2002 Ford Explorer complaints

TRANSMISSION FAILED SUDDENLY WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 65 MPH, CAR JERKED EXTREMELY HARD AT 65 MPH AND SUDDENLY SLOWED TO 30 MPH. O/D ON/OFF LIGHT CAME ON AND ALSO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR OFF THE ROAD THANKS TO THE HELP OF ANOTHER MOTORIST WHO WAS BEHIND ME AND REALIZED MY CAR WAS BREAKING DOWN. HE ASSISTED IN HELPING ME CHANGE TRAFFIC LANES TO GET TO A SAFE SPOT TO STOP. CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP AND DETERMINED THAT AT 54,000 MILES TRANSMISSION FAILED. TRANSMISSION IS COVERED UNDER THE 100,000 MILE WARRANTY, HOWEVER FIRST AUTOMOTIVE HAS DECIDED TO PUT IN EITHER A USED OR SALVAGED TRANSMISSION. THEY REFUSE TO TELL US ANYTHING ABOUT THE CONDITION OR MILEAGE OF THE USED/SALVAGED PART. *NM

THERE IS A LOUD HOWL/WHINE COMING FROM THE REAR AXLE AREA OF OUR 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS HAS BEEN A COMMON COMPLAINT WITH THESE VEHICLES. OUR EXPLORER IS OUT OF WARRANTY BUT SINCE THIS SEEMS TO BE AN INHERENT PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE WE WOULD LIKE FOR FORD TO AT LEAST SHARE THE COST OF REPAIR WITH US. *NM

TRANSMISSION SOMETIMES NOT GOING INTO 3RD AND SLIPPING BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND AND 3RD. BOUGHT IT USED SO OUT OF LUCK BUT HAVE TALKED TO DOZENS WHO HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. FORD ISSUED THIS WARNING TO THEIR DEALERS "03-25-4 DEC 03 A/T - 5R55W NO 3RD GEAR/SLIPPING 2-3 SHIFT/DTC'S SET" SO MANY OF THESE ARE JUST GOING OUT. DUE TO HAVING A BABY WE HAVE NOT HAD THE 2800 TO FIX IT. JUST HOPING IT LASTS AT LEAST 6 MORE MONTHS. *NM

TRANSMISSION WENT BAD AT 68,000 MILES. IT WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT FROM SECOND TO THIRD GEAR. PREVIOUS TO THAT MAKE VERY HARD NOISES WHEN SHIFTING FROM THIRD TO SECOND. *JB

WHINING NOISE IN REAR DIFFERENTIAL OF 2002 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER EDITION HAVE READ MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. *JB

TOOK 02 FORD EXPLORER IN DUE TO CAR NOT SHIFTING WHEN IT SHOULD. ACCORDING TO FORD, I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE EXPLORER ONLY HAS 34,000 MILES. FREEDOM FORD IN HAMPTON, VA INSTALLED A NEW TRANSMISSION FOR $3600.00. *NM

LOUD TIRE ROAR WHEN I REACH SPEEDS OVER 45 MPH. TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE. DEALER NOTICED THE NOISE BUT DIDN'T ACKNOWLEDGE HOW TO FIX IT. VERY LOUD, ALMOST MAKES YOU NOT WANT DRIVE. THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE ENGINEERING OF THE VEHICLE. *JB

2002 FORD EXPLORER REAR COIL SPRING WAS DEFECTIVE, CONSUMER WANTS TO BE REIMBURSED. *TS *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT NO PARTICULAR SPEED, THE REAR WHEELS SHOOK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL UNIT SHOWN SIGNS OF EXTREME WEAR AND WOULD NEED REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. *AK

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH THE BRAKES FAILED. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS USED TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITHOUT INCIDENT. THERE WERE NO INDICATOR LIGHTS ON PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED.

