2002 Ford Explorer complaints

TRANSMISSION ON MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER IS FAILING AFTER ONLY 40,000 MILES. EVEN THOUGH I HAVE MAINTAINED THE VEHICLE AND NOT ABUSED IT, I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. *TR

I HAVE THIS 2002 EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER EDITION. IT ONLY HAS 79K ON IT, AND THE O/D STARTED FLASHING. I PULLED OVER AND SHUT IT OFF, AND STARTED IT AGAIN.....AFTER I RESTARTED NO PROBLEMS...LIGHT WAS GONE, AND STILL SHIFTED CORRECTLY. I PROCEEDED AND TOOK IT TO MY DEALER....WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE AROUND 5800 TO FIX THIS. THAT IS RIDICULOUS...WITH THAT LOW OF MILES ON IT...... *TR

TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND REAR END FAILURE. *TR

GRINDING NOISE FROM REAR ESPECIALLY DRIVER SIDE REAR HUMMING AND SWAYING BROUGHT TO DEALER REPLACED REAR HUB AND BEARING ASSEMBLIES BOTH SIDES REPLACED FRONT SWAY BAR LINKS AND BUSHINGS BOTH SIDES. *TR

REAR END NOISE ON A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. POSSIBLE REAR DIFFERENTIAL. *TR

TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT WORK BEYOND 2ND GEAR. THIS TRUCK HAD LESS THAN 60,000 MILES AND WAS A 2002 MODEL. THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE COMPLETELY REMOVED AND A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS PUT IN DURING 2007. *TR

TRANSMISSION FAILURE - KNOWN 2002 FORD EXPLORER ISSUE AND NOT A RECALL. HAVE TO REPLACE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION. *TR

TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ON MY EXPLORER 2002 ...EVERY SINGLE PERSON I KNOW THAT HAS 2002 EXPLORER HAD TO RE-BUILD THEIR TRANSMISSION ..FORD NEEDS TO TAKE CARE OF...I CANT AFFORD TO FIX IT EACH TIME ..ITS FACTORY DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED. THERE'S ALOT OF NON SATISFIED COSTUMERS THAT I FIND ALL OVER THE WORLD. SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE. *TR

I OWN A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS 3 YEARS OLD, THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT IN IT. ONE DAY IT WASN'T DRIVING RIGHT, AND BY THE NEXT DAY THE TRANSMISSION WAS OUT. THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR WARRANTY (IT WAS STILL UNDER 100K MILES) I ENDED UP SHELLING OUT OVER $2000 FOR THIS TO BE REPAIRED. I HAVE HAD ALOT OF PEOPLE TELL ME THAT THEY HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR EXPLORER. THE SHOP THAT REPAIRED THE CAR HAD LOTS OF TROUBLE WITH THE TRANSMISSION AS WELL. IT TOOK THEM A MONTH TO GET IT RUNNING PROPERLY. I STILL HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE THIRD GEAR. IT DOES NOT SHIFT PROPERLY AND WILL SOMETIMES SKIP THE GEAR ALL TOGETHER. I AM PROUD TO OWN AN AMERICAN MADE CAR, BUT IT RUNS LIKE CRAP AND I WISH THAT FORD WOULD DO SOMETHING TO CORRECT THIS. IT IS NOT OLD ENOUGH TO HAVE THIS KIND OF PROBLEM, AND MANY PEOPLE ARE IN THE SAME BOAT AS ME WITH THEIR EXPLORER. I AM STILL TRYING TO PAY THIS OFF AS WELL AS CONTINUE TO MAKE THE CAR PAYMENT. *TR

HEARD LOUD ROARING NOISE COMING FROM BACK REAR TIRES. HAD EXPLORER CHECKED TO FIND OUT THAT RIGHT REAR TIRE WAS ALMOST READY TO COME OFF EXPLORER. AFTER DOING SOME LOOKING AROUND ON THE WEB I FOUND OUT THAT MANY OTHER FORD EXPLORER OWNERS ARE ALSO HAVING THESE HUBS/BEARINGS WEARING OUT VERY EARLY (50-70K MILES). THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM AND FORD NEEDS TO RECALL THESE EXPLORERS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. THANK YOU *TR

