2002 Ford Explorer Complaint Log

WHILE COMING OFF A FREEWAY MY CAR SUDDENLY JERKED AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. CAUSING MY VEHICLE TO STOP. WHEN TRYING TO MOVE FORWARD THE CAR BEGAN TO TRY TO ROLL BACKWARDS INTO THE CAR BEHIND ME. I WAS LUCKY I WAS COMING TO A STOP RATHER THEN GOING FULL SPEED ON THE FREEWAY. AFTER MUCH RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS AN ALL TOO COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE MODEL AND YEAR. THE TRANSMISSION NOW NEEDS TO BE COMPLETELY REBUILT ACCORDING TO 2 MECHANICS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE THE HEATER HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE HEATER WOULD NOT ENGAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE HEATER BOX NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

WENT TO PUT CAR IN DRIVE FROM THE PARK POSITION AND THE SHIFTER COMPLETELY BROKE AND WAS HANGING. ALSO, I WAS NOT ABLE TO GET MY KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. WE WERE PLANNING TO MAKE AN OUT OF TOWN TRIP THE FOLLOWING DAY, HOWEVER, HAD TO CHANGE PLANS DUE TO THIS SITUATION. AFTER SEARCHING ONLINE, I HAVE DISCOVERED THERE HAS BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FOR THIS EXACT DEFECT FOR THE EXACT TYPE OF VEHICLE. IT SEEMS THAT SINCE THERE HAS ALREADY BEEN SO MANY SAME SITUATIONS, THAT A RECALL WOULD HAVE TAKEN PLACE BY NOW. NOT HAS IT ONLY BEEN INCONVENIENT, BUT COULD ALSO BE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS! *TR

HEARD A CLUNK NOISE IN THE REAR OF TRUCK...COME TO FIND OUT BOTH REAR STRUT COILS WERE ROTTED OUT AND BROKEN..TRUCKS HAS NEVER PULLED A TRAILER OR BEEN OFF ROAD! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, HE INADVERTENTLY STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND CRASHED INTO A POLE. THE CONTACT SUFFERED A BRUISED CHEST, RIBS ARMPIT AND WRISTS. HE ALSO SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE KNEE AND NECK. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. ALL OF THE AIR BAGS IN THE VEHICLE FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 250,100.

2002 FORD EXPLORER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO A BOLT UNDER THE FRONT SEAT THAT CAN BREAK CAUSING THE SEAT TO MOVE BACK AND FORTH *TGW THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE HIS VEHICLE REPAIRED AT NO CHARGE, EVEN THOUGH IT IS 2002, AND NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL# 03V281000, WHICH HE DID REFERENCE.*JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 70 MPH THE VEHICLE SPEED SUDDENLY INCREASED UP TO 90 MPH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS VERY STIFF AND FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT HAD TO SHIFT INTO PARK IN ORDER TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 175,550.

CAR LEAKING UNKNOWN FLUIDS .. THERE ARE OUTSTANDING RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE. RECALL ID 09509. *TR

TRANSMISSION FAILED ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70MPH PULLED OFF EXIT AND CONTINUED ON CITY ROADS TO OUR JOBS PARKING LOT AND IS NO LONGER DRIVE ABLE. *TR

THE INTERIOR LIGHTS OCCASIONALLY FLICKER WHEN ALL DOORS ARE SHUT SECURELY. ALSO THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT WILL FLICKER AT TIMES AS WELL. THE ALARM GOES OFF FOR NO REASON AND USUALLY IT IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND I AM PRETTY SURE IT IS RELATED TO THE DOOR AJAR MALFUNCTION. THERE IS NO WAY TO DISABLE THE FACTORY ALARM SO I HAVE HAD TO LEAVE MY CAR UNLOCKED AT NIGHT JUST TO KEEP IT FROM GOING OFF AND WAKING UP THE NEIGHBORS. ALSO WE HAVE A CRACK ON THE LIFT GATE JUST BELOW THE REAR WINDOW. YOU CAN SEE THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE BY LOOKING AT OTHER EXPLORERS AROUND TOWN. I HAVE REALLY ENJOYED THE EXPLORER UP UNTIL NOW BUT IT DOES BOTHER ME THAT THESE TWO ISSUES ARE VERY COMMON YET FORD WON'T ISSUE A RECALL TO FIX THESE ISSUES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT FROM PARK TO DRIVE, THE GEAR SHIFTER LEVER FRACTURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DENIED ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,549.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE, THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER FAILED. THE CONTACT TRIED TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE IN PARK BUT THE GEAR SHIFT REMAINED STUCK. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS USED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE ALUMINUM HOUSE THAT CONNECTED THE SHIFT LEVER TO THE STEERING COLUMN FAILED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND HAVE NOT RESPONDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.

