2002 Ford Explorer complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH THE OVERDRIVE AND SERVICE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE TRANSMISSION CONVERTER BODY WAS REBUILT. IN ADDITION, REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE OVERDRIVE PISTON, OVERDRIVE SPEED SENSOR, OVERDRIVE BAND, CARRIER PLANTER, AND REVERSE BOARD BUSHING. THE MECHANIC ALSO REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE AND WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,411 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,445. UPDATED 2/28/11 *CN UPDATED 06/03/11*JB

LEFT SIDE COIL SPRING SNAPPED SUDDENLY WHILE CAR WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY. *TR

ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS HARD TO PRESS, RPM REMAINED HIGH 3000 - 4000. EVENTUALLY THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP, ACCELERATOR WAS STUCK - GO WAS GOING 70 MPH. HAD TO STRUT OF ENGINE MECHANIC REPLACE ACCELERATOR CABLE - NOTED CABLE WAS KINKED AND FRAYED - VERY DANGEROUS AND THAT I SHOULD REPORT IT. *TR

MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSION FAILED. I WAS TRAVELING ON AN ON RAMP. WHEN THE O/D LIGHT STARTED TO FLICKER AND THERE WAS A SUDDEN POWERFUL JERK. IT WAS SIMILAR TO GETTING REAR ENDED. THE FAILURE OCCURS ABOVE 35 MPH. THE CONSEQUENCES ARE SUDDEN UNCONTROLLABLE JERKS. IN ORDER TO CORRECT THE FAILURE THE TRANSMISSION MUST BE REBUILT FOR A VEHICLE UNDER 80,000 MILES. *TR

THE TRANSMISSION IN OUR 2002 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER STARTED FLASHING THE OD LIGHT @94,000 MILES TOOK IT TO FORD THEY SAID THE VALVE BODY AND TORQUE CONVERTER WAS BAD, FORD REPLACED THE ITEMS ABOVE FOR 2600 DOLLARS PROBLEM WENT AWAY FOR 10, 000 MILES PROBLEM IS BACK TORQUE CONVERTER AND VALVE BODY NEEDSTO BE REPLACED AGAIN. *TR

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION NEEDS REPLACED

WE PURCHASED A USED 2002 EXPLORER LTD. IN JULY 2010. THE CAR HAD 62,500 MILES ON IT AND LOOKED TO BE IN GREAT SHAPE. THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD ALL THE SERVICE PAPERS AND WE CHECKED CARFAX AND WE SAW NO REASON NOT TO PURCHASE THE CAR. WE SHOULD HAVE CHECKED CARCOMPLAINTS.COM THOUGH. AS I WRITE THIS, THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED. ACCORDING TO WHAT I READ ON THE INTERNET THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM FOR EARLY 2000'S FORD EXPLORERS. HOW CAN I SHELL OUT $2500 OR MORE FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION?? FORD SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR PRODUCING THIS LEMON'THAT I HAVE ONLY OWNED 5 MONTHS. ARE THERE ANY CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS BEING FILED AGAINST FORD MOTOR COMPANY FOR THIS PROBLEM? I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING. *TR

2002 FORD EXPLORER XLS, DRIVING O/D LIGHT CAME ON AND TRANSMISSION STARTED FAILING TO SHIFT CORRECTLY, NEEDS COMPLETE TRANSMISSION REBUILD. *TR

BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH INOPERATIVE (STAYS STUCK ON). *TR

2002 FORD EXPLORER - EDDIE BAUER EDITION. TRANSMISSION O/D LIGHT TURNED ON WHEN DRIVING UP A HILL. CAR HAS LESS THAN 80,000 MILES ON IT! READ THE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT OTHER 2002 FORD EXPLORERS: HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/EXPLORER/2002/TRANSMISSION/O_D_LIGHT_IS_BLINKING.SHTML PLEASE HELP. *TR

I OWN A 2002 FORD EXPLORER, THERE ARE CRACKS ON THE BACK PANEL BELOW THE REAR WINDOW, THESE SEEM TO HAPPEN IN COLD WEATHER. I HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER FORD EXPLORERS WITH SIMILAR CRACKS. I GOT AN ESTIMATE AND IT IS 1500.00 TO FIX. FORD SHOULD FIX THIS! *TR

