2002 Ford Explorer complaints

STARTED CAR AND WHEN I PUT CAR IN DRIVE, SHIFT GEAR ON 2002 EXPLORER JUST FELL OFF THIS IS HAPPENING ALL OVER THE USA I COULD HAVE BEEN DRIVING AND THIS COULD HAVE HAPPEN. MY WIFE AND CHILD COULD HAVE BEEN DRIVING. DO PEOPLE HAVE TO DIE TO MAKE THIS A RECALL WHY ISN'T THIS A RECALL. *TR

AFTER HEARING SEVERAL DIFFERENT NOISES COMING FROM THE EXPLORER, I TOOK IT IN TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. I WAS TOLD THAT THE FRONT STRUTS WERE BROKEN AND NEEDED REPLACED. I PAID TO HAVE THOSE REPLACED. AFTER LEAVING, I CONTINUED TO HEAR A SECOND NOISE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT AGAIN. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULDN'T FIND ANY PROBLEM. AFTER ANOTHER WEEK I DIDN'T HEAR THE NOISE ANYMORE. I THEN STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH A CHUGGING OCCURRING IN THE ENGINE. WHILE HAVING THIS SERVICED, I WAS TOLD THAT THE REAR SPRINGS WERE BROKEN AND THE STRUTS ALSO NEED REPLACED. THE FIRST ESTIMATE FOR THE REAR SPRINGS AND STRUTS WAS $780! SO FAR ON THE 2002 EXPLORER I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT (50K MILES), OD SENSOR REPLACED (45K MILES), ABS SENSOR REPLACED (45K MILES), REAR CONTROL ARM REPLACED (75K MILES), FRONT STRUTS (78K MILES), AND REAR LATCH REPLACED (RECALL). THE EMERGENCY BRAKE (75K MILES) ALSO NEEDED REPLACED. WHEN THE CONTROL ARM WAS REPLACED, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE CRUMBLED APART. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT I AM LUCKILY THE BROKEN SPRING DID NOT PIERCE THE TIRE AND CAUSE A BLOWOUT. THE SPRINGS/STRUTS AND THE TRANSMISSION ARE COMMON PROBLEMS AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. BETWEEN PAYING OUT OF POCKET AND THE ISSUES COVERED BY AN AFTER MARKET WARRANTY, OVER $5000 HAVE BEEN SPENT ON A VEHICLE 7 YEARS OLD WITH ONLY 79000 MILES. THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER TOWED ANYTHING OR BEEN DRIVEN OFF ROAD. *TR

SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF 2002 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED. I'VE HAD TWO FORD VEHICLES BLOW A SPARK PLUG THIS YEAR. *TR

I WAS CHANGING THE REAR BRAKES ON MY MOTHERS 2002 FORD EXPLORER AND FOUND THAT THE LEFT REAR COIL SPRING WAS BROKEN IN 2 PLACES AND CRACKED QUITE SOME DISTANCE THROUGH THE CENTER OF THE SPRING. I LOOKED ONLINE TO SEE IF THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND IT TURNS OUT IT IS A HUGE PROBLEM. THE FIRST LINK I CLICKED ON LEAD ME TO A FORUM WITH 92 THREADS WERE PEOPLE HAVE HAD BROKEN SPRINGS ON THEIR 2002 EXPLORER. THIS IS CLEARLY A WIDESPREAD ISSUE. I DO HAVE THE OLD SPRING, BUT AM MISSING ONE PART BECAUSE IT MUST HAVE FALLEN OUT WHILE DRIVING. *TR

FAULTY TRANSMISSION. WAS REPLACED AT 58,049 MILES WITH A RE-MANUFACTURED ONE DIRECT FROM FORD. 85,374 MILES AND IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. LESS THAN 20 DAYS AFTER THE THREE YEAR WARRANTY, BUT MILEAGE IS STILL UNDER. THIS MADE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE, AND WAS DANGEROUS WHEN DRIVING IN TRAFFIC ON THE INTERSTATE. I HAVE TWO SMALL CHILDREN THAT RIDE IN THIS VEHICLE AND DO NOT APPRECIATE THAT THIS HAS BEEN A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE MODEL YEAR, THERE IS A PART OF THE SOLENOID THAT COULD LITERALLY BLOW A HOLE IN THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH COULD CAUSE A VEHICLE FIRE, AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO HOLD FORD ACCOUNTABLE BY OUR GOVERNMENT. WE WANT PEOPLE TO BUY AMERICAN, YET AREN'T HOLDING THE MANUFACTURERS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE QUALITY OF THE PRODUCTS THEY PUT OUT, NOR WILL THEY THEMSELVES STAND BEHIND A KNOWN ISSUE AND MAKE IT RIGHT FOR THE THOUSANDS OF CONSUMERS THAT GAVE THEM OUR HARD EARNED MONEY AND PURCHASED FROM THEM. I'VE OWNED FIVE OTHER BRANDS OF VEHICLES, WHICH HAD MORE MILEAGE ON ALL OF THEM THAN I CURRENTLY HAVE ON THIS VEHICLE, AND NEVER HAD ISSUES WITH A TRANSMISSION ON ANY OF THEM. YOU ASK SEVERAL QUESTIONS BELOW RELATING TO FIRE, DAMAGE, CRASH, DEATH OR INJURIES. IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE A FIRE OR CRASH OCCURS BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. A FAULTY TRANSMISSION COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IN HEAVY TRAFFIC BECAUSE OF NON-PERFORMANCE, NOT TO MENTION THAT THE NOISE IT MADE WAS VERY SCARY AND I'M LUCKY THAT NOISE ALONE DID NOT CAUSE ME TO LOSE FOCUS AND HAVE AN ACC

