2002 Ford Explorer complaints

BOUGHT 2002 EXPLORER XLT 4X4 NEW. HAS BEEN IN FOR TRANSMISSION-RELATED PROBLEMS MULTIPLE TIME DURING WARRANTY AND EXTENDED WARRANTY. A COUPLE TIMES, THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND DID NOTHING. # OTHER TIMES, THEY FOUND THING WRONG AND 'SUPPOSEDLY' FIXED THEM. WENT BACK INTO THE DEALER AGAIN TODAY WITH O/D OFF LIGHT FLASHING. WARRANTY HAS NOW EXPIRED. I AM WAITING FOR A CALL BACK FROM THEM TO TELL ME WHAT'S WRONG 'THIS TIME'. I'M RELATIVELY CERTAIN I HAVE KEPT ALL THE DEALER STATEMENTS FROM ALL THE TIMES IT HAS WENT IN FOR SERVICE. *NM

SUV IN SERVICE FOR 40 MTHS & 33K MILES WHEN AC EVAPORATOR WENT. NO WARRANTY COVERAGE. THEN SEVERAL MONTHS LATER WITH JUST OVER 36K MILES A REAR TIMING CHAIN WENT. FORD PROVIDED SOME AFTER WARRANTY ASSISTANCE, BUT THESE FAILURES COST CONSUMER OVER $2K FOR A VEHICLE THAT WAS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY AND HAS BEEN BABIED ITS WHOLE LIFE. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT HAD NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 01I010000 REPAIRS PERFORMED ON THE REAR LIFTGATE GLASS IN FEBRUARY 2005. THEN, THE REAR LIFTGATE GLASS SHATTERED WHEN HE SHUT THE LIFTGATE. HE CONTACTED THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER, AND THEY OFFERED NO FREE REMEDY. *AK

I BOUGHT MY EXPLORER BRAND NEW IN MAY 2002. I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE REAR END DIFFERENTIAL TWICE, REAR END SENSOR, AND MY LATEST PROBLEM IS THE REAR END SEALER (PINION). ALL WITHIN 3 YEARS OF OWNING THE VEHICLE. *JB

2002 FORD EXPLORER - OD LIGHT FLASHING AND ENGINE OVER-REVVING WHEN GOING FM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. WHEN IT DOES FINALLY SHIFT INTO GEAR, IT IS VERY HARD AND JOLTING. 73,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND IT WAS PURCHASED NEW. I'M BEING TOLD BY THE FORD DEALERSHIP THAT THE TRANSMISSION WILL HAVE TO BE "OVERHAULED" AT A COST OF $1500-MINIMUM. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A HISTORY OF THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM WITH THE 2002 FORD EXPLORER. IS THE NHTSA LOOKING INTO IT?*JB

2002 FORD EXPLORER HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS FROM THE BEGINNING. TOOK THE VEHICLE IN PRIOR TO THE 36K WARRANTY EXPIRING AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TROUBLE WAS DUE TO A NEW TYPE OF TRANSMISSION THAT WAS USED IN THIS MODEL. WAS TOLD IT WAS A "MEMORY TRANSMISSION" AND THAT WAS WHY IT SHIFTED SO HARD AND MADE NOISES. PROBLEM NEVER WENT AWAY AND HAD TO GET THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT IN 12/05 BECAUSE THE PROBLEM BECAME SO SEVERE. FROM RESEARCH WE HAVE DONE THIS IS NOT A RANDOM CASE BUT RATHER A RECURRING PROBLEM FOR OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE. FORD SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FIXING THE TRANSMISSIONS BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT THEY ARE NOT RELIABLE. *JB

2002 FORD EXPLORER BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS BROKE. *JB

THE BAND IN MY TRANSMISSION BROKE, IT WOULD NOT SHIFT TO THIRD GEAR, I HAVE SEEN IN FORUMS THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE THIS PROBLEM, I THINK FORD SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL AND FIX THIS PROBLEM, THE MINIMUM CHARGE TO REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION IS ABOUT $2500.*JB