I BOUGHT MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER USED IN 2005 WITH ABOUT 60,000 MILES ON IT. IN 6 MONTHS THE ENTIRE CAR WOULD SHAKE IF I WENT ABOVE 50 MILES PER HOUR. ABOUT A WEEK LATER, WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY I FELT THE CAR SHIFT EXTREMELY HARD. I TOOK IT TO A SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT 3RD GEAR WAS ALREADY GONE AND THAT I WAS GOING TO SOON LOSE 2ND AND SO ON. I HAD TO SPEND $2000 ON A REBUILT TRANSMISSION. HOWEVER, ALMOST 2 1/2 YEARS LATER THIS REBUILT TRANSMISSION IS FAILING AGAIN. THIS TIME THE OD LIGHT STARTED TO BLINK; I HAD A GARAGE GET THE CODE IMMEDIATELY. IT SAID THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE TORQUE CONVERTER. I HAD THEM LOOK AT THE TRANSMISSION CLOSER AND THEY FOUND THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS BURNT AND THERE WERE METAL SHAVINGS IN IT. THE TRANSMISSION IS FRIED AGAIN, AND IT WILL COST APPROXIMATELY $3200 TO FIX IT THIS TIME. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE THESE PROBLEMS OFTEN COME WITH NO WARNING. BOTH INCIDENTS I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY WITH MY FAMILY IN THE CAR. SOMETHING MUST BE DONE. THIS IS DEFINITELY A DEFECT IN THE SEALED TRANSMISSIONS PUT IN THE 2002 EXPLORERS!!! *CN

THE REAR WINDOWS WAS RECALLED AND THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. NOW THE BACK WINDOW FAILED AS I AM TOLD BY THE FORD DEALER HAS CRACKED. AFTER SOME SEARCHING I SEE THIS IS PRETTY COMMON AFTER THE REPAIR. HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/EXPLORER/2002/WINDOWS_WINDSHIELD/REAR_LIFT_GATE_WINDOW_EXPLODED.SHTML *TR

STRESS FRACTURE RUNNING VERTICALLY ALONG PLASTIC PANEL OF LIFTGATE DIRECTLY UNDER BACK WINDOW APPEARED. THE CRACK IS LOCATED TO THE LEFT OF THE FORD EMBLEM RUNNING FROM THE GLASS THE LENGTH OF THE PANEL. NO FORCE OF ANY KIND WAS APPLIED TO THE AREA TO CAUSE THIS CRACK. I LIVE IN A COLD WEATHER CLIMATE WITH RAIN AND SNOW AND AM NOW WORRIED ABOUT WATER GETTING INSIDE AND EFFECTING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. SINCE THIS IS A COMMONLY DOCUMENTED PROBLEM, THAT COULD LEAD TO FURTHER MORE SERIOUS PROBLEMS, FORD SHOULD REPLACE THE PANEL. *TR

PURCHASED '02 EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER BRAND NEW IN AUG '01. FROM BRAND NEW, EXPLORER WOULD NOT IMMEDIATELY ENGAGE WHEN STOPPED AT A LIGHT AND PRESSING THE GAS. AFTER MULTIPLE VISITS TO FORD, AND THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG, THEY FINALLY GOT A SERVICE NOTICE THAT TOLD THEM HOW TO FIX IT. NOW AT JUST 86K MILES, YOUNG FOR GENTLY DRIVEN, FULLY MAINTAINED VEHICLES, I AM BEING TOLD THAT I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. O/D OFF LIGHT REPEATEDLY COMES ON, GOES OFF WHEN I TURN OFF THE EXPLORER. ALSO, STRANGE VIBRATIONS AT HIGHWAY SPEED (NOT ROUGH ROAD), AND LOUD/FIRM SHIFT IN AND OUT OF REVERSE. YESTERDAY O/D OFF LIGHT CAME ON WITH SERVICE ENGINE SOON. FORD SERVICE SAYS THAT I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION FOR $3K+ AND THAT IT CAN GO OUT ANY DAY NOW. AFTER RESEARCH, THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A VERY COMMON ISSUE AND RELATED TO A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION, WHICH SHOULD NOT BE AN EXPECTED COST OF AUTO OWNERSHIP. HAVE NOT DECIDED WHO TO HAVE REPAIR IT YET. *TR