TRANNY SLIPS ON 2002 FORD EXPLORER HAD MY KIDS IN CAR DID NOT ACCELERATE ALMOST GOT HIT IN AN INTERSECTION. CHANGED SOLENOID WAS GOOD FOR COUPLE MONTHS THEN STARTED SLIPPING AND MAKING CLUNKING NOISE NEW TRANNY COST ME $2400 @ YRS LATER STARTING AGAIN WITH THE BLINKING O/D LITE. *TR

BEING DOING SOME RESEARCH ONLINE ABOUT THE "O/D" LIGHT BLINKING ON MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER. FROM WHAT I FOUND, THE RESULTS HAVE BEEN ASTOUNDING. EVERY ISSUE I FOUND ON BLINKING O/D IN MY RESEARCH LED TO HAVING TO REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION; AVG. COSTS BEING AROUND $2600. EVEN AFTER THE REPAIRS, THEY STATE THAT THE ISSUES STILL CONTINUE AND SPEND OVER $1000 ON SOMETHING ELSE THE DEALERS SAY IS WRONG. ONE SITE, AUTOBEEF.COM, HAD APPROXIMATELY 740 COMPLAINTS (I STOPPED READING AFTER 150) ON THIS ISSUE. BEFORE I PAY OUT OVER $3000, I JUST WANT TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS ISSUE PLAGUING THE 2002 FORD EXPLORER LINE. *TR

I TOOK MY CAR TO HAVE THE TIRES REPLACED. WHEN THE MECHANIC PUT THE CAR ON THE LIFT HE INFORMED ME THAT BOTH OF MY REAR SPRINGS WERE CRUMBLING. ONE OF THE SPRINGS WAS BROKEN IN 3 PLACES, THE OTHER WAS BROKEN IN TWO PLACES. THE MECHANIC CLAIMS IN HIS 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE HE HAS NEVER SEEN A BROKEN SPRING AT 51,000 MILES, WHEN THE VEHICLE IS ONLY USED AS A FAMILY CAR AND HAD NOT BEEN A RESULT OF AN ACCIDENT. HE SAID HOW LUCKY I WAS THAT THE SPRING DID NOT COME APART KILLING MYSELF AND MY FAMILY ON THE HIGHWAY. WE CONTACTED FORD, HOPING THAT THEY HAD RECALLED THIS FAULT AFTER WE SAW HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET. FORD SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL AND WE WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRS. THIS REPAIR IS GOING TO COST OVER $500. I GUESS IT IS A SMALL PRICE WHEN MY FAMILY COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. I AM HOPING THE GOVERNMENT CAN CONTACT ALL FORD EXPLORER CUSTOMER TO WARN THEM OF THIS PROBLEM AND HOPEFULLY PREVENT A CERTAIN DEATH. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE VEHICLE HAS CONTINENTAL SPORTIVA TIRES, SIZE 275-60-R17 (NA). WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE TIRES WERE NOT BALANCED PROPERLY. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE HAD A BUBBLE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT HE WAS SOLD AN OLD TIRE. THE TIRE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 140,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON AND CHECK GAS CAP INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHUT OFF. IN ADDITION, THE GAS TANK WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO FILL UP WHILE PLACING FUEL IN THE TANK. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THESE ISSUES. HE FEELS THAT IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD FOR THE VEHICLE TO SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 171,000.

