERY LOUD, ALMOST MAKES YOU NOT WANT DRIVE. THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE ENGINEERING OF THE VEHICLE. *JB

WE NOTICED A HUMMING NOISE AND A SMALL OIL LEAK COMING FROM THE REAR AXLE. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE FORD DEALER AND WERE INFORMED THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS IN NEED OF REPAIR AND THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH EXPLORERS. WE WERE GIVEN A DISCOUNTED RATE FOR THE REPAIR. TWO WEEKS LATER THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING WENT OUT (WITH ONLY 59,000 MILES) AND WERE TOLD THAT THIS HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL REPAIR AND WOULD COST A TOTAL OF $700 FOR BOTH REAR WHEEL BEARINGS. *NM

SUDDEN ACCELERATION WITH FOOT OFF OF GAS UPON STARTUP OF VEHICLE AND SHIFTING INTO GEAR. *NM

2002 FORD EXPLORER REAR DIFFERENTIAL HAS ALREADY FAILED. I AM HAVING IT REPLACED BY MY MECHANIC. *JB

REAR NOISE WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE. ALSO FLUID LEAK. *JB

THE BAND IN MY TRANSMISSION BROKE, IT WOULD NOT SHIFT TO THIRD GEAR, I HAVE SEEN IN FORUMS THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE THIS PROBLEM, I THINK FORD SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL AND FIX THIS PROBLEM, THE MINIMUM CHARGE TO REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION IS ABOUT $2500.*JB

DRIVING ON I-65 NASHVILLE, TN. VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A LOUD AND ABRUPT SOUND IN THE ENGINE WITH SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF POWER. NARROWLY MISSED HAVING AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE LOSS OF POWER. WE MANAGED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME WHERE UPON INSPECTION, A SPARK PLUG HAD OBVIOUSLY BLOWN OUT OF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE (LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF SITTING IN THE DRIVER SEAT). *NM

IN MAY, 2005, FORD DEALER PERFORMED FIX FOR NHTSA RECALL 04V442000. THIS RECALL IS INTENDED TO PREVENT THE REAR TAILGATE GLASS FROM FAILING. THE ALARMING ISSUE IS THAT 5 MONTHS AFTER THE RECALL FIX WAS PERFORMED, THE REAL TAILGATE GLASS EXPLODED WHILE THE TAILGATE GLASS WAS IN THE OPEN POSITION. THIS OCCURRED INSIDE A CLOSED GARAGE SO WIND WAS NOT AN ISSUE. THE FORCE OF THE EXPLOSION SENT THOUSANDS OF PIECES A GLASS FLYING AS FAR AS 15 FEET. THIS COULD HAVE INJURED ANYBODY STANDING NEAR THE REAR OF THE CAR. IN THIS CASE, NOBODY WAS NEAR THE GLASS WHEN IT EXPLODED. PERHAPS THERE IS A DESIGN DEFECT IN THE RECALL FIX, OR PERHAPS THE RECALL FIX WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY. BOTH THE FORD DEALER AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAVE REFUSED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR REPAIRS COSTS. *NM

THE DIFFERENTIAL WAS REPLACED BETWEEN 20-25K. THE CAR WAS TAKEN INTO TODAY FOR THE YEARLY STATE INSPECTION. THE DIFFERENTIAL IS NOW LEAKING. CAR HAS 43K MILES ON IT. SEEMS TO BE A DIFFERENTIAL EVERY 20K OR SO MILES, WHICH IS UNACCEPTABLE. *JB TWO WEEKS AGO ON THE WAY HOME FROM WORK O/D LIGHT STARTED FLASHING, MY , TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, TRANSMISSION SOLENOID WENT OUT, IT WAS FIXED. I HAD BEEN COMPLAINING TO THEM THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION SINCE LAST FEB, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SLAM INTO GEAR, WOULD NOT SHIFT PROPERLY, AND WOULD SOUND LIKE IT NEEDED TO UPSHIFT WHEN THE TAC HADN'T CHANGED. GET THE TRUCK HOME AND THE 4X4 DOESN'T WORK. TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER THE TRANSFER CASE MODULE WENT OUT. DEALER SAID IT WASN'T RELATED TO DRIVING IT WITH THE O/D LIGHT ON AFTER FORD'S ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE LEFT ME ON THE SIDE OF AN INTERSTATE FOR 3 HOURS AND THEN TOLD ME TO JUST DRIVE IT WITH THE LIGHT FLASHING. ABS LIGHT CAME ON, IT WAS CODE C1237, THE REAR SPEED SENSOR WENT OUT, THUS I HAD NO ABS, CHECKED MESSAGE BOARDS ONLINE, THIS IS A FREQUENT PROBLEM. ALONG WITH THE INSPECTION TODAY, IT WAS BRAKE PAD REPLACEMENT DAY. MY PADS WERE NOT COMPLETELY WORN DOWN, BUT WITH WINTER COMING UP I WANTED THEM DONE. WENT TO MY REGULAR MECHANIC TO HAVE THIS DONE. THE ROTORS ARE WARPED, AND I SHOULD PROBABLY HAVE THEM REPLACED WITH AN AFTERMARKET SET, AS THE ORIGINAL ONES ARE TOO SMALL FOR A VEHICLE THAT SIZE, AND TURNING THEM WOULD MAKE THEM EVEN THINNER. *JB