REAR END DIFFERENTIAL PROBLEM ON 2002 FORD EXPLORER. *TR

2 LARGE VERTICAL CRACKS IN BACK PANEL OF TAILGATE EXTENDING DOWN FROM WINDOW. *TR

OH WHERE TO START!! I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER THAT HAS HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS, MOSTLY THE TRANSMISSION. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE AROUND 75K MILES AND I'M ON MY 4TH TRANSMISSION, INCLUDING THE ONE THAT CAME WITH THE CAR. NOW, ONE A COLD DAY MY PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW HAS BROKEN. I AM VERY UPSET WITH THE QUALITY OF THIS VEHICLE. ONE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WHILE I HAD MY KIDS IN THE CAR WITH ME. IT WAS FINE ONE MOMENT AND THEN THE NEXT MOMENT I COULDN'T DO ANYTHING. THAT IS VERY DANGEROUS AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. AFTER MUCH RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS THE #1 PROBLEM WITH FORD CARS, OR EXPLORERS AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT THAT. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER AND LIKE NUMEROUS OTHER PEOPLE, I HAVE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE O/D LIGHT BLINKS OFF AND ON AND IT DOES NOT SHIFT PROPERLY WHEN THIS HAPPENS. IF YOU TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND THEN BACK ON, IT USUALLY SHIFTS OK FOR A WHILE BEFORE IT STARTS ALL OVER AGAIN. I BELIEVE FORD SHOULD RECALL THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THE LARGE MAJORITY OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE THIS OR SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO SHIFT TO NEUTRAL, SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE, THEN RESTART BEFORE IT SHIFTS PROPERLY AGAIN! THIS IS DANGEROUS! *TR

2002 EXPLORER REAR WINDOW EXPLODED WHEN MY 14 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER CLOSED THE TOP LIFT GATE. REAR WINDOW RECALL WAS PERFORMED IN 8/2007 FORD WILL NOT COVER COST ($1,400.00) FOR REPAIR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE SLID ON A PATCH OF ICE AND STRUCK A HARD SURFACE. THE VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER. THE REAR CENTER SEAT BELT BUCKLE BECAME UNDONE AND THE CHILD WAS THROWN AROUND AND INJURED INSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 45,000. UPDATED 02-14-08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE REAR MIDDLE SEAT BELT BROKE OPEN WHEN THE EXPLORER FLIPPED UPSIDE DOWN. UPDATED 02/14/08 *TR

NOISE LIKE UNBALANCED TIRE COMING FROM LEFT FRONT TIRE/WHEEL. NOISE INCREASES UNTIL IT BECOMES A ROAR LIKE AN AIRPLANE TAKING OFF. STEERING WHEEL BEGINS TO VIBRATE. FEELS LIKE WHEEL IS GOING TO FALL OFF CAR. MECHANIC TELLS ME LEFT FRONT HUB AND BEARINGS MUST BE REPLACED. THE THREE OTHER WHEELS ARE ALSO SYMPTOMATIC BUT NOT AS IMMEDIATELY PRESSING AS LEFT FRONT HE DOES NOT THINK BUT WON'T KNOW UNTIL REPAIR IS COMPLETED LATER TODAY. REPAIR BALL PARK COST AT THIS TIME IS $600-$700. STILL, OTHER THREE WHEELS BEARINGS/HUBS WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. CAR HAS 70,000 MILES, HAS RECEIVED ALL RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE AND HAS HAD CITY DRIVING. FORD IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. THEY HAVE ISSUED TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS ABOUT IT. THEY SAY THAT ONLY YOU CAN ISSUE A RECALL. THERE IS AN INTERNET BOARD AT THIS LINK HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/EXPLORER/2002/WHEELS_HUBS/WHEEL_BEARING_FAILURE.SHTML WHERE 47 OTHER CONSUMERS OF THIS ISSUE MODEL HAVE FACED THE SAME ISSUE....REPETITIVE FAILURE OF WHEEL BEARINGS/HUBS...TO THE POINT WHERE WHEELS HAVE FALLEN OFF. EVEN WHEN REPLACED THE NEW FACTORY MADE REPLACEMENT BEARINGS WEAR OUT! PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS BEFORE SOMEBODY IS KILLED WHEN A WHEEL FLIES OFF ON A HIGHWAY! *TR