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, NO DEBRIS, AND OUR SUNROOF EXPLODED. AS THE SCREEN WAS CLOSED NO INJURIES, BUT POTENTIAL FOR CUT AND EYE INJURIES BY RAZOR SHARP GLASS. NO ONE BEHIND US AFFECTED. HUGE NOISE VERY STARTLING. *TR

2002 FORD EXPLORER HAS SHIFTING ISSUE AS A RESULT OF TRANSMISSION NOT WORKING PROPERLY. OCCURS RANDOM WHEN ACCELERATING FROM STOP AT LIGHTS OR PULLING INTO INTERSECTION. HAVE BEEN TO 2 DIFFERENT MECHANICS AND REPAIRED ONCE AND HAS STARTED TO OCCUR AGAIN ALTHOUGH MECHANICS STATE DO NOT NEED REPAIRED AND SHOWS NO CODES. ALSO, THE FLUID CANNOT BE CHECKED FROM UNDER THE HOOD AS IT IS LOCATED UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. EACH OIL CHANGE I HAVE THEM CHECK AND THE LEVEL IS OK. SINCE HAPPENS RANDOMLY DOES NOT ALWAYS HAPPEN WHEN THE MECHANICS LOOK AT THE VEHICLE. HAS BEEN FRUSTRATING SINCE VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT NEW AND TAKEN CARE OF WITH ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. ALL MECHANICS ARE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND JUST STATE TO DRIVE IT UNTIL IT FAILS COMPLETELY AND NEEDS A REBUILD OR SELL IT BEFORE THE REBUILD IS NEEDED. EACH TIME IT OCCURS USUALLY THERE IS NOT AN ISSUE JUST A HESITATION WITH A SLOW ACCELERATION. ALTHOUGH, SEVERAL TIMES THIS HAS OCCURRED RECENTLY WHEN PULLING OR MERGING INTO TRAFFIC NEARLY CAUSING ACCIDENTS WITH THE WIFE AND KIDS IN THE CAR. FROM ALL INFO I HAVE SEEN AND BASED ON EXPERIENCED MECHANICS THEY FEEL THERE WERE DESIGN FLAWS IN THESE 2002 VEHICLE TRANSMISSIONS. THEY ALL RECOMMEND EITHER TO SELL THE VEHICLE OR BE PREPARED TO DRIVE UNTIL THEY COMPLETELY FAIL AND NEED REBUILT. SOME STATE THEY HAVE WORKED ON THESE VEHICLES AND THAT I AM ACTUALLY LUCKY THAT I HAVE ONLY HAD THESE PROBLEMS AS MANY OF THEIR CUSTOMERS HAVE HAD ACCIDENTS AND ISSUES THROUGH OUT THEIR ENTIRE OWNERSHIP OF THE

2002 FORD EXPLORER APPROX.77,000 MILES SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE GEAR SHIFTER BROKE OF AT THE BASE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BE STUCK IN REVERSE. AFTER CONTACTING FORD HEADQUARTERS WAS INFORMED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET. THE DEALERSHIP CHARGES SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS TO REPAIR BECAUSE THE WHOLE STEERING COLUMN HAS TO BE REPLACED. PART IS CURRENTLY ON ORDER. *TR

WHEN IN A FORD DEALERSHIP FOR LUBE, OIL & FILTER CHANGE, THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS WERE BROKEN. *TR

REAR COIL SPRINGS FAILED ON 2002 FORD EXPLORER. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 4,100 MILES ON IT. THIS WAS FOUND WHILE OIL WAS BEING CHANGED AT THE DEALER. IT APPEARS THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. FORD NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE WITH THIS MANY VEHICLES HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. NOW I'M FACING A 500.00 REPAIR BILL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHEN THE CONTACT LIFTED THE HATCH ON THE VEHICLE, THE GLASS STUART BRACKETS POPPED OFF AND CUT HIS HEAD AND WRIST. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS FAILURE. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 139,000.

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT 4.0L V6 AND WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST THAT AN INVESTIGATION LAUNCHED INTO THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION. THE OTHER DAY, AS I WAS TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, THE O/D OFF INDICATOR BEGAN BLINKING AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE CHECK ENGINE SOON INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON. IN DOING MY RESEARCH, AFTER READING NUMEROUS ONLINE COMPLAINTS RELATED TO THIS ISSUE, I HAVE CHOSEN TO SEEK YOUR ASSISTANCE AS A MEANS TO HELP OFFSET THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS WIDE-SPREAD, VERY WELL KNOWN AND DOCUMENTED PROBLEM. BASICALLY, THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REBUILT OR REPLACED, AT COSTS THAT RANGE FROM $2,000 TO $4,000. *TR THANK YOU!