IN MAY, 2005, FORD DEALER PERFORMED FIX FOR NHTSA RECALL 04V442000. THIS RECALL IS INTENDED TO PREVENT THE REAR TAILGATE GLASS FROM FAILING. THE ALARMING ISSUE IS THAT 5 MONTHS AFTER THE RECALL FIX WAS PERFORMED, THE REAL TAILGATE GLASS EXPLODED WHILE THE TAILGATE GLASS WAS IN THE OPEN POSITION. THIS OCCURRED INSIDE A CLOSED GARAGE SO WIND WAS NOT AN ISSUE. THE FORCE OF THE EXPLOSION SENT THOUSANDS OF PIECES A GLASS FLYING AS FAR AS 15 FEET. THIS COULD HAVE INJURED ANYBODY STANDING NEAR THE REAR OF THE CAR. IN THIS CASE, NOBODY WAS NEAR THE GLASS WHEN IT EXPLODED. PERHAPS THERE IS A DESIGN DEFECT IN THE RECALL FIX, OR PERHAPS THE RECALL FIX WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY. BOTH THE FORD DEALER AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAVE REFUSED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR REPAIRS COSTS. *NM

CRACK BELOW REAR WINDOW. *NM

WE OWN A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. IT WAS RECENTLY IN THE SHOP AT 45K MILES FOR A WHINING NOISE FROM THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL. THE SERVICE GUY SAID THAT THEY HAVE HAD QUITE A FEW VEHICLES WITH THIS PROBLEM. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID HE WAS SURPRISED IT DIDN'T START AT 12K. WE WERE TOLD WE NEEDED TO REPAIR THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL RING AND PINION IN ORDER TO FIX A LEAK AND WHINING NOISE FROM THE AREA. HE SAID WE WOULD NOT NECESSARILY SEE LEAKING FLUID BECAUSE IT WOULD LEAK WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHER SPEEDS IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND COST OF 1300. WE WERE ALSO TOLD THAT THE REAR WHEEL BEARING IS GOING OUT. 250.00 TO REPAIR THIS. THE SERVICE GUY ALSO TOLD ME THAT UNTIL FORD CAME OUT WITH A DIFFERENT REPAIR PART HE HAD NEEDED TO REPLACE IT SEVERAL TIMES ON AT LEAST ONE EXPLORER. THEY HAD ONE IN THAT DAY TO REPAIR OTHER THAN MINE IF I AM NOT MISTAKEN. *JB

TRANSMISSION BAND BROKEN -- ONLY 50,000 MILES FORD HAS PERFORMED ALL SERVICE REPAIRS INCLUDING OIL CHANGES EVER DONE ON THIS VEHICLE. ONE DAY WHILE DRIVING, I HEARD A POP AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE SPEED WOULD ONLY GO UP TO 30 MPH AND WOULD JERK AGAIN. I HAVE NOW BEEN TOLD IT WOULD COST 2500 DOLLARS TO FIX. AFTER RESEARCHING THE ISSUE, I FOUND OUT INFORMATION THAT THIS PROBLEM IS COMMON TO A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO OWN THE SAME YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL. THE PROBLEMS OCCURS AT THE SAME APPROXIMATE MILEAGE. *JB

WHEN WE FIRST BOUGHT OUR 2002 EXPLORER XLT FROM FINKS USED CAR LOT IN ZANESVILLE OHIO IT HAD ABOUT 22 OR SO THOUSAND MILES ON IT AND WE REQUESTED A CHECK UP ON THE VEHICLE. THE BACK HATCH BRACKETS WAS REPLACED, AND THE BACK WHEEL BRAKES WERE STICKING AND BURNING, LOCKING UP. THAT PROBLEM SEEMED TO BE FIXED. THEN THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM LIGHT STARTED COMING ON AND THE FRONT BRAKES SEEMED TO BE GRABBING....JUST LAST MONTH. I HAD THE CRUISE CONTROL SET ON THE VEHICLE ONCE AND IT SMELLED LIKE SOMETHING SMOLDERING SO I SHUT IT OFF AND IT HASN'T BEEN ON SINCE. I CALLED THE FORD GARAGE TO ASK IF MY CRUISE CONTROL WAS ON THE FIRE HAZARD LIST BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS BUILT IN 2001. I WAS TOLD IF I DID NOT RECEIVE A LETTER IN THE MAIL IT WOULDN'T BE REPLACED. THIS VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY WHEN I BOUGHT IT. SO FAR I AM GETTING NOTHING BUT THE BACK HATCH BRACKETS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND IT NOW HAS 29,956.0 MILES ON IT. I AM DRIVING MY 1995 AUTO WITH 122,000 MILES ON IT WAITING FOR WINTER AND GRADUATION FROM COLLEGE. I AM AFRAID THE BRAKES ARE GOING TO LOCK UP IN THE WINTER AND SEND ME SAILING. I WANT TO KNOW IF THERE HAVE BEEN ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS EXPLORER BUILT IN 2001 THAT IS A 2002 EXPLORER. *NM

