Page 3 of 3 · complaints 101–133 of 133

2002 Ford Explorer Sport complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2002 record →

Structure › Body › Hatchback/Liftgate
Filed Feb 17, 200540,000 milesGA

NHTSA RECALL 04V442000 ON THE REAR LIFTGATE GLASS. NO PARTS AVAILABLE SINCE NOVEMBER OF 2004. WHILE SHIFTING GEARS THE SHIFTER BROKE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE SHIFTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *NM

Power Train › Driveline › Differential Unit
Filed Feb 10, 200537,000 milesMI

THE REAR END WAS LEAKING FLUID ON SEVERAL OCCASSIONS, HAD THE REAR DIFFERENTAIL SEAL REPLACED TWO TIMES, WHICH DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. EVENTUALLY THE REAR END HAD TO BE REPLACED.*AK REAR END NOW SHUTTERS AND SHAKES LESS THEN 10,000 MILES AFTER IT WAS REPLACED.

Structure › Body › Hatchback/Liftgate
Filed Feb 1, 2005LA

NHTSA RECALL 04V442000 CONCERNING REAR LIFTGATE GLASS. NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE.*AK

Exterior Lighting › Turn Signal › Switch
Filed Dec 29, 200444,850 milesIL

LEFT TURN SIGNAL INOPERABLE AT TIMES. BULB REPLACED BUT DID NOT HELP. DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THAT CONNECTOR @ MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH DID NOT KEEP GOOD CONNECTION IN STEERING COLUMN. UNIT IS 2002 MODEL WITH LESS THAN 45,000 MILES. COST OF REPAIR EXCESSIVE. *NM

Structure › Body › Hatchback/Liftgate › Hinge and Attachments1 injured
Filed Sep 15, 200420,000 milesCA

THE HINGE FAILED ON THE LIFTGATE GLASS *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Rotor
Filed Aug 17, 200436,181 milesNJ

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP FROM ANY SPEED BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED. AS A RESULT, CONSUMER HAS TO STAND ON THEM IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE DEALER STATED THE ROTORS HAD BEEN CUT AND HOT SPOTS DEVELOPED. *AK

Seats › Front Assembly › ReclinerCrash2 injured
Filed Jul 16, 200460,000 milesNC

REAR ENDED , SUBSTAINED SURIOUS INJURIES, 2000 FORD EXPLORE DRIVER SEAT ROKE WHEN OTHER CAR REAR ENDED ME , IT WAS THE RECLINER BOLT. *AK

Tires
Filed Jun 30, 2004CO

WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED AND DURING RAIN OR SNOW VEHICLE HYDRO PLANED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO KEEP CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER INDICATED THAT GOODYEAR TIRES CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO HYDRO PLANE. CONSUMER WILL CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THIS ISSUE. GOODYEAR, SIZE 255/70R/16, DOT NUMBER T301936GRF70M4MWS. *AK

Fuel System, Other › Storage › Fuel Gauge System
Filed Jun 30, 2004CO

WHEN DRIVING CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE SHOWED THE WRONG GAS MEASUREMENTS. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited SlipCrash1 injured
Filed Jun 24, 200432,000 milesHI

WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH AND COMING INTO A TURN CONSUMER STARTED TO BRAKE. THE BRAKES GRABBED SEVERELY, AND CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHICH COLLIDED WITH A GUARD RAIL ON THE RIGHT SIDE, AND BOUNCED TO THE LEFT, COLLIDING WITH AN EMBANKMENT. CONSUMER STRUCK HER HEAD ON THE LEFT WINDOW, AND THEN DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. CONSUMER SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES FROM THE GLASS, AND BURNS FROM THE AIR BAGS. THE POLICE DID ARRIVED, AND CONSUMER WAS CITED. *AK

Power Train › Driveline › Differential Unit
Filed Jun 23, 200452,000 milesVA

IN AUGUST 2003, REPORTED TO DEALER THAT THE TRUCK WAS GROANING WHEN TURNING. SERVICE ADVISED THAT I WAS TURNING THE WHEEL TOO FAR AND RUBBING THE TIRES ON THE WHEEL WELLS. THIS WAS NOT POSSIBLE SINCE THE TIRES WERE THE ORIGINAL FACTORY INSTALLS. BY NOVEMBER, THE TRUCK WOULD HARDLY TURN WITHOUT DRAGGING THE BACK TIRES AND THE DEALER FOUND THERE WAS NO FLUID IN THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL REQUIRING A COMPLETE OVERHAUL. THEN, IN JUNE 2004, THE "NEW" SEALS FAILED ALLOWING THE FLUID TO, AGAIN, DRAIN OUT. DEALER IS CURRENTLY REPAIRING. *AK