ISSUE IS WITH THE AIRBAG WARNING LAMP COMING ON AND DISABLING THE AIRBAG SYSTEM IN A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. PER THE ERROR CODE LFC 34 THE ISSUE IS THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT PRETENSIONER, THOUGH THIS ALSO HAPPENS WITH THE DRIVER SIDE. THERE IS CURRENTLY A TSB OUT ARTICLE NO 03-11-3. FOR MY VEHICLE THE REPLACEMENT PART# IS 1L2Z-78610E22-AAC. THIS FAILURE IS CURRENT EVERYTHING THE VEHICLE IS TURNED ON. *TR

WHILE ROTATING THE TIRES ON MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER I FOUND THAT BOTH REAR SPRINGS ARE BROKEN. I BELIEVE THIS IS CAUSED DUE TO SUB STANDARD MATERIALS AS MY CAR HAS NEVER BEEN USED FOR OFF ROAD OR TOWING. MY CAR HAS ONLY 62,000 MILES. BOTH SPRINGS AND STRUTS WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. *TR

THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER STOPPED WORKING AT APROX. 95000 MILES ,JUST LIKE THE HUNDREDS OF OTHER EXPLORERS IN 2002 HAVE AND FORD REFUSES TO RECALL THE VEHICLE. *TR

I HAD BEEN TOLD THAT MY DRIVERS SIDE BEARING WAS GOING BAD AND HAD IT FIXED AND MY CAR WAS STILL MAKING A FUNNY NOISE BUT WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC THAT IT WAS MY BRAKES GOING BAD AND THAT THEY WOULD NEED REPLACED, SO WE WENT AND BOUGHT BRAKES AND ROTORS TO PUT ON OURSELVES. AS WE WERE PUTTING THEM ON WE NOTICED THAT MY WHEEL WAS CLOSE TO FALLING OFF!!! NOW WE HAVE TO REPLACE THE BEARING IN THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR AND ALSO THE AXEL SHAFT. WHAT IF MY WHEEL HAD CAME OFF AND KILLED MY 3 SMALL CHILDREN AND MY HUSBAND AND I? *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. UPON REACHING HIS DESTINATION, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY INOPERABLE AND HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 96,000.

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER, I LOVE THIS CAR AND HAS BEEN PERFECT EXCEPT FOR 1 MAJOR THING THE PIECE OF '!@#$% TRANSMISSION, WHAT A JOKE HAVE HAD 2 REPLACED AT 48,000 MILES AND 115,000 MILES,THERE NEEDS TO A BE A RECALL ON THESE JUNK TRANSMISSIONS THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM FOR THESE CARS. I HAVE OTHER FORDS AND THEY ARE AWESOME THIS 2002 EXPLORER IS A COMPLETE LEMON. ITS A HAZARD WHEN YOUR GOING 68 MPH DOWN A HIGHWAY AND YOUR TRANSMISSION BLOWS OUT, GOING ON A ROADTRIP TO THE WHITE MOUNTAINS OF NH. *TR

BROKEN REAR COIL SPRINGS ON 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT, 85000 MILES. ALSO NEED FRONT AND REAR WHEEL BEARINGS, SEAT BELT TENSIONER, EMERGENCY BRAKE REPAIR. *TR

DOOR AGAR LIGHT. ALL THE DOORS WILL BE SHUT AND WHILE DRIVING THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT AND BEEPING NOISE WILL COME ONE. WHICH RESULTS ALSO IN THE INTERIOR LIGHTS TO FLICKER ON AND OFF. IT DOES IT EVERYDAY AND KEEPS GOING TILL THE VEH IS IN PART. ALSO WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED THE LIGHTS WILL COME ON AND OFF, I CANT EVEN LOCK MY DOORS ANYMORE. *TR

I TOOK A TRIP FROM HOME IN OK TO CANTON, TX ON RETURN HEARD LOUD NOISE WHEN I STOPPED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED I FOUND OUT THE FRONT DRIVE SHAFT WAS COMING OUT. IN MARCH OF 2008 I NOTICED A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE EXPLORER. WHEN I HAD IT INSPECTED I WAS TOLD THE REAR END NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS COST ME OVER $2000.00. MY TRANSMISSION IS NOW SLIPPING AND AFTER READING OTHER COMPLAINTS I FEAR THE WORSE IF I HAVE MY TRANSMISSION CHECKED. WHO DO WE CONTACT TO HAVE A LAWSUIT STARTED? MY TRUCK NOW HAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000 MILES. I HAVE REPLACED THE FRONT DRIVE SHAFT, REAR END ASSEMBLY. MY AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON AND THE REAR PANEL BELOW THE BACK WINDOW HAS CRACKED. I HAVE ALL THE COMPLAINTS LISTED EXCEPT FOR THE GEAR SHIFTER BREAKING OFF IN MY HAND. *TR