OUR 2002 FORD EXPLORER HAD ISSUES ALMOST FROM THE BEGINNING, WHEN PUTTING IT INTO DRIVE IT SOMETIMES WOULD HESITATE AND THEN LURCH FORWARD, EVEN WITH THE BRAKE APPLIED. LATELY, AFTER 65,000 MILES, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO 3RD GEAR, THE ENGINE WOULD REV., BUT NOT SHIFT. IF YOU LEFT YOUR FOOT OFF THE GAS, IT MIGHT SHIFT. THEN THE O/D LIGHT WOULD BLINK. WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO A TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP. *NM

SAFETY CONCERN: 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT. DEFECTIVE APPLIQUE LOCATED BELOW TAILGATE GLASS HAS DEVELOPED A CRACK FROM TOP TO BOTTOM. THE LOCATION OF THIS CRACK IS APPROXIMATELY 3 INCHES TO THE LEFT OF THE FORD EMBLEM. THE DEALER SENT ME TO THE BODY SHOP, WHICH PROVIDED ME WITH AN ESTIMATE OF $334.68 TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PART. ALTHOUGH THE DEALERSHIP WAS FAMILIAR WITH THIS PROBLEM, MY VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY 105,000 MILES AND AS A RESULT THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT PURSUE THIS A WARRANTABLE REPAIR. THEY ESSENTIALLY IGNORED MY GRIEVANCE. AS A LEFT THE DEALERSHIP, I HAPPEN TO NOTICE A BLUE 2002 EXPLORER SIMILAR TO MINE ON THE USED CAR LOT. AS I APPROACHED THE VEHICLE I NOTICED IT HAD THE IDENTICAL CRACK (FROM TOP TO BOTTOM), LOCATED IN THE SAME POSITION (3 INCHES TO THE LEFT OF THE FORD EMBLEM). THIS VEHICLE; VIN #[XXX] HAD ONLY 56,069 MILES ON IT. I CONTACTED FORD AT 800 392-3673 AND SPOKE WITH [XXX]. THE REFERENCE NUMBER FOR MY COMPLAINT IS; REF #[XXX]. [XXX] INVESTIGATED AND CONFIRMED THAT A BULLETIN HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS COMPLAINT WITH INSTRUCTIONS FOR ITS REPAIR. HOWEVER, FORD HAS NOT YET AGREED TO PAY FOR ANY REPAIRS OR TO REIMBURSE THE CONSUMER FOR ANY REPAIRS ALREADY MADE. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN AS THIS APPLIQUE COULD BREAK OFF AND CAUSE SERIOUS DAMAGE TO ANOTHER VEHICLE OR PASSERBY. I MADE THIS CONCERN KNOW TO [XXX], BUT WAS ASSURED THAT IT HAD NOT BEEN DEEMED A RECALL REPAIR. *NM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(

1) COULD HEAR HIGH PITCH NOISE WHILE DRIVING. 2) JACKED UP REAR OF EXPLORER AND REAR WHEEL(S) COULD WOBBLE ON THE AXLE. 3) BY 70,000 MILES, BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARINGS HAVE NOW FAILED AND HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY A FORD DEALER. I NOW HAVE 77000 MILES ON THE EXPLORER AND I AM BEGINNING TO HEAR THE HIGH PITCH SOUND AGAIN. *JB

