2002 Ford Explorer complaints

THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL HAS HAD AN INCREASINGLY LOUD WHINE AT SPEEDS ABOVE 45 MPH. IT WAS FIRST NOTICEABLE AT MILEAGE OF 30,000. NOW AT 55,000 MILES IT HAS GOTTEN WORSE. I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE DIFFERENTIAL SOON, BUT FORD HAS NOT ENGINEERED AN IMPROVED REAR-END. THEREFORE THE PROBLEM WILL PROBABLY REOCCUR. MANY FORD EXPLORERS (2002-2005 ) HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM. THIS REPAIR SHOULD BE PAID FOR BY FORD AS A KNOWN DEFECT. *NM

I OWN A 2002 FORD EXPLORER THAT IS NOW HAVING ITS TRANSMISSION REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME. THE FIRST TIME I WAS AT 77000 MILE, JUST OUTSIDE THE EXTENDED 75000 MILE WARRANTY THAT I PURCHASED, WHEN THE CAR BEGAN SHIFTING WITH A HARD JERK OR SLIP WHEN IT WAS TRYING TO CHANGE FOR SECOND TO THIRD GEAR. AFTER FURTHER DRIVING THE O/D LIGHT BEGAN TO FLICKER ON AND OFF AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER, WHICH DID NOT SEEM TO BE SURPRISED THAT I HAD THIS PROBLEM, AND TOLD ME IT WOULD TAKE A COUPLE OF WEEKS AND COST ME $3600. HE SAID HE COULD TAKE IT DOWN THE ROAD TO A TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP THAT THEY USED SO THAT MAYBE HE COULD GET IT DONE FASTER. WELL, I DECIDED TO TAKE IT THERE MYSELF. I GOT THE SAME REPORT, BUT THEY COULD FIX IT, WITH ALL NEW PARTS, FOR $2000. SO, I LET THEM FIX IT. AFTER ONE YEAR AND 44000 MILES I AM HAVING THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM AND IT IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING FIXED. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT IT WILL COST ME THIS TIME AROUND. I HAVE MADE A COMPLAINT WITH FORD MOTOR CUSTOMER SERVICE. I JUST WANT SOMEONE TO KNOW BASED ON WHAT I AM HEARING AND READING THAT THIS ALONG WITH THE REAR DIFF. PROBLEM, WHICH I ALSO HAVE, SEEMS TO BE COMMON IN THE 2002 FORD EXPLORER. IN THE LAST TEN YEARS I HAVE OWNED 5 FORDS AND THIS IS THE SECOND EXPLORER. I DO NOT THINK I WILL BE BUYING ANOTHER ONE UNLESS FORD CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM THEY SEEM TO HAVE. *NM

1.) NO INDICATION OF IMPENDING FAILURE 2.) TRANSMISSION IS COMPLETELY GONE. 3.) $4000 LATER A NEW TRANSMISSION IS BEING INSTALLED. *NM

2002 4 DOOR EXPLORER 4X4 EDDIE BAUER TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT 40,000 MILES NOW THE REAR END HAS A HUMMING NOISE AT 50,000 MILES. *NM

THE BREAK LIGHTS ON MY CAR GET STUCK ON, I HAVE HAD IT HAPPEN TO ME THREE TIMES, I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER WHEN I WAS IN PENSACOLA AND HAD TO PAY TO HAVE IT FIXED...IT SEEMS TO BE THE SENSOR ATTACHED TO THE BREAK PEDAL. *NM

THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL LEAKS. *NM

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILING IN 2ND GEAR. SEEMS TO BE A WIDELY KNOWN PROBLEM IN THE V-6 2002 EXPLORER. STARTED ACTING UP AT 60K, AS SOON AS THE WARRANTY WAS OUT.*JB

