2002 Ford Explorer complaints

BROKEN REAR COIL SPRINGS ON MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER. NOTICED WHEN CHANGING THE BRAKES. *TR

AT 65,000 MILES I HAD TO HAVE BOTH CLUTCH PACKS IN THE DRIVE TRAIN REPLACED AT A COST OF $300. AT 72,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND THE COST WAS $1,750. JUST RECENTLY AT 91,000 MILES THE GEAR SHIFT (PRNDL) FELL OFF OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND IS CURRENTLY SITTING AT A DEALERSHIP WAITING FOR A "BACK ORDERED" PART. *TR

REAR COIL SPRING ON DRIVERS SIDE IS CRACKED THROUGH. TALKED WITH MY MECHANIC AND HE SAID THAT THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME HE HAS SEEN THIS. PROBABLY EVERY THIRD EXPLORER HE HAS SEEN HAS THIS PROBLEM. HE QUESTIONED LOCAL FORD DEALER ON THIS AND WAS TOLD THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. *TR

THE CAR HAD NO REVERSE AT TIMES. WHEN IT SHIFTED INTO REVERSE, IT WAS VERY JERKY. EVENTUALLY REVERSE WAS LOST. GRINDING NOISE AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES PER HOUR. TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY REBUILT AT A COST OF $2700. CAR HAD ONLY 67,000 MILES. I STILL HAVE THE GRINDING NOISE AND OCCASIONALLY THE O/D LIGHT COMES ON DUE TO SENSOR IN 4TH GEAR. FORD SHOULD BE ASHAMED. *TR

BROKEN REAR COIL SPRING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR LIFTGATE HAD CRACKED RIGHT BELOW THE GLASS. THE CRACK IS SPREADING. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 52,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000. UPDATED 09/05/07. *JB

2002 FORD EXPLORER XLS 4X4 MAN TRANS. REAR DIFFERENTIAL NOISES. FLUID CHANGE DID NOT HELP. *TR

2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT TRANSMISSION FAILURE. DRIVING VEHICLE ON HIGHWAY WAS EASY. TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REGULARLY MAINTAINED. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FOR THIS SPECIFIC PR YET NO ONE HAS TAKEN ACTION SUITABLE TO HAVE FORD RECALL THE TRANSMISSION. FORD DEALER SAYS THEY KNOW IT IS A DEFECTIVE DESIGN BUT FORD WILL NOT TAKE ACTION TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. IT IS A PITY THAT SOMEONE WILL HAVE TO BE SEVERELY INJURED OR KILLED BEFORE ANYTHING WILL BE DONE. *AK

I OWN A 2002 FORD EXPLORER AND HAVE HAD A ONGOING PROBLEM WITH CHECK LIGHTS COMING ON. FIRST IT WAS A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WHICH READ THAT VEHICLE NEEDED NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTER .THEN COUPLE YRS LATER CAME ON AGAIN THIS TIME FOR A SENSOR. NOW I HAVE A AIRBAG LIGHT ON IT SEEMS LIKE ONE SENSOR AFTER ANOTHER. AFTER READING VERY SIMMILER COMPLAINTS ON YOUR SITE AND OTHERS I THINK THIS SHOULD BE LOOKED AT FURTHER. NO EXACT EVENTS LEAD TO THE PROBLEM. ALL PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN FIXED EXCEPT AIRBAG LIGHT WHICH JUST HAPPEND THIS WEEK. *AK

GEAR SHIFT BROKE WHILE ENGINE WAS RUNNING AND VEHICLE WAS IN PARK. KEY COULD NOT BE REMOVED. COULD THIS OCCUR WHILE VEHICLE IS MOVING? REPLACEMENT OF ENTIRE GEAR SHIFT WAS REQUIRED. OLD GEAR SHIFT ASSEMBLY HAS BEEN KEPT FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.*AK