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT. HAVE HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS SINCE ABOUT 58000 MILES AND HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 5 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM OF HARD SHIFTING TO TRANSMISSION HAVING PROBLEMS FINDING THE CORRECT GEARS TO FINALY, 3RD GEAR BAND FINALY BROKE AT 68000 MILES. JUST GOT FIXED BUT STILL HAVING ISSUES. NOW I HAVE A SHUTTER AND THIRD GEAR STILL SLIPS SLIGHTLY. THIS IS JUST FRUSTRATING!! *NM

REAR-END WHINES EXCESSIVELY WHEN DRIVING AT 45-65 MPH. VERY LOAD. I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE AS I RESEARCHED IT ON THE INTERNET IT IS APPARENT THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE SUFFERING FROM THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM. *NM

FORD REPLACED HINGES ON BACK WINDOW 3 TIMES PER SAFETY RECALL BEFORE GETTING IT RIGHT. NOW, THE PANEL ON THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDOW IS CRACKED IN SEVERAL PLACES, THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT CLAIMS IT IS NOT RELATED. FORD BODY SHOP SAYS IT IS. *JB

2002 EXPLORER, STARTED TO NOTICE A BIT OF A LAG FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR, THEN A BIG LAG AND LURCH, FOLLOWED BY O/D LIGHT FLASHING FOLLOWED BY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. HAD SOLENOID PACK REPLACED FOR $320 LASTED FIVE WEEKS AND FAILED AGAIN, WITH O/D FLASHING AND CAR LURCHING AND GRABBING HARD BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD SHIFT ON AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. ALSO NOTICED AFTER FIRST REPAIR , HARD TO SHIFT FROM DRIVE TO PARK, WOULD HANG UP TRYING TO GET IN PARK. *JB

2002 FORD EXPLORER WITH TOWING PACKAGE, TWO WHEEL DRIVE. REAR-END WHINE AT 55-60 MPH. MANY PEOPLE HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND FORD IS NOT HELPING FIX IT. *JB

2002 FORD EXPLORER REAR DIFFERENTIAL HAS ALREADY FAILED. I AM HAVING IT REPLACED BY MY MECHANIC. *JB

DANGEROUS CRACK OCCURRED IN 2002 FORD EXPLORER REAR LIFTGATE IN DEC. 2002, WAS REPAIRED. RECURRED IN SEP. 2005, AND FORD REFUSED TO REPAIR 2 WEEKS AFTER WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED, EVEN THOUGH PART WAS DEFECTIVE AND VEHICLE HAD ONLY 28,000 MILES. APPLIQUE MAY COME OFF, THREATENING STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF LIFTGATE AND GLASS. INTERNET SHOWS DOZENS OF CUSTOMERS HAD EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM. *JB

SUDDEN ACCELERATION WITH FOOT OFF OF GAS UPON STARTUP OF VEHICLE AND SHIFTING INTO GEAR. *NM

WE NOTICED A HUMMING NOISE AND A SMALL OIL LEAK COMING FROM THE REAR AXLE. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE FORD DEALER AND WERE INFORMED THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS IN NEED OF REPAIR AND THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH EXPLORERS. WE WERE GIVEN A DISCOUNTED RATE FOR THE REPAIR. TWO WEEKS LATER THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING WENT OUT (WITH ONLY 59,000 MILES) AND WERE TOLD THAT THIS HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL REPAIR AND WOULD COST A TOTAL OF $700 FOR BOTH REAR WHEEL BEARINGS. *NM

BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS BROKE ON BOTH SIDES OF FORD EXPLORER. *TS *JB

REAR NOISE WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE. ALSO FLUID LEAK. *JB

DRIVING ON I-65 NASHVILLE, TN. VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A LOUD AND ABRUPT SOUND IN THE ENGINE WITH SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF POWER. NARROWLY MISSED HAVING AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE LOSS OF POWER. WE MANAGED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME WHERE UPON INSPECTION, A SPARK PLUG HAD OBVIOUSLY BLOWN OUT OF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE (LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF SITTING IN THE DRIVER SEAT). *NM