VEHICLE MILEAGE: 69,000. LOUD GRINDING NOISE FROM REAR OF VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. NO PREVIOUS WARNING. REQUIRED TOW. REPLACED 2 CRACKED REAR SPRINGS, 2 DAMAGED STRUTS, 2 REAR WHEEL BEARINGS. UNUSUAL AND DANGEROUS INCIDENT FOR THIS MILEAGE. WE NOW KNOW IT IS A "NOTORIOUS PROBLEM" - OLD PARTS AVAILABLE. *TR

WENT TO OPEN LIFTGATE WHEN PARKED IN THE DARK AND CUT HAND ON CRACKED PANEL. CALLED FORD, THEY ARE AWARE THAT THE PLASTIC PANELS ARE CRACKING IN THE COLD/HOT TEMP CHANGES BUT ARE NOT RECALLING THEM. WE TAPED THE CRACK SO OUR CHILDREN WON'T GET HURT. PLEASE HELP. IF YOU GO TO WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM THERE ARE LOTS OF PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. THANK YOU *TR

WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AFTER HAVING MY FRONT BEARINGS DONE ON MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER I HEARD A GRINDING NOISE FROM THE BACK OF MY TRUCK. IT FELT AS THOUGH MY LEFT REAR WHEEL WAS GOING FALL OFF. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME $705 DOLLARS. I COULD HAVE DIED FROM THIS AND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE BEARINGS. WITH A VERY LIMITED BUDGET I AM NOT ABLE TO HAVE THE PART FIXED AND THIS WILL LEAD TO ME MISSING TIME AT WORK. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE FORD REFUSES TO DO SO AND THERE IS GOING BE A SERIOUS INJURY FROM THIS. PLEASE LETS NOT WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE LOSES THEIR LIFE WHEN WE CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. *TR

2002 FORD EXPLORER REAR HATCH PLASTIC PANEL CRACKED COMPLETELY THROUGH, TOP TO BOTTOM DIRECTLY ABOVE AND BELOW THE OVAL FORD EMBLEM. FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE RAN THE VIN. NO. AND TOLD ME THIS PANEL HAD BEEN REPLACED ONCE ALREADY. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER V6 AND IN THE PAST 2 YEARS I HAVE REPLACED BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING AND ABOUT TO REPLACE THE ONE ON THE RIGHT SIDE AGAIN. I CALLED FORD AND THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD ONLY RECALL A VEHICLE IF YOU LADIES AND GENTLE CALL FOR A RECALL. I HAVE SPENT OVER $1200 DOLLARS ON THIS PROBLEM AND ABOUT TO SPEND ANOTHER $600. I CHECKED ON LINE AND REALIZED I WAS NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. HUNDREDS OF OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH THE EXPLORER BUT STILL NO RECALL. I WAS JUST WONDERING WHAT SHOULD I DO ABOUT MY PROBLEM. I'M TIRED OF SPENDING MONEY ON A TRUCK THAT BARELY SIX YEARS OLD AND HAD LESS THAN 70,000 MILES WHEN THIS PROBLEM FIRST OCCURRED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE FROM WHAT SHE BELIEVED TO BE THE MIDDLE OF THE VEHICLE. SHE PARKED THE VEHICLE FOR A WHILE AND THEN RESTARTED THE ENGINE. THE NOISE WENT FROM A LOUD HUMMING NOISE TO A LOUD WHISTLING NOISE. THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER, AND BEGAN TO PULL. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND REALIZED THAT THE REAR AXLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HER RESIDENCE BECAUSE SHE COULD NOT AFFORD THE REPAIR. FORD WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THERE WERE NO RECALLS AVAILABLE AND THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 80,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE VEHICLE HAS GOODYEAR WRANGLER RT/S, SIZE P265/70/R16 TIRES. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 45-50 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE FAILED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WERE SEVERE CRACKS AROUND THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRES AND THEY ALL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FIRST TIRE THAT FAILED HAD SEVERE TREAD SEPARATION. THE DOT NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,481 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,562. UPDATED 02-12-BF08 * THE CONSUMER STATED FORD REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES WITH WRANGLER GOODYEAR RT/S DOT MD70 D5HR, MTS P245/75R16 AND CHARGED $100 FOR THE NEW TIRES. UPDATED 02/12/08 *TR