I WAS DRIVING AND MY OD LIGHT STARTED FLASHING. A FEW MILES LATER MY CARS RPMS WENT UP AND MY CAR SLOWED DOWN, CAUSING MY TO QUICKLY PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO AVOID BEING REAR ENDED. I TRIED TO DRIVE IT TO THE STORE A FEW DAYS LATER AND I GOT ABOUT 1/4 OF A MILE DOWN THE ROAD WHEN I HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THE CAR DID THE SAME THING. I HAVE MY CAR SITTING IN THE DRIVE WAY WAITING TO GET IT INTO BE LOOKED AT. SINCE THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED IN UNDER TWO YEARS, I KNOW THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS HAVING ISSUES AND MORE THAN LIKELY I WILL HAVE TO HAVE IT REPLACED. *TR

2002 FORD EXPLORER, 274K MILES. TRANSMISSION BEGAN MAKING GRINDING NOISE; HAD IT REBUILT BY A REPUTABLE TRANSMISSION SHOP. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, IF BRAKING HARD, THE ENGINE JUST STOPS AND ALL POWER IS LOST. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES, YET IT STARTS RIGHT BACK UP WHEN I TURN THE IGNITION KEY. MECHANIC CANNOT GET ANY CODES TO SHOW UP. SIX MONTHS LATER, OVERDRIVE OFF LIGHT FLICKERS OR FLASHES FAIRLY REGULARLY, SHIFTING BETWEEN GEARS IS ROUGH AND IT WON'T STAY IN OVERDRIVE. ONCE REACHING OVERDRIVE, IT BECOMES 'MUSHY' AND SLIPS BACK AND FORTH, LOSING SPEED WHILE RPMS BOUNCE BETWEEN 1,500 AND 3,000. TRANSMISSION SHOP HAS CHECKED IT AGAIN, SAYS IT IS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE AND THAT I NEED TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER. DEALER CLAIMS THAT THERE IS ONLY ONE RECALL OUT ON THIS CAR AND IT IS FOR THE SPEED (CRUISE) CONTROL AND THAT THIS WOULD NOT HAVE ANY EFFECT ON THE TRANSMISSION. 4X4 HIGH LIGHT FLASHES WHENEVER THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD BE GOING INTO OVERDRIVE, BUT THAT EVENTUALLY STOPS. I'VE HAD TO RESORT TO DRIVING WITH OVERDRIVE TURNED OFF, WHICH IS THE ONLY WAY I CAN GET THE TRANSMISSION TO OPERATE SMOOTHLY WITHOUT ALL OF THE LIGHTS. THIS CAUSES ME TO HAVE TO RUN THE CAR AT HIGHER RPMS AND DECREASED FUEL EFFICIENCY. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT AT THE DEALERSHIP TOMORROW FOR THE RECALL AND I'M HOPING THAT MAYBE THERE IS SOMEONE THERE WHO IS HONEST ENOUGH TO HELP. WENT TO ANOTHER TRANSMISSION SHOP WHO INFORMED ME THAT THIS IS A VERY WELL-KNOWN PROBLEM, THAT THEY REBUILD THESE TRANMISSIONS REGULA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, SHE NOTICED A LARGE CRACK FROM THE REAR LIFTGATE PANEL GOING DOWN. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 65,916.

ON THE AFTERNOON OF DEC. 10, 2010 AT APPROXIMATELY 2:45 PM I NOTICED A LARGE CRACK ON THE REAR PANEL OF MY '02 FORD EXPLORER - EDDIE BAUER ED. I HAD ASSUMED THAT THIS WAS VANDALISM AND REPORTED IT TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. ON MONDAY I GOOGLED THE DESCRIPTION OF THE DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE AND COME TO FIND OUT THAT IT WAS ACTUALLY A DEFECT IN FORD EXPLORERS - '02 - '04. I CONTACTED THE FORD COMPANY WHO TOOK MY COMPLAINT AND REFERRED ME TO MY NEAREST FORD DEALERSHIP. IN SPEAKING WITH THE REP AT THE DEALERSHIP THEY INFORMED ME THAT THIS WAS NOT A "SAFETY DEFECT" AND THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I WAS TOLD THAT THE ESTIMATED COST WOULD BE BETWEEN $450-500. I ALSO READ THAT BACK IN 2006 WHEN THIS DEFECT OCCURRED THAT FORD WAS PROVIDING A "SPECIAL ASSISTANCE OUT-OF-WARRANTY" ON EXPLORERS WHERE THEY WOULD PAY ALL BUT $100. NOW APPARENTLY SINCE JAN. 2007 THEY HAVE STOPPED THIS AND NOT THE OWNERS ARE TO PAY FOR THE FULL COST OF THE REPAIR. I DO NOT SEE THIS AS BEING FAIR DUE TO THE FACT THIS DAMAGED WAS NOT DUE TO MY OWN DOING OR ANOTHER PARTY. FORD SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS REPAIR IF NOT ALL, AT LEAST HALF. *TR