THE DIFFERENTIAL WAS REPLACED BETWEEN 20-25K. THE CAR WAS TAKEN INTO TODAY FOR THE YEARLY STATE INSPECTION. THE DIFFERENTIAL IS NOW LEAKING. CAR HAS 43K MILES ON IT. SEEMS TO BE A DIFFERENTIAL EVERY 20K OR SO MILES, WHICH IS UNACCEPTABLE. *JB TWO WEEKS AGO ON THE WAY HOME FROM WORK O/D LIGHT STARTED FLASHING, MY , TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, TRANSMISSION SOLENOID WENT OUT, IT WAS FIXED. I HAD BEEN COMPLAINING TO THEM THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION SINCE LAST FEB, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SLAM INTO GEAR, WOULD NOT SHIFT PROPERLY, AND WOULD SOUND LIKE IT NEEDED TO UPSHIFT WHEN THE TAC HADN'T CHANGED. GET THE TRUCK HOME AND THE 4X4 DOESN'T WORK. TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER THE TRANSFER CASE MODULE WENT OUT. DEALER SAID IT WASN'T RELATED TO DRIVING IT WITH THE O/D LIGHT ON AFTER FORD'S ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE LEFT ME ON THE SIDE OF AN INTERSTATE FOR 3 HOURS AND THEN TOLD ME TO JUST DRIVE IT WITH THE LIGHT FLASHING. ABS LIGHT CAME ON, IT WAS CODE C1237, THE REAR SPEED SENSOR WENT OUT, THUS I HAD NO ABS, CHECKED MESSAGE BOARDS ONLINE, THIS IS A FREQUENT PROBLEM. ALONG WITH THE INSPECTION TODAY, IT WAS BRAKE PAD REPLACEMENT DAY. MY PADS WERE NOT COMPLETELY WORN DOWN, BUT WITH WINTER COMING UP I WANTED THEM DONE. WENT TO MY REGULAR MECHANIC TO HAVE THIS DONE. THE ROTORS ARE WARPED, AND I SHOULD PROBABLY HAVE THEM REPLACED WITH AN AFTERMARKET SET, AS THE ORIGINAL ONES ARE TOO SMALL FOR A VEHICLE THAT SIZE, AND TURNING THEM WOULD MAKE THEM EVEN THINNER. *JB

VEHICLE GOES INTO NEUTRAL WHEN BRAKING HARD AND WHEN TURNING VEHICLE OFF, OUTSIDE UNDER DRIVER SEAT A WINDING DOWN NOISE IS HEARD 9 TIMES OUT OF TEN WHEN TURNING VEHICLE OFF. TRANSMISSION PAN REPLACED, SOLENOID ASSEMBLY REPLACED, NO LONGER GOES INTO NEUTRAL AND NOTHING WAS FOUND AT DEALERSHIP REGARDING WINDING DOWN NOISE, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *JB

I BOUGHT A NEW 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT. AT 13,743 WORK ORDER WRITES MY COMPLAINTS AS "WHEN GOING FROM PARK TO DRIVE TRANS CLUNKS INTO GEAR AND DELAY UP SHIFT A SLOW SPEEDS". DEALER WROTE ON COMPLETED ORDER FORM "CAUSE: INOP, CORRECTION:REPROGRAM PCM, TECH NOTES:ROADTEST TRANS ENGAGEMENT ARE HARSH INTERMITTENT UPSHIFTS ARE FIRM, REPROGRAM PCM...". AT 16,482 MILES I AGAIN COMPLAINED OF CLUNKING WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. DEALER SAID COULD NOT REPRODUCE. AT 24,613 I COMPLAINED OF TRANS CLUNKING, AND HESITATING BETWEEN SHIFTING, AGAIN DEALER SAID COULD NOT REPRODUCE. AT 35,976 MILES THEY SAID THERE WAS A TRANS PROBLEM AND REHAULED (REBUILT) TRANS. AT 50,295 MILES CAR WAS HESITATING AGAIN BETWEEN SHIFTS AND CLUNKING AGAIN. AT STOPPING THE CAR WOULD JERK HARD. THEY SAID THE TRANS WAS BAD AGAIN AND REHAULED IT AGAIN. AT 52,900 MILES I WAS GOING TO STOP AT A LIGHT, I THOUGHT SOMETHING HAD HAPPENED TO THE BRAKES AS THE CAR WOULD NOT SLOW ANY FURTHER (I WAS AT A LOW SPEED AT THIS TIME) FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS SHUTTERING AND GRINDING. I IMMEDIATELY WENT TO THE DEALER. THE BRAKES TWICE MORE THE WAY OVER FELT STRANGE BUT NOT AS MUCH AS THE FIRST TIME. I WOULD STEP ON THE GAS, THE CAR WOULD HESITATE BEFORE GOING FASTER AND THEN WOULD JERK FORWARD. THE RPM NEEDLE DURING THIS TIME WOULD NOT MOVE AND THEN JUMP FORWARD AND THEN JUMP DOWN. THREE TIMES ON THE WAY TO THE DEALER THE CAR WOULD ON IT'S OWN GO SLIGHTLY FASTER WITHOUT ME DEPRESSING THE GAS PEDAL FURTHER. THIS WAS ON SATURDA

SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW IN JULY 220 I HAVE HAD NOISE COMING FROM REAR OF CAR. THERE ARE OCCASIONALLY LOUD CLANGS COMING FROM WHAT APPEARS TO BE TRANSMISSION WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE. NOW, THE O/D LIGHT IS FLASHING CONTINUOUSLY AND IT LOOKS AS IF THE CAR NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION WITH 65,000 MILES ON IT. *JB THE CONSUMER REQUESTED THAT HIS COMPLAINT BE DELETED. UPDATED 11/29/05. *JB

2002 FORD EXPLORER- CRASHED INTO DOCTORS OFFICE- BECAUSE OF FAILED THROTTLE BODY- REPORTED TO FORD. ONE LETTER RECEIVED REQUIRING INFORMATION-NO RESPONSE FROM FORD SINCE JULY, CAR STILL WAITING FOR INSPECTION, DEALER INSPECTIONS CONFIRMS THROTTLE BODY CABLE STUCK CAUSING CAR TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN AND CRASH--NO RESPONSE FROM FORD. *JB

REAR END IN 2002 FORD EXPLORER HAS FAILED. *JB

CONSUMER REQUESTING SERVICE BULLETIN ON THE 2002 FORD EXPLORER. *TS *JB

DT: THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION AT 45 MPH,. UPON IMPACT, NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY NOW HAS POSSESSION OF THIS VEHICLE. THERE HAS BEEN NO INVESTIGATION AS TO WHY THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. HE DOES HAVE PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR SCRAPES AND SORE MUSCLES. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE.*AK UPDATED 11/29/2005 - *NM

MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER IS MAKING A HOWLING SOUND FROM THE REAR END AND IS LEAKING FLUID, SOMETIMES THIS FLUID REACHES THE TIRES AND MAKES CONTACT WITH THE BRAKES... COULD THIS CAUSE THEM TO FAIL? CRASH? MANY PEOPLE HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM, I WENT TO A LARGE PARKING LOT AND LOOKED UNDER SEVERAL FORD EXPLORERS 2002-UP 6 OUT OF ABOUT 10 HAD THIS PROBLEM, WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE BEFORE FORD FIXES THE PROBLEM, DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE? *NM

DT: 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONSUMER STATES AIRBAG LIGHT ON FLASHED ON DASHBOARD 3 TIMES AND THEN IT STAYED ON. THE CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE DEALERSHIP TOLD THE CONSUMER IT WAS RELATED TO THE SEAT BELTS. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR 1 WEEK. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED FORD MANUFACTURER, AND THEY TOLD HER THEY NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING. THEY STATED THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF ANY COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM.*AK THE DEALER REPALCED THE TENSIONER. *JB

MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER HAS A LEAK FROM THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL. I HAVE HAD THE SEALS REPLACED, BUT THE LEAK PERSISTS. I BELIEVE THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE DIFFERENTIAL-TRANSMISSION HOUSINGS. *NM

WHINE IN REAR END OF A 15911 MILE 2002 FORD EXPLORER, PART, RING AND PINION, HAD TO BE REPLACED, I HAD TO PAY A 100 DED. SUPERVISOR AT FORD'S 800 # DENIED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON IDENTIFIED PROBLEM, SAID THAT IF IT WAS IT WOULD BE SUBJECT TO A RECALL AND I WOULD HAVE GOTTEN A NOTICE. TSB 18466 & 18423 DESCRIBES THE PROBLEM.