Air BagsCrash1 injured1 killed
Filed May 10, 2004NV

I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS THE RIGHT PLACE TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT BUT ITS WORTH A SHOT. MY MOTHER OWNED A 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. MY BROTHER WAS DRIVING IT HOME TO KANSAS CITY FROM ST. LOUIS MISSOURI. THE WEATHER WAS PERFECT, THE ROADWAYS WERE PERFECT, THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, HE WASN'T SPEEDING. HOWEVER, HE DROVE OFF THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY, OVER CORRECTED IT TO GAIN CONTROL AND FISH-TAILED. WITNESSES SAY THAT IT LOOKED LIKE HE HAD CONTROL AGAIN AND THEN IT ROLLED, KILLING HIM. HIM AND THE PASSENGER WERE BOTH WEARING SEAT BELTS; HOWEVER, THE TOP CRUSHING HIM IN IS WHAT KILLED HIM. THESE VEHICLES LIKE OTHER SUV'S HAVE A HIGH ROLL-OVER RATE YET PEOPLE KEEP BUYING THEM. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO PREVENT ANY OTHER FAMILIES FROM EXPERIENCING THIS TRAGEDY. NOW OBVIOUSLY WHATEVER HAPPENS WON'T BRING ME BACK MY BROTHER BUT I'D HATE TO SEE THIS HAPPEN TO SOMEONE ELSE. WHY CAN'T THE TOPS BE MADE OUT OF A DIFFERENT MATERIAL? SOMETHING THAT MAKES THEM NOT TOP HEAVY AND SOMETHING THAT WON'T BUCKLE IF IT DOES ROLL? OR WHY NOT TAKE THEM OFF THE MARKET? I KNOW THAT IS A LITTLE DRASTIC SINCE WE KNOW THE DANGER BUT WE KEEP BUYING THEM, ITS KIND OF LIKE SMOKING A CIGARETTE. I JUST WANTED TO SPEAK MY VOICE IN HOPES WE CAN PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING TO SOMEONE ELSE. *LA

TiresCrash1 injured
Filed Mar 10, 200415,600 milesMN

WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE, THE PASSENGER TIRE BLEW UP. AT THE SAME TIME CONSUMER LOST THE CONTROL AND HIT THE GUARD RAIL. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. CONSUMER SUSTAINED ARM INJURY AND TWO FRACTURES, HAD 100 STITCHES. *AK

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Mar 8, 20041 milesMS

THE LIGHTING SYSTEM ON THE FORD EXPLORER SPORT, IS NOT GOOD FOR NIGHT DRIVING AT LONG DISTANCES, I HAVE A 98 FORD F-150 AND THE LIGHTS ARE MORE PROPER FOR THIS KIND OF DRIVING. THE NEW SYSTEM THAT IS BEING USED NOW, HAS POOR VISABILITY ON BRIGHT. THIS IS A PROBLEM SINCE I HAVE HAD THE SPORT. ALSO I HAVE NOTICED SEVERAL AUTO MANUFACTORS ARE USING THIS SYSTEM, WHICH COULD POSE A SAFETY HAZARD.*AK

Steering › Column Locking › Anti-theft DeviceCrash1 injured
Filed Jan 24, 2004MD

STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WHILE DRIVING ON 495 CAPITOL BELTWAY, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOOSE CONTROL AND COLLIDE INTO GUARDRAIL AND UTILITY POLE. COLLISION CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO VEHICLE AND INJURY TO DRIVER. *LA

Latches/Locks/Linkages › Hatchback/Liftgate › Lock
Filed Dec 29, 200311,000 milesKY

INTERMITTENTLY HATCH BACK LEVER WHEN PULLED UP TO OPEN THE HATCH FAILED TO RELEASE AND WENT BACK DOWN. WHEN THIS OCCURRED THE HATCH BACK WOULD NOT CLOSE. *AK

Seat Belts › Rear/Other
Filed Dec 2, 200313,864 milesAL

REAR SEAT BELTS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. *AK BOTH REAR SEAT BELTS WERE REPLACED. *TT THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO BUCKLE THE SEAT BELTS. *JB

Latches/Locks/Linkages › Doors › Latch
Filed Nov 5, 20036,000 milesCA

THE REAR DOORS WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE. ALSO, THE REAR WINDOWS WILL NOT GO UP OR DOWN. DEALER MADE REPAIRS THAT TEMPORARILY FIXED THE WINDOWS. THE PROBLEM RETURNED ABOUT TWO MONTHS AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE DONE. *AK

Seats › Front Assembly › Recliner
Filed Sep 23, 2003TX

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL# 03V281000 NOTICE CONCERNING HIGH BACK SEATS. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO KEPT THE VEHICLE ALL DAY. UPON RETURNING TO DEALER TO PICK UP VEHICLE CONSUMER REALIZED THAT DEALER DID NO REPAIRS BECAUSE THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE.*AK

Suspension
Filed Sep 2, 200316,625 milesVA

THE VEHICLE WAS HARD TO STEER AND CONTROL WHEN IT WAS DRIVEN AT SPEEDS AT AR OVER 70 MPH. THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT THE REAR SWAY BAR LINKS WERE WORN. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE REAR SWAY BARS, REAR SPRINGS AND REAR SHOCKS. *AK *NLM