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION EXPERIENCED COMPLETE FAILURE OF BAND(S) FOR GEARS 3-4. DEALER OFFERED REPAIR FOR ABOUT $2000, BUT NOT RECOMMENDED AS ONLY RECEIVE 12 MONTH / 12K MILE WARRANTY FOR REPLACED PARTS AND NO LABOR AND NOT TRANSFERABLE. OPTED FOR TOTAL REPLACEMENT WITH FORD AUTHORIZED REMANUFACTURED COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FOR $3500 WITH 36 MONTH / UNLIMITED MILEAGE AND FULLY TRANSFERABLE. DIFFICULT TO ACCEPT A TRANSMISSION WOULD EXPERIENCE SUCH DRASTIC FAILURE WITH SO FEW MILES, NORMAL SUBURBAN DRIVING AND NO TRAILERING.

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER AND THE TRANSMISSION JUST WENT OUT ON IT. I WILL TELL THE STORY FROM THE BEGINNING. OK SO I WAS ABOUT 30 MINS AWAY FROM MY HOME AND DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY BACK HOME WHEN THE OD LIGHT STARTED BLINKING VERY FAST. THEN I GET OFF THE FREEWAY AND STOP AND THE RED LIGHT THEN WHEN I STARTED TO GO THE TRANSMISSION STARTED DOING ALL SORTS OF CRAZY [XXX] IT WAS CHANGING GEARS LIKE CRAZY AND FINALLY SETTLE OUT. THEN RIGHT BEFORE I TURN IN MY DRIVE THE TRANSMISSION JUST QUITS! IT JUST STOPPED! I PUT IT IN PARK THEN DRIVE AND NOTHING...NO SOUND.. NO MOVEMENT IT WOULD JUST ROLL BACKWARDS. SO NOW IT SITTING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE I PUSHED IT TO. ALL OF THIS HAPPENED IN 30 MINS! NOTHING WAS WRONG BEFORE THIS HAPPENED.!!!! PLEASE SOMEONE HELP AND LETS GET THIS TO BE RECALLED! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

2002 FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSION JUMPED WHEN PUT IN REVERSE HIT A PARKED CAR. WHEN YOU SLOW DOWN IT SLIPS OUT OF GEAR AND WONT GO. I HAVE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. IM SCARED THAT IT WILL FAIL AGAIN WHILE ON THE FREEWAY AND MY FAMILY AND I WILL BE HURT OR EVEN KILLED. ITS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. *TR

I WAS TRAVELING TO MT. WASHINGTON, KY. FROM LORAIN, OHIO, ( APPROX. 330 MILES). WE STOPPED AT THE REST ARE AT THE HALFWAY MARK, BETWEEN WASHINGTON CH, OH. & JEFFERSONVLLE, OH. WHEN WE CAME BACK OUT, STARTED THE CAR, & IT WOULDN'T GO INTO REVERSE. PUSHED IT OUT OF THE PARKING SPOT & IT WOULDN'T GO IN DRIVE EITHER. ABOUT 30 MILES BEFORE, IT MADE SOME CLUNKING NOISES & IT FELT LIKE WE HAD A FLAT TIRE. I TOOK IT OUT OF CRUISE CONTROL & IT DROVE NORMALLY UNTIL THE REST AREA. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO WASHINGTON COURTHOUSE & THEN BACK HOME ON MONDAY, NOV., 29TH, (AT MY OWN EXPENSE). APPROXIMATE COST OF REPAIR TO DATE WAS $2969. I HAD MY DAUGHTER & 6 YR. OLD GREAT GRANDDAUGHTER WITH ME & I FEEL THIS COULD HAVE POSSIBLY ENDED WITH DISASTROUS RESULTS. FORD HAS KNOWN ABOUT THESE FAULTY TRANSMISSIONS PROBABLY FROM DAY 1. I'M NOT TRYING TO JUST BLAST FORD, HAPPEN TO BE AN EMPLOYEE. I FEEL THEY NEED TO MAN UP & TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM BEFORE IT LEADS TO SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES. *TR