FORD EXPLORER 2002 MODEL XLT, 4 DR, 2 WHEEL DRIVE. AT ABOUT 30,000 MILES,AND AT SPEEDS ABOVE 30 MPH, THE REAR END (DIFFERENTIAL) STARTED TO ROAR. THINKING THAT THE TIRES WERE BAD, I HAVE REPLACED THE TIRES, BUT DID NOT MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE. NOW, WITH 70,000 MILES, I BELIEVE THERE IS A DEFECTIVE DESIGN WITH THE DIFFERENTIAL AND IT APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH CERTAIN FORD EXPLORERS. I AM AFRAID THAT IF THE REAR END FAILS WHILE TRAVELING, IT WOULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO WRECK. THANKS. *JB

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. MY AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT NOTIFIED ME OF A PROBLEM. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY SAID THAT "BOTH FRONT SEAT BELT PRETENSIONERS" NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I JUST FIND IT ODD THAT THEY WOULD BOTH HAPPEN TO BREAK AT THE SAME TIME. IT SOUNDS MORE LIKE DEFECTIVE PARTS.*JB

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. IT MAKES A HUMMING NOISE WHEN DRIVING AT A SPEED BETWEEN 30 AND 55 MPH; ADDITIONALLY THE DIFFERENTIAL LEAKS AS WELL. THE FORD DEALER TOLD ME IT COSTS AROUND $1,500 TO REPLACE. I HAVE HEARD NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FOR OTHER EXPLORER OWNERS ON THIS VERY SAME PROBLEM, YET FORD REFUSES TO ADMIT THERE IS ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE PART. I THINK IT IS TIME FOR A RECALL. *JB

BEGAN BACKING OUT OF GARAGE BUT NOTICED "DOOR AJAR" LIGHT ON; A FREQUENT OCCURRENCE IN THIS CAR, AND LIGHT DOESN'T INDICATE WHICH DOOR IS THE PROBLEM. SO, FINISHED BACKING CAR OUT OF GARAGE AND PARKED IT IN DRIVEWAY, PLACING CAR IN PARK AND APPLYING EMERGENCY BRAKE. LEFT CAR RUNNING. EXITED CAR, LEFT DRIVER DOOR OPEN, AND HAD SOME TIME TO STAND, TURN AROUND AND LOOK AT BACK DOOR BEHIND DRIVER'S SIDE FIRST. DETERMINED IT WAS CLOSED BY VISUAL CHECK. BEGAN TO MOVE TOWARD REAR OF CAR TO CHECK HATCH NEXT (HATCH PROBLEMATIC; HAD IT FIXED AFTER BOUGHT THE CAR THEN IT WAS JUST RECENTLY RECALLED AGAIN. BUT MUCH TO MY SHOCK THE CAR SLIPPED OUT OF PARK AND RAN OVER ME. TRIED TO DIVE OUT OF WAY; CAR RAN OVER ME AT BOTH KNEES. SUFFERED CRUSH INJURY. HAD CAR EXAMINED; FORENSIC SPECIALIST THOUGHT IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW WITH LOTS OF GAP IN STEERING COLUMN BETWEEN REVERSE AND PARK AND SOME PLAY IN WHERE IT WOULD GROOVE IN. *JB *NM

I WAS DRIVING MY 2002 EXPLORER AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED AND THE BACK WINDOW BLEW OUT. JUST SPONTANEOUSLY BLEW UP, SENDING GLASS THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE. IN APRIL 2005, THE CAR WAS RECALLED FOR A BACK GATE GLASS PROBLEM. THE DEALER SAYS IT WAS FIXED. NOW, SIX MONTHS LATER, THE GLASS JUST BLOWS UP AND CAUSES DAMAGE TO THE BACK GATE. THIS IS ODD AND FRIGHTENING. HAD MY CHILDREN BEEN IN THE THIRD SEAT, THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN SPRAYED WITH GLASS AND INJURED. LUCKILY, I HAD JUST LEFT THEM OFF AT SCHOOL. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER FOR US. *JB

