2002 Ford Explorer complaints

2002 FORD EXPLORER'S REAR SPRINGS CRACKED. *TS *NM

I OWN A 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT. THE BEARINGS IN THE REAR END DIFFERENTIAL ARE GOING OUT. THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM SHOULD NOT BE OCCURRING IN A VEHICLE WITH LESS THAN 100,000 MILES. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, MANY FORD EXPLORERS HAVE THIS PROBLEM FORD SHOULD TAKE A SECOND LOOK AT THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE IT SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING. I DON'T HAVE A WARRANTY, BUT STILL THIS IS TOO COMMON OF A DEFECT IN THE FORD EXPLORERS FOR IT TO NOT BE A MANUFACTURER PROBLEM. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH THE DRIVERS SEAT COLLAPSED BACKWARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE SEAT SUPPORT BRACKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB UPDATED 06/19/06. *JB

2002 FORD EXPLORER - 60,000 MILES - TOOK TO DEALERSHIP FOR NOISE IN REAR OF VEHICLE- DEALERSHIP WANT TO REBUILD REAR END FOR $1,300. NEVER CHECKED FLUID OR ASKED ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS. I BELIEVE FORD HAS BIG PROBLEM - WITH EXPLORERS - I WOULD LIKE FORD TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN AND APPLYING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD CAUSING A MINOR CRASH. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT FILED AT THE SCENE. AFTER INSPECTION THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR ON DECEMBER 15, 2005. WHEN THE PROBLEM RETURNED THE DEALER REPLACED A DIFFERENT UNKNOWN SENSOR.

TRIED TO PUT THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE FROM PARK AND THE COLUMN SHIFTER BROKE OFF. VEHICLE COULD NOT BE DRIVEN AND WAS TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION BUSINESS. COST TO REPAIR IS $1300. I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE IN 2004 USED. I'VE HAD THE REAR TRANSMISSION SEALS, SHOCKS, TIRES, FRONT WINDOW AND THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN REPLACED. *JB

BROUGHT MY CAR IN FOR A 60,000 MILE CHECKUP AND WAS TOLD THAT MY AXLE SEAL WAS LEAKING AND THAT THE RING AND PINION GEAR-RERA KIT/SEALS WERE NEEDED TO FIX THE PROBLEM AT A COST OF $1131.83 PLUS TAX. THE ADVISOR SAID THAT THE SEALS ROTTED AND THEN THE LEAKAGE BEGAN AND IT WENT DOWN HILL FROM THERE. THIS SAME CAR HAD BEEN IN EARLIER THIS YEAR WITH WHAT WE THOUGHT MAYBE A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. IT WAS CHECKED AND WE WERE TOLD THERE WAS NO PROBLEM BUT THERE WASN'T ANY INDICATION OF AXLE LEAKAGE PROBLEM. I HAVE RESEARCHED OTHER COMPLAINTS HERE AND THERE SEEMS TO BE ABOUT 4-5 OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE A SIMILAR PROBLEM AND WANT TO KNOW WHY FORD MOTOR COMPANY HASN'T ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM WITH A RECALL. THEE ARE A LOT OF OTHER FOLKS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM EXPRESSING IT OUT ON FORDFORUM.COM. WE HAVE OWNED 4 EXPLORERS AND FEEL VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT WE NEED TO SPEND THIS KIND OF MONEY WITH A CAR THAT HAS ONLY 60,000 MILES ON IT. *JB

MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER WITH 49,000 MILES MAKES A WHINING SOUND WHEN I DRIVE ABOVE 50 MPH WHICH GOES AWAY WHEN I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE GAS. IT COMES BACK AS SOON AS I PRESS BACK DOWN ON THE GAS PEDAL. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR A LITTLE OVER ONE YEAR. IT APPEARS TO BE A PERVASIVE PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. *JB