REAR COIL SPRINGS ARE RUSTED AND CRACKING, PIECE FELL OFF. IT APPEARS THAT INADEQUATE OR DEFICIENT METAL WAS USED. MECHANIC SAYS VERY RARE FOR COIL SPRINGS TO RUST LIKE THIS, SPRINGS LOOK AS THOUGH THEY HAVE BEEN IN A JUNK YARD FOR 30 YEARS.THIS VEHICLE IS A FAMILY CAR, NOT USED FOR OFF-ROADING AND KEPT IN A GARAGE. ACCORDING TO MY RESEARCH MANY OTHER OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE, SOME HAVE EVEN HAD THE PIECES PUNCTURE TIRES CAUSING A BLOWOUT WHILE DRIVING. I CAN ONLY ASSUME THAT FORD IS NOT CONCERNED WITH CONSUMER SAFETY, BUT ONLY WITH THEIR OWN PROFITS AND ARE WAITING FOR PEOPLE TO DIE BEFORE TAKING RESPONSIBILITY. THIS IS JUST ONE OF MANY ISSUES WITH THIS MODEL AND FORD NEEDS TO STEP UP. *TR

PARKED ON HILL OR FLAT GROUND IT HAPPEN BEFORE,BUT THE GEAR SHIFT GETS STUCK. YOU CAN TURN THE STEERING WHEEL RIGHT,LEFT TO GET IT TO UNLOCK BUT IT WANT, NO LOCKED BRAKES.BUT I KEPT ON TRYING TO GET MY TRUCK IN GEAR TO POINT OF DOING DANGERS THINGS AS OF STICKING ONE FOOT OUT OF THE DOOR AND ROCKING IT BACK AND FORTH.TO GET THE LOCK TO BRAKE BUT THAT DID NOT WORK THEN I TRIED AGAIN AND THE GEAR SHIFT BROKE A ALUMINUM PART ON THE INSIDE BROKE AND I HAVE SAW THREE MORE LIKE THIS AND SOME MORE REPORTS OF THIS AND NOTHING HAS BEEN SAID OR DONE ABOUT THIS,THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE WAS FORCED OFF THE ROAD BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL AND THE VEHICLE TO ROLL OVER SEVERAL TIMES. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS A PASSENGER IN THE VEHICLE AND SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD, ANKLE AND RIBS. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SEVERAL LACERATIONS AND BRUISES. THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE WAS KILLED AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY A MECHANIC OR AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR THE AIR BAG FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,089.

WHEN ACCELERATING ON A START, CAR DOESN'T SHIFT INTO 2ND AND 3RD GEAR....UNLESS THERE IS A PUSH OR JUMP INTO IT. *TR

APPROXIMATELY 30% OF THE TIME, THE COAST BUTTON ON THE CRUISE CONTROL WILL ACTUALLY FUNCTION AS THE ACCELERATE BUTTON. THIS CAN BE DISTURBING IF YOU HIT COAST TO INCREASE DISTANCE BETWEEN YOU AND ANOTHER VEHICLE. WHEN THIS DOES OCCUR, I AM ABLE TO HIT THE BRAKE PEDAL AND DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO PARK AND HAPHAZARDLY DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AS OPPOSED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED RAPIDLY, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A BUILDING. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES AS A RESULT. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND WAS NOT INSPECTED FOR THE AIR BAG FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 56,705.