THE FORD DEALERSHIP IN GUAM SAID I NEEDED A NEW SEAT BELT RETRACTOR AND ORDERED IT. THAT WAS IN MARCH 2007. IT IS NOW JULY 2007. IF THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THEN WHY IS IT SO SLOW. *AK

ON THE FORD EXPLORERS 2002-2003 THERE IS A PASSENGER RESTRAINT FAULT WHERE THE AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON INDICATING THAT THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT AND OR DRIVER RESTRAINT SRS SYSTEM IS AT FAULT. THIS IS CONCERNING ME SIMPLY BECAUSE IT APPEARS TO ME THAT THIS COULD CAUSE THE AIR BAG TO DEPLOY WHILE I AM DRIVING. *TR

BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS BROKEN. VEHICLE DROVE NORMALLY TO DEALER FOR WHEEL BEARING REPLACEMENT. HOWEVER, MECH. FOUND BOTH COIL SPRINGS BROKEN WHILE REPLACING LEFT WHEEL BEARING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO ACCELERATE AND SHIFT INTO SECOND GEAR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE OVERHAULED. AS OF JUNE 29, 2007, THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 54,000.

I JUST SPENT $492.01 REPAIRING THE 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT. THE BOLT HOLDING THE RIGHT SIDE CALIPER MOUNTING BRACKET SHEARED OFF. IT SCORED THE INSIDE RIM WHICH RESULTED IN A BREACH TO THE TIRE, CAUSING IT TO GO FLAT. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED 5:15 AM IN THE MORNING WITH NO ONE ON THE ROAD. AS SOON AS I HIT THE BRAKE,THE TIRE LOCKED UP AND THE CAR CAME TO AN ABRUPT HALT. HAD THIS HAPPENED DURING THE DAYTIME OR WHEN THERE WERE OTHER CARS AROUND, MUCH DAMAGED COULD HAVE OCCURRED TO MYSELF AND OTHER VEHICLES IN THE AREA. THE MECHANIC SAID IT WAS A DEFECTIVE PART. I FEEL FORD SHOULD REIMBURSE ME FOR THE COST OF REPAIR. AND BY THE WAY, I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WITH THIS VEHICLE. *AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIFTGATE IS CRACKED AND LEAKING. HE NOTIFIED FORD WHO STATED THAT COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN MADE FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 65,590 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000.

I OWN A 2002 FORD EXPLOERE AND TRANSMISSIONWAS GIVING ME PROBLEMS. ALSO, HAS SOME VABRATION IN REAR END AND FRONT END ,TOOK IT TO FORD ON WARANTY, AND THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG . WELL NOW I HAVE A TRANSMISION PROBLEM AND OUT OF WARANTY, AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO FOR ME, I WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO GET THE PROBLEM FIXED. BUT THEY SHOULD OF LOOK IN TO THIS PROBLEM WHEN I HAD THE CAR FOR A MONTH. NOW A YEAR LATER THE TRANSMISION WAS NO GOOD. *AK

REAR SPRING FAILURE. *AK

2002 FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. SLIPS WHEN VEHICLE STARTS MOVING FROM STOPPED POSITION. DELAY BETWEEN REVERSE AND DRIVE. *AK