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION (5R55W) HAS FAILED AT 30,300 MILES 10 MONTHS PAST LOUSY 3YR/36K BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY EXPIRATION! 1 MONTH PRIOR TO FAILING THERE WAS A SECOND OR SO DELAY SHIFTING INTO REVERSE OR A HARSH BUMP UPON ENGAGEMENT. ON 2/26/06 AFTER A 30 MINUTE DRIVE ON THE INTERSTATE AND THEN DOING AN IN-TOWN ERRAND, THE OVERDRIVE OFF LIGHT STARTED FLASHING. AFTER PARKING IT IN OUR GARAGE THERE WAS A BURNED FLUID SMELL. DUE FOR THE 30K TRANSMISSION SERVICE, I ALSO ASKED FOR A COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC TEST AT AN INDEPENDENT TRANS. SPECIALIST. THE MECHANIC CAME TO ME WITH THE PAN ASKING DO YOU POSSIBLY HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. (NO! I SHOULDN'T NEED ONE FOR A MAJOR COMPONENT SUCH AS A TRANSMISSION.) THE FLUID WAS COMPLETELY BLACK WITH NO HINT OF RED. ADDITIONALLY THE MAGNET WAS COVERED WITH A 1/2" THICK LAYER OF METAL SHAVINGS! THE COMPUTER CODE (P1783) REVEALED THAT THE FLUID HAD HEATED TO GREATER THAN 270 DEGREES F. THE TRANSMISSION IS FRIED AND HIS BEST ESTIMATE TO REBUILD IT WAS AROUND $3,000! LET ME STATE THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NEVER DRIVEN UNDER ANY HARSH CONDITIONS, EVEN THOSE YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO ACCORDING TO FORD ADVERTISEMENTS SUCH AS TOWING, OFF-ROAD OR USING THE 4 X 2 LOW GEAR. AFTER DOING AN INTERNET SEARCH AND READING HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE REPEATED FAILURES WITH THE REBUILT AND/OR NEW 5R55W'S INSTALLED, WHAT IS THE CONSUMER SUPPOSED TO DO? WE HAVE TO PAY FOR FORD'S MANUFACTURING DEFECT BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR POOR ENGINEERING ON THEIR VEHI

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, MY O/D LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND MY CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT. I ENDED UP HAVING TO DRIVE AT 25 MPH AND AT 5000 RPMS IN ORDER TO GET HOME. I HAVE HEARD OF MORE THAN SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH 2002 EXPLORERS. FORD DID NOTHING TO HELP ME. *JB

CRACK IN LIFTGATE THAT OCCURRED SPONTANEOUSLY WHEN WEATHER BECAME WINTER--REAR WIPERS WERE USED AND CRACK OCCURRED. RECALL WAS DONE AT THIS AREA DEALER SUMMER 2005 PRIOR TO CORRECT LIFTGATE RECALL.....WE INQUIRED ABOUT POSSIBLE OVER TIGHTENING DURING RECALL SERVICE AND IT WAS DENIED. WE HAVE HAD THIS CAR SINCE THE SUMMER OF 2002 AND HAVE HAD IT IN COLD WEATHER BEFORE AND UP UNTIL THE RECALL FIX IT NEVER CRACKED. CONCERNED ABOUT GLASS FALLING OUT SINCE THE TAILGATE IS CRACKED FROM TOP TO BOTTOM. THE DEALER ASSERTED THAT IT WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH CRACKS IN LIFTGATE... SINCE WE ARE NOT UNDER WARRANTY WE HAD TO PAY $600 TO GET THIS FIXED. MILEAGE ON THE CAR IS ONLY 23000!!!!! IT IS THE SAFETY ISSUE OF GLASS FALLING OUT WHILE DRIVING OR FALLING INTO THE CAR UPON MY CHILDREN THAT CONCERNS ME. MANY INTERNET WEBSITES I HAVE BEEN TO DISCUSS OTHER SUCH CRACKS OCCURRING IN THE TAILGATE I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY SOME DEALERS ARE WILLING TO HELP AND OTHERS DON'T. THE PRICES VARY TOO WHICH AMAZES ME. *JB

MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 3-4 TIMES FOR REAR END NOISE / VIBRATION. IT HAS BEEN REPLACE, RE LUBRICATED AND ADJUSTED. THE CAR HAS 85000 MILES ON IT AND THE NOISE IS BACK AGAIN. ANY TIME YOU ARE ACCELERATING AND REACH 55-60 MPH, THERE IS LOUD WHINE THE COMES FROM THE REAR END. LET OFF THE GAS AND IT GOES AWAY.*JB

VEHICLE OUT OF WARRANTY NOW AT 114K MILES. TRANSMISSION JUST REPLACED AT MY COST AND NOW THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL IS MAKING A BAD HOWLING NOISE. I SUPPOSE THAT WILL END UP NEEDING REPLACEMENT OUT OF WARRANTY. I'M HAVING A REAL PROBLEM UNDERSTANDING WHY THE VEHICLE IS HAVING SUCH BAD/EXPENSIVE PROBLEMS AT JUST OVER 100K MILES. ARE THEY REALLY BUILDING GARBAGE ??? *JB

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE SUDDEN. *NM

REAR DIFFERENTIAL SEALS LEAKING OIL AND WHINE AT ROAD SPEED ON 2002 FORD EXPLORER WITH 51000 MILES. VIN [XXX]. *JB UPDATED 07/16/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

2002 FORD EXPLORER EXHIBITING TRANSMISSION AND REAR END PROBLEMS FORD SHOULD RECALL ALL 2002 FORD EXPLORERS FOR THIS PROBLEM. IT APPEARS TO BE VERY WIDE SPREAD. COST ESTIMATED TO BE $6000 FOR REPAIR. *NM

2002 EXPLORER REAR COIL SPRINGS BROKE AT 76,000 MILES. *TS THE FRONT BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED. *JB

REAR END HUM AND LEAK BACK TIRE WAS LOOSE DUE TO REAR WHEEL BEARINGS DETERIORATING, TOOK IT APART AND BEARINGS FELL APART. THERE WAS NO GREASE ON THEM. THIS '02 EXPLORER HAS 30,000 MILES ON IT. *JB

I OWN A 2002 FORD EXPLORER, WITH 69.000 MILES ON IT. IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE EVER WHEEL BEARING ON MY CAR, THE WHEEL HAVE COME LOOSE, AND THE BEARING WERE SCRAPING. THE COST FOR THE BEARING AND THE LABOR WAS OVER $1,400 , I AM ALSO HAVE TO REPLACE MY TIRES BECAUSE OF THIS, WHEN I CONTACTED FORD ON THIS MATTER, THERE COMMIT WAS "THAT IS YOUR PROBLEM IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY, THERE IS NO REASON ALL 4 WHEEL BEARING WOULD HAVE GONE BAD WITH NO MORE MILES THAN THERE IS ON THE CAR. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE NEXT PERSON MAY NOT KNOW IN TIME THAT THERE IS FLAW IN THE BEARINGS AND MAY HAVE A WHEEL COME OFF. THIS SHOULD BE A VERY BIG SAFETY CONCERN. THIS COULD CAUSE SOMEONE THERE LIFE. I HOPE I CAN GET SOMEONE TO LISTEN BEFORE IT IS TO LATE AND CAUSES A CHILD'S LIFE. THANK YOU. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE SHIFTING GEARS, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MADE A CLUNKING NOISE AND THE VEHICLE DISPLAYED A JERKING MOTION. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY A DEALER AND THE SOLENOID HOUSING OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. AFTERWARDS, THE PROBLEM PERSISTED AND THE SOLENOID HOUSING WAS AGAIN REPLACED BY THE DEALER. THE FRONT PADS WERE REPLACED. THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WOULD POP OPEN. THERE WAS A DELAY WHEN SHIFTING GEARS, AND THEN THE VEHICLE WOULD SLAM INTO GEAR. UPDATED 04/06/06. *JB

