2002 Ford Explorer Complaint Log

CONCERNING 2002, FORD, EXPLORER, EDDIE BAUER: WE WERE DRIVING ON 09/19/2004 WHEN A CAR DROVE UP NEXT TO US AND DRIVER STATED THAT REAR BRAKES WERE SMOKING. NO BRAKES WERE ON. WE PULLED OVER, AND SAW THAT THEY WERE SMOKING AND SMELLED BADLY. CALLED FORD ROADSIDE ASSISTANT TO TOW US TO LANDMARK FORD, IN TIGARD, OREGON. UPON INSPECTION ON 09/20/04, PARTS WERE REPLACED. TWO WEEKS LATER ON OCTOBER 3,2004, WE WERE AGAIN DRIVING AND WHEN WE GOT HOME, AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR LEFT BRAKES WERE SMOKING AND SMELLED BADLY. WE CALLED FORD ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE ,AND HAD THE CAR TOWED AGAIN TO LANDMARK FORD. UPON INSPECTION ON 10/4/04 WE WERE TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM AND THEREFORE WOULD NOT REPLACE ANY PARTS. WE SPOKE WITH SERVICE MANAGER LARRY BAKER CONCERNING THIS ISSUE. HE ASKED US TO DRIVE THE CAR HOME, AND IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN TO CALL AND BRING THE CAR DOWN. ON FRIDAY APRIL 15,2005 WE WERE DRIVING WITH OUR TWO NIECES WHEN WE NOTICED THE LEFT REAR BRAKES STARTED SMOKING AND SMELLING BADLY. WE WERE CLOSE ENOUGH TO HOME AND MADE IT. THE ENTIRE WHEEL ON THE LEFT SIDE WAS TOO HOT TO TOUCH, THE RUBBER ON THE TIRE WAS ALSO VERY HOT. WE CALLED FORD ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AGAIN TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED DOWN TO LANDMARK FORD. WE RECEIVED A CALL ON TUESDAY 04/19,2005 FROM SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT THEY COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. WE WERE ASKED AGAIN TO PICK UP THE CAR, AND CALL IF ANY PROBLEMS AROSE. THREE TIMES THE SAME EXACT THING HAS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING. SMOKING AND SMELLING BRAKES IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD, AND WE ARE CONCERNED THAT ONE TIME IF THIS HAPPENS AGAIN THE CAR COULD CATCH ON FIRE. IT APPEARS TO BE AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM, AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT MANAGER MIKE WALKER STATED PREVIOUSLY THAT THEY HAVE HAD SOME PROBLEMS WITH THIS BEFORE, BUT NOT ENOUGH TO PUT OUT A RECALL. WE WOULD APPRECIATE SOME INVESTIGATION INTO THIS MATTER AS WE ARE CONCERNED FOR OUR SAFETY, AND THE SAFETY OF OTHERS ON THE ROAD. *AK

I TOOK MY 2002 EXPLORER IN FOR RECALL ON REAR DOOR. THEY TOLD ME THAT BOTH REAR SPRINGS BROKE. THIS VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 44,000 MILES ON IT, AND HAS THE TOW PACKAGE ALTHOUGH NOTHING WAS EVER TOWED. THE SPRINGS THAT BROKE ARE AT THE VERY TOP AND HARD TO FIND. MECHANIC WOULD HAVE HAD TO KNOW TO LOOK THERE TO FIND IT. THIS LED ME TO BELIEVE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.*AK

DT: CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED. THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN, OPERATING AT A REDUCED SPEED, AND THEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THE CAR COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. CONSUMER INSPECTED VEHICLE AND FOUND NOTHING. GOT BACK INTO VEHICLE ABOUT 10 MINUTES AFTER THE OCCURRENCE, RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE TO A DEALERSHIP ABOUT 5 MILES DOWN THE ROAD AND THE CAR WAS MAKING FUNNY NOISES. DEALERSHIP SAID THE TRANSMISSION HAD A SOLENOID PROBLEM THAT CAUSED IT TO LOCK. DEALER KEPT CAR ABOUT WEEK AND A HALF. THE SOLENOID VALVE SHIFT WAS REPLACED ALONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION PAN AND GASKET. THIS LASTED ABOUT 2 WEEKS AND AGAIN THIS PROBLEM RECURRED . THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT LOCK AT THIS TIME BUT THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT DEALER FOR AN IGNITION PROBLEM. THE DEALER COULD DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, BUT THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT WAS CAUSING THIS. *AK