ON NEW YEARS EVE 2005-2006 THE WHEEL BEARING ON THE DRIVER'S REAR BROKE WHILE I HAD MY FAMILY WITH ME. THE WHEEL BEARING HAD TO BE REPLACE. THE VEHICLE IS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT V6 WITH 80000 MI. ON IT. NO WARRANTY. ON 5/21/06 WHILE DRIVING INTERSTATE SPEEDS, THE PASSENGER REAR WHEEL BEARING BROKE AND STEERING WHEEL JERKED TO THE RIGHT. I WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL AND GET OFF THE INTERSTATE. I REMOVED THE WHEEL AND FOUND ALL BUT ONE STUD HAD BEEN SHEARED OFF. THE WHEEL NEARLY FELL OFF A 65 MPH. I HAD HEARD A NOISE EARLIER AND STOPPED TO CHECK, BUT FOUND NOTHING. I THOUGHT SOMETHING HAD FALLEN FROM THE ROOF. MY FAMILY WAS AGAIN WITH ME. I CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE, BUT WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING EXCEPT ENTER IT INTO THE FILE. I MADE A COMPLAINT AND REQUESTED A SUPERVISOR CALL ME BACK EVEN THOUGH I WAS TOLD REPEATEDLY THAT NOTHING MORE COULD BE DONE AND THE OPERATOR COULDN'T EVEN GIVE ME ANOTHER PERSON WHOM I COULD TALK WITH CONCERNING THE MATTER. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND OBVIOUSLY A FORD PROBLEM. I PAID $150 FOR A TOW AND I'M WAITING FOR THE WHEEL TO BE FIXED. *NM

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER WITH 50,000 MILES. A WHILE AGO A LOUD, EXCESSIVE WHINE NOISE STARTED COMING THE REAR AXLE AT CRUISE SPEED.(50 MPH OR HIGHER). BROUGHT IT INTO FORD DEALER AND SAID RING AND PINION GEAR HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1300. TALKED TO 2 OF MY NEIGHBOR'S WITH 2002 EXPLORER WHO HAVE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. OBVIOUSLY A DESIGN PROBLEM THAT FORD SHOULD LOOK INTO, ADDRESS AND CORRECT.*JB

WE OWN A 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT 4X4...5-18-06 OVERDRIVE LIGHT FLASHES...5-19-06 IT WILL NOT SHIFT INTO DRIVE GEAR...WILL ONLY DRIVE IN FIRST AND SECOND GEARS. MECHANIC SAYS THE TRANSMISSION IS SHOT AND NEEDS TO BE REBUILT FOR $2200.00. THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2002 EXPLORER AND SHOULD BE RECALLED...PERIOD. *NM

2002 FORD EXPLORER REAR END NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING BETWEEN 50-65 MPH (A LOUD HOWLING SOUND). WHEN I LET OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR THE NOISE GOES AWAY. TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND THEY REPLACED THE BEARINGS, BUT THE NOISE IS STILL THERE. THEY SAID IT WAS THE REAR END GEAR RATIO. THIS SOUND IS TOO UNBEARABLE. THE REAR END GEAR RATIO SHOULD BE FIXED UNDER A RECALL. *NM

MAJOR NOISE FROM REAR END ESCALATED QUICKLY REQUIRING SERVICE. INDEPENDENT SERVICE GARAGE DIAGNOSED AND REPLACED RIGHT REAR WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY AND LEFT REAR TIE ROD. THIS WAS THE THIRD OF THE FOUR WHEEL HUBS REPLACED ON THIS VEHICLE BETWEEN 70,000 AND 86,000 ACTUAL ODOMETER MILES. THE OTHER TWO WERE BOTH THE FRONTS. VERY HONEST MECHANIC SHOWED ME FAILED PARTS AND THREE OTHER EXPLORERS IN THE SHOP THAT SAME DAY WITH THE SAME WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY REPLACEMENT REQUIREMENT. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECTIVE DESIGN ON THIS VEHICLE. VEHICLE IS A HIGHWAY DRIVEN CAR ONLY, NOT OFF ROAD. *NM