WHILE DRIVING CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT PASSED 3RD GEAR. I HAD TO PULL OVER ON A BUSY HIGHWAY BECAUSE I WAS AFRAID THE ENGINE WOULD EXPLODE. I LATER FOUND OUT, AFTER RESEARCHING, THAT THE RISK OF IT SHIFTING INTO REVERSE IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE PO745 ERROR CODE IN 2002 EXPLORERS. *TR

I JUST HAD MY CAR SERVICED FOR A RECALL AT CHEROKEE FORD IN WOODSTOCK GA. JUST 3 DAYS LATER, MY VEHICLE STOPPED WORKING IN THE MIDDLE OF A VERY BUSY STREET AND I WAS UNABLE TO RESTART IT. I WAS VERY LUCKY NOT TO BE HIT. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN TRAGIC. *JS

I WAS BACKING UP IN A COSTCO PARKING LOT AND THE STEERING COLUMN WHERE YOU SHIFT GEARS BROKE IN HALF. THERE WAS NO WAY TO DRIVE OR SHIFT THE CAR. THE CAR WAS IN NEUTRAL AND THERE WERE PEDESTRIANS IN FRONT OF ME AND CARS BEHIND ME. I YELLED FOR EVERYONE TO STAY CLEAR, HAD A FEW MEN HELP PUSH ME BACK TO A PARKING BIN AND PULLED THE EMERGENCY BREAK. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT SHUT OFF, I HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED TO MY HOUSE. I CHECKED ON LINE AND THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OVER 1,000 FORD 2002 OWNERS. IT IS DUE TO A FAULTY MANUFACTURER PART IN THE COLUMN SHIFT, A METAL PIECE THAT BROKE OFF. *TT

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER AND THE OVER DRIVE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING FROM 2-3 GEAR AND I FOUND OUT WITH MY 2YR AND 3YR KIDS IN THE CAR IF I NEED TO PULL OUT ON TO A HIGHWAY WITH CARS COMING THE SUV DON'T WANT TO DO SO AND WILL REV UP AND MIGHT SLAM INTO GEAR WHEN YOU LET OFF THE GAS. I LOVE MY EXPLORER GREAT FAMILY CAR BUT WITH THIS PROBLEM I WILL NOT HAVE MY KIDS IN IT AT ALL. AND NOT KNOWING IF IT WILL MAKE IT OR NOT. FORD DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. IM NOT THE ONLY ONE. *TR

FORDS TAILLIGHT/STOP SWITCH ILLUMINATES THE BRAKE LIGHTS, IS USED TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL AND IS USED TO ENABLE THE OPERATOR TO BE ABLE TO PUT THE VEHICLE INTO GEAR ONCE THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. ROUGHLY A YEAR AGO I HAD SOME INTERMITTENT ISSUES WITH TRYING TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE WHEN USING THE BRAKES PLUS I HAD TROUBLE TAKING THE VEHICLE OUT OF PARK WITHOUT HAVING TO STEP ON THE BRAKE MULTIPLE TIMES. LASTLY HAVING A FRIEND FOLLOW ME HOME I WAS TOLD MY BRAKES LIGHTS DID NOT ALWAYS ILLUMINATE WHEN I WAS SLOWING DOWN OR AT A COMPLETE STOP! GOING BACK TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALER I BOUGHT A REPLACEMENT SWITCH THAT HAD INSTRUCTIONS TO CUT THE OE'S PLUG OFF OF THEIR HARNESS AND TO HARD WIRE THE NEW SWITCH IN IT'S PLACE AS FORD HAD EXPERIENCED SOME "ISSUES" WITH THOSE ORIGINAL COMPONENTS. JUST 13 MO'S LATER I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM BUT THIS TIME IT FAILED COMPLETELY SO THE VEHICLE WAS LOCKED IN PARK IN MY DRIVEWAY. HAVING SEEN RECALLS ON SEVERAL OTHER FORD AND MERCURY PRODUCTS FOR A SIMILAR PROBLEM AND EXPECTED FORD TO GIVE ME A FREE REPLACEMENT. HOWEVER, AFTER ENTERING MY VIN # THEY SAID THERE WERE NO RECALLS BUT THEY WOULD REDUCE THEIR NORMAL PRICE FROM $93.44 TO $76.00 AS THEIR COMPENSATION. CONTACTING MY LOCAL NAPA SUPPLIER I BOUGHT ANOTHER SWITCH FROM THEM FOR JUST $44.49 WHICH RESOLVED MY PROBLEM FOR EVEN LESS MONEY. I RETURNED TO THE DEALER TO REPORT MY FINDING AND STRONGLY SUGGESTED THAT THEY CONTACT THEIR FORD REP. AS I BELIEVE THIS BRAKE SWITCH ISSUE IS A BIGGER PROBLEM THEN FORD IS AWARE OF OR HAS OWNER UP TO KNOWING ABOUT. I WAS ACTUALLY LUCKY TO HAVE THE SWITCH FAIL AT MY HOME AS HAD I BEEN ON THE ROAD I COULD VERY WELL HAVE BEEN REAR-ENDED DUE TO MY BRAKES LIGHTS NOT COMING ON. I QUESTION IF FORD WILL EVER TAKE MY WARNING SERIOUSLY SO I FELT OBLIGATED TO PASS THIS INFORMATION ALONG TO AN INDEPENDENT SOURCE. *TR