BEGAN BACKING OUT OF GARAGE BUT NOTICED "DOOR AJAR" LIGHT ON; A FREQUENT OCCURRENCE IN THIS CAR, AND LIGHT DOESN'T INDICATE WHICH DOOR IS THE PROBLEM. SO, FINISHED BACKING CAR OUT OF GARAGE AND PARKED IT IN DRIVEWAY, PLACING CAR IN PARK AND APPLYING EMERGENCY BRAKE. LEFT CAR RUNNING. EXITED CAR, LEFT DRIVER DOOR OPEN, AND HAD SOME TIME TO STAND, TURN AROUND AND LOOK AT BACK DOOR BEHIND DRIVER'S SIDE FIRST. DETERMINED IT WAS CLOSED BY VISUAL CHECK. BEGAN TO MOVE TOWARD REAR OF CAR TO CHECK HATCH NEXT (HATCH PROBLEMATIC; HAD IT FIXED AFTER BOUGHT THE CAR THEN IT WAS JUST RECENTLY RECALLED AGAIN. BUT MUCH TO MY SHOCK THE CAR SLIPPED OUT OF PARK AND RAN OVER ME. TRIED TO DIVE OUT OF WAY; CAR RAN OVER ME AT BOTH KNEES. SUFFERED CRUSH INJURY. HAD CAR EXAMINED; FORENSIC SPECIALIST THOUGHT IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW WITH LOTS OF GAP IN STEERING COLUMN BETWEEN REVERSE AND PARK AND SOME PLAY IN WHERE IT WOULD GROOVE IN. *JB *NM

DT: CONSUMER STATES THAT TRANSMISSION WENT FROM PARK TO DRIVE. WHILE SHE WAS AT HER DAUGHTER'S SCHOOL SHE STEPPED OUT OF THE VEHICLE TO TALK TO SOMEONE AND THE CAR JUMPED FROM PARK TO DRIVE AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. ALSO THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. SHE HAD SEVERAL OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. SHE WAS NEVER NOTIFIED ANYTHING FROM FORD ABOUT ANY TYPE OF PROBLEM. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT PRINTED OUT A TSB FOR HER, INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING NUMBERS; TRANSMISSION: 03-25-4 DATED 12-22-03, AND GEAR SELECTOR:04-22-12 DATED 11-15-04. THE VEHICLE IS REGULARLY MAINTAINED.*AK

DRIVER NOTICED WHILE SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION FORWARD OR BACKWARD THE GEARS ARE HARD AND A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE STARTED COMING FROM THE FRONT. DRIVER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS TO BE PLACED ON A DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE FOR ANALYSIS. *AK THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM HAS BEEN ON GOING SINCE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE GEAR SHIFTER BECAME STUCK IN REVERSE GEAR UNLESS IT WAS PULLED FIRMLY TOWARDS THE DRIVER. *BF *NM

BOUGHT THE 2002 XLT 4X4 EXPLORER IN JULY OF 04 WITH 43,000 MILES ON THE CAR. AT 60,00 MILES HAD THE TRANSMISSION SERVICED. AT 63,000 MILES O/D LIGHT FLASHED. TOOK CAR INTO DEALER THE NEXT DAY AND CAR NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION. THANK GOODNESS WE BOUGHT THE EXTENDED WARRENTY SO THE WORK SHOULD BE COVERED BUT AFTER READING ALL THE REPEAT PROBLEMS I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS MIGHT BECOME A CONSTANT PROBLEM. ALSO EXPERIENCED THE SAME ROUGH SHIFT INTO REVERSE AND THE TRANSMISSION SLIPAGE BETWEEN GEARS. *AK

PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR WAS SLAMMED BY THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY WENT OFF. DRIVER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, BUT A CAUSE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. *AK

4X4 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION COMPLETE FAILURE. LOST 3RD AND 4TH GEARS AND REVERSE. THIS TRUCK NEVER TOWED OR WAS WORKED AT ALL. 47000 MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION MELTED. DEALER ADVISED TO COMPLETELY REPLACE, NOTHING LEFT TO REBUILD. THE ONLY HINT WAS THE TRUCK HAD A PAUSE OF 3-4 SECONDS BEFORE IT WENT INTO A FORWARD GEAR.*AK

FORD EXPLORER IS 2002. HAD TO REPAIR TRANSMISSION AT FORD SERVICE TRANSMISSION IN JUNE 2004. THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION FAILED SUDDENLY APRIL 1, 2005. WE DO NOT BELIEVE THIS IS ACCEPTABLE TO HAV TO PUT $3700 ON ONE MAJOR REPAIR AND ONE COMPLETE REBUILD OF THE TRANSMISSION INSIDE OFTHREE YEARS ON THE TRANSMISSION OF A NEW VEHICLE.*AK

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF THE RESIDENCE AND DRIVER LIFTED UP THE LIFTGATE AND GLASS SHATTERED. DRIVER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE LIFTGATE GLASS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

PROBLEMS WITH DEFECTIVE MICHELIN TIRES ON THE 2002 FORD EXPLORER.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR ON TWO OCCASIONS, NOISE WAS HEARD WHILE GOING SPEEDS OF 40-45 MPH. THE BRAKES FELT HEAVY AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN. ON ONE OCCASION, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS UNCONTROLLABLE AND A FEW MINUTES LATER, THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AGAIN. THE CONSUMER FOUND THAT THE TIRE TREADS AND WIRE WERE SEPARATED AS IF THEY WERE CUT. RECALL CAMPAIGN #01V171000. *SC *JB