CAR HAS BEEN HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, GOT IT CHECKED BY A MECHANIC RUNNING DIAGNOSTICS ON THE COMPUTER, THE OD LIGHT CAME ON AND WAS FLASHING. AT THE TIME OF THE SERVICE IT WAS WORKING CORRECTLY BUT LIGHT WOULD NOT TURN OFF. IT FINALLY WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR STRANDING MY WIFE AND INFANT SON. I HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED WITH A JASPER TRANSMISSION. *NM

HORRIBLE WHINING NOISE COMING FROM REAR DIFFERENTIAL OF MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED EDITION. REPLACED TWICE ALREADY AND NOW IT'S WHINING LOUDER AND LOUDER EVERYDAY. I REFUSE TO PAY FOR THE SAME REPAIR A 3RD TIME. I HAVE READ MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, ALONG WITH MANY OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. OTHER POPULAR DEFECTS FOR THE NEW FORD EXPLORER ARE CRACKED REAR COIL OVER SPRINGS, ALONG WITH TRANSMISSION AND A/C PROBLEMS, ETC, ETC. HOW MANY MORE COMPLAINTS IS IT GOING TO TAKE BEFORE FORD STANDS UP TO THEIR DESIGN FLAWS...???? *NM

2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT V6 4WD 46,000 MILES. EXPERIENCED VIBRATION IN BRAKE PEDAL AND NOTICED INCREASE STOPPING DISTANCE. INVESTIGATION REVEALED EXCESSIVE RUSTING OF BOTH FRONT AND REAR BRAKE ROTORS. BRAKE PADS WORN UNEVENLY. REPLACEMENT OF FRONT AND REAR ROTORS AND PADS WAS REQUIRED. ORIGINAL ROTORS ARE AVAILABLE. *JB

IN FEB OF 2006 WITH 65,995 MILES ON MY CAR I HEARD A WHIRRING/GRINDING NOISE FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE WHILE DRIVING. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH MY MECHANIC FOR LATER IN THE WEEK (~4 DAYS) TO HAVE THE NOISE LOOKED INTO. 1 DAY PRIOR TO TAKING MY CAR TO THE MECHANIC THE NOISE GOT MUCH WORSE AND I TOOK IT IN IMMEDIATELY. I WAS TOLD THAT THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING EXPLODED AND DAMAGED THE BRAKE AND EMERGENCY BRAKING SYSTEM. I HAD THIS REPAIRED AND CHALKED IT UP TO BAD MICHIGAN ROADS. IN MAY OF 2006 THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING ALSO ERODED/WORE OUT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED (ONLY 68,368 MILES AT THE TIME). THE WAREHOUSE/RETAIL OUTLET WHERE MY MECHANICS PURCHASED THE REPLACEMENT WHEEL BEARINGS TOLD ME THE PERSON WORKING THE COUNTER COMMENTED ON HOW MANY REQUESTS FORD HAS HAD FOR WHEEL BEARINGS AS OF RECENT. MY MECHANICS (AS WELL AS FRIENDS AND FAMILY) TOLD ME I SHOULD CONTACT FORD AS WELL AS NHTSA WITH THIS INFORMATION SINCE THE COMPONENT FAILURE EFFECTED THE EMERGENCY BRAKING SYSTEM. I AM FOLLOWING THROUGH ON THAT REQUEST AND HAVE PLACED A LETTER IN THE MAIL TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND AM AWAITING THEIR REPLY. I WOULD APPRECIATE AN INDEPENDENT 3RD PARTY'S EVALUATION OF THIS SITUATION SINCE I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY MY MECHANIC AS WELL AS OTHERS THE AUTO REPAIR AND INDUSTRY THAT WHEEL BEARINGS SHOULD LAST THROUGHOUT THE LIFE OF THE AUTOMOBILE (OR AT LEAST TO 100,000 MILES. *JB