BROKEN REAR COIL SPRINGS WERE DISCOVERED DURING ROUTINE BRAKE REPLACEMENT. TRUCK HAD BEEN HANDLING POORLY, WAS BROUGHT TO DEALERSHIP FOR BRAKES & SHOCKS. SERVICE ADVISOR ADVISED OF DISCOVERY OF CRACKED SPRINGS, HAD TO KEEP VEHICLE OVERNIGHT FOR REPAIR/REPLACEMENT. *TR

WHEN I GO TO OR FROM PARK THE CAR JERKS AND HAS ALMOST CAUSE ME TO GET INTO SEVERAL CRASHES. THIS HAPPENS AT LEAST A COUPLE TIMES A WEEK. *TR

OUR 2002 FORD EXPLORERS GEAR SHIFT LEVER BROKE OFF IN MY HAND WHILE TRYING TO SHIFT FROM PARK TO REVERSE. WE HAD SOME TROUBLE WITH THE LOCKOUT IN THE PAST, BUT THIS LEFT US STRANDED AND REQUIRED A TOW. *TR

DRIVING FROM PARKING LOT, HEARD A LOUD THUMP FROM THE REAR. UPON INSPECTING, THE REAR COIL SPRING IS BROKEN IN TWO PLACES. *TR

WHEN I TRIED TO REMOVE MY KEY FROM THE IGNITION, THE ENTIRE IGNITION CYLINDER CAME OUT!! MY CAR HAD TO BE TOWED AND HAVE A NEW CYLINDER INSTALLED! A YEAR LATER, IT HAPPENED AGAIN!!! SO I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY FORD IGNITION CYLINDER TWICE AND MY CAR ONLY HAS 60,000 MILES ON IT NOW---SO PROBABLY HAD ONLY ABOUT 40,000 MILES THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED AND 50,000 THE SECOND TIME. ALSO-- NOW MY FUEL GAUGE SAYS EMPTY ALL THE TIME, EVEN AFTER I JUST FILLED IT WITH GAS! AND IT'S TOO EXPENSIVE TO FIX! I DID GET THE DRIVER SEATBELT FIXED, BECAUSE IT DIDN'T TIGHTEN, BUT NOW IT'S TOO HARD TO PULL OUT AND USE! LASTLY, BOTH INSIDE MIRROR COVERS HAVE JUST CRACKED OFF WHEN LIFTING OPEN, AND I CAN'T AFFORD TO REPLACE BOTH OF THE ENTIRE VISORS! WE HAVE 3 FORDS AND THIS IS THE ONLY ONE THAT'S EVER HAD PROBLEMS. DATES ARE SPREAD OUT SO IT'S TOO HARD TO COMPLETE THAT PART OF THE FORM BELOW. *TR

I HAVE HAD MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER EDITION FOR 4 YEARS. THE ENTIRE TIME OF OWNING THIS VEHICLE IT SOUNDS LIKE THE ENGINE SLIPS AND LATELY IT SEEMS LIKE IT IS GETTING WORSE. I HAVE TALKED TO A FEW CAR REPAIRMEN AND THEY SAID THAT THIS MAKE AND MODEL IS KNOWN FOR THIS COMPLAINT. I FEEL LIKE SINCE THERE IS AN OVERWHELMING AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS FOR THE TRANSMISSION, SOMEONE SHOULD LOOK INTO THIS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 35 MPH, BOTH THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE BECAME ENGULFED WITH CHEMICALS AND MADE A VERY LOUD SOUND THAT SHOCKED THE DRIVER. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL PRIOR TO THE DEPLOYMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND IT WAS REQUESTED THAT THE COMPUTER BE REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE. FORD COULD NOT OFFER A SOLUTION NOR GUARANTEE THAT THE FAILURE WOULD NOT RECUR. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 120,000.

PASSENGER SIDE REAR COIL SPRING BROKEN IN HALF NEAR TOP PORTION. APPARENTLY IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR OF EXPLORER, BUT NOTHING HAS BEEN FIXED YET. *TR

I DRIVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER WITH 86,000 MILES. THE DRIVER SIDE REAR COIL SPRING BROKE. *TR