VEHICLE RECALLED FOR A PART CAUSING ENGINE FIRES. TRANSMISSION FAILURE, MAKES THE VEHICLE UNABLE TO SHIFT COST OF REPAIR I CANNOT AFFORD AT THIS TIME ( NEW IS $ 3000 ). *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN SHE NOTICED A LARGE CRACK IN THE REAR LIFT GATE, DIRECTLY BELOW THE REAR WINDOW. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 92,000. UPDATED05/04/11 *BF UPDATED 05/09/11

2002 FORD EXPLORER. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH TIRES *TGW THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A TIRE BLOW ON THE RIGHT REAR TIRE. WHEN TRIPLE AAA ARRIVED, THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE REAR COIL SPRING ALONG WITH 3 LUG NUTS HAD FAILED. IN JULY 2010, THREE MORE LUG NUTS BROKE AGAIN. *JB

WHILE PICKING UP MY PASTOR AT THE DULLES AIRPORT, I SHIFTED MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER INTO PARK. BEFORE I COULD EVEN REACH PARK, THE SHIFT HANDLE DETACHED ITSELF FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AND WAS LIMP IN HAND. THE ONLY THING LEFT ATTACHED, WAS THE WIRING CABLE. I COULDN'T GET THE KEYS IN OR OUT OF THE IGNITION, MOST LIKELY BECAUSE IT WASN'T IN PARK NOR IN REVERSE. OF NOTE, BECAUSE OF THAT, IT WAS VERY HARD TO GET A TOW TRUCK GUY TO ACCEPT THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR DRAGGING IT ONTO THE FLAT BED TRUCK. THE PIECE THAT BROKE WAS JUST A SMALL ALUMINUM CAST PIN. WHEN THE FORD DEALERSHIP CALLED ME THE NEXT DAY WITH A QUOTE FOR REPAIR, I WAS SHOCKED AT THE PRICE, $2145.00. I WAS TOLD I NEEDED A WHOLE NEW STEERING COLUMN BECAUSE THE PART THAT'S BROKEN COULDN'T BE REPAIRED WITH IN THE COLUMN ITSELF. THAT'S WHEN I WENT ON LINE AND SEARCHED FOR SIMILAR PROBLEMS. I WAS AGHAST TO FIND HUNDREDS WITH SIMILAR OR EXACT SAME PROBLEMS I HAD. MY QUESTION IS, WHY ISN'T THERE A RE-CALL FOR THIS PARTICULAR DEFECT SINCE SO MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THIS SMALL PIN? IF NO RECALL, WHY CAN'T FORD HELP FINANCIALLY OR AT LEAST, PARTIALLY TO HELP OFFSET THIS HIGH EXPENSE FOR SUCH A SMALL FIX? I AM ON A FIXED INCOME AND A SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLAR REPAIR SETS US BACK SIGNIFICANTLY. DOES ANYBODY HAVE A SOLUTION? DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY OTHER OPTIONS TO GET FORD TO HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM, I'M DESPERATE. THANK YOU ALL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE REAR HATCH WINDOW EXPLODED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE WINDOW ACCORDING TO RECALL 01I010000 (VISIBILITY: GLASS, SIDE/REAR) BUT THE FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE A TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000.

THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER FELL OFF THE STEERING COLUMN WHILE PUTTING THE CAR INTO PARK. IT IS HELD ON ONLY BY THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION. *TR

THE FUEL GAUGE, MOST OF THE TIME, DOES NOT WORK. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN USING THE REAR LIFTGATE, IT WOULD NOT STAY OPEN AND IT WOULD CLOSE UNEXPECTEDLY. THE VEHICLE HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN REPAIRED ACCORDING TO RECALL 04V442000 STRUCTURE BODY HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE, HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THE REPAIRS HAD BEEN DONE ACCORDING TO THE RECALL AND HE HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS AT HIS OWN EXPENSE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 82,000.