INVESTIGATED AFTER PASSENGER SEATED IN THE RIGHT REAR SEAT, MENTIONED UNUSUAL SEAT MOVEMENT AFTER A MODERATE TO HEAVY BRAKING OCCURRENCE. REAR WASHER HEAD ANCHOR BOLT/NUT WAS BROKEN/SHEERED OFF FLUSH AT THE FLOOR PAN, LEAVING THE SEAT TO TIP SLIGHTLY FORWARD. HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND UNKNOWN AS TO THE EXTENT OF REPAIR NEEDED. *JB

MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHEN MY WIFE STARTED THE CAR MY 2 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS IN THE CAR ALSO . WE HAVE A POLICE REPORT. MY WIFE IS TERRIFIED TO GET BACK IN THE CAR NOW. THE PEOPLE AT FORD WANT TO CHARGE ME TO FIX THE CAR, WHICH IS CRAZY. I AM TRYING TO FIND OUT IF THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED BEFORE.

1.TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLIPPING, BANGING IN REVERSE, PROBLEMS GETTING THE VEHICLE TO SHIFT FROM PARK TO REVERSE. . VEHICLE BECAME UNABLE TO SHIFT OUT OF 2ND, TRANS LIGHT AND OVERDRIVE LIGHT CAME ON AND FLICKERING. . TAKEN TO MILLER FORD, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS HAVING NO 3RD GEAR AT ALL, BOTH BANDS, SERVOS AND SOLENOID NEED REPLACE. 4.SPENT 2 DAYS IN SERVICE, RENTED A VEHICLE AT A COST OF $50. WORK WAS COMPLETED AT A COST OF $1523.28. *AK

THREE MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING MY 02 EXPLORER, AND AT 39000 MILES, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLIPPING JUST A BIT. A WEEK LATER, THIRD GEAR COULD NOT ENGAGE AT ALL, AND I WAS FORCED TO DRIVE TO THE REPAIR SHOP IN SECOND GEAR, WITH MY HAZARD LIGHTS ON, AND WITH SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN IN THE CAR. MY REPAIR PERSON DROVE THE CAR FOR ABOUT 15 SECONDS AND KNEW IMMEDIATELY WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. HE KNEW BECAUSE HE HAD JUST FIXED THE SAME PROBLEM LAST MONTH ON AN 02 EXPLORER WITH LESS MILES THAN MINE. HE STATED THAT FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT WITH THE ADVENT OF EXTENDED WARRANTIES, THEY WOULD NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. I DID NOT PURCHASE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY BECAUSE WHO WOULD EXPECT THAT A TRANSMISSION SHOULD BE REBUILT AT 39000 MILES (INCIDENTALLY 3000 MILES PAST MY WARRANTY COVERAGE). LUCKILY NO ONE WAS INJURED BECAUSE I PARKED THE TRUCK ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. BUT NOW I AM FACED WITH THE COST OF REBUILDING THIRD GEAR INTO MY TRUCK, WITH NO ONE ACCEPTING RESPONSIBILTY FOR THE DEFECT.*AK

GEARS BEGAN TO SLIP AT 59,000 MILES ON THREE YEAR OLD VEHICLE. ONE DAY OD LIGHT WENT OFF AND TRANSMISSION WAS COMPLETELY BURNED UP. WE HAD GIVEN VEHICLE REGULAR SERVICE. THERE WAS NO WARNING UP UNTIL THE DAY THE TRANNY WENT OUT. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN OUTSIDE SOURCE WHO CONCLUDED THAT THE SEAL LOOKED LIKE IT HAD NEVER BEEN BROKEN ON THE TRANSMISSION PLUG. THIS LEADS US TO BELIEVE THAT FORD NEVER EVEN CHECKED OUR FLUID WHEN WE DID TAKE IT IN FOR SERVICE. THIS CONSTITUTES FRAUD IN MY OPINION, ALTHOUGH WE HAVE NO PROOF. *JB

AROUND MARCH 2005 ON A SPRING BREAK, TOOK MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER IN ABOUT 15 MILES OUT MY TOWN, ONE OF THE TIRES, THE RUBBER JUST SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE , CAUSING THE TRUCK TO MOVE IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS, BUT THANK GOD I WAS ABLE TO STEER TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD SINCE I JUST STARTED TO SPEED UP THE VEHICLE IT DID NOT FLIP THE TRUCK,BUT CAUSED DAMAGED INSIDE THE TRUCK WHERE THE WHEEL IS LOCATED, ALL BECAUSE A PIECE OF THE RUBBER SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. THE EXPENSE WAS LESS THAN $200.00 BUT THE DRAMA WAS PRICELESS, AND THE KIDS ALL WERE CRYING .I NEED INFORMATION ON THE RECALL TIRES OF MY TRUCK. THANK YOU. *JB