MY WIFE WAS GOING TO WORK ON 6/12/07 WHEN SHE ARRIVED IN THE PARKING LOT. SHE WENT TO PUT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK WHEN THE COLUMN SHIFTER BROKE OFF IN HER HANDS. SHE WAS NOT ABLE TO TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. I DISMANTLED THE STEERING COLUMN AND FOUND THAT A METAL PIECE HAD SHEERED OFF THAT ATTACHES THE SHIFT LEVER TO THE UPPER STEERING COLUMN. THIS PIECE OF METAL IS MADE OUT OF POT METAL AND IS OF A POOR QUALITY DESIGN. THE TRUCK IS SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY AS WE DO NOT HAVE $500 TO BUY ANOTHER STEERING COLUMN. THIS POSES A SAFETY RISK IN THE FACT THAT A PARENT COULD GET STRANDED WITH KIDS AND COULD PUT THEM IN DANGER BY NOT ALLOWING THE KEY TO BE REMOVED.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT CALLED REGARDING NHTSA CAMPAIGN # 01I010000 (VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR). THE DEALER STATED THAT ACCORDING TO THE VIN, THE RECALL REPAIR HAD ALREADY BEEN PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, FORD STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER ALSO STATED THAT THE VIN DID NOT RELATE TO THE SAFETY ACT. BEFORE HE NOTIFIED THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER, THE REAR SIDE GLASS ON THE VEHICLE HAD ALREADY FALLEN OUT, SIMILAR TO THE FAILURE NOTED IN THE RECALL. UNFORTUNATELY, THE CONTACT NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE ESTIMATED COST TO HAVE THE GLASS REPLACED IS $900. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER HAS OFFERED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THE ENGINE SIZE, POWERTRAIN, MILEAGE INFORMATION, AND FUEL SYSTEM WERE UNKNOWN.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE, THE GEAR SHIFT BROKE INSIDE THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT HAS ALWAYS BEEN DIFFICULT TO MOVE FROM THE PARK POSITION. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS SHEERED OFF THE STEERING COLUMN. THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE ALSO HAS TROUBLE INSERTING THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION. THE DEALER HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE FOR THE IGNITION FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 66,000.

VIBRATION AND GRINDING AT LOW SPEED TURNS. TOLD BY FORD A DIFFERENTIAL CLUTCH PACKAGE IS NEEDED AT A COST OF $1,100. CALLED AROUND TO SEVERL DIFFERENT REPAIR SHOPS. FOUND A FORD DEALER TO REPAIR FOR $790 PLUS TAX. GETTING THE USUAL 12 MONTH 12,000 MILE WARRANTY. CALLED FORD RELATIONS FOR SOME RELIEF AND THEY OFFERED NONE BECAUSE I AM OUT OF WARRANTY. THIS IS CLEARLY A PROBLEM EXPERIENCED BY A LARGE NUMBER OF EXPLORER OWNERS. EVERYONE PLEASE SPEAK UP AND POST A COMPLAINT.

I FIRST PURCHASED MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER IN JULY OF 2004. AT THAT TIME I HAD THE FORD DEALERSHIP IN SWAINSBORO REPAIR THE REAR END DUE TO A GRINDING NOISE THAT IS EMITTED WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS APPLIED. THE VEHICLE HAD APPROXIMATELY 60,000 MILES ON IT. NOW, THE VEHICLE HAS 105,000 MILES AND THE NOISE HAS RETURNED AND IS WORSE THAN EVER.

FLASHING O/D INSTRUMENT LIGHT

FLASHING O/D INSTRUMENT LIGHT

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE. THREE DAYS LATER, SHE DISCOVERED A CRACK BELOW THE WINDOW OF THE REAR DOOR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY HAVE THREE OTHER VEHICLES ON LOCATION WITH THE SAME FAILURE. THE FORD MANUFACTURER STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE BECAUSE HER VEHICLE IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND IT WAS NOT SERVICED WITH FORD. THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 59,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,750. UPDATED 02/01/08. *LJ UPDATED 02/01/08 *TR

MY WINDOW SWITCH STARTED TO SMOKE AND MELTED THE MAIN WINDOW SWITCH. IT DOES NOT WORK AT ALL NOW. IT WILL BE TAKEN TO A FORD DEALERSHIP TOMORROW. *TR