NO START NO SPARK FORD COULD NOT FIGURE IT OUT, 1200.00 IT WAS A FAULTY MAIN WIRING HARNESS ALSO LOUD NOISE IN REAR END NO HELP FROM FORD, BROKEN WHEEL BEARING. SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN. *NM

I POPPED THE LIFTGATE ON MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER WHILE IT WAS SITTING IN MY GARAGE (GARAGE DOOR WAS CLOSED AND IT WAS EARLY EVENING -- SO TEMPERATURES WERE MILD AND NO SUNLIGHT WAS HITTING THE TRUCK). AS I PULLED ON THE LIFTGATE TO FULLY OPEN IT, I HEARD A LOUD "BANG!" AND THE ENTIRE BACK WINDOW EXPLODED. BALLS OF GLASS WERE THROWN WITH SUCH FORCE THAT THEY EMBEDDED IN THE WALLS OF MY GARAGE. SEVERAL TINY SHARDS OF GLASS (EVEN THOUGH IT'S SAFETY GLASS, EDGES ARE STILL PRETTY SHARP) LODGED IN MY FEET. TODAY, I'M HAVING THE BACK GLASS REPLACED, BUT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM RECURRING. THERE HAD BEEN NO PREVIOUS DAMAGE TO MY REAR WINDOW, AND I HAD THE "LIFTGATE HINGE" RECALL WORK PERFORMED PROMPTLY. IT APPEARS THAT NUMEROUS OTHER FORD EXPLORER OWNERS ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THEIR BACK WINDOWS CRACKING OR EXPLODING: HTTP://WWW.AUTOBYTEL.COM/CONTENT/RESEARCH/FORUMS/INDEX.CFM/ACTION/POSTS/FID/200. *JB

2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT 65,000. TRANSMISSION HAS GONE BAD. THIRD GEAR BAND IS BROKEN. ALWAYS DRIVEN IN LIGHT CITY AND HIGHWAY MILES. NEVER TOWED A TRAILER. FORD DEALER SAYS THAT TRUCK IS OUT OF WARRANTY. *JB

BROUGHT IN MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE - 60K SERVICE. IN THE PROCESS OF DOING SERVICE, TECH FOUND A BAD INJECTOR, REPLACED INJECTOR BUT FOUND THERE WAS A BAD CYLINDER. ADVISED ME OF THIS . I GAVE GO AHEAD TO FIX. WHEN THEY WENT TO PULL HEAD TO SEND VALVES OFF FOR FIX, DISCOVERED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN GUIDES ON BOTH SIDES HAD HOLES WORN IN THEM ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE TOP AND BOTTOM OF THEM. THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED ON A 5 YEAR OLD VEHICLE W/ 60,000 MILES ON IT. *NM

WHILE CHANGING THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AT THE FORD DEALER FOR MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER WITH 60,000 MILES, THE TECHNICIAN MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE FROM MY REAR LEFT WHEEL, THE BEARING HAD TO BE REPLACED. DOING RESEARCH, I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS OTHER 2002 FORD EXPLORER OWNERS WITH SIMILAR COMPLAINTS, THAT BEARINGS WERE GOING BAD WITH MILEAGE THAT IS BELOW THE NORMAL NEED FOR BEARING REPLACEMENT. IF YOU HEAR FROM OTHERS ON THIS PROBLEM, IT MAY BE TIME FOR A FACTORY RECALL. *NM

SOON AFTER WE BOUGHT IT. THE BEGAN OVER-REVVING BEFORE SHIFTING ON FLAT ROAD. AT APPROXIMATELY 80K THE OVER DRIVE BEGAN LIGHT FLASHING ERRATICALLY. WOULD RESET IF I TURNED ENGINE OFF, SAT FOR FEW MINUTES, AND RESTARTED ENGINE. BEGAN SLAM SHIFTING ON FLAT ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 100K. COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE LEAVING ME STRANDED AT APPROXIMATELY 107K. * REPAIR SHOP SAID 02 EXPLORERS ARE #1 FOR NEEDING TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENTS. GOING TO COST OVER $3000 TO FIX. *JB