I OWN A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. ON 3/20/05 I NOTICED A CRACK ON THE BACK PANEL JUST BELOW THE UPPER LIFT GATE. THE CRACK IS TO THE RIGHT OF THE FORD EMBLEM AND EXTENDS FROM THE TOP TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS PLASTIC PANEL. UPON CONTACTING MY DEALER, I WAS INFORMED BY THEIR BODY SHOP THAT THIS REPAIR WAS COVERED BY THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY. WHEN I WENT TO THE BODY SHOP AT THE DEALERSHIP I WAS TOLD THAT THE ORGINAL WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED, MY ORIGINAL WARRANTY STARTED 6/29/01. I HAVE ONLY JUST REACHED 36,128 MILES TO DATE. I HAD PURCHASED AN ESP PREMIUM CARE CONTRACT, BUT WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIR MY VEHICLE REQUIRED EVEN THOUGH I WAS TOLD AT THE TIME I PURCHASED THE ESP THAT IT OFFERED "BUMPER TO BUMPER COVERAGE." IF I WANT THIS CRACK REPAIRED IT WILL HAVE TO BE OUT OF MY POCKET TO THE TUNE OF $450. IN ANY EVENT, I FEEL THAT THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM AS IT SEEMS AS THOUGH IT WILL INEVITABLY WEAKEN THE UPPER LIFTGATE WINDOW FRAME. I ONLY LEARNED ABOUT THE UPPER LIFTGATE HINGE RECALL WITH THIS VISIT TO THE BODY SHOP. I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED ANY RECALL INFO. FROM FORD. THIS CRACK SEEMS AS THOUGH IT COULD ONLY ADD TO THE DANGEROUS SITUATION ONLY READY IMPOSED BY THE UPPER LIFTGATE. AT THE VERY LEAST, I FEEL THAT MY EXTENDED SERVICE PLAN SHOULD COVER THIS REPAIR ENSURING THE SAFETY OF MY UPPER LIFT GATE WINDOW. I PAID OVER $900 FOR THE ESP COVERAGE.*AK

HELLO, I OWN A 2002 FORD EXPLORE XLT WITH 50,000 MILES V-6. IN THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE THERE IS A GRINDING NOISE THAT IS IN A RYTHMIC PATTEREN. I HAVE SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT NEXT TUESDAY BUT WAS WONDERING IF THERE IS ANY RECALLS THAT I SHOULD KNOW ABOUT. AFTER READING SEVERAL FORMS FROM OTHER FORD EXPLORER OWNERS IT SOUNDS AS IF THERE IS A REOCCOURING PROBLEM.*AK

SHORTLY AFTER BUYING THE VEHICLE (68K MILES) THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SHUTTERING AND HAVING ISSUES SHIFTING FROM 1-2 GEAR. IT WOULD ALSO HAVE PROBLEMS DOWN SHIFTING UNDER LOAD. I WOULD HAVE TO RELEASE THE THROTTLE MOMENTARILY TO MAKE IT SHIFT. OVERDRIVE LIGHT WOULD BLINK, THE ODOMETER WOULD BLINK ALL 'DASHES', AND THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD GO TO 0 MPH. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE WORKED ON AT A LOCAL DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES AND STILL THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. NOW, AT 97K MILES, MY EXTENDED WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AND I AM LEFT WITH A VEHICLE I AM STILL PAYING FOR AND A BAD TRANSMISSION. *JB

VEHICLE IS A 2002 FORD EDDIE BAUER EXPLORER. VEHICLE WAS DRIVING ON EXPRESSWAY WHEN WILL CHANGING LANES TO PASS A SLOWER MOVING VEHICLE, OUR VEHICLE BEGAN TO UNCONTROLLIBLY EXCELLERATE AND CONTINUE TO EXCELLERATE PUSHING THE CAR TOWARD SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 70 MILES PER HOUR. ENGINE CONTINUED TO RACE. AN EMERGENCY STOPPING OF THE VEHILCE WAS BROUGHT UNDER CONTROL AFTER PUTTING CAR INTO NEUTRAL, APPLYING BRAKES AND GETTING OFF OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO WESTFILED FORD DEALER SHIP WHERE THEY ARE INSPECTING THE THRODDLE AND OTHER PARTS ESTIMATED COST TO REPAIR $400. HAVE NOT PICKED UP VEHICLE YET FOR FULL DESCRIPTION OF PROBLEM. *AK