2002 FORD EXPLORER REAR END WHINES. *AK

TRANSMISSION BROKEN FORD DOESN T CARE BROUGHT IT TO SAM GALLOWAY FORD IN FORT MYERS AT LEAST 20 TIMES THEY FINALLY REFUSE TO TAKE VEHICLE INTO REPAIR WITH THE WORDS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT TRANSMISSION SHIFTING HARD FROM 2-3 GEAR CAR IS SLOWER THEN A 4 CYLINDER NO POWER WHINING NOISE FROM UNDER THE HOOD IN THE MEAN TIME TRANSMISSION SLAMMING GEARS STILL NOTHING WRONG WITH IT HESITATING WHILE ACCELERATING GRINDING NOISES WHILE ACCELERATING WHINING FROM REAR END FORD STILL SAYS NOTHING WRONG TRANSMISSION WENT IN 1ST GEAR WHILE DRIVING 45 WIPED OUT ALOMST HIT A TREE STILL NOTHING WRONG CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON FROM TIME TO TIME ERROR CODE SAYING FUEL SYSTEM BANK 2 HIGH VOLTAGE SYSTEM TOO RICH BROUGHT IT TO FORD ERROR CODES ERASED CAME BACK COUPLE DAYS LATER FORD SAYS THERE WHERE NO ERROR CODES

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO MAKE AN UNFAMILIAR NOISE. THE OVERDRIVE INDICATOR FLASHED REPEATEDLY AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO HESITATE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP WHO REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 62,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,800.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT LIFTED THE TAILGATE AND NOTICED THAT THE LIFT CYLINDER HAD DETACHED FROM THE SOCKET, CAUSING THE TAILGATE TO STRIKE HIM ON THE TOP OF HIS HEAD. THE FAILURE RESULTED IN A BUMP ON HIS HEAD. THE DEALER STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THERE WAS RECALL # 01I010000 (VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR). THE DEALER DID NOT VERIFY TO DETERMINE IF HIS VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 78,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,500.

PURCHASED A 2002 FORD EXPLORER IN NOVEMBER 2001. IN OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2004 HAD TO HAVE TRANSMISSION SERVICED WITH 30000 MILES ON IT. AT THAT TIME IT WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. NOW, WITH 48700 MILES THE TRANSMISSION WAS AGAIN SHIFTING VERY ROUGHLY IN 2-3 AND 3-4 SHIFTS. FORD DEALERSHIP STATED THAT REPAIRS COSTS WOULD BE $890. SPOKE WITH FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE, AND THEY DECLINED TO ASSIST WITH THE COST OF THE REPAIR BECAUSE THEY SO GRACIOUSLY HELPED PAY FOR THE 3RD REPLACEMENT OF THE PLASTIC APPLIQUE ON THE REAR LIFTGATE GLASS EVEN THOUGH THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. BASED ON THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS FILED HERE AND ON OTHER INTERNET SITES THERE WAS CLEARLY AN ENGINEERING PROBLEM WITH THIS TRANSMISSION. COMPARING THE NUMBER OF TRANSMISSION COMPLAINTS FOR THE 2001 AND 2003 EXPLORERS TO THE 2002 AND IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT THE 2002 MODEL WAS DEFECTIVE.*AK

2002 FORD EXPLORER WITH 75000 MILES. DURING NORMAL DRIVING BEGAN TO HEAR A HOWLING/GRINDING SOUND FROM THE REAR AXLE. SEEMED TO BE A REAR DIFFERENTIAL PROBLEM THAT WAS A VERY COMMON AMONG 2002-2004 FORD EXPLORERS. NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED. *AK

THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 2002 4WD FORD EXPLORER FAILED AT 73,000 MILES. I WAS TRAVELING ON A HIGHWAY WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURRED. I WAS FORTUNATE THAT THE HIGHWAY WAS EMPTY AT THAT TIME WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED SUDDENLY AND I FEEL THAT MY LIFE COULD HAVE BEEN ENDANGERED IF MORE AUTOMOBILES WERE PRESENT ON THE HIGHWAY I WAS TRAVELING ON. I READ THAT SUDDEN TRANSMISSION FAILURE IS A VERY FREQUENT OCCURRENCE AMONG 2002 FORD EXPLORERS AND ALSO READ THAT FORD HAS NOT ADDRESSED THE PROBLEM THROUGH ANY SORT OF SAFETY RECALL PROCEDURE. WHEN I CALLED FORD TO SUBMIT A PATRON COMPLAINT FORD CONFIRMED THAT NO SAFETY RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED. *TR

FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSION RATTLED AND DEALER INVESTIGATED AND INDICATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CLUTCHES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WHICH WAS COMMON ON THE EXPLORER ACCORDING TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER. I HAD TWO SALES REPRESENTATIVES, WHOSE FLEET EXPLORED, AND THEY BOTH HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS. I BELIEVED THAT IF THE NHTSA WOULD INVESTIGATE FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSION REPAIRS WITH FLEET COMPANIES YOU WILL DISCOVER THAT THERE WAS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH FORD EXPLORES XLT FROM 2002 TO 2005. MOST FLEET CAR DRIVER'S DIDN'T COMPLAIN BECAUSE THE REPAIRS DID NOT COME OUT OF THEIR PERSONAL FUNDS. *AK

GRINDING NOISE PROGRESSIVELY INCREASED OVER THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS. TOOK THE CAR TO LOCAL MECHANIC. IN EARLY 2006 HE HAD REPLACED A REAR HUB ASSEMBLY FOR NOISE. HE DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WERE THREE BAD WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLIES AND THEY WERE THE SAME THREE REPLACED IN 2006. HE STATED THAT THIS WAS A VERY COMMON EXPLORER PROBLEM. I FELT 6 WHEEL HUB REPLACEMENTS IN 2 YEARS WAS EXCESSIVE AT $450 A POP, INCLUDING LABOR. THIS WAS A PROBLEM THAT FORD NEEDED TO ADDRESS. LUCKILY, TWO OF THE THREE PARTS WERE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY , NAPA, BUT I DID HAVE TO PAY FOR THE LABOR.*AK

2002 FORD EXPLORER 75000 MILES ,HAS REAR END NOISE WHEN BETWEEN 55-70 MPH. *AK

HAD AIR BAG LIGHT COME ON. IT WAS A $44.00 HARNESS THAT THE DEALER HAD A SERVICE BULLETIN TELLING HIM OF THE PROBLEM. IT COST ME 247 DOLLARS TO GET THE VEHICLE BACK. I HAVE TALKED TO SEVERAL OTHER 2002 EXPLORER OWNERS AND THEY HAVE HAD THE SAME HARNESS REPLACED AT ABOUT 60000 MILES. A COMPLAINT HAS BEEN SENT TO THE DEALER FOR THE LABOR CHARGES WHICH WERE OR SEEMED EXCESSIVE. *AK

THE KEY IGNITION SWITCH KEEPS ON GETTING GROUND AND HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY TO PULL THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH. THIS WILL BE THE THIRD TIME I HAVE TO REPLACE THE SWITCH. *AK

MY PROBLEM IS WITH THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL AS WELL AS THE HUB BEARING ASSEMBLY IN THE 2002 FORD EXPLORER, 60,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. TERRIBLE GRINDING SOUND IN REAR WHEELS, BOTH REAR BEARINGS IN WHEELS WERE BAD, AS WELL AS DIFFERENTIAL NOISE AND LEAKING OF FLUID, E NO RECALL ON THESE ISSUES, BUT I HAVE FOUND THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS FOR THIS SAME ISSUE. IT WAS A SAFETY VIOLATION NOT TO RECALL THESE. IF THE REAR WHEELS LOCK IT WOULD SEND VEHICLE INTO A SPIN, OR TRAVEL OFF THE ROAD, WHY HAVE YOU NOT REMEDIED THIS WITH FORD? YOU WERE TAKING A GREAT LEGAL RISK, BY NOT LOOKING OUT FOR THE SAFETY OF CONSUMERS. *AK