WHEN DRIVING THE O/D LIGHT CAME ON AND STARTED FLASHING ERRATICALLY, THEN I WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. THE ONLY WAY I CAN SHIFT FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR IS IF I LET THE RPM'S GO UP ABOVE 3,000 AND 4,000. THEN I CAN TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE GAS AND IT WILL SWITCH INTO 3RD GEAR. I HAVE NOT DROVE THE TRUCK SINCE IT STARTED DOING THIS, THE ONLY TIME I HAVE DROVE IT WAS TO GO TO THE MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC SAYS IT IS WHAT MAKES THE GEARS SHIFT THAT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. THE ONLY WAY TO FIX IT IS TO PUT A NEW OR REBUILT TRANSMISSION INTO MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER. ON THE WAY HOME FROM THE MECHANIC IT STARTED SLAMMING INTO GEARS.

2002 FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSION FAILURE WITH ONLY 87,899 MILES ON VEHICLE , I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER 4DAYS AFTER HAVING THE ABOUT HARD SHIFTING AND GEARS BANGING .THEY MADE ADJUSTMENT TO THE PCM ,BUT A MONTH LATER IT STARTED AGAIN,3YR LATER WITHOUT PUTTING OVER 30,000 ON THE TRANNY IS BROKEN. *TR

O/D LIGHT STARTED FLASHING, SUDDENLY MY CAR STOPPED SHIFTING CORRECTLY. THE CAR WAS NEVER DRIVEN HARD AND IS AN AUTOMATIC. AFTER TAKING IT TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP AND DOING SOME RESEARCH I FOUND THAT MY TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPLACED AND THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND COSTS AROUND 3000 DOLLARS TO REPLACE. *TR

MY FORD 2002 EXPLORER HAS EXCESSIVE BUBBLING AND PEELING OF PAINT ON THE FRONT EDGE OF THE HOOD. REPORTED THREE TIMES TO FORD ONLY TO BE TOLD, "NOT COVERED BY MY WARRANTY". SEEN HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON INTERNET. *TR

GOT INTO MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER TODAY AND MY OVERDRIVE LIGHT WAS FLASHING AND WHEN I DROVE OFF, IT REVVED UP IN THE 300-400 RPM AND SHIFTED VERY HARD. I HAVE NEVER DRIVEN OFFROAD OR VERY HARD AT ALL. TAKING IT TO A MECHANIC MONDAY, BUT WE HAVE DEALT WITH ENOUGH CARS TO KNOW THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING TO BLOW UP SOON. *TR

DURING THE 90,000 MILE SERVICING OF THIS VEHICLE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR COIL SPRINGS ON OUR 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT HAD RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WE DO NOT RESIDE IN A COASTAL AREA RESULTING IN EXPOSURE TO THE SALTY OCEAN SPRAY NOR DO WE DRIVE THIS VEHICLE IN OFF ROAD SITUATIONS THAT WOULD CAUSE WATER TO ACCUMULATE UNDER THE VEHICLE. FOR THESE REASONS THERE IS NO APPARENT CAUSE FOR THE COIL SPRINGS TO PREMATURELY RUST THROUGH. I DON'T WANT TO THINK WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED TO MY WIFE OR I IF THESE SPRINGS WOULD HAVE FALLEN COMPLETELY OFF WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING OPERATED. *TR

2002 FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSION EXPERIENCED PROBLEM. THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING AND THE VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. THERE WAS NO DOWN HILL ENGINE BRAKING. I STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. WHEN I RESTARTED THE VEHICLE THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT WAS OFF AND REMAINED OFF FOR A FEW WEEKS. IT IS NOW BACK ON AGAIN. I FEEL THAT THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL AND NOT PROVIDING BRAKING WHEN GOING DOWN A HILL IS A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