ABOUT A YEAR AGO, THE GEAR SHIFTER IN MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER STARTED GETTING HARDER TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK ESPECIALLY ON INCLINES. AFTER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, I TOOK IT TO OUR LOCAL FORD DEALER FOR THEM TO LOOK AT IT. THEY SAID THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG BUT THAT IT DID STICK A LITTLE. GRADUALLY OVER SEVERAL MONTHS IT GOT WORSE. EVENTUALLY, IT GOT STUCK IN PARK AND I ACTUALLY BROKE OFF THE GEAR SHIFTER TRYING TO GO FROM PARK TO REVERSE. WE HAD TO PAY ALMOST $1,200 TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN AND SHIFTER. WE WERE THEN TOLD THAT WE MIGHT PUT ON THE EMERGENCY BREAK BEFORE SHIFTING INTO PARK ON HILLS. I TOLD THEM THAT IT DIDN'T MATTER IF YOU WERE ON A HILL OR NOT, IT STILL WOULD GET STUCK. AFTER FIRST REPLACING THE COLUMN, IT WAS EASIER TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK. THEN, OVER A FEW MONTHS IT BECAME INCREASINGLY HARDER TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK AGAIN, UNLESS I PUT ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. I DID USE THE BRAKE ON HILLS AND INCLINES MOSTLY BUT THEN SOMETIMES IT WOULD GET HARD TO SHIFT ON JUST FLAT SURFACES. I CONTACTED THE FORD DEALER AND ASKED THEM TO LOOK AT IT AGAIN. THEY SAID THAT I WOULD ALWAYS JUST HAVE TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE BEFORE SHIFTING INTO PARK. I ASKED THEM WHY - IT DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT. THEY SAID, "THAT IS JUST NORMAL OPERATING PROCEDURE". I, OF COURSE, ARGUED THAT WAS NOT NORMAL AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT. I ASKED THE FORD COMPANY WEBSITE AND THEY SAID THEY CONSULTED WITH OUR DEALER AND THAT THEY CONCUR WITH THEM. *TR

MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER - 4.6 V8 HAS THE POPULAR BLOWN SPARK PLUG ISSUE WHICH HAS CAUSED ME A LOT OF PROBLEMS ON PRETTY MUCH THE WORST WEEKEND OF MY LIFE THAT THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED IN. THIS IS APPARENTLY A VERY POPULAR COMPLAINT ABOUT FORDS W/ THIS ENGINE AND I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE. IT IS AN OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW W/ THE ALUMINUM AND METAL HEATING ISSUES CAUSING THE SPARK PLUGS TO BREAK OFF OR JUST SHOOT OUT OF THE ENGINE. I BELIEVE THAT THERE WAS A SMALL FIRE UNDER MY HOOD FOR A SHORT TIME AS WELL. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY FORD. IN MY CASE, I DID HEAR THE INFAMOUS "CLICKING" NOISE THAT HAPPENS JUST BEFORE THE PLUG BLOWS AND THEN RIGHT AFTER, IT BLEW, SOUNDING LIKE SOMEBODY WAS STARTING A HARLEY UNDER MY TRUCK. I WAS UNDER MY HOOD LOOKING AND HEARING FOR THE NOISE THAT I THOUGHT WAS A BELT ISSUE WHEN THIS BLEW. THIS THING SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS GOING TO BLOW MY HEAD OFF WHILE I WAS UNDER THE HOOD AND LUCKILY I WAS NOT HURT, OR FORD WOULD HAVE A LAW SUIT ON THEIR HANDS. WE WERE ABLE TO REMOVE THE BROKEN PLUG AND GET A NEW ONE TO THREAD MAYBE ONE THREAD DEEP TO GET ME HOME SAFELY. THERE IS ONLY ONE THREAD GRABBING AND I WILL MORE THAN LIKELY HAVE TO HAVE THE $1500 - $2000 JOB DONE OR TRADE THIS PILE IN BEFORE IT HAPPENS TO THE OTHER PLUGS, WHICH I HEAR IS INEVITABLE, DUE TO FORD NEVER ADDRESSING OR REMEDYING THIS ISSUE. THIS BEING MY SECOND EXPLORER W/ SEVERE ISSUES THAT FORD SHOULD HAVE TAKEN CARE OF, THIS WI

2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT PARKED NOSE DOWN ON AN INCLINED DRIVEWAY. NO KEYS IN IGNITION BUT VEHICLE SLIPPED AWAY AND HIT A LIGHTPOST 50 METERS DOWN THE STREET. *TR

O/D OFF LIGHT FLASHING, FIND OUT SOLENOID PACK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. ALSO NEEDS ALL 4 BALL JOINTS REPLACED. FOUND OUT THESE ARE VERY COMMON PROBLEMS TO 02 EXPLORERS. NOT SURE IF WE WILL REPAIR BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE WE'LL END UP DOING IT AGAIN OR THE TRANSMISSION WILL GO OUT. WE'VE ALREADY REPLACED REAR END, WINDOW MOTOR AND HAVE FADED WINDOW PANELS AND A CRACKED BACK PANEL ON LIFT GATE. WHY IS THE GOV'T NOT ADDRESSING THESE PROBLEMS. THIS WAS NOT A CHEAP CAR - WHY IS IT ACCEPTABLE TO HAVE THIS MANY PROBLEMS WITH A VEHICLE? *TR

MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER V8 HAS REQUIRED A TRANSMISSION AT 35K & 85K MILES. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN WHEN THE CAR FAILS WITHOUT WARNING!!!! I'M NOT ALONE IN DEALING WITH THIS INCREDIBLY COSTLY & DANGEROUS PREDICAMENT. PLEASE TAKE ACTION! I'M READING THAT THE DESIGN OF THE TRANSMISSION IS APPARENTLY BAD. QUOTING ANOTHER'S DESCRIPTION: "AFTER LOTS OF RESEARCH IT APPEARS THE MOST LIKELY CAUSE IS WORN CASE BORE, WHERE THE PIN FOR THE 2ND GEAR & OVERDRIVE BAND SERVO ACTUATOR PASSES THROUGH THE CASE. IF THE PEOPLE DESIGNING THESE MACHINES SPENT EVEN A BIT OF TIME IN THEIR LIVES WORKING WITH THEIR HANDS ON REAL PARTS THEY WOULD KNOW BETTER THAN TO PASS A HARD STEEL PIN IN A WEAR POINT FASHION THROUGH A SOFTER ALUMINUM CASTING. IT IS NO WONDER SO MANY TRANSMISSIONS EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM." YOU WOULD THINK WHEN MY TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED THE 1ST TIME THAT FORD WOULD HAVE BEEN REQUIRED TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM BY PUTTING BRASS CASINGS ON THE PINS TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE. NOW, I'M HAVING TO GET A 2ND TRANSMISSION, & SINCE I DIDN'T TAKE IT TO FORD, THEY ARE REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION WITH THIS FIX IMPLEMENTED. I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BEAR THE $3500 NEEDED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. FORD SHOULD STAND BY THEIR PRODUCTS, BUT SINCE THEY WON'T, I HOPE THAT YOU CAN REQUIRE THEM TO DO SO! THANKS! I IDENTIFIED THIS AS AN EQUIPMENT FAILURE BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION THAT CAME WITH THE CAR WAS OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE TO REQUIRE A NEW ONE AT 35K MILES. MY CAR IS DEAD AT A SHOP SO

ON MONDAY JUNE 1ST WE WERE LOADING ITEMS INTO MY EXPLORER FOR A GARAGE SALE AND MY HUSBAND WENT TO CLOSE THE DOOR AND WHEN HE WENT TO CLOSE IT JUST EXPLODED EVERYWHERE. LUCKILY BY THE GRACE OF GOD MY GRANDSON WAS NOT AROUND THE VEHICLE AT THAT TIME. I JUST FEEL THAT FORD SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS REPAIR BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH I WAS NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER WHENEVER THE RECALL WAS POSTED, THEY SHOULD STILL HONOR IT. *TR

I TURNED INTO MY DRIVEWAY AND PUT MY EXPLORER INTO PARK THE SHIFTER BROKE OFF AND THE CAR WAS NOT IN PARK. THANKFULLY I WAS HOME AND IT IS NOW SITTING WITH THE KEY STILL IN THE IGNITION AND EMERGENCY BRAKES ON. TRIED TO BUY THE GEAR SHIFT PLUNGER ON STEERING COLUMN AND THE FORD DEALER SAID I CAN ONLY BUY THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN. $1200.00 THEY SHOWED ME THE COLUMN IT HAS A DIFFERENT PLUNGER THAT REINFORCED THIS SUGGEST THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *TR

FLAT TIRE; AFTER TAKING TIRE OFF I NOTICED THAT THE COIL SPRING WAS BROKEN IN HALF AND THE WHEEL BEARING WAS BAD, CAUSING THE WHEEL TO WOBBLE. THERE WAS NO APPARENT REASON FOR THE PART FAILURES. AFTER CONSULTING OTHERS WITH THE SAME VEHICLE TYPE THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR 2002 FORD EXPLORERS - WHEEL BEARINGS AND COIL SPRING FAILURE. FORD MAY WANT TO RECALL THESE BEFORE IT CAUSES ACCIDENTS. *TR