2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT, PLASTIC TRIM PIECE BELOW REAR WINDOW GLASS CRACKED ALL THE WAY. THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE AS THE GLASS COULD FALL OUT WITHOUT PROPER STRUCTURAL SUPPORT. FORD ISSUED A RECALL FOR THE REAR GLASS HINGE POSTS, BUT THE WILL NOT FIX THE PLASTIC WHICH BROKE AS A RESULT OF NORMAL CLOSING OF THE HATCHBACK. I FOUND A FORUM WITH 129 POSTINGS ON IT TODAY CLAIMING THE SAME ISSUE. HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/EXPLORER/2002/BODY_PAINT/CRACKED_PANEL_BELOW_THE_REAR_WINDOW.SHTML I WOULD LIKE FORD TO FIX THIS PROBLEM FREE OF CHARGE AS IT WAS A SAFETY HAZARD AND DEFECT. *AK

I BOUGHT A 2002 FORD EXPLORER 4X4 NEW. AFTER 30,000 MILES THE REAR GASKET WAS LEAKING. WAS FIXED UNDER WARRANTY. 50,000 MILES LATER IT WAS LEAKING AGAIN. CAME TO FIND OUT IT WAS THE SEALS LEAKING. AFTER TEARING INTO IT NEEDED NEW GEAR SET, TRACTION CLUTCHES AND BEARING FAILED. WAS THIS THE PROBLEM TO BEGIN WITH? WHY WITH SUCH A COMMON FAILURE WERE WE, THE OWNERS, NOT NOTIFIED? THERE WAS ALSO SLIPPING AND POPPING NOISE IN THE REAR. *AK

AFTER BACKING OUT OF THE GARAGE, I PUT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN PARK TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, WHEN I RETURNED TO THE VEHICLE, I ATTEMPTED TO PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN REVERSE AND THE GEAR SHIFT BECAME COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF, BUT COULD NOT REMOVE THE KEYS FROM THE IGNITION. NO DAMAGE WAS DONE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. TWO WEEKS BEFORE THIS TIME I WAS ON THE PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE IN BAD WEATHER AND USED THE GEAR SHIFT TO SHIFT TO A LOWER GEAR ON THE STEEP DOWNHILL, WET AND POSSIBLY ICY ROAD SURFACE. THE CONSEQUENCES COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH DIFFERENT HAD THE GEAR SHIFT DETACHED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN UNDER THOSE CONDITIONS. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF THE GEAR SHIFT BEING LOOSE OR DIFFICULT TO MOVE PRIOR TO ITS FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE SHOP AND THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED.*AK

NO NOTICED PROBLEMS UNTIL 68,000 MILES AND ODOMETER LIGHT CAME ON AND NOTICED REVVING PAST 4 TO GET OUT OF FIRST GEAR. TOOK TO SHOP AND TOLD NEEDED 'UPDATE KIT' , AND ALL ENCLOSED FORD TRANSMISSIONS NEEDED REPAIRS. *AK

2002 FORD EXPLORER / TRASNMISSION FAILURE. *AK

CONSTANT RUBBING/GRINDING SOUND FROM REAR AXLE SOUNDING LIKE VERY LOUD ROAD NOISE. INITIALLY HAD SPRING KITS , BUT ON REAR EMERGENCY BRAKES WHICH DID NOT HELP. FINALLY, HAD TO HAVE THE REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY REBUILT BY A KIT THAT THE MANUFACTURER MADE AVAILABLE THROUGH A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN, SHOWING THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE. A SEARS MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AS THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS AND PERFORMED THE REPAIR. THE LEFT FRONT AND LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARINGS WERE ALSO REPLACED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 92,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. THE REAR COIL SPRING WERE WEAK. THE END BUSHING WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 06/08/07. *JB

TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, NO 3RD GEAR. *AK

2002 FORD EXPLORER, REAR END HUMMING AND MADE A GREAT DEAL OF NOISE. MECHANIC SAID REAR END NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CLAIMED THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM, WHERE WAS THE RECALL?? NOW I AM SUPPOSED TO EAT THE $3000.00 TO REPAIR, I SHOULD HAVE BOUGHT THE HIGHLANDER. I TRIED TO SUPPORT USA AND GOT BURNED, NOT AGAIN!! *AK