TRANSMISSION 3RD GEAR SLIPPING CAUSING TRANSMISSION TO HAVE TO BE COMPLETELY RE BUILT. THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN #03254 . HOW COME FORD HAS NOT DONE ANY THING? BECAUSE THIS IS A WELL KNOWN FACT . FORD SHOULD HAY TO PAY FOR ITS MISTAKE OR HELP THE CONSUMER IN SOME WAY. THEY NEW IN 12/13/24 THERE IS FAILURE IN THIS TRANSMISSION # 5R55W . I CHECKED ON THIS AT WWW.CAR REVIEW.COM AND THERE WAS MANY COMPLAINTS THANKS. JB

DT: CONTACT'S WIFE ON STATES ON 9-17-05 WAS DRIVING THE 2002 FORD EXPLORER AND SHE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT ON A HILL. SHE TOOK FOOT OFF OF THE BRAKES AND THE CAR SURGED VERY HIGH AND LUNGED FORWARD, RESULTING IN A REAR END COLLISION. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THIS MAY HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE CONTACT'S WIFE DID NOT HAVE THE CRUISE CONTROL ON AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE DEALER DID NOT THINK THIS HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THIS WAS THE FIRST INCIDENT OF THIS KIND. THE CONTACT REPORTED OF HAVING NO PROBLEMS WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL PRIOR TO THIS ACCIDENT. *AK.

AIRBAG LIGHT SWITCHED ON, AS A RESULT OF PRE-TENSIONER FAILURE FROM MOVEMENT OF THE PASSENGER SEAT. THIS ALSO HAPPENED TWICE TO A FRIEND OF MINE WITH A 2002 EXPLORER. ABS LIGHT SENSOR FAILED. ** JB

I HAVE DEVELOPED A CRACK IN THE PLASTIC APPLIQUE BENEATH THE LIFTGATE WINDOW. IT APPEARED AS A SCRATCH AND HAS MORPHED INTO A FULL BLOWN CRACK ABOUT SIX INCHES LONG. *NM

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER WITH 52,000 MILES. I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THROUGH FORD ESP. IN AUGUST, A SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF THE LEFT HEAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE DEALER AUTHORIZED WARRANTY WORK THAT WOULD REPLACE THE HEAD ON THE LEFT SIDE. I HAD THE VEHICLE BACK FOR 2 WEEKS AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED ON THE RIGHT HEAD. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN AND THE DEALER SAID THAT THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE FAULT. THEIR REASON IS THAT THERE WERE AUTOLITE SPARK PLUGS IN THE VEHICLE INSTEAD OF MOTORCRAFT SPARK PLUGS. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY DID THE PREVIOUS REPAIR WITHOUT REALIZING THAT. FURTHERMORE, THEY ONLY REPLACED THE ONE PLUG ORIGINALLY THAT BLEW OUT, RE-USING THE OTHER 3 PLUGS (AUTOLITES) THAT WERE IN THE VEHICLE. I HAVE TALKED WITH FORD IN MICHIGAN AND THEY ARE LOOKING INTO IT. FIRST, THE FACT THAT THEY ARE NOT HONORING THE EXTENDED WARRANTY BECAUSE OF SPARK PLUG BRAND IS SOMETHING I CANNOT FIND WRITTEN ANYWHERE. SECOND, IF THOSE PLUGS ARE SO BAD, THEN ARE THEY NEGLIGENT IN PUTTING THOSE PLUGS BACK IN. THIRD, THE FACT THAT THIS HAPPENED AND COULD HAVE PIERCED A FUEL LINE IS VERY HAZARDOUS. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR HALF DAY TRIP IN A DESOLATE AREA. SHOULD SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAVE HAPPENED WHILE SHE WAS OUT THERE, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN HORRIBLE. DOES FORD HAVE THE RIGHT TO DENY COVERAGE WITH EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THIS REASON? IS IT NEGLIGENT ON FORD'S PART TO SIMPLY TELL ME AFTER THE FACT THAT THE PLUGS THAT ARE IN THERE ARE NON-STANDARD AND THA