REAR LIFTGATE ON MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER HAS A CRACK IN IT. I WORKED FOR FORD FOR 2 1/2 YEARS AND CAN NOT BELIEVE THAT THEY WILL NOT FIX THIS PROBLEM. I PERSONALLY HAVE SEEN HUNDREDS OF THE SAME THING HAPPEN TO OTHER PEOPLE. WITH FORD HURTING FOR BUSINESS YOU WOULD THINK THAT THEY WOULD REPAIR THESE TO KEEP THEIR CUSTOMERS. I PERSONALLY OWN TWO FORD PRODUCTS AND UNLESS THEY FIX THIS PROBLEM THEN I WILL PURCHASE MY NEXT VEHICLES FROM A DIFFERENT MANUFACTURER. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE PLASTIC ON THE HATCHBACK UNDER THE WINDOW CRACKED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO FREE REMEDY. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. *AK

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE SHIFTING GEARS, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MADE A CLUNKING NOISE AND THE VEHICLE DISPLAYED A JERKING MOTION. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY A DEALER AND THE SOLENOID HOUSING OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. AFTERWARDS, THE PROBLEM PERSISTED AND THE SOLENOID HOUSING WAS AGAIN REPLACED BY THE DEALER. THE FRONT PADS WERE REPLACED. THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WOULD POP OPEN. THERE WAS A DELAY WHEN SHIFTING GEARS, AND THEN THE VEHICLE WOULD SLAM INTO GEAR. UPDATED 04/06/06. *JB

I BOUGHT A NEW 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT. AT 13,743 WORK ORDER WRITES MY COMPLAINTS AS "WHEN GOING FROM PARK TO DRIVE TRANS CLUNKS INTO GEAR AND DELAY UP SHIFT A SLOW SPEEDS". DEALER WROTE ON COMPLETED ORDER FORM "CAUSE: INOP, CORRECTION:REPROGRAM PCM, TECH NOTES:ROADTEST TRANS ENGAGEMENT ARE HARSH INTERMITTENT UPSHIFTS ARE FIRM, REPROGRAM PCM...". AT 16,482 MILES I AGAIN COMPLAINED OF CLUNKING WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. DEALER SAID COULD NOT REPRODUCE. AT 24,613 I COMPLAINED OF TRANS CLUNKING, AND HESITATING BETWEEN SHIFTING, AGAIN DEALER SAID COULD NOT REPRODUCE. AT 35,976 MILES THEY SAID THERE WAS A TRANS PROBLEM AND REHAULED (REBUILT) TRANS. AT 50,295 MILES CAR WAS HESITATING AGAIN BETWEEN SHIFTS AND CLUNKING AGAIN. AT STOPPING THE CAR WOULD JERK HARD. THEY SAID THE TRANS WAS BAD AGAIN AND REHAULED IT AGAIN. AT 52,900 MILES I WAS GOING TO STOP AT A LIGHT, I THOUGHT SOMETHING HAD HAPPENED TO THE BRAKES AS THE CAR WOULD NOT SLOW ANY FURTHER (I WAS AT A LOW SPEED AT THIS TIME) FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS SHUTTERING AND GRINDING. I IMMEDIATELY WENT TO THE DEALER. THE BRAKES TWICE MORE THE WAY OVER FELT STRANGE BUT NOT AS MUCH AS THE FIRST TIME. I WOULD STEP ON THE GAS, THE CAR WOULD HESITATE BEFORE GOING FASTER AND THEN WOULD JERK FORWARD. THE RPM NEEDLE DURING THIS TIME WOULD NOT MOVE AND THEN JUMP FORWARD AND THEN JUMP DOWN. THREE TIMES ON THE WAY TO THE DEALER THE CAR WOULD ON IT'S OWN GO SLIGHTLY FASTER WITHOUT ME DEPRESSING THE GAS PEDAL FURTHER. THIS WAS ON SATURDAY AND I TOLD THE PERSON WRITING UP MY PAPER WORK I COULD NOT EXCEPT THAT THEY CAN NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM, I NEED AN ANSWER SINCE THIS IS BEYOND BEING A TIME CONSUMING PROBLEM AND BOTHER INTO A SAFETY ISSUE AND I WILL NOT DRIVE THAT CAR AS IS. SINCE THERE WAS NO SERVICE MANAGER THERE, I RETURNED ON MONDAY TO TALK WITH HIM. HE WAS VERY NICE AND SAID THEY WOULD LOOK INTO IT. BUT AGAIN, I AM WITHOUT MY CAR FOR I DO NOT KNOW HOW LONG. *NM

SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW IN JULY 220 I HAVE HAD NOISE COMING FROM REAR OF CAR. THERE ARE OCCASIONALLY LOUD CLANGS COMING FROM WHAT APPEARS TO BE TRANSMISSION WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE. NOW, THE O/D LIGHT IS FLASHING CONTINUOUSLY AND IT LOOKS AS IF THE CAR NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION WITH 65,000 MILES ON IT. *JB THE CONSUMER REQUESTED THAT HIS COMPLAINT BE DELETED. UPDATED 11/29/05. *JB

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER WITH 50,000 MILES. A WHILE AGO A LOUD, EXCESSIVE WHINE NOISE STARTED COMING THE REAR AXLE AT CRUISE SPEED.(50 MPH OR HIGHER). BROUGHT IT INTO FORD DEALER AND SAID RING AND PINION GEAR HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1300. TALKED TO 2 OF MY NEIGHBOR'S WITH 2002 EXPLORER WHO HAVE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. OBVIOUSLY A DESIGN PROBLEM THAT FORD SHOULD LOOK INTO, ADDRESS AND CORRECT.*JB

BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS BROKE ON BOTH SIDES OF FORD EXPLORER. *TS *JB

2002 FORD EXPLORER HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS FROM THE BEGINNING. TOOK THE VEHICLE IN PRIOR TO THE 36K WARRANTY EXPIRING AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TROUBLE WAS DUE TO A NEW TYPE OF TRANSMISSION THAT WAS USED IN THIS MODEL. WAS TOLD IT WAS A "MEMORY TRANSMISSION" AND THAT WAS WHY IT SHIFTED SO HARD AND MADE NOISES. PROBLEM NEVER WENT AWAY AND HAD TO GET THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT IN 12/05 BECAUSE THE PROBLEM BECAME SO SEVERE. FROM RESEARCH WE HAVE DONE THIS IS NOT A RANDOM CASE BUT RATHER A RECURRING PROBLEM FOR OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE. FORD SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FIXING THE TRANSMISSIONS BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT THEY ARE NOT RELIABLE. *JB

TRANSMISSION SOMETIMES NOT GOING INTO 3RD AND SLIPPING BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND AND 3RD. BOUGHT IT USED SO OUT OF LUCK BUT HAVE TALKED TO DOZENS WHO HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. FORD ISSUED THIS WARNING TO THEIR DEALERS "03-25-4 DEC 03 A/T - 5R55W NO 3RD GEAR/SLIPPING 2-3 SHIFT/DTC'S SET" SO MANY OF THESE ARE JUST GOING OUT. DUE TO HAVING A BABY WE HAVE NOT HAD THE 2800 TO FIX IT. JUST HOPING IT LASTS AT LEAST 6 MORE MONTHS. *NM

I BOUGHT A 2002 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER IN NOV 2002. AROUND OCT 2005 MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND I WAS DUE FOR AN INSPECTION. I TOOK IT INTO A FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY "DIAGNOSED" IT AS A FAULTY SEAT BELT...THE SEAT BELT WORKED FINE, IT EVEN CONTINUED TO LOCK-UP DURING MODERATE BRAKING. THIS COST ME OVER $300. NOT A MONTH WENT BY AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. I CALLED THE FORD DEALER, EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IF IT WAS DETERMINED IT WAS A "NEW" PROBLEM I WOULD BE CHARGED FOR THAT EXPENSE AS WELL. I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THE LIGHT WOULD COME ON AFTER BEING "FIXED" SO SOON. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIFTGATE IS CRACKED AND LEAKING. HE NOTIFIED FORD WHO STATED THAT COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN MADE FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 65,590 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000.