JUST LIKE THOUSANDS OF OTHER 2002 FORD EXPLORER OWNERS BOTH OF MY REAR COIL SPRINGS ARE BROKEN AT THE TOP OF THE SPRING AND NEED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY RUSTED FROM THE INSIDE OUT (POOR QUALITY) I ALSO HAD TO REPLACE BOTH REAR WHEEL BEARINGS. OBVIOUSLY THIS YEAR VEHICLE HAS REAR END ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED BY FORD. I JUST CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY THERE IS NO COIL SPRING RECALL? FORD MUST KNOW THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH THEM, ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS SEARCH THE WEB TO SEE THAT SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE REAR END. THIS SHOULD BE DEALT WITH BECAUSE IT'S CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE. PLEASE HELP GET THIS ISSUE ADDRESSED BEFORE SOME FAMILY WHO ISN'T AWARE OF THE ISSUE GETS INJURED OR KILLED. *TR

WHEN I TRIED TO PUT MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER INTO REVERSE THE GEAR SHIFTER SNAPPED OFF IN MY HANDS. I HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS HAPPEN BEFORE BUT HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING THIS ON THE INTERNET AND IT SEEMS TO BE A REAL ISSUE WITH THE FORD EXPLORER DESIGN OF THE SHIFTER MECHANISM. MY VEHICLE HAS 90,000 MILES ON IT. THIS ALSO SEEMS TO BE CONSISTENT AS TO WHEN MOST BREAK. *TR

GEAR SHIFT LEVER SNAPPED OFF IN THE HAND OF MY 110 LB GIRLFRIEND. SHE PUT HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE, WENT TO SHIFT THE CAR INTO REVERSE AND THE PART THAT CONNECTS THE GEAR SHIFT TO THE STEERING COLUMN BROKE OFF. THE CAR WAS ON AND LUCKILY DID NOT MAKE IT ALL THE WAY INTO REVERSE OR THE CAR WOULD HAVE BEEN STUCK IN REVERSE!! SHE QUICKLY TURNED THE CAR OFF, BUT THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT IN PARK EITHER, SO THE KEY WON'T COME OUT! I HAVE 2 SMALL CHILDREN AND MY NEIGHBORS HAVE LITTLE ONES AS WELL. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SAFETY ISSUE. THE CAR IS NOT COMPLETELY IN ANY GEAR AND THE KEY IS IN IT. IT CAN'T BE DRIVEN SO I HAD IT TOWED, AND LIKE MANY, MANY OTHERS HAVE FOUND OUT, THIS SMALL, CHEAPLY MADE PART IS NOT AVAILABLE TO REPLACE. THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN MUST BE PURCHASED THROUGH FORD AND REPLACED. I WAS GIVEN A "DISCOUNTED" QUOTE OF $1900 FROM BERGE FORD IN AZ. HOW HAS THIS SMALL, WEAK, CHEAPLY MADE PART NOT BEEN RECALLED YET? ARE WE WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO BE RUN OVER AND POSSIBLY KILLED BY A VEHICLE STUCK IN GEAR?! *TR

SATURDAY I TRIED TO PUT MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT IN PARK AND THE GEAR SHIFT SNAPPED OFF. I WASN'T TRYING TO JAM IT IN PARK, JUST SIMPLY TRIED TO PUT IT IN PARK. IT IS RIGHT NOW STUCK IN REVERSE WITH THE KEY STUCK IN THE IGNITION. I HAD MY CHILDREN WITH ME AND NO CLUE THAT THERE WAS ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. PLEASE NOTE THAT WHILE I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON, THE CAR ROLLED BACKWARDS A BIT. AFTER, DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET TO SEE IF FORD HAD ANY RECALLS FOR THIS I FOUND THAT MANY MORE PEOPLE JUST LIKE ME HAD EXPERIENCED THE SAME THING. THE PICTURES THAT THE OTHERS HAVE UPLOADED OF THE METAL/ALUMINUM PIECE IS THE SAME EXACT PIECE THAT IS BROKEN ON MINE. PLEASE BELIEVE ME I AM NOT AN EXTRA STRONG PERSON AS TO WHERE I COULD HAVE DONE THIS MYSELF (BROKE THE PIECE OF METAL). PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS FOR IT IS A VERY COSTLY REPAIR THAT SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO AND TAKEN CARE OF BY FORD. *TR

HEARD A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, HAD BRAKES CHANGED, NOISE CONTINUED. FOUND OUT IT WAS THE DRIVER SIDE WHEEL BEARING AND THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT BOTH GOING BAD. REPAIRS NOT DONE TOO EXPENSIVE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE BEARINGS AND GEAR OF THE UNIVERSAL REAR DIFFERENTIAL UNIT FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77,000.

2002 FORD EXPLORER WITH CRACKED REAR TAILGATE APPLIQUE. HAVE SEEN MANY MORE ON THE ROAD. FORD SAYS THERE IS NO DEFECT. THEY WANT $350 TO FIX. *TR