ON 8/15/09, [XXX]WAS OPERATING HIS 2002 FORD EXPLORER IN HOUSTON, TX WHEN THE EXPLORER WAS STRUCK FROM THE REAR BY A PICKUP TRUCK. DURING THE COLLISION, [XXX]SEAT BACK COLLAPSED AND, ALTHOUGH HE HAD BEEN WEARING HIS SEAT BELT, HE WAS EJECTED THROUGH BROKEN-OUT REAR WINDOW GLAZING. [XXX] SUSTAINED MULTIPLE BLUNT FORCE INJURIES FROM WHICH HE DIED. THE SEAT BACK IN THE 2002 EXPLORER IS ATTACHED TO A RECLINER MECHANISM ON EACH SIDE OF THE SEAT. THE RECLINER MECHANISMS ARE ATTACHED TO THE SEAT CUSHION FRAME BY SPIRAL COIL PINS. WHEN THE EXPLORER WAS STRUCK FROM THE REAR, THE VEHICLE MOVED FORWARD IN RELATION TO [XXX] BODY, CAUSING HIS BODY TO LOAD THE DRIVER'S SEAT BACK. AS THIS OCCURRED, THE FORCE OF THE SEAT BACK BEING MOVED REARWARD BY [XXX] BODY CAUSED THE RECLINER MECHANISMS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE SEATS TO MOVE FORWARD; AS THEY DID SO, THEY CONTACTED THE SPIRAL COIL PINS, AND FRACTURED THOSE PINS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE SEAT. WHEN THE SPIRAL COIL PINS FAILED, THE SEAT BACK COLLAPSED ONTO THE REAR SEAT CUSHION, AND [XXX] WAS EJECTED INTO THE CARGO AREA OF THE EXPLORER AND THEN OUT OF THE REAR WINDOW GLAZING. [XXX] SUFFERED MUTLIPLE BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA INJURIES, WHICH TOOK HIS LIFE. UPON INVESTIGATION, INCLUDING COMPARISON OF A NUMBER OF OTHER, EXEMPLAR DRIIVER'S SEATS FROM 2002 EXPLORERS, IT HAS BECOME CLEAR THAT THE SPIRAL COIL PINS ARE DEFECTIVELY INSTALLED IN MANY EXPLORER SEATS. THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT IS MANIFESTED BY THE SPIRAL COIL PINS BEING INSERTED THROUGH MATING HOLES O

I AM SO DISGUSTED AFTER READING ALL THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE 2002 FORD EXPLORER. I TOO HAVE THE AIRBAG PROBLEM, THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE AIRBAG PRETENTIONER AND IT IS $650.00, NOW MY AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IF I GET INTO AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE THE EXTENDED DELUXE WARRANTY THAT WONT COVER IT. I ALSO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE REAR TEMP AND MODE ACTUATORS THAT FAILED AND BINDING AGAIN NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY THAT IS $510.00 TO REPAIR. I TRULY THINK FORD SHOULD RECALL THESE SAME PROBLEMS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO THIRD GEAR. THE CONTACT NOTICED A RECALL FOR THE POWER TRAIN TRANSMISSION. DUE TO THE VIN THE VEHICLE WAS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD EXTEND THE RECALL TO MORE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS SINCE THIS WAS A KNOWN SAFETY ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.

TRANSMISSION ON MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER FAILED FOR THE 2ND TIME IN 2009 OF DECEMBER. I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THIS HAPPEN AND COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *TR

WHILE RAISING THE GLASS SECTION OF THE LIFTGATE ON MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER, THE LEFT STRUT BECAME DISENGAGED, AND THE BACK GLASS EXPLODED. WE WERE VERY LUCKY THAT NO ONE WAS HURT, AS MY BROTHER LITERALLY HAD THE GLASS IN HIS HANDS WHEN IT EXPLODED, AND MY DAUGHTER AND I WERE STANDING RIGHT NEXT TO HIM. PLEASE NOTE, THE GLASS DID NOT MERELY SHATTER. IT EXPLODED. I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE FROM CARMAX LAST YEAR, AND FOUND THAT THERE WERE A COUPLE OF RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE THAT HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN CARE OF, ONE OF WHICH INCLUDED THE REPLACEMENT OF THE STRUT BRACKETS AND HINGES ON THE LIFTGATE. UPON REVIEWING MY SERVICE INVOICE, I FOUND THAT ONLY THE LIFTGATE HINGES WERE REPLACED; THE STRUT BRACKETS WERE NOT. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP WHO PERFORMED THE RECALL SERVICE ORIGINALLY, AND THEY NOTIFIED FORD. FORD CLAIMED THAT THE STRUTS HAD BEEN REPLACED IN 2002 ~ WHICH WAS TWO YEARS BEFORE THE RECALL EVEN OCCURRED. THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT COVER ANY OF THE REPAIR. HOW DO I KNOW THAT FAULTY STRUTS WERE NOT INSTALLED IN 2002, SINCE THE RECALL DIDN'T EVEN OCCUR UNTIL 2 YEARS LATER? I HAVE READ OTHER COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THIS, AND IT IS AMAZING THAT FORD GETS AWAY WITH THIS! THIS IS MY LAST FORD, THAT'S FOR SURE! THIS IS MY SECOND EXPLORER, AND I HAVE BEEN A VERY LOYAL CUSTOMER, BUT NO MORE! FORD DOES NOT STAND BEHIND IT'S PRODUCT AND THEY APPARENTLY DO NOT CARE ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THEIR CUSTOMERS. *TR