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System › Hoses/Lines/Piping/Fittings
Filed Aug 18, 2003PA

I HAVE BEEN SMELLING ANTI-FREEZE. I JUST NOTICED THAT MY RADIATOR HOSE HAS BEEN RUBBING ON THE OIL FILL AND MADE A NICE BIG HOLE ON THAT SIDE AS WELL AS ON THE OTHER SIDE FROM ANOTHER MECHANISM UNDER THE HOOD. NICE ASSEMBLY. I OWNED MY TRUCK FOR 8 MONTHS NOW.*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Apr 14, 20035,600 milesKY

INTERMITTENTLY THE VEHICLE MISFIRED, IDLED ROUGH AND THEN VIBRATED. *JB

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Mar 10, 200320,000 milesMO

CONSUMER LOSS CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT SOME TREES, AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. ONE PERSON WAS INJURED. *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Mar 7, 20032,500 milesGA

THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING.*JB

Power Train
Filed Feb 24, 2003NY

CONSUMER WAS UNAWARE OF HOW TO CHECK TRANSMISSION FLUID LEVEL OR HOW TO ADD TRANSMISSION FLUID.*AK *JB

Fuel System, GasolineFire
Filed Feb 15, 2003GA

CANNOT PUT GAS IN VEHICLE. GAS POURS ALL OVER VEHICLE, GROUND, AND PERSON IF STANDING CLOSE TO GAS INLET. PH

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Jan 31, 2003PA

2002 FORD EXPLORE BOUGHT NEW IT HAS A SHAKING IN PARK OR IN WHILE YOU ARE AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT OR STUCK IN TRAFFIC NOW IT CUTS OFF WHEN YOU ARE READY TO GO THE WHOLE CAR SHAKES THE CALL IT RUNS ROUGH ITS BEEN BACK TO THEM 4 TIMES THEY SAY ITS NORMAL FIRST TIME THE SAID THEY PUT FORDS FIX,TO THE PROBLEM BUT THAT DID NOT FIX ?!@#$% .I ONLY GET 156 MILES TO THE TANK FULL,THEY SAID WHEN IT GETS 10,000 MILES ON IT THEN IL GET BETTER MILEAGE LIKE I BELIEVE THIS BS, IT ONLY HAD 503 MILES ON IT WHEN THEY SAID THAT SEEMS THE MORE MILES I GO THINGS GET WORSE. NOW THERE'S 5,345 MILES ON IT. *TR

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited SlipCrash
Filed Jan 3, 20032,800 milesCA

WHILE DRIVING AT 60-65 MILES HOUR,I SAW THE BRAKE LIGHTS OF THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES ON MY CAR ( EXPLORER SPORT 2002 )FOR THE FIRST 15 FEET MY CAR PARTIALLY SLOWED DOWN THEN IT FELT LIKE IT LOST TRACTION AND THE BACK SWUNG TO THE RIGHT,I GOT IT GOING STRAIGHT AGAIN AND KEPT THE PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE CAR KEPT GOING AT THE SAME SPEED CRASHING ON THE OTHER VEHICLE. LATTER I SAW STREAKS MARKS OF FLUID COMING OUT OF THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. TS

Tires
Filed Dec 23, 200219,116 milesTX

WHILE DRIVING AT 60/65 MPH THE BACK RIGHT TIRE BLOW OUT. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE TIRE WITH THE SAME MAKE/MODEL TIRE AND THAT TIRE IS WEARING ON THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE. THE DEARLERSHIP INDICATED THAT THE TIRE LOOKED LIKE IT HAD LOST AIR PRESSURE, BUT THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF PUNCTURE. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. TS

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Nov 23, 2002HI

NO SUMMARY. DT

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Nov 4, 2002CA

MY FATHER-IN-LAW HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. HE BOUGHT HIS 5 DAYS AFTER ME, HIS STALLED 5 TIMES TO THIS DATE. REMEMBER THE NEWS, (FOG AND MAJOR PILE UP WITH NUMEROUS DEATHS) WHAT WAS THE REASON ? I DON'T WANT THIS TO BE OUR ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. "INTERMITTENT" , COULDN'T "REPRODUCE" THE PROBLEM. NOT GOOD ENOUGH TO KEEP MY FAMILY SAFE. PLEASE HELP. DT

Seats › Mid/Rear Assembly
Filed Sep 27, 2002CA

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE REAR SEAT IS NOT LOCKED ON TRACK CAUSING THE SEAT TO MOVE BACKS AND FORTH WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. *MR

Suspension › Rear
Filed Mar 4, 2002MI

WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE WOULD SWAY LEFT TO RIGHT. TOOK TO DEALER AND DEALER INDICATED REAR AXLE TUBE WAS CROOKED.*AK CONSUMER TEST DROVE VEHICLE PRIOR TO PURCHASE AND HAD MENTIONED TO DEALER THAT THE VEHICLE SWAYED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *TT

Reading these

NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

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