2002 EXPLORER WITH 95K MILES: POWER WINDOWS, AIRBAG AND FRONT/REAR WHEEL BEARINGS. DEALER WAS NOT SURPRISED BY THESE PROBLEMS AT ALL. $3K ESTIMATED REPAIR COST. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER HAVING REAR AXLE PINION SEAL REPAIRED AT A LOCAL INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP THE MECHANIC NOTICED THE REAR SUSPENSION COIL SPRINGS WERE BROKEN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONSULTED. *AK

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TURNING THE VEHICLE AT LOW SPEEDS, NOT EXCEEDING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE VIBRATES. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE CLUTCH BASKET AND REAR AXLE SEAL NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.

THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT LATCH WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMP IS BELOW FREEZING. I HAD TO WARM THE TRUCK UP FOR 10 MINUTES TO HEAT UP SO THE DOOR WOULD CLOSE CORRECTLY. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND I THINK THE DOOR LATCH SHOULD BE RECALLED BECAUSE IF THE DOOR DOES NOT LATCH CORRECTLY SOMEONE CAN BE SERIOUSLY INJURED. *NM

LAST YEAR I HAD AN ISSUE WITH MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT. THE FORD DEALER SAID IT WAS THE REAR AXEL AND TRANNY AND FIXED THE ISSUE. THIS YEAR THE SAME SYMPTOMS OCCURRED PLUS THE OD LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING SIGNALING TRANNY PROBLEMS. OF COURSE I AM OUT OF THE WARRANTY NOW AND I KNOW THAT THE TRANNY ON THIS MODEL FORD IS "SEALED" MEANING I CANNOT CHECK TRANNY FLUIDS AND ONLY THE DEALER CAN SERVICE THE TRANSMISSION. I HEAR MANY HORROR STORIES OF THE TRANNY GOING OUT PREMATURELY AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN FROM FORD ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I FEEL THAT WITH SO MANY ISSUES AND THE IRREPARABLE DESIGN, THAT A RECALL SHOULD BE CONSIDERED. I FEEL CHEATED AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS FIX CAN BE OVER $2000. PLEASE HELP. *NM

GRINDING NOISE SOUNDING LIKE IT IS FROM FRONT END, ESPECIALLY ON ACCELERATING AT LOW SPEEDS, AND TURNING SLOW. TOLD TO REPLACE TIRES AND FRONT HUB. BOTH DONE AND STILL MAKING SAME NOISE. CANNOT FIGURE WHAT IS WRONG. THINK THE SOUND IS FROM TRANSMISSION OR REAR END. ALSO HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE TRUCK DOES NOT SWITCH GEARS PROPERLY. IT TAKES TO LONG AND SOMETIMES REACHES 4 RPMS BEFORE FINALLY SWITCHING ON FLAT ROAD SURFACE. *JB

FIRST OF ALL I HAVE A HUMMING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE I NOTICE IT MOST WHEN WE ARE TRAVELING ON THE HWY AT AT LEAST 55 MPH OR MORE. IN OCT. MY BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON FOR NO REASON AND NOW IN FEB. MY AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON FOR NO APPARENT REASON. *NM

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE (TORQUE CONVERTER?) *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE ARE THREE CRACKS IN THE REAR HATCHBACK DOOR ABOVE THE EMBLEM. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN ALERTED. *AK

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT FLASHED AND THE CHECK TRANSMISSION LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REBUILT.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE YARD, THE NEIGHBOR ALERTED THE CONTACT THAT THE REAR WINDOW WAS SHATTERED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS ALERTED. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, #01I010000 REGARDING THE VISIBILITY: GLASS, SIDE/REAR. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.