1. REAR END HOWLING NOISE (3/18/2005) - HEAR NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING BETWEEN 40 AND 65 MPH. WHEN LETTING OFF OF ACCELERATOR, NOISE GOES AWAY, COMES BACK AGAIN WHEN ACCELERATOR IS PUSHED AGAIN. DEALER SERVICE DEPT REPLACED REAR CARRIER BEARINGS, CUP, SEALS, AND SPACER IN REAR DIFFERENTIAL. NOISE NOW OCCURS BETWEEN 65 AND 70 MPH. WAS TAKEN BACK TO DEALER SERVICE DEPT ON 4/11/2005. WAS INFORMED 4/20/2005 THAT REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS ADJUSTED WITH NEW SPACER, BUT NOISE IS STILL THERE. SERVICE MANAGER HAS ANOTHER FORD EXPLORER ON LOT AND TEST DROVE IT. THIS EXPLORER HAS SAME NOISE BETWEEN 40 AND 65 MPH. ONE OF THE TECHS (WHO USED TO WORK AT A FORD DEALERSHIP) TOLD SERVICE MANAGER THAT ALOT OF 2002 FORD EXPLORER OWNERS HAVE BEEN HAVING THIS PROBLEM. FORD HAS NO SOLUTION OR CURE. 2. NOISE IN TIMING CHAIN AREA. FORD HAS A TSB ON THIS. I CAN HEAR THIS RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THIS AREA AND TOLD DEALERSHIP TO LOOK INTO IT. THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE NOISE, ALTHOUGH WHEN TEST DRIVING IT WITH ASSIST. SERVICE MANAGER, I COULD STILL HEAR THE NOISE, BUT HE COULD NOT. I HAD MY LOCAL MECHANIC CHECK THIS OUT, AND THEY CAN HEAR THE NOISE THAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. THIS PROBLEM HAS YET TO BE FIXED. 3. VIBRATION COMING FROM FRONT END ON INTERSTATE THAT STARTS AT AROUND 70+ MPH. WHEN CLIMBING A STEEP HILL ON INTERSTATE AND TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS, CAN FEEL A GRINDING NOISE IN POWERTRAIN. DEALER BELIEVES THAT THE FLUID IN THE TRANSFER CASE MIGHT NEED TO BE CHANGED,CAUSING CLUTCHES INSIDE TO STICK. WILL FIND OUT TOMORROW (4/21/2005). *NM

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 03V281000 CONCERNING HIGH BACK SEAT. NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. *AK

AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE DRIVER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

DIFFERENTIAL HUMS AT 55-75 MPH. 50,000 MILES ON VEHICLE HUM STARTED AFTER WARRANTY PERIOD EXPIRED. READ THAT MANY OWNERS WITH THE SAME YEAR EXPLORER 2002 ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. FORD SHOULD BE RECALLING/REPAIRING THIS PROBLEM FREE OF CHARGE BECAUSE IT IS CLEARLY A FACTORY DEFECT. *AK

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLS, 4.0 ENGINE, THAT HAS TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 59,000 MILES. I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE AND HAVE NOTICED A HIGH NUMBER OF TRANSMISSION FAILURES AT LOW MILEAGE SUCH AS MY VEHICLE. I CALLED FORD TO SEE IF THEY WOULD PROVIDE ASSISTANCE FOR THE REPAIR AND THEY SAID NO AND DENY ANY MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THOSE TRANSMISSIONS. I AM NOW FACED WITH HAVING TO PAY $1500 - $2000 FOR A MAJOR REPAIR OF A LOW MILEAGE VEHICLE. THE CAR WAS DIAGNOSED AT A FORD DEALERSHIP UNDER THE ADVICE OF FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE. I AM NOW GOING TO REMOVE THE VEHICLE FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND TAKE IT TO AN OUTSIDE REPAIR STATION BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIP WANTS $600 TO TEAR DOWN THE TRANSMISSION AND DO FURTHER DIAGNOSIS. I AM UPSET AT THE POOR QUALITY OF THE VEHICLE WHICH WAS A MAJOR INVESTMENT FOR ME AND THE ADDITIONAL EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS VECHICLE.

O/D LIGHT FLASHING ON A 2002 EXPLORER. RESULTING IN A NEW TRANSMISSION AFTER ONLY 50,000 MILES. IT'S A KNOWN PROBLEM, AND I HAVE TO SUFFER AND PAY FOR FORD'S FAILURE TO PROVIDE A RECALL OR COMPENSATION FOR OWNING THEIR EQUIPMENT.*AK

LOUD WHINING NOISE IN THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL .. THE BEARINGS ARE BAD AND THE SEALS ARE LEAKING

DRIVETRAIN PROBLEMS (REAR DIFFERENTIAL, FRONT DRIVESHAFT, TRANSFER CASE). 1. REAR DIFFERENTIAL MAKING WHINING NOISE. THIS WAS WORKED ON TWICE WITH THE PINION BEARINGS REPLACED. DIFFERENTIAL STILL MAKING WHINING NOISE AT FIRST BETWEEN 55-60 MPH AND NOW IS MAKING THIS NOISE ANYWHERE FROM 45 - 70 MPH. VEHICLE WAS REFERRED TO LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP. WAS TOLD THAT THE PINION RING GEAR NEEDED REPLACEMENT. HAVE FORD EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR POWERTRAIN, BUT FORD WILL NOT REPLACE PARTS UNTIL THEY COMPLETELY FAIL. THEY ALSO CONSIDER THIS A UPDATE WHICH THEY WILL NOT FIX UNDER A RECALL. 2. FRONT DRIVESHAFT CAUSING VIBRATION IN FRONT AT SPEEDS AROUND 65-70 MPH. FORD CONSIDERS THIS AN UPDATE AND WILL NOT REPAIR UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY UNTIL IT COMPLETELY FAILS. 3. TRANSFER CASE. FORD MECHANIC NOTED THAT HE HEARD A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN SHIFTING TRANSMISSION FROM PARK TO REVERSE. FORD HAS A TSB ON THIS, TO UPDATE THE FLANGE ON THE REAR OF THE TRANSFER CASE. FORD CONSIDERS THIS AN UPDATE AND WILL NOT FIX IT UNTIL IT COMPLETELY FAILS. THE TRANSFER CASE WOULD NEED TO BE DRAINED, REFILLED, AND THEN REPROGRAMMED AGAIN. ALL THESE THINGS ARE LISTED AS COVERED ITEMS IN MY FORD EXTENDED WARRANTY (POWERTRAIN), BUT FORD WILL NOT COVER THEM SINCE THEY CONSIDER THEM UPDATES. THEY WANT ME TO FIT THE BILL OF THE AMOUNT OF $2400 THIS IS HOW FORD IS GETTING BY FROM ISSUING A RECALL. I HAVE NOTIFIED MY WV ATTORNEY GENERAL OFFICE, WHO TRIED WORKING OUT SOMETHING. THAT IS HOW I RECEIVED THE FORD EXTENDED WARRANTY. THEY COULD NOT GET ANY RESULTS, SO ASKED ME TO CONTACT A LAWYER AND TAKE THEM TO SMALL CLAIMS COURT. *JB