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN LESS THEN TWO YEARS I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT. IT WAS BOUGHT ON 8/14/04 AS IS NO WARRANTY FROM A DEALER (DEMO) UNIT IT HAD 38547 MILES ON IT, 10/13/04 THE TRANSMISSION BLEW WITH 41675 MILES ON IT. THE DEALER WOULDN'T GIVE ME NO HELP AS WELL AS FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE, I PAID 2181.03 TO HAVE IT REBUILT INCLUDING THE TORQUE CONVERTER REPLACED, AND THE SOLENOID PAK (WHICH WAS REPLACED 2 MORE TIMES SHORTLY AFTER BEING INSTALLED EACH TIME) IT NEEDED A LS KIT, BAS HING KIT, 5 FORWARD STEELS, FILTER AND FLUIDS. MARCH 8TH 2006 I FIND MYSELF SPENDING ANOTHER 1412.56 TO HAVE IT REBUILT YET AGAIN NOW ONLY HAVING 64460 MILES ON IT, IT NEEDED AN OVERHAUL KIT, FILTER AND TRANS FLUIDS, INTERMEDIATE BAND, OD SERVO PISTON, INT SERVO PISTON AND ANOTHER SOLENOID PAK AS WELL AS THE TRANSMISSION CASE REPAIRED. I HAVE OWNED SEVERAL CARS IN MY LIFE TIME AND NEVER HAD TO REPLACE A TRANSMISSION ESPECIALLY TWICE IN LESS THEN TWO YEARS, THIS IS MY FIRST FORD AND WILL BE THE LAST FORD I OWN! I CAN'T AFFORD TO SPEND THIS MUCH MONEY EVERY TWO YEARS AND SHOULDN'T HAVE TO THE WAY I SEE IT!*JB

2002 EXPLORER TRANSMISSION IS BAD AFTER ONLY 33,000 MILES. *JB

FUNNY THING, MY EXPLORER ONLY HAS 30,000 MILE, THERE WAS NO EVENT, ONE DAY IT WAS FINE THE NEXT DAY COME THE WHINE AND GRIND. *JB

PASSENGER SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG DEPLOYED UPON CLOSING REAR DOOR OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS NOT IN MOTION, NOR WAS IT PARKED NEAR ANOTHER VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP RAN DIAGNOSTIC, COMPUTER CODE INDICATED VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. MANUFACTURER INITIALLY DECLINED REPAIR VIA CONVERSATION WITH MECHANIC, AFTER I PURSUED CLAIM, WAS TOLD BY DEALERSHIP THAT VEHICLE WOULD BE REPAIRED AND I WOULD HAVE AN EXPENSE TO DO SO OF $300. I CONTACTED SVC MANAGER FOR EXPLANATION OF $300, TOLD CONSUMER ALWAYS SHARES IN EXPENSE OF REPAIR FOR OUT OF WARRANTY ITEMS. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER AGAIN, ASKED FOR REVIEW AS NHTSA WEBSITE STATES SAFETY ISSUES SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AT NO EXPENSE TO VEHICLE OWNER. YET TO BE RESOLVED. *NM

2002 FORD EXPLORER WITH A V6 ENGINE, PURCHASED NEW, MAINTAINED, HAS 77,000 MILES. WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE IT BECAME ERRATIC, AS IF WATER IN TANK, DROVE ABOUT 1/2 MILE WHEN IT DIED. NOW THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED: ACCORDING TO WARRANTY INSPECTOR THE "CASSETTE FAILED DUE TO THE HYDRAULIC TENSIONER AND IT IS CLOGGED WITH SLUDGE, SLUDGE IS GETTING THICKER AND IT HAS CLOGGED A PIN HOLE IN THE TENSIONER AND CAUSED A LOSS OF PRESSURE". GEICO WILL NOT COVER THE ENGINE REPLACEMENT BECAUSE THEY CLAIM IT WAS CAUSED BY LACK OF MAINTENANCE; HOWEVER, I PROVIDED THEM WITH RECORDS OF THE MILEAGE AND DATE OF OIL CHANGES AT INTERVALS BETWEEN 3K AND 5K MILES, PROBLEM I HAVE RECEIPTS FOR ONLY 75% OF THOSE CHANGES. THE HIGHEST GAP BETWEEN A RECEIPT BACKED CHANGE AND NON RECEIPT CHANGE IS 7000 MILES. THIS PROBLEM SEEMS AWFULLY SIMILAR TO THE 1996 - 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY ENGINES. I THINK FORD HAS A LOT OF EXPLAINING TO DO. PREVIOUSLY, THIS SUV HAD TO HAVE A TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT 50K MILES AND A REAR DIFFERENTIAL AT 65K MILES, THANK GOODNESS THEY WERE COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 15MPH THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WOBBLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE LUG NUTS WERE BROKEN WHICH RESULTED IN THE LOOSE REAR WHEEL. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE BROKEN LUG NUTS.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO PUT THE VEHICLE SHIFTER INTO THE DRIVE POSITION HOWEVER, THE STEERING COLUMN COMPLETELY FELL APART. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME AND THEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE.