2002 FORD EXPLORER FRONT AND REAR WHEEL BEARING REPLACEMENT. BACK RIGHT WHEEL BEARING FAILED CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE AXLE, BREAKS AND WHEEL DRUM. FRONT LEFT WHEEL BEARING FAILED. IN BOTH OCCASIONS NOISES WERE HEARD. IN REGARDS TO BE BACK WHEEL BEARING THE TIRE ALMOST CAME OFF AND THE WHEEL FROZE. THIS OCCURRED WHILE ON A MAJOR INTERSTATE TRAVELING AT A SPEED OF 65 MILES AN HOUR. BACK WHEEL BEARING, AXLE, DRUM AND BRAKES REPLACED AT A FORD DEALER, COSTING OVER $1700 DOLLARS. FRONT WHEEL BEARING BEGAN MAKING A THUMPING NOISE AND WAS REPLACED AT A LOCAL MECHANIC COSTING $500. IN CONTACTING FORD I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. *TR

THIS 2002 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER ABRUPTLY STOPS WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED WITHOUT ANY NOTICE OR INDICATION THAT THE IGNITION WILL FAIL TO KEEP THE CAR RUNNING. THIS CAR HAS BEEN TO TWO FORD DEALERSHIPS AND ONE REPUTABLE AND ESTABLISHED INDEPENDENT AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR SHOP. THIS CAR WAS AT A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FOR ALMOST 30 DAYS AND THIS CAR WAS RETURNED TO ME WITH THIS POTENTIALLY FATAL DEFECT STILL UNDIAGNOSED. NONE OF THE AFOREMENTIONED DEALERSHIPS COULD DETERMINE THE TRUE UNDERLYING PROBLEM. AT THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP A BRAND NEW STARTER WAS INSTALLED BECAUSE OF A NO START CONDITION SHOWING NO POWER TO THE STARTER AND BLOWN FUSES FOR THE INJECTORS, FUEL PUMP, AND THE COMPUTER. THE SAME DEFECT SHOWED ITSELF ONE DAY LATER AFTER TRAVELING OVER 70 MILES WITH NO SIGN OF FAILURE. *TR

CURRENTLY OWN A 2002 EXPLORER XLT WITH ONLY 65K MILES ON IT. THE TRANSMISSION IS IN NEED OF A REBUILD BECAUSE IS SLIP FROM TIME TO TIME. THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL SEALS ARE LEAKING. THE ENTIRE REAR OF THE VEHICLE MAKES A HUMMING NOISE SO I SUSPECT THAT A REAR BEARING IS GOING BAD. NOT TO MENTION THE 4WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM HAS NOT WORKED SINCE I BOUGHT IT A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO. I'VE HAD INTERMITTENT ISSUES WITH THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE AND ALSO THE BACKUP ALARM SYSTEM. THERE IS NOTHING BUT POOR WRITE-UPS ABOUT THIS TRUCK ALL OVER THE INTERNET. ALL THE SAME PROBLEMS I'M EXPERIENCING ARE PROBLEMS MANY OTHER DRIVERS HAVE ALSO HAD. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A COOLANT LEAK IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THERE IS AN EXTENDED COVERAGE PROGRAM THAT WAS INITIATED IN CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT NUMBER 05N04. THE CONTACT IS CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE MENTIONED WITHIN THE LAWSUIT. FORD STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND THE REPAIR WOULD COST $800. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 103,000. UPDATED 03/05/08. *LJ