2002 FORD EXPLORER. FAILED TRANSMISSION, STARTER, REAR WHEEL BEARINGS, AIRBAG, PINION, ELECTRIC WINDOW. NOW LOUD SOUNDS FROM REAR OF CAR. *JB

2002 FORD EXPLORER, WELL SERVICED, LESS THAN 54000 MILES ON IT. LAST WEEK AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON, FLASHED, THEN STOPPED. IT DIDN'T COME ON AGAIN UNTIL THIS WEEK. TOOK IT TO THE TORRANCE POWER FORD DEALERSHIP & THEY TOLD MY HUSBAND THAT IT WAS A FAULTY SPRING THAT WAS SLIDING & COMING IN CONTACT WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL WIRE & PROBABLY SHORTED OUT. COST TO FIX, $467.00, CALLED THE FORD CO & THEY SAID AIRBAG SYSTEM WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY & THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS. FUNNY THING IS, I AM NOT THE FIRST PERSON WITH A FORD EXPLORER THAT HAS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. WE ALSO ASKED IF NOT SERVICED WOULD THE AIRBAGS DEPLOY? THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T KNOW. *JB

REAR DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING LEAKING FLUID. PROBLEM WAS FIXED ONCE UNDER WARRANTY BUT IS NOW LEAKING AGAIN. DEALER REFUSES TO FIX AGAIN SINCE IT IS 12 MONTHS PAST ORIGINAL REPAIR AND VEHICLE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY THE VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY ENGAGED INTO 4 WHEEL DRIVE LOW. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT DISENGAGE, IT WAS PULLED FORWARD AND PARKED. THE CONTACT WAS INSTRUCTED BY THE DEALERSHIP TO SLOWLY DRIVE ONE AND A HALF MILES TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THE DEALER WAS ABLE TO DISENGAGE THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE LOW HOWEVER; WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM OF THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE AUTOMATIC ENGAGEMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH ON A PAVED ROAD, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE FOLLOWED BY A BURNING SMELL. THE SIDE AIR BAGS HAD DEPLOYED. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. BOTH OCCUPANTS WERE WEARING SEAT BELTS HOWEVER, AFTER THE DEPLOYMENT, THE SEAT BELTS STRAP TIGHTENED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND THE SEAT BELTS RELEASED. THE POLICE WERE CONTACTED AND A REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. UPDATED 5/16/2006 - *NM

FOIA REQUEST FOR COMPLAINTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE MODEL YEAR 2002 FORD EXPLORER REAR LIFT GLASS BREAKING. *NM ATTORNEY LOCATED 2 BULLETINS. ONE WHICH WARNED THAT THE LIFTGATE GLASS STRUT MAY BECOME DISENGAGED. THE OTHER WARNED THAT THE BRACKETS CONNECTING THE LEFT CYLINDERS TO EACH SIDE OF THE LIFTGATE GLASS COULD ROTATE OUT OF POSITION IF EITHER THE URETHANE BOND OR TORQUE ARE NOT SUFFICIENT. *NM

TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND REAR AXLE NOISES AS WELL AS REAR WHEEL BEARINGS. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 30 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BEGAN TO WOBBLE. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND THE CONTACT NOTICED THE WHEEL BEARINGS IN THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE WHEEL BEARING AND HUB WAS REPLACED.

I HAVE A ROAR IN THE DIFFERENTIAL IN MY FORD EXPLORERS. IT STARTED JUST AFTER THE 36000 WARRANTY. I NOW HAVE 60000 AND THE ROAR IS VERY LOAD. *JB

2002 EXPLORER HATCH CRACKED. *TS THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE REASON WHY THE HATCH CRACKED WAS BECAUSE THE WINDOW AND THE PANEL WERE GLUED TOGETHER AND CONTRACTED AT A DIFFERENT RATE. *JB

BROKEN PLASTIC BODY PANEL ON REAR HATCH OF EXPLORER 2002--VERTICAL BREAK IN PANEL PIECE OCCURRED JUST AFTER PURCHASE. CRACK WIDENS IN COLD WEATHER AND SHRINKS IN WARM, SO IT CAN'T BE PATCHED. JUST COSMETIC, BUT RAMPANT WITH THIS CAR. FORD APPARENTLY DEVELOPED A "BETTER" PANEL, BUT IT IS NOT CONSIDERING THIS A RECALL DEFECT. VERY FRUSTRATING, BUT PROBABLY SHOULD BE EXPECTED BEHAVIOR. *JB