THE REAR HATCH IS SPLITTING DOWN THE MIDDLE NEAR THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. THE METAL IS COMING APART AND MAY FLY OFF DURING HIGH RATES OF SPEED CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THIS EMAIL IS TO PREVENT AN ACCIDENT WHICH MAY OCCUR. I AM AWARE OF A PENDING LAWSUIT REGARDING COSMETIC DEFECTS BUT WOULD LIKE YOU TO KNOW THE POSSIBILITY OF AN ACCIDENT OCCURRING ONCE THE METAL SEPARATES AT HIGH RATES OF SPEED ON THE INTERSTATE. THIS IS ALSO A PAPER TRAIL IN CASE I AM THE TRUCK THE CAUSES THE ACCIDENT. *TR

DRIVE TRAIN, BUCKS, GRINDS, IS SLIPPING. MAKES ALOT OF NOISE. HAD THE REAR END REPLACED AND IT DID NOT WORK, PAID $1000.00 OR SO AND DID NOT TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN I LOOKED BACK IN MY REAR VIEW MIRROR AND NOTICED SMOKE BILLOWING OUT THE BACK OF MY CAR. I PULLED OVER. MY HUSBAND GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND LOOKED UNDER THE FRONT. I SMELLED FIRE AND HE SAID IT'S ON FIRE. MY HUSBAND SAW A LIQUID DRIPPING FROM THE CAR THAT WAS CLEARLY ON FIRE. I TURNED THE CAR OFF. WE IMMEDIATELY GOT OURSELVES AND OUR 2 YOUNG CHILDREN, AGES 7 AND 5, OUT OF THE CAR. THE FIRE STOPPED ONCE THE CAR WAS OFF. FORTUNATELY, NO ONE WAS INJURED. I WAS TOLD BY THE TOW TRUCK OPERATOR AND THE MECHANIC THAT FIXED THE CAR THAT A TRANSMISSION HOSE WAS SITTING ON THE EXHAUST PIPE, CAUSING A LEAK IN THE HOSE AND THE RESULTING FIRE. I AM ALSO CONCERNED THAT MY CAR MAY BE SUBJECTED TO A RECALL REGARDING A FAULTY CRUISE CONTROL AFTER READING ON THE INTERNET. *TR

THIS IS AN UPDATE TO COMPLAINT NO. 10459987. AFTER LOOKING AT THE CAR RECORDS, WE DISCOVERED THAT DURING A SERVICE OF MY TRANSMISSION, FORD FACTORY REQUIRED THE DEALERSHIP TO CUT THE METAL TRANSMISSION LINE AND INSTALLED A RUBBER LINE WITH A FILTER. IF THEY DID NOT INSTALL THE FILTER, THEN THE WARRANTY WOULD HAVE BEEN VOID. AFTER INSTALLING, NO ONE EVER INSPECTED OR REPLACED THE LINE OR FILTER. IT WAS SIMPLY FORGOTTEN. 75,000 MILES LATER THE RUBBER LINE WAS RESTING ON THE EXHAUST, WHICH BURNED A HOLE AND CAUSED TRANSMISSION FLUID TO LEAK AND SPRAY ONTO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND CAUGHT FIRE. WE WERE LUCKY IN THAT WE SAW THE SMOKE EARLY AND NO ONE WAS INJURED. I AM CONCERNED THERE ARE MORE CARS OUT THERE WITH THIS RETRO-FIT FILTER ON THE TRANSMISSION THAT NO ONE IS INSPECTING OR MAINTAINING BECAUSE IT IS NOT ON AN OFFICIAL MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE. *TT

AS I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK MY FUEL GAUGE WENT FROM FULL TO EMPTY AND THE CHECK GAUGE LIGHT CAME ON THEN THE VEHICLE DIED AND I LOST POWER STEERING AND THE POWER BRAKES. *JS