REAR END IN 2002 FORD EXPLORER HAS FAILED. *JB

SUV IN SERVICE FOR 40 MTHS & 33K MILES WHEN AC EVAPORATOR WENT. NO WARRANTY COVERAGE. THEN SEVERAL MONTHS LATER WITH JUST OVER 36K MILES A REAR TIMING CHAIN WENT. FORD PROVIDED SOME AFTER WARRANTY ASSISTANCE, BUT THESE FAILURES COST CONSUMER OVER $2K FOR A VEHICLE THAT WAS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY AND HAS BEEN BABIED ITS WHOLE LIFE. *NM

MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER IS MAKING A HOWLING SOUND FROM THE REAR END AND IS LEAKING FLUID, SOMETIMES THIS FLUID REACHES THE TIRES AND MAKES CONTACT WITH THE BRAKES... COULD THIS CAUSE THEM TO FAIL? CRASH? MANY PEOPLE HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM, I WENT TO A LARGE PARKING LOT AND LOOKED UNDER SEVERAL FORD EXPLORERS 2002-UP 6 OUT OF ABOUT 10 HAD THIS PROBLEM, WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE BEFORE FORD FIXES THE PROBLEM, DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE? *NM

WHEN WE FIRST BOUGHT OUR 2002 EXPLORER XLT FROM FINKS USED CAR LOT IN ZANESVILLE OHIO IT HAD ABOUT 22 OR SO THOUSAND MILES ON IT AND WE REQUESTED A CHECK UP ON THE VEHICLE. THE BACK HATCH BRACKETS WAS REPLACED, AND THE BACK WHEEL BRAKES WERE STICKING AND BURNING, LOCKING UP. THAT PROBLEM SEEMED TO BE FIXED. THEN THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM LIGHT STARTED COMING ON AND THE FRONT BRAKES SEEMED TO BE GRABBING....JUST LAST MONTH. I HAD THE CRUISE CONTROL SET ON THE VEHICLE ONCE AND IT SMELLED LIKE SOMETHING SMOLDERING SO I SHUT IT OFF AND IT HASN'T BEEN ON SINCE. I CALLED THE FORD GARAGE TO ASK IF MY CRUISE CONTROL WAS ON THE FIRE HAZARD LIST BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS BUILT IN 2001. I WAS TOLD IF I DID NOT RECEIVE A LETTER IN THE MAIL IT WOULDN'T BE REPLACED. THIS VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY WHEN I BOUGHT IT. SO FAR I AM GETTING NOTHING BUT THE BACK HATCH BRACKETS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND IT NOW HAS 29,956.0 MILES ON IT. I AM DRIVING MY 1995 AUTO WITH 122,000 MILES ON IT WAITING FOR WINTER AND GRADUATION FROM COLLEGE. I AM AFRAID THE BRAKES ARE GOING TO LOCK UP IN THE WINTER AND SEND ME SAILING. I WANT TO KNOW IF THERE HAVE BEEN ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS EXPLORER BUILT IN 2001 THAT IS A 2002 EXPLORER. *NM

THERE IS A WHINING/ LIGHT ROAR COMING FROM THE REAR END OF MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT. AFTER MUCH RESEARCH I HAVE COME TO CONCLUSION THAT THERE IS A MASSIVE MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL USED IN THIS MODEL VEHICLE. *JB

REAR DIFFERENTIAL SEALS LEAKING OIL AND WHINE AT ROAD SPEED ON 2002 FORD EXPLORER WITH 51000 MILES. VIN [XXX]. *JB UPDATED 07/16/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

WHINE IN REAR END OF A 15911 MILE 2002 FORD EXPLORER, PART, RING AND PINION, HAD TO BE REPLACED, I HAD TO PAY A 100 DED. SUPERVISOR AT FORD'S 800 # DENIED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON IDENTIFIED PROBLEM, SAID THAT IF IT WAS IT WOULD BE SUBJECT TO A RECALL AND I WOULD HAVE GOTTEN A NOTICE. TSB 18466 & 18423 DESCRIBES THE PROBLEM.

2002 FORD EXPLORER HAS REQUIRED 5 SEPARATE TRANSMISSION REPAIRS IN LAST 2 YEARS. INCLUDING 1 TOTAL REBUILD AT 50,000 MILES. FORD DEALER AND FORD CORPORATE WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. *JB