PRIOR TO PURCHASE 6/03 @ 40K MILES, TRANS FLUID 2 QTS LOW, NOTHING ELSE ADDRESSED. APRIL '04 @ 50K MILES REPLACED LEAKS IN TRANSMISSIONS, CHARGED $200 DEDUCTIBLE. SEPT '04 REPLACED REAR DIFFERENTIAL, JAN '05 REPLACED REAR DIFF CLUTCH ASSEMBLY, NOW NEED WHOLE NEW TRANSMISSION AT 68000 MILES. *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILURE SHIFTING TO OVERDIRVE. DEALER RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT. VEHICLE IS ONLY 37 MONTHS OLD. MILEAGE IS 50,000. *AK

MY TRUCK IS STARTING TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH SHIFTING IN TO 3RD GEAR, DEALERSHIP TOLD ME I'LL HAVE TO FIX TRANSMISSION OR REPLACEIT. MAJOR PROBLEM IN THESE TRANSMISSIONS, CRAPPY IDEA TO MAKE IT A SEALED TRANSMISSION. *AK

BOUGHT FORD EXPLORER (2002) USED FROM TOYOTA DEALER. DROVE FINE FOR OVER 6 MONTHS. BEGINNING IN MARCH (2005), UPON ACCELERATION (ESP. ON HILLS), VEHICLE LURCHES/SHUDDERS AS IT GAINS SPEED. HAVE TAKEN IT TO 3 DIFFERENT FORD DEALERS, WITH NO RESOLUTION (INITIALLY SAID THAT MY NEW TIRES WERE 1/4-INCH DIFFERENT IN SIZE...TIRES WERE REPLACED AND PROBLEM CONTINUED). CONTINUOUS LURCHING FINALLY FRIED THE GEM MODULE (AND FRONT/REAR SPEED SENSORS). FORD STILL DID NOT HAVE AN ANSWER. TOOK IT TO REPUTABLE LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THAT IT WAS NOT THE TIRES, NOR SENSORS, BUT A PROBLEM WITH "SLOP" IN THE TRANSFER CASE. THIS SLOP MADE THE 4X4 AUTO SENSE SLIPPAGE AND COMPENSATE, BUT MORE SLOP MEANT MORE SLIPPAGE AND MORE COMPENSATION, HENCE THE REPEATED LURCHING FEELING. GRAPHICAL ELECTRICAL CHART INDICATED THAT 4X4 WAS ENGAGING AND DISENGAGING APPROXIMATELY 40X A SECOND. AFTER-MARKET WARRANTY WOULDN'T COVER REPAIR AT LOCAL MECHANIC, SO BROUGHT CAR TO FORD DEALER (6TH TIME), WHO "THINK" PROBLEM IS IN THE TRANSFER CASE.

SO I BOUGHT A USED 2002 FORD EXPLORER (V6) AND IMMEDIATELY HAD A LOUD VIBRATION COMING FROM THE REAR END. THE MECHANIC KNEW WHAT IT WAS BEFORE I FINISHED THE FIRST SENTENCE. HE INFORMED ME THAT I WAS HIS FOURTH 02 EXPLORER THIS YEAR FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. HE FURTHER INDICATED THAT, IN HIS OPINION, USING LIGHT WEIGHT ALUMINUM ALLOY FOR THE REAR END WAS A VERY POOR DESIGN CHOICE. THE REPAIRS WERE MADE, AND, JUST OUT OF CURIOSITY, I JUMPED ON THE INTERNET TO SEE IF I WAS THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. I KEYWORD SEARCHED "2002 FORD EXPLORER" (YEAH, JUST THAT) AND HIT NUMBER ONE WAS A TWO PAGE TIRADE FROM QUITE A FEW OWNERS INDICATING THE SAME PROBLEM. ALSO, EVERY 02 EXPLORER OWNER I KNOW (6 OF EM) SAID THEY HAVE OR HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. HOW IS THERE NOT A RECALL? THAT '!@#$% COST ME 1200 DOLLARS. THAT WAS SIX MONTHS AGO. THERE'S ANOTHER VIBRATION IN THE REAR AGAIN. STATISTICALLY, THIS SURE SEEMS LIKE A COVER-UP BY FORD TO ME. *JB