I'VE BEEN HAVING AN ISSUE WITH MY TRUCK SAYING THE DOOR IS AJAR WHEN IT'S NOT. WHILE DRIVING, THE INSIDE LIGHT WILL COME ON AND LOCK/UNLOCK THE DOORS. I NOTICED IT USUALLY HAPPENS EITHER WHILE ITS RAINING OR IF IT JUST FINISHED RAINING. SOMEONE ELSE I KNOW WHO HAS THE SAME VEHICLE (YEAR/MAKE/MODEL) SAYS THE SAME THING HAPPENS TO HIS VEHICLE. I'M WONDERING IF YOU HAVE HEARD OF THIS BEFORE AND IF SO, WHAT STEPS DO THE MANUFACTURES TAKE IN DECIDING WHETHER OR NOT A VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE RECALLED FOR A SPECIFIC PROBLEM? ANY INFORMATION YOU CAN PROVIDE WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED! *TR

THE O/D LIGHT FLICKERS ON AND OFF AND THERE APPEARS TO BE NO THIRD GEAR, ACCORDING TO THREE MECHANICAL TRANSMISSION INSPECTIONS. RESEARCHING WEBSITES INDICATES THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PREVALENT PROBLEM FOR THIS VEHICLE. NEED TO KNOW: 1. WAS THERE A RECALL? 2. WHAT, IF ANYTHING, FORD IS WILLING TO DO TO FIX OR COMPENSATE FOR THE CONSIDERABLE EXPENSE INVOLVED TO REPAIR THIS OBVIOUS DEFECT. *TR

WENT TO BACK OUT CARPORT, WHEN GAS PEDAL WAS PUSH IT WENT TO FLOOR AND STUCK !, AUTO TRAVELED OUT DRIVE WAY CIRCLED A FIELD COME BACK AND HIT TREE, AFTER TRAVELING APPROX 1500 FT MORE OR LESS, KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS, BROKE DENTURES, NECK AND BACK INJURIES , CONCUSSION , TOTAL THE AUTO A 2002 FORD EXPLORER ... *TR

I HAVE REPLACED 8 WHEEL BEARINGS ON THIS AUTO. 4-21-12 I WAS ON THE HWY TO THE NEAREST BIG CITY TOWING A BORROWED UTILITY TRAILER, WHICH IS 90 MILES FROM MY HOME, AND I AM SO FORTUNATE THAT I DID NOT LOOSE MY WHEEL. AT THE TIME, I THOUGHT IT WAS MY NEW TIRES BUT WHEN I WENT TO THE DEALER OF MY TIRES HE SHOWED ME THE PLAY THAT MY BACK WHEEL HAD AND TOLD ME I WAS A VERY LUCKY GIRL THAT MY TIRE DIDN'T SNAP OFF. FAST FORWARD AND I HAVE JUST REPLACED BOTH BACK WHEEL BEARING AGAIN WITH ONLY 23,000 MILES ON THE PREVIOUS REPLACED BEARING. 14,000 ON THE ONE BEFORE THAT! FORD YOU HAVE A PROBLEM!! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THE GEAR SHIFT DETACHED WHILE SHIFTING GEARS FROM THE PARK TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 121,000.

VEHICLE TRANSMISSION HAS SUDDENLY QUIT AT ONLY 120,000 MILES. BECAUSE OF A CODE P0775 "PRESSURE CONTROL SOLENOID". SHOPPED THE FIX (WHICH ALL REPAIR SHOPS SAY IS VERY COMMON ON EARLY 2000 FORD'S) AND IT WILL NEED A $2500 REBUILD. DID SOME ONLINE RESEARCH AND FOUND MORE COMPLAINTS ON THIS THAN I CAN ACCOUNT FOR. I CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SUPPORT LINE AND WAS TRANSFERRED TO MY LOCAL DEALER. LOCAL DEALER SAID I FALL OUTSIDE OF ANY CUSTOMER APPRECIATION PROGRAMS AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO THAN FIX IT FOR ME FOR $3200. WITH THE AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE ALONG WITH THE CRACKED TAILGATE THAT I SEE ON ALL FORD EXPLORERS I DRIVE BY, THERE SHOULD BE SOME SORT OF FORCED RECALL. *JS