TRANSMISSION BROKEN FORD DOESN T CARE BROUGHT IT TO SAM GALLOWAY FORD IN FORT MYERS AT LEAST 20 TIMES THEY FINALLY REFUSE TO TAKE VEHICLE INTO REPAIR WITH THE WORDS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT TRANSMISSION SHIFTING HARD FROM 2-3 GEAR CAR IS SLOWER THEN A 4 CYLINDER NO POWER WHINING NOISE FROM UNDER THE HOOD IN THE MEAN TIME TRANSMISSION SLAMMING GEARS STILL NOTHING WRONG WITH IT HESITATING WHILE ACCELERATING GRINDING NOISES WHILE ACCELERATING WHINING FROM REAR END FORD STILL SAYS NOTHING WRONG TRANSMISSION WENT IN 1ST GEAR WHILE DRIVING 45 WIPED OUT ALOMST HIT A TREE STILL NOTHING WRONG CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON FROM TIME TO TIME ERROR CODE SAYING FUEL SYSTEM BANK 2 HIGH VOLTAGE SYSTEM TOO RICH BROUGHT IT TO FORD ERROR CODES ERASED CAME BACK COUPLE DAYS LATER FORD SAYS THERE WHERE NO ERROR CODES

THERE IS A PANEL BELOW THE REAR WINDOW GATE THAT HAS A VERTICAL CRACK.. INITIALLY, THE REAR WINDOW WAS A RECALL, NOW THE PANEL BELOW THE WINDOW HAS CRACKED. THE REAR WINDOW WAS REPLACED, AT NO COST, BUT FORD WILL NOT REPLACE THE DEFECT/CRACK ON THE BACK PANEL. *JB

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER WITH 56,000 MILES ON IT AND THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL IS STARTING TO WHINE VERY LOUD. IT HAS THE 3.73 LIMITED SLIP DIFFERTIAL. I HAVE TALKED TO OTHER EXPLORER OWNERS AND THEY TOLD ME ABOUT THIS SITE TO FILE A COMPLAINT AS THIS SEEMS TO BE A GROWING PROBLEM. *JB

2002 EXPLORER, STARTED TO NOTICE A BIT OF A LAG FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR, THEN A BIG LAG AND LURCH, FOLLOWED BY O/D LIGHT FLASHING FOLLOWED BY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. HAD SOLENOID PACK REPLACED FOR $320 LASTED FIVE WEEKS AND FAILED AGAIN, WITH O/D FLASHING AND CAR LURCHING AND GRABBING HARD BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD SHIFT ON AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. ALSO NOTICED AFTER FIRST REPAIR , HARD TO SHIFT FROM DRIVE TO PARK, WOULD HANG UP TRYING TO GET IN PARK. *JB

REAR DIFFERENTIAL ON 2002 EXPLORER STARTED HUMMING AT ~45K MILES AND BEGAN ROARING ~60K MILES. REAR DIFFERENTIAL STARTED LEAKING AROUND THE TIME THE NOISE WAS FIRST HEARD. DIFFERENTIAL NOW LEAKS BAD AND ROARING IS GETTING SEVERE AT 68K MILES. ODD THING IS, ALL THIS LEAKING AND THE LUBE LEVEL HAS NEVER BEEN LOW. THIS IS A DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD PROMPT A SAFETY RECALL DUE TO POTENTIAL OF THE DIFFERENTIAL LOCKING UP ON PEOPLE THAT ARE OBLIVIOUS TO THEIR VEHICLE MAKING ODD NOISES. *JB

I WAS DRIVING MY 2002 EXPLORER AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED AND THE BACK WINDOW BLEW OUT. JUST SPONTANEOUSLY BLEW UP, SENDING GLASS THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE. IN APRIL 2005, THE CAR WAS RECALLED FOR A BACK GATE GLASS PROBLEM. THE DEALER SAYS IT WAS FIXED. NOW, SIX MONTHS LATER, THE GLASS JUST BLOWS UP AND CAUSES DAMAGE TO THE BACK GATE. THIS IS ODD AND FRIGHTENING. HAD MY CHILDREN BEEN IN THE THIRD SEAT, THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN SPRAYED WITH GLASS AND INJURED. LUCKILY, I HAD JUST LEFT THEM OFF AT SCHOOL. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER FOR US. *JB

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. MY AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT NOTIFIED ME OF A PROBLEM. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY SAID THAT "BOTH FRONT SEAT BELT PRETENSIONERS" NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I JUST FIND IT ODD THAT THEY WOULD BOTH HAPPEN TO BREAK AT THE SAME TIME. IT SOUNDS MORE LIKE DEFECTIVE PARTS.*JB

DT: THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION AT 45 MPH,. UPON IMPACT, NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY NOW HAS POSSESSION OF THIS VEHICLE. THERE HAS BEEN NO INVESTIGATION AS TO WHY THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. HE DOES HAVE PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR SCRAPES AND SORE MUSCLES. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE.*AK UPDATED 11/29/2005 - *NM