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BEGAN HAVING SHIFTING DIFFICULTIES SHIFTING UP AND DOWN BETWEEN GEARS. THE OCCASION THAT PROMPTED THIS OCCURRED AS I ATTEMPTED TO PLACE THE CAR IN REVERSE AND IT DID NOT ENGAGE IMMEDIATELY. I WAS ALMOST BROADSIDED BY AN APPROACHING VEHICLE BEFORE REVERSE ENGAGED AND I WAS ABLE TO AVOID THE COLLISION. IT SEEMS IT TOOK APPROXIMATELY UP TO 1 MINUTE FOR REVERSE TO ENGAGE AND THE VEHICLE LURCHED BACKWARDS ONCE ENGAGED. *NM

NOISY DIFFERENTIAL. CONSTANT WHINING AROUND 50 MPH AND UP. RELUCTANT TO REPORT TO DEALER FOR INDICATIONS OF LACK OF RESPONSE CITED BY OTHER COMPLAINANTS. LIVING WITH PROBLEM UNTIL DIFF FAILS! *NM

TRANSMISSION OVERHEATING AND NOT SHIFTING CORRECTLY WHILE ON HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH 63000 MILES ON 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT COMPLETE OVERHAUL NEEDED ON TRANSMISSION APPROX COST $2600.00 TO REPAIR. *JB

I BROUGHT MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER INTO MOSSY FORD BECAUSE THE AC WAS NOT WORKING AND THERE WAS A WHINING COMING FROM THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE. I WAS TOLD THAT THE AC PROBLEM COULD NOT BE FOUND AND THAT THE WHINING WAS DUE TO THE TIRES. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT ANOTHER SOUND WAS NOTICED BY THE TECHNICIAN COMING FROM THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL. I WAS CHARGED $200 TO DIAGNOSE IT AND WAS TOLD THAT A NEW DIFFERENTIAL PACKAGE WAS NEEDED WHICH WOULD COST $1200. IT IS RIDICULOUS THAT THIS WOULD GO OUT AFTER 78,000 MILES. I RESEARCHED THE INTERNET AND SEE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FORD IS AWARE OF. THEY SHOULD REPLACE THESE THINGS FOR FREE. I AM IN THE MARKET FOR ANOTHER CAR AND NOW WILL NOT BUY A FORD IF THEY DON'T ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. *NM

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

REAR LIFT HATCH ,THE PIECE OF BODY UNDER THE GLASS, STARTED OUT AS A SMALL CRACK. NOW HAS SPLIT AND SEPARATED ALL THE WAY DOWN. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP HOPING TO BE TREATED WITH A LITTLE FAIRNESS. WRONG..IT CAN BE FIXED, BUT AT MY EXPENSE.. DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT. IT HAPPENED ON IT'S OWN AND I'M FINDING OUT I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE IT'S HAPPENED TO. THE NUMBERS SHOULD SHOW THERE IS A PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE DEALT WITH BY THE FORD COMPANY.*JB

THE REAR END HAS GONE OUT TWICE NOW IN MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CAR HAS 85,000 MILES ON IT. *NM