CRACKS APPEARING ON THE TAILGATE OF 2002 FORD EXPLORER. *TR

WHEEL BEARING WENT BAD. *TR

THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER HAS FAILED. IT WILL NOT SHIFT FROM SECOND TO THIRD GEAR, AND THE TOP SPEED I CAN GO IT 20 TO 30 MPH. THOUGH TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS HAPPEN FREQUENTLY, I KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. I HAVE MADE THIS COMPLAINT NOT SO MUCH FOR MYSELF BUT ON BEHALF OF ALL OWNERS OF FORD EXPLORERS. WHILE I WAS RESEARCHING 2002 FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, I CAME ACROSS THE WEBSITE WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM. ON THIS WEBSITE THERE ARE 247 COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE 2002 EXPLORER'S TRANSMISSION HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/EXPLORER/2002/INDEX.SHTML MORE SPECIFICALLY, THERE WERE MANY TRANSMISSION FAILURES THAT INVOLVED THE THIRD GEAR OR THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION. HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/EXPLORER/2002/TRANSMISSION/ THIS ALL SEEMS LIKE IT MAKES SENSE, BUT WHEN WE LOOK TO THE 2001 EXPLORER'S COMPLAINTS THERE ARE FAR FEWER HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/EXPLORER/2001/INDEX.SHTML AND THE 2003 HAS FEWER TRANSMISSION COMPLAINTS AS WELL. HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/EXPLORER/2003/INDEX.SHTML ADDITIONALLY THE 2003 HAS NO COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SWITCH FROM SECOND TO THIRD GEAR LIKE THE 2002 DOES. HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/EXPLORER/2003/TRANSMISSION/INDEX.SHTML ADDITIONALLY, THE HOME PAGE OF WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM HAS THE TOP 5 COMPLAINTS OF THE PAST 90 DAYS, AND THE FORD EXPLORER'S TRASMISSION RANKS 2ND. THERE IS A PROBLEM. A HUGE PROBLEM. HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/INDEX.SHTML MY EXPLORER IS CURRENTLY BEING FIXED, AND I RESEARCHE

TRANSMISSION OVERDRIVE LIGHT IS BLINKING AND ILLUMINATED AND JERKS BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR. THIS PROBLEM IS CLEARLY A DEFECT AS THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM IS POSTED ALL OVER THE INTERNET. THE ERROR CODE FOR THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT POINTS TO THE SOLENOID. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUED BEFORE SOMEBODY'S TRANSMISSION FAILS AND CAUSES A DEATH. *CN

"O/D OFF" LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING RAPIDLY. APPARENTLY TRIPPED BY A FAILED SOLENOID B VALVE BODY. THE VALVE BODY OF SOLENOID B (THE ONE CONTROLLING 1ST AND OD, WHICH TOGETHER CONSTITUTE 3RD GEAR) IS A KNOWN FAULTY PART. THIS CAN ALSO BE ASSOCIATED WITH A FAILED EPC VALVE, WHICH IS USUALLY REPLACED AT THE SAME TIME AS THE SOLENOID. ACCORDING TO AUTO PROFESSIONALS, THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH FORD LIGHT TRUCK AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. THE AVERAGE COST OF RESOLUTION IS APPROXIMATELY $1200. *CN

LOUD VIBRATING NOISE FROM TIRE...RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING FAILED IN JUNE OF 2007, REPLACED. FRONT LEFT WHEEL BEARING IS FAILING NOW, JANUARY 2008.

THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER HAS A HISTORY ON INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS THAT THE FORD DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO REPLICATE. THEREFORE NO REPAIRS HAVE EVER TAKEN PLACE. THIS HAS BEE A SAFETY ISSUE AS THE CAR FAIL TO SHIFT IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION, OR WHEN I ATTEMPT TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE. AT OTHER TIMES THE CAR WILL LURCH FORWARD OR BACKWARD WHEN PLACING OR REMOVING THE CAR FROM PARK. RECENTLY THE TRANSMISSION LOST 5TH GEAR AND I AM TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT I NEED TO RE-BUILD THE TRANSMISSION AT MY COST DESPITE THE LONG HISTORY OF PROBLEMS I HAVE EXPERIENCED.*CN

ON 12/23/07 MY IN-LAWS WERE INVOLVED IN A ROLLOVER CRASH OF A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. MY WIFE AND I WITNESSED THE ENTIRE ACCIDENT AS WE WERE FOLLOWING MY IN-LAWS HOME FROM CHURCH. A CARDBOARD BOX WAS IN THE ROADWAY, AND MY MOTHER-IN-LAW TOOK ACTION TO MISS THE BOX. SHE STEERED AROUND THE BOX, BUT WHEN SHE TRIED TO CORRECT THE VEHICLE IT GOT SIDEWAYS AND THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE ASSEMBLY BROKE AWAY AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO FLIP. THE ROOF CRUSHED ABOUT 15 INCHES, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND OF COURSE THE FRONT WHEEL HAD BROKEN AWAY. MY FATHER-IN-LAW ESCAPED WITH A FEW BROKEN RIBS, BUT MY MOTHER-IN-LAW IS IN INTENSIVE CARE WITH SEVERAL INJURIES. I KNOW YOU HAVE HAD SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT FORD EXPLORERS, BUT ISN'T IT TIME TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT BEFORE SOMEONE ELSE GETS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR EVEN KILLED?*CN