WHINE IN THE REAR END. MECHANIC REBUILT THE REAR END AND THE BEARING ALL SHOW SIGNS OF FAILURE ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC FORD HAD USED CHEAP BEARINGS IN THE REAR END. THE TRANSMISSION ALSO HAS PROBLEMS SHIFTING. EACH TIME THE VEHICLE SHIFTS, IT SHUTTERS AND JERKS. I AM AFRAID THAT FORD USED THE SAME TYPE BEARINGS IN THE TRANSMISSION AS THEY DID IN THE REAR END AND THEY ARE FAILING AS WELL. *NM

VEHICLE STARTED TO HESITATE WHEN SHIFTING, WHINING NOISE FROM REAR END AS WELL. OVER DRIVE LIGHT ON, THEN FINALLY VEHICLE STOPPED ENGAGING GEARS. 2002 EXPLORER HAS BEEN SITTING IN DRIVEWAY FOR ONE YEAR DUE TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. FORD NOT WILLING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. VEHICLE HAS 58000 MILES. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT REAR HATCH WINDOW BLEW OUT TWO TIMES WITH THE SECOND TIME GLASS BLEW OFF SO VIOLENTLY IT DAMAGED PAINT ON NEW VEHICLE (DEALER AND FORD MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO PAY FOR REPAIR AND INSTRUCTED ME TO FILE INSURANCE CLAIM) DAMAGE TO OTHER CAR WAS CLEARLY DUE TO DEFECT IN WINDOW HATCH MECHANISM AND THEY SHOULD PAY. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. *JB

REAR LIFTGATE STRUCTURE BELOW THE GLASS HAS CRACKED. CRACK IS 6 INCHES LONG AND GROWING. IT SEEMS THIS IS A ISSUE THAT IS RELATED TO THE DESIGN FLAW COVERED (RECALL 04S20). THIS FLAW WILL EVENTUALLY EFFECT THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE REAR LIFTGATE STRUCTURE AND MAKE UNSAFE.*AK

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER AND I HAVE ONLY HAD IT ONE YEAR I GOT IT USED FROM A DEALERSHIP IT WAS A ONE OWNER AND IN THE TIME THAT I HAVE HAD IT I HAVE PUT OVER $800 WORTH OF WORK IN TO IT WITH BRAKES,HUBS,AND ONE AUTO LOCK HUB THE HUBS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE LET GO ONE MONTH AGO AND A WEEK AGO THE PASENGER SIDE REAR HUB LET GO IT HAS BEEN SITING EVER SENCE THES ARE VERY EXPENSIV THINGS TO REPLACE AND SHOLD NOT NEED TO BE DONE ON AVEHICAL THAT IS ONLY THREE YEARS OLD.*AK

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE WHEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE UNEXPECTEDLY. THE SOUNDS OF FIRE TRUCKS AT ABOUT 3:15 AM BEFORE CONSUMER KNEW THEIR GARAGE WAS THE ONE ON FIRE. THE FORD EXPLORER WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AS WELL AS THE OTHER 1992 GMC. THE FIRE CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE FORD EXPLORER. *BF

MY FOUR WHEEL DRIVE FAILED, WHILE ELECTRONIC LIGHT SHOWED CAR IN 4 WHEEL DRIVE. CAR SLID BACKWARDS INTO A RAVINE. ON SNOWY ROAD. LOCAL FORD DEALER DID NOT KNOW HOW TO FIX IT, BUT PROBLEM WAS EVENTUALLY TRACKED TO A FAULTY ELECTRONIC MODULE THAT FORD KNEW ABOUT. THIS CAUSED THE SOLENOID THAT ENGAGES 4 WHEEL DRIVE TO FAIL/ THIS WAS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION. I WAS DRIVING OVER A SNOWY MOUNTAIN ROAD PREVIOUS DAY AND COULD HAVE SLIPPED OFF ROAD IF IT FAILED ONE DAY EARLIER. I SEE NUMEROUS EXAMPLES OF THE SAME PROBLEM. WHY DOESN'T FORD RESPOND?

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL VEHICLE WOULD SPEED MORE INSTEAD OF DISENGAGING. DISENGAGED THE CRUISE CONTROL USING THE HAND BUTTON. DEALER CHANGED THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH.