I BOUGHT MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER WITH 55,000 MILES ON IT ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO. EVERY ONCE IN AWHILE I WOULD GET A LOUD THUG WHEN THE CAR SHIFTED BETWEEN 25 AND 35 MPH. THE SERVICE PLACES WERE NEVER ABLE TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. LAST WEEK, I WAS DRIVING AND THE CAR JUST WOULD NOT SHIFT - THE CHECK TRANSMISSION LIGHT CAME ON AND THE OD LIGHT STARTED RAPIDLY FLASHING. MY CAR IS OF COURSE OUT OF WARRANTY AND THE DEALERSHIP IS QUOTING ME $3120 FOR A REBUILT TRANSMISSION THAT THEY SAY I NEED. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM WITH THE FORD EXPLORER 2002. THERE IS EVEN THE FOLLOWING TSB ISSUED FOR IT THAT I FOUND ONLINE 03-25-4 DEC 03 A/T - 5R55W NO 3RD GEAR/SLIPPING 2-3 SHIFT/DTC'S SET. HOWEVER, THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE WHETHER OR NOT THAT IS TRUE. *JB

THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT IS FLASHING AND TRUCK WILL NOT GO INTO OVERDRIVE. I PAID $1500 6 MONTHS AGO TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND IT IS DOING THE SAME THING. I TOOK IT IN AGAIN AND THE REPAIR SHOP SAID IT WAS ELECTRICAL. I PAID ANOTHER $400 TO FIX IT AND 4 DAYS LATER IT IS DOING THE SAME THING. *JB

CONSUMER FORD EXPLORER REAR WINDOW CRACKED. DEALER STATED THIS WAS A PROBLEM AND THAT IT WAS COVERED IN WARRANTY UP TO 3 YRS. *TS THE CONSUMER HAD HIS VEHICLE FOR 4 YEARS. *JB

AFTER 60,000 MILES TWO WHEEL BEARINGS NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *NM

LOUD HUMMING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF VEHICLE. DEALER SAID SEALS WERE LEAKING CAUSING A LOW FLUID SITUATION THAT CAUSED ABNORMAL WEAR. REAR DIFFERENTIAL NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. RESEARCHING THE INTERNET, IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS A COMMON AND WELL KNOW PROBLEM WITH FORD EXPLORERS AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER. *JB

BOUGHT EXPLORER XLS 2002 IN JULY 2001. SINCE OWNING VEHICLE HAVE NOTICED AN INCREASE IN GEAR SLIPPING BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD. SLAMMING INTO GEAR. DEALER UNABLE TO REPRODUCE. CHARGED ME $90 TO CHECK COMPUTER. IN 2004 NOTICED A WHINING COMING FROM ENGINE, TRANSMISSION PUMP FAILURE, REPLACED. 2 DAYS LATER, RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP, THE REPLACEMENT PUMP ALSO FAILED. TRANSMISSION STILL SHIFTING HARD, INCREASINGLY GETTING WORSE. I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, WORTH THE MONEY SO FAR. I'VE READ OVER 160 COMPLAINTS, ALL WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. WHAT IS FORD THINKING? DO THEY THINK THE PROBLEM WILL GO AWAY? *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE'S LIFT GATE STRUT DISENGAGED, IT FRACTURED THE GLASS AND THE GLASS SHATTERED. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN #04V442000, CONCERNING THE LIFT GATE AND ATTACHMENTS. THE RECALL WORK WAS PREFORMED; ALTHOUGH, THE REMEDY DID NOT REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND REPAIR.

BACKED MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER OUT OF THE GARAGE AND PUT IT IN PARK FOR A MOMENT AND WENT TO PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE AND THE GEAR SHIFTER BROKE OFF. THE STEERING COLUMN HAD TO BE DISMANTLED TO ALLOW FOR TOWING AND MECHANIC HAVING TROUBLE GETTING THE PARTS TO FIX IT. *NM