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SHIFT GEAR DETACHED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN BEING SHIFTED OUT OF PARK. IN ADDITION, THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AS OF JANUARY 2, 2008, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE VIN AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 69,000. UPDATED 01-29-08. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS SEVERAL TIMES AND INFORMED TO BRING TO A FORD DEALERSHIP IN TURN FORD INFORMED THE CONSUMER THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO DUE TO THE FACT THE VEHICLE'S WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. UPDATED 01/29/08 *TR

2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT 4WD TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. THE O/D LIGHT AND SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ARE ON. THERE ARE ONLY 66,000 MILES ON THE CAR. ALL MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN DONE AS DIRECTED. MANY COMPLAINTS OF THIS HAVE BEEN FOUND AND NOTED. I HAD A LICENSED MECHANIC "ADJUST" THE BANDS ON THE TRANSMISSION AND THAT STOPPED THE PROBLEM FOR ABOUT A MONTH.*CN

WHEEL BEARING FAILURES-4 IN A 6 MONTH PERIOD OF TIME-COST OVER 1700.00 TOO HAVE THESE REPAIRS-FORD WILL NOT HELP OUT AND THERE CUSTOMER SERVICE IS A JOKE. I HAVE A CHILD THAT IS ALWAYS WITH ME AND 2 TIMES IT COULD HAVE BEEN BAD. *TR

NOTICED HARSH SHIFTING INTO REVERSE AND FROM 3RD TO 4TH GEARS ON 02 FORD EXPLORER 2WD WITH 48,000 MILES. REQUIRED REBUILT TRANSMISSION AT COST OF $2124.00. *TR

I TRIED TO PUT MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT, 4WD, 4DOOR IN THE "P" PARK POSITION AND MY LEVER BROKE, PART # 5L2Z-3CS29-A I AM A 47 YEAR OLD STAY AT HOME MOM THAT DOES NOT ABUSE MY VEHICLE. I MAINTAIN MY VEHICLE ON A SET SCHEDULE. *TR

OPENED THE LIFTGLASS ON THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND THE GLASS SHATTERED. NO EXCESSIVE FORCE WAS USED. CONTACTED FORD DEALERSHIP AND SAID THAT IT WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY SINCE THE RECALL REPAIR HAD BEEN PERFORMED 6 MONTHS AGO. I AM PAYING FOR REPAIR. *TR

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. AFTER RESEARCH, IT APPEARS THERE ARE SEVERAL ISSUES DEALING WITH THIS SIMILAR ITEM. *TR

WHINE FROM REAR DIFFERENTIAL, WAS FIXED ONCE BY PLANTATION FORD OF FLORIDA WHEN CAR WAS BOUGHT USED IN 2005. PROBLEM IS BACK AND WAS TOLD MY MECHANIC THAT IF NOT REBUILT IT MAY CAUSE REAR END TO LOCKUP POSSIBLY CAUSING A CRASH AND EVEN DEATH. *TR

AT 65,000 MI. THE CHECK TRANSMISSION LIGHT CAME ON AND O/D LIGHT FLASHED WHILE ACCELERATING. I CALLED DEALER THEY SAID TO WAIT UNTIL LIGHT STAYED ON. AT 72,000 LIGHTS CAME ON AGAIN AS WELL AS CHECK ENGINE. BROUGHT IT TO DEALER AND NEED NEW TRANSMISSION. I HAVE FOUND MANY POSTS REGARDING NEW TRANSMISSIONS FOR THIS VEHICLE AT LOW MILES. COST OF TRANSMISSION WAS 3200 OUT OF POCKET. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND IT NEEDED TO BE REBUILT. FORD STATED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 97,000.