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER WITH 56,000 MILES ON IT AND THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL IS STARTING TO WHINE VERY LOUD. IT HAS THE 3.73 LIMITED SLIP DIFFERTIAL. I HAVE TALKED TO OTHER EXPLORER OWNERS AND THEY TOLD ME ABOUT THIS SITE TO FILE A COMPLAINT AS THIS SEEMS TO BE A GROWING PROBLEM. *JB

ON ROUTINE INSPECTION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE LEFT REAR SPRING ON MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER WAS BROKEN. THIS VEHICLE HAS 55,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. FORTUNATELY, IT WAS PROBABLY NOT BROKEN LONG SINCE I INSPECT MY VEHICLES REGULARLY. WHEN I WENT TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER, THEY INITIALLY WANTED ME TO PAY THE FULL REPAIR BILL FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE SPRING; HOWEVER, AFTER NEGOTIATION, THEY OFFERED REPLACEMENT IF I PAID HALF OF THE BILL, OR $78.00. I AGREED TO THIS OFFER, AND HAD THE SPRING REPLACED. I FEEL, AND EXPRESSED THIS OPINION TO THE FORD AGENCY, THAT THIS SPRING SHOULD NOT BREAK AFTER ONLY 55,000 MILES. IN ADDITION, I AM NOW CONCERNED ABOUT THE OTHER REAR SPRING, AND WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF I WAS TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND IT BROKE. *JB

DT: 2002 FORD EXPLORER. ON VEHICLE THE SHOULDER HARNESS ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE WEAR THROUGH THE PLASTIC TRIM ON THE PILLAR, AND IT CAUSED THE EDGE OF THE SEAT BELTS TO FRAY. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE SEAT BELT AND TRIM, AND IT RECURRED WITHIN A FEW WEEKS. CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP, AND CURRENTLY VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. WHEN THE EDGES OF THE SEAT BELT FRAYED THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT THE SEAT BELT WILL TEAR ALL THE WAY. *AK (11/08/05) *SC

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE CONSUMER SAID THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE, AND THEN WOULD ACCELERATE QUICKLY UP TO O 80 MPH. THE TRUCK WOULD DECELERATE AND ACCELERATE RANDOMLY. THE TRANSMISSION KNOCKED WHEN GOING INTO GEAR. THE OWNER HAD REQUESTED THAT THE TRANSMISSION BE CHECKED PRIOR TO THE WARRANTY EXPIRING ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. AT THIS POINT, THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 25,000 MILES ON IT. THE CONSUMER WAS OUT OF TOWN AND HAD A COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE WHICH RESULTED IN THE INSTALLMENT OF A NEW TRANSMISSION WHEN REACHING HOME. CURRENTLY, THE NEW TRANSMISSION WAS HAVING PROBLEMS GOING INTO GEAR. THERE WAS A KNOCKING SOUND IN THE TRANSMISSION WHEN THE GEARS WERE CHANGING. THE CONSUMER WAS CONSTANTLY DEALING WITH THE DEALERSHIP GENERAL MANAGER, WHO IN RETURN, WAS DEALING WITH THE FORD REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE. THIS HAS BEEN ON GOING FOR THE PAST TWO WEEKS. THE DEALERSHIP TESTED THE OLD TRANSMISSION WITH DIAGNOSTICS AND FOUND NOTHING. THE CONSUMER FOR DEALING WITH THE DEALERSHIP AND FORD SIMULTANEOUSLY CONCERNING REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIR EXPENSES. *AK

2002 FORD EXPLORER, 5R55W TRANSMISSION. 84K ON VEHICLE, TRANSMISSION NO-SHIFT/LATE SHIFT BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND. OD LIGHT ON INTERMITTENTLY, OCCASIONALLY NO POWER, TRANSMISSION SLIPS BETWEEN 1-2 AND 2-3. *NM