TRANSMISSION FAILURE - STUPID DESIGN DOESN'T ALLOW YOU TO CHECK FLUID LEVEL, LEAK AT TRANSFER CASE SEAL SEEMS TO HAVE CAUSED LOSS OF FLUID AND CANNOT BE ADDED WITHOUT SOME SPECIAL PUMP TO FILL TRANSMISSION BACK UP BECAUSE IT'S A SEALED UNIT. DESIGNED SO ONLY FORD DEALERS CAN DO SERVICE AND THEN IT JUST GOES OUT AND YOU'RE DRIVING 65 MPH DOWN THE MOUNTAIN AND UNABLE TO CONTROL SPEED. FORD NEEDS TO RECALL THESE PIECE OF CRAP TRANSMISSIONS YET WON'T EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE THERE'S A PROBLEM ALTHOUGH EVERY DEALER & TRANNY MECHANIC KNOWS OF THE ISSUES. *JS

THE FUEL SYSTEM HAS A PROBLEM WITH IT. WHEN YOU GO TO PUT GAS IN IT THE PUMPS ALMOST IMMEDIATELY SHUT OFF. SOMETHING IN THE FUEL SYSTEM IS TELLING THE PUMP THAT THE TANK IS FULL WHEN IT IS NOT. IT CAN TAKE 30 MINUTES TO PUT 10 GALLONS IN THE TANK. *TR

BEEN JERKY AND JUMPING FOR 2 YEARS BUT TODAY THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT UPSHIFT WHEN STARTING OUT OR DOWN-SHIFT WHEN SLOWING DOWN. THE ENGINE WENT TO HIGH RPM WITH LITTLE OR NO FORWARD PROGRESS.ALL THIS WAS PRECEDED BY THE OVER-DRIVE LIGHT FLASHING ON AND OFF FOLLOWED NEXT BY THE CHECK TRANSMISSION LIGHT. NEXT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE FORUMS ON THIS VEHICLE WILL TELL YOU THAT THIS 6 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ON THE V-8 ENGINES ARE JUST JUNK. WAY TO MANY COMPLAINTS. WILL FORD FIX THIS ON AN OUT OF WARRANTY VEHICLE? AFTER PULLING. *JS

THE TRANSMISSION IS HAVING TROUBLE SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD, ENGINE LIGHT AND O/D OFF LIGHTS ARE ON. LOCAL MECHANIC SAYS THAT THE INTERMEDIATE BAND ON THE TRANSMISSION IS BROKEN. THIS IS A SEALED UNIT WITH NO WAY TO SERVICE WITHOUT A REBUILD.

OUT TRANSMISSION ISN'T OUT YET, IT'S ON ITS WAY OUT. WHEN ACCELERATING IT STOPS AT 25-35 MPH AND THE RPM REV UP TO THE RED LIMIT IF YOU DON'T TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE GAS AND IT WONT SWITCH GEARS FOR A MINUTE OR SO. SOMETIMES YOU HEAR A LOUD DROPPING SOUND AND THE ENTIRE CAR JERKS WHEN IT SWITCHES GEARS. THIS FIRST HAPPENED WHEN SPEEDING UP ON A BUSY MAIN ROAD NEAR DETROIT, ALMOST CAUSING US TO BE REAR ENDED. WE TOOK IT TO A TRANSMISSION GARAGE AND WERE INFORMED IT WOULD BE $2,000 OR THERE ABOUTS TO FIX. HAD THE OTHER DRIVER NOT BEEN PAYING ATTENTION OR HAD THIS HAPPENED ON A HIGHWAY MYSELF, MY FIANCE, OUR FOUR CHILDREN WOULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR WORSE. APPARENTLY THE TRANSMISSION IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL OF VEHICLE AND THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE MADE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS BLATANTLY DANGEROUS DEFECT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED DUE TO A WIRE UNDER THE DASHBOARD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 160,000.

I HAD TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION AND SOLENOID, COSTING OVER $2500. *TR

MY WIFE STARTED OUR EXPLORER AND TRIED TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND THE GEAR SHIFT HANDLE SNAPPED OFF IN HER HAND. ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED TO MANY OTHER FORD OWNERS! UNBELIEVABLE! SO NOW I HAVE TO HAVE MY VEHICLE TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE THIS "FORD PROBLEM" FIXED! AND ALSO SHELL OUT OVER $1000 DOLLARS JUST SO I CAN GET MY EXPLORER BACK ON THE ROAD!!! AND WHEN I CALLED THE LOCAL FORD GARAGE TO ASK ABOUT THIS DEFECT, THEY ACTED AS IF THIS PROBLEM HAS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE! BS! *TR