I BOUGHT MY FORD EXPLORER XLS ON FEB 5 2005. COMPLAINED ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION AT TIME OF PURCHASE AND THEY SAID THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG. ABOUT 6 MONTHS LATER I HAD IT CHECKED AT ANOTHER DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THE SHIFTER SOLENOID WAS BAD. I HAD IT REPLACED FOR A PRICE OF 2100.00 TO GO 50 MILES DOWN THE ROAD AND SAME THING STARTED AGAIN. THEY THEN SAID IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION ITSELF. NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS FROM DAY ONE AND NO ONE AT FORD CARES. NOW I AM PAYING FOR SOMETHING THAT I CANT DRIVE CAUSE I CANT AFFORD TO HAVE IT FIXED. PLEASE HELP ME. *TR

TRAVELING IN HEAVY RAIN WHEN INTERMITTENT WINDSHIELD WIPERS SUDDENLY BECAME NON-OPERATIONAL. THE WIPERS STOPPED MIDWAY ON THE WINDSHIELD. THE REGULAR AND FAST WIPER SPEEDS ARE STILL OPERATIONAL AT THIS POINT. IN ORDER TO HAVE THE WIPERS RETURN TO THE NORMAL POSITION ON THE WINDSHIELD, THE WIPER SWITCH HAS TO BE CONTINUALLY MOVED FROM THE OFF POSITION TO THE INTERMITTENT POSITION UNTIL THE WIPERS GRADUALLY MOVE DOWN THE WINDSHIELD. VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE PROBLEM DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED IMMEDIATELY.

HEARD WHINING NOISE WHEN DRIVING BETWEEN 55 AND 70 MPH IN THIS VEHICLE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS; THE WHINING GREW INTO A FAINT GRINDING AT LOWER SPEEDS AND THEN A MORE MAJOR GRINDING. THE DIFFERENTIAL UNIT HAD TO BE REPLACED. APPARENTLY THE LIGHT CONSTRUCTION OF THE EXPLORER DIFFERENTIALS CAUSES THIS PROBLEM FREQUENTLY. *JB

JUST RECENTLY PURCHASED 2002 FORD EXPLORER FROM A DEALER. KEPT SCHEDULED MAINT. HAS BEEN OFF LOT FOR SIX MONTHS. NOTICED A LOUD ENGINE KNOCK FROM FRONT OF THE ENGINE. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER!, THEY SAID I HAD BLOWN A ROD BEARING. HAS TO BE SOMETHING WITH THE ENGINE. ENGINE DOESN'T EVEN HAVE 60,000 MILES ON IT. NO SIGN OF AN OIL LEAK, SLUDGE,ETC. DEALER SAID THE ENGINE WAS CLEAN. *JB

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLS WHICH STARTED TO EXPERIENCE A WHINING NOISE FROM THE REAR END SHORTLY AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED. IT CONTINUED TO GET WORSE. THE FLUID WAS CHECKED, ALL O.K. NOW AT 75,000 MILES THE REAR END HAS FAILED. COST TO REPAIR EST $1200 - $1500. THERE APPEARS TO BE A DESIGN OR DEFECTIVE PART ISSUE. DEALERS TELL ME THIS IS AN ISOLATED CASE, WHICH IS NOT TRUE AS I PERSONALLY KNOW 2 OTHER INDIVIDUALS WHO HAD SAME PROBLEM. *AK

SEVERAL PROBLEMS - AT 9,000 MILES MY BRAKES WENT AND HAD TO HAVE MY ROTORS RESURFACED BY 23,000 MILES MY REAR BRAKES WERE COMPLETELY GONE AND MY FRONT BRAKES WERE NEARLY GONE. THIS COST ME OVER $1,000 TO REPAIR. AT 25-27,000 MILES MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT CHANGE GEARS PROPERLY. GOING IN REVERSE THE VEHICLE WOULD "BANG" INTO GEAR, THEN GOING FROM PARK TO ANY GEAR THIS WOULD HAPPEN. ON LEVEL GROUND AND ON HILL. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY GUESSED AT THE PROBLEM AND FIXED SOMETHING IN THE TRANSMISSION. AT 32,000 MILES THE PIECE OF PLASTIC UNDER THE LIFTGATE WINDOW COMPLETELY CRACKED. SINCE UNDER WARRANTY THE DEALERSHIP IS FIXING THIS. THERE HAS BEEN A "WHINING" NOISE WHILE USING THE GAS PEDAL FOR SOME TIME THAT THE DEALERSHIP CAN NOT RECREATE.... I EXPECT THAT TO GO WRONG AS SOON AS MY WARRANTY EXPIRES. I THINK YOU ONLY GET 36,000 MILE WARRANTY BECAUSE THEY KNOW THE VEHICLE WILL FALL APART AFTER THAT!*JB

THERE IS A LOUD DRONING SOUND FROM UNDERNEATH THE CAR AND VIBRATIONS IN THE FLOORBOARDS.

DOOR AJAR LIGHT REMAINS ON DESPITE ALL DOORS BEING SECURED. WHEN YOU ENGAGE THE DOOR LOCKS FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVERS SIDE LOCK WILL DISENGAGE AFTER A FEW SECONDS. WHEN YOU LOCK DOORS FROM OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE (WITH THE REMOTE), THE CHIME WILL BEEP TWO TIMES AS IF THERE IS A DOOR OPEN. NOW THE INTERIOR OVERHEAD LIGHT REMAINS ON. AFTER MUCH INVESTIGATION THE GEM MODULE IS DEFECTIVE. *JB