I HAVE FORD EXPLORER 2002 O/D LIGHT IS BLINKING AND HAVING PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION. *TR

FORD EXPLORER WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF 2ND GEAR. THE VEHICLE IS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT WITH 4.0 L V-6, AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. TOOK IN TO MY MECHANIC AND HE ADVISED ME TO TAKE IT TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP SINCE THE READOUT FAULT CODES INDICATED MAJOR FAILURE. VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 80,000 MILES AND HAS BEEN WELL TAKEN CARE OF SINCE IT WAS NEW. *TR

TRANSMISSION IS FAILING IN MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER 4X4. A LOCAL TRANSMISSION SHOP CONFIRMED THAT MY FEAR THAT THE GEARS WERE NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY WAS DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION FAILING. IT WILL COST $2400 TO $2800 TO REPAIR. BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION IS SEALED IT WILL COST EXTRA. ONLY THROUGH THE FIRST HALF OF THE YEAR OF 2002 WERE THE EXPLORERS MADE WITH THIS TRANSMISSION AND MINE WAS MANUFACTURED IN MAY 2001. *TR

TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON 2002 FORD EXPLORER IN 2007 AT 88,000 MILES AND 2010 AT 140,000 MILES. FIRST TIME OD LIGHT CAME ON, I DROVE IT HOME 3 MILES AND THEN WAS NOT DRIVEABLE. SECOND TIME NO WARNING OR LIGHT AND IT SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR AS I WAS CROSSING THE BOULEVARD. ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION AND REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION ARE NOT QUALITY AND FAILED. FIRST TIME I WAS ON THE FREEWAY AND ABLE TO COAST HOME AND THE SECOND TIME CROSSING A BOULEVARD WHEN IT SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR. IT'S AS IF FORD PUT ON DISPOSABLE PARTS FOR CONSUMERS TO REPLACEMENT EVERY SEVERAL YEARS CONVENIENTLY AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRES. I SPENT OVER $5,600 THE FIRST TIME AND OVER $3,400 THE SECOND TIME. *TR

THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING,CLUNKING AND THE O/D LIGHT IS FLASHING. JUST PAID THIS PIECE OF JUNK OFF AND NOW WAITING TO HERE FROM THE DEALER WHERE WE BOUGHT IT FOR THAT OH FAMILIAR QUOTE OF 3000 TO 4000 TO FIX. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAD ISSUES SHIFTING GEARS AND WHEN SHE WOULD TURN CORNERS, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHIFT OUT OF GEAR. OTHER TIMES, SHE HAD ISSUES SHIFTING INTO DRIVE AND MOVING FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED IN 2008 AT A REPAIR SHOP. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. WHEN THE CONTACT PLACED THE VEHICLE IN PARK (WITH THE ENGINE ON) AND WENT INTO A STORE, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND HIT A BUILDING AND THEN MOVED BACK AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT A COMPONENT OF THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD NOT ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO LOCK INTO GEAR. THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPAIRED. HOWEVER, AFTER THE REPAIR, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 140,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000. UPDATED 10/21/11*LJ

TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT IN 2005. WE'VE ONLY AVERAGED ABOUT 10,000 MILES PER YEAR SINCE THE REBUILD. *TR

TRANSMISSION DOES NOT ENGAGE WHEN PUT IN DRIVE UNTIL 3000 RPMS. I WAS PULLING OUT IN TRAFFIC AND WAS ALMOST HIT BY ANOTHER CAR BECAUSE MINE WAS NOT ENGAGING TO MOVE THE CAR. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON ON THE 2002 FORD EXPLORER. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE. THE DEALER STATED THAT IT WAS THE SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER. THE FIRST THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY; YET, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY RISK. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24963 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80000.

FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION IN 2002 FORD EXPLORER - KNOWN PROBLEM OF MANY VEHICLES MADE MY FORD ESPECIALLY THIS MODEL/YEAR. BUT NO RECALLS OR HELP IN FIXING THIS PROBLEM. HAD TO REPLACE MINE COSTING $2600 IN PARTS AND LABOR. *TR