THREE INSTANCES OF WHINING NOISE AT 50+ MPH AND FLUID LEAKAGE FROM REAR AXLE SEAL 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE FIRST ONE CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL WHEN ACCELERATING ON HIGHWAY. DIFFICULT TO DETERMINE SINCE REAR TRANSAXLE FLUID LEAKS DOWN DRIVE SHAFT TO BRAKE ASSEMBLY. I NOTICED SIGNIFICANT CORROSION OF BRAKE ASSEMBLY WHERE FLUID IS RUNNING INTO THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY. ONLY WHEN LEAK IS SIGNIFICANT WILL FLUID DRIP ONTO SURFACE BELOW REAR AXLE. DEALER NOTED FORD ENGINEERS ARE AWARE OF PROBLEM BUT EXPECT THE CONSUMER TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. FIRST REPLACEMENT OF REAR AXLE SEALS AT 30000 MILES; SECOND AT 460000 MILES AND THE THIRD AT 62000 MILES. THESE SEALS SHOULD LAST LONGER. SECOND INSTANCE HAD VIBRATION WHEN ENGAGING THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND LOUD WHINING NOISE/ VIBRATION FROM REAR; THEN FLUID LEAKAGE. MY DEALER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT MANY EXPLORERS (2002-2005) HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY ENGINEERS ARE EVALUATING; AS A DEALER THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. FORD HAS NOT INDICATED A FIX OTHER THAN TO CHECK FLUID LEVEL, REPLACE REAR AXLE SEALS, AND/OR THE REAR UNIT. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT HAZARD SINCE IN MOST CASES THE VEHICLE OWNER WILL NOT KNOW THERE IS A PENDING FAILURE DUE TO THE FLUID LEAKING DOWN THE REAR AXLE DRIVE SHAFT TOWARD THE BRAKE/WHEEL ASSEMBLY. THE WHINING NOISE WILL INCREASE AS FLUID LEVEL DECREASES WITH RISK FAILURE AND LOSS OF CONTROL. THIS PROBLEM IS FAR MORE COMMON THAN REPORTED DUE TO THE DIFFICULT NATURE OF OBSERVATION OF LEAKAGE. ONE HAS TO CRAWL UNDER THE REAR TRA

2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY HAD TO BE REBUILT AT 85,000. THE SHOP WE TOOK THE CAR TO SAID HE SEES A LOT OF 2002 FORD EXPLORERS BECAUSE IT WAS A NEW MODEL AND FORD DID NOT BUILD THE TRANSMISSION CORRECTLY. THE MECHANIC SAID FORD DID NOT RECALL THE TRANSMISSION'S BUT THEY SHOULD AS IT SEEMED TO HIM TO BE A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM, AND NOT FROM ABUSE (IN OUR CASE ANYWAY). *NM

THE REAR END ON MY CAR WAS CAUSING A LOUD HUMMING NOISE ABOVE 40 MILES PER HOUR. *JB

2ND GEAR LOST IN TRANSMISSION O/D LIGHT FLASHING ERRATIC SHIFTING, HAD TRANSMISSION REBUILT AT OVER $3000.00 COST TO ME FORD SAID WHOOPS SORRY. *JB

2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT - MAY 2005 HAD LOUD ROARING NOISE FROM RIGHT REAR WHEEL. REPLACED RIGHT REAR BEARING/PINION/ETC. APRIL 2006 HAD LOUD ROARING NOISE FROM LEFT SIDE. REPLACED LEFT FRONT AND LEFT REAR BEARING/PINION/ETC. REQUESTS TO DEALER AND DIRECTLY TO FORD CO. TO COVER 2ND & 3RD REPLACEMENTS DENIED. *JB