EVER SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE I HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO CONTINUOUSLY PUMP A FULL TANK OF GAS. IT TAKES ROUGHLY 25 MINUTES TO GET A FULL TANK. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER ABOUT 25MPH WHEN I FELT THE REAR END DROP DOWN. PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND ALL 5 STUDS HAD SHEARED OFF. THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED I WAS ONLY BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY WHEN I PUT IT INTO DRIVE & STARTED TO ACCELERATE THE OPPOSITE SIDE STUDS SHEARED OFF. THIS TIME ONLY 4 STUDS BROKE SO I LIMPED THE TRUCK BACK ONTO MY DRIVEWAY. THE THIRD TIME THIS HAPPENED I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 15MPH GOING AROUND A TURN & 4 STUDS BROKE OFF AGAIN. IF I WAS GOING ANY FASTER THE TRUCK COULD HAVE FLIPPED OVER. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 25 MPH, THE PASSENGER ATTEMPTED TO SECURE THEIR SEATBELT WHEN THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ERRONEOUSLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE AIR BAGS WERE NO LONGER COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE.THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 00V179000(AIR BAGS:SIDE WINDOW) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE RECALL WAS IRRELEVANT TO THE 2002 MODEL YEAR EXPLORER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 144,000.

DUE TO A DEFECT, WE HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED (THANK GOD IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY)...THEN HAD TO HAVE THE DOOR AJAR SENSOR FIXED BECAUSE ALARM KEPT GOING OFF FOR NO REASON. ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO WE WERE ABUT TO GO OUT OF TOWN FOR THANKSGIVING. I STOP AT A RED LIGHT, AND THEN WE TRY TO PULL OFF WHEN THE LIGHT CHANGES AND HEAR THE LOUDEST POPPING NOISES...WE'RE WONDERING HOW IN THE WORLD DID THE SPARK PLUG POP OUT WITH SO MUCH FORCE THAT IT ALSO RIPS THE IGNITION COIL...(FAST FORWARD TO 1YR LATER, SAME THING HAPPENS WHILE LEAVING HOME TO GO TO WORK). ONCE AGAIN, ON MARCH 12, WHILE ON MY WAY TO WORK, SITTING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. LIGHT TURNS GREEN...I START TO PULL OFF AND BEGIN HEARING A POPPING NOISE...WTH...NOT AGAIN!!! (THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED IN 2 YEARS). COME ON FORD...FIX THE LEMONS!!!! *TR

FUEL GAUGE OFF - DID NOT WANT TO START - DEALER FIXED UNDER WARRANTY , CHANGED FUEL PUMP 20 DAYS LATER TOOK BACK AGAIN , STILL HAD TROUBLE START , BAD FUEL READING - CHANGED PUMP AGAIN, TOOK BACK 45 DAYS LATER , FUEL GAUGE NOT WORKING - 3 DAYS LATER , FOUND BAD FUEL SENDER CARD [BOARD] ORDERING NEW BOARD AS I WRITE THIS. COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE EXPLORER GAUGES SODIUM BUILDUP ON UNIT DUE TO THE CRAP 10% ETHANOL ADDED . ALL BEING FIXED UNDER WARRANTY , THANK GOD! MY DAUGHTERS 2005 EXPLORER STARTING TO HAVE FUEL GAUGE PROBLEMS ALSO 69,000 MILES. *TR

REAR PASSENGER WHEEL STARTED SHAKING. STOPPED AND REMOVED WHEEL COVER AND FOUND THREE WHEEL STUDS SHEARED OFF. HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED TO TIRE STORE. REPLACED WHEEL, HUB AND ALL STUDS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT FROM PARK TO THE REVERSE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE COLUMN SHIFTER HAD SEPARATED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 228,000. UPDATED 04/11/12*LJ THE HEAR SHIFTER BROKE AND THE KEY WOULD NOT COME OUT OF THE IGNITION. THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS CRACKED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 04/20/12

WHEN CLOSING THE REAR HATCH GLASS, THE GLASS EXPLODED. CAR WAS PARKED INSIDE OUR GARAGE ATTACHED TO OUR HOUSE. WE WERE UNLOADING PACKAGES AND WHEN WE WERE DONE WE REACHED UP AND PULLED THE WINDOW TO CLOSE. THE GLASS SHATTERED ALL OVER. *TR