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER THAT HAS HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE REAR END. THERE IS A CONSTANT LEAK, ON THE RIGHT SIDE, THAT CAN'T EVER SEEM TO BE FIXED. THE FIRST TIME I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY SAID IT WAS THE AXLE SEALS AND THEY REPLACED THEM. THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND THEY SAID IT WAS MY HUB WHICH THEY REPLACED. IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND THEY SAID THAT A GROOVE HAD BEEN WORN IN THE AXLE AND THAT WAS CAUSING THE LEAK. LESS THEN A YEAR LATER THE OTHER SIDE OF THE REAR END IS LEAKING. *JB

I BROUGHT THIS SUV LAST YEAR AT BILL HEARD CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP. EVEN THOUGH THIS WAS A NEW VEHICLE. WHEN I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY TOLD ME THAT I COULD PAY THIS CAR IN THREE YEARS BUT IN REALITY IT WAS FIVE YEARS. I SIGNED ALL THE PAPERWORK I HAD TO BUT THEY DIDN'T GIVE ME ANY PAPERS WHEN I LEFT. HOWEVER WHEN I WENT TO APPLY TO BUY ANOTHER CAR THEY DIDN'T ACCEPT MY APPLICATION BECAUSE THEY TOLD ME THAT I WAS ALREADY BEING FINANCE A CAR FOR FIVE YEARS. THIS CAR HAS HAD MANY PROBLEMS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION WOULD JUST MAKE REALLY LOUD NOISES WHEN I DROVE THE SUV; THE TRANSMISSION WAS SIMPLY NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. WHEN I DROVE THE CAR 60 MPH OR MORE THE VEHICLE WOULD JUST START VIBRATING. I CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP TO MAKE A COMPLAINT BUT THEY SIMPLY JUST IGNORE MY COMPLAINT. *NM

I BROUGHT TRUCK ON 02/27/2004. THE SALESMAN AT BILL HEARD CHEVROLET MADE ME SIGN SOME PAPERS. IN TWO WEEKS I HAD TO GO BACK TO SIGN SOME MORE PAPERS BECAUSE THEY SAID THEY HAD MADE A MISTAKE. THEY TOLD ME THAT I WOULD FINISH PAYING FOR THE CAR IN THREE YEARS THE COST WAS SUPPOSEDLY $24,000. IN TWO WEEKS AFTER THAT I STARTED HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. I TOLD THE DEALERSHIP BUT THEY DIDN'T WANT TO FIXED THE PROBLEM SO I HAD TO PAY OUT OF MY OWN MONEY TO FIX THE PROBLEM. AFTER THAT THEY PUT AN INSURANCE ON THE TRUCK WHICH BROUGHT MY PAYMENT TO $518.00. MY AIR CONDITIONER DIDN'T FUNCTION SINCE I BROUGHT IT. MY CAR HAS NO DIRECTION AT ALL. ALSO, WHEN I RUN THE TRUCK MORE THAN 65 MPH IT JUST STARTS SHAKING. IN THREE MONTHS AFTER I BROUGHT THE CAR I READ THE PAPERS AND REALIZE THAT THE TRUCK DID NOT COST 24,000 LIKE THEY HAD TOLD ME IT ACTUALLY COST 37,000. *NM

TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED ON 2002 EXPLORER V-6 WITH 76,721 MILES. HAS BEEN TO SHOP 3 TIMES. TORQUE CHANGED, THEN TRANSMISSION REBUILT, NOW STILL JERKING AND LURCHING-WILL HAVE TO GO BACK. NO WARRANTY. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 15MPH IN SNOW THE VEHICLES FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE WOULD NOT ENGAGE. SEVERAL ATTEMPTS WERE MADE TO ACTIVATE THE FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE WITH NO SUCCESS. THEREFORE, NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE.

MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER LTD'S TRANSMISSION FAILED ON OR ABOUT 20 JANUARY WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING. THE VEHICLE HAD APPRX. 65,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN WITH THE VETERANS FORD DEALERSHIP IN METAIRIE, LA FOR OVER 3 WEEKS. THEY HAVE INFORMED ME THE TRANSMISSION WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF APPRX. $3000. I NOW UNDERSTAND THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH THE 2002 FORD EXPLORER AND URGE A RECALL. *JB