THERE HAS BEEN A LOAD HUMMING NOISE FROM THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL SINCE 42000 MILES. *JB

THE COMPLAINT IS DIRECTED AT A WIDELY KNOWN MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN 2002 FORD EXPLORERS INVOLVING THE DRIVE TRAIN. THE PROBLEM SURFACES JUST BEFORE THE 36K WARRANTY PERIOD AND BEGINS AS A WHINE IN THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL. THE WHINE GETS WORSE OVER TIME AND AT THIS WRITING MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP HAS HAD PARTS ON ORDER FOR 3 WEEKS WITH NO DEFINITIVE DELIVERY DATE. MY EXPLORER HAS 40K MILES AND JUST RAN OUT OF THE 3YR WARRANTY IN MAY 2005. EVEN WITH NEW PARTS INSTALLED THESE 2002 MODELS HAVE THE SAME RESULTS RE-OCCUR IN 10-20K MILES. THIS IS, BY ALL ACCOUNTS, NOT A DEFECT THAT WILL LIKELY RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY TO ANY THING BUT YOUR WALLET, BUT IT IS OF SUCH PROPORTION IN THE MARKETPLACE THAT THE CONSUMER SHOULD HAVE SOMEBODY TO GO TO BAT FOR THEM. THESE FORD EXPLORERS ARE LEMONS IF YOU CAN'T GET 40K OUT OF THE DRIVE TRAINS. I HAVE A 1993 EXPL THAT HAS 200K AND NO ISSUE. A RECALL SHOULD BE A MANDATE FOR THE CONSUMER. AT THIS WRITING I HAVE PARKED THE VEHICLE TO AVOID ANY MORE MILES AND I AM WAITING FOR ARRIVAL OF PARTS. PLEASE LISTEN TO US, THE INDIVIDUAL, AND HELP US AS WE FIGHT FOR WHAT IS RIGHT WIT THE CORPORATION AND IT'S CLOUT. *NM

ON JUNE 29, 2005, DURING ANNUAL STATE INSPECTION MY 2002 EXPLORER HAD TO HAVE NEW REAR BRAKE ROTORS INSTALLED FOR THE 2ND TIME DUE TO RUST. MILEAGE WAS 24,713 MILES. PURCHASED VEHICLE NEW ON MARCH 29, 2002. AUGUST 14, 2003, APPROXIMATELY 10,250 MILES, HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR ROTORS DUE TO RUSTING. FORD DEALERSHIP RECOMMENDED THE BRAKE LININGS BE REPLACED AS WELL. FORD COVERED THIS COMPLETE COST. IN THIS 2ND INSTANCE, FORD WILL COVER NOTHING SINCE VEHICLE IS BEYOND ITS 36 MONTH WARRANTY, & BRAKES ARE CONSIDERED WEAR ITEMS. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, AS THE RUSTING OF THE REAR ROTORS PREVENTED MY VEHICLE FROM PASSING THE STATE SAFETY INSPECTION. ADDITIONALLY, THIS IS MY 3RD EXPLORER, ALL PURCHASED NEW, & THE ONLY ONE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. INITIAL 1991 EXPLORER DRIVEN 9 YEARS & OVER 70,000 MILES; 2ND EXPLORER A 2000 MODEL STILL DRIVING, OVER 54,000 MILES, HAD THE REAR ROTORS & BRAKE PADS REPLACED AFTER 44 MONTHS, 33,692 MILES. HAVE LIVED IN THE SAME AREA & DRIVEN THE SAME ROADS WITH ALL 3 VEHICLES. HAVE HAD ESSENTIALLY ALL SERVICE WORK DONE BY THE SELLING FORD DEALER IN ALL 3 INSTANCES. IF THE BRAKE PADS WERE WEARING OUT, & THE ROTORS WERE BEING DAMAGED DUE TO THE WORN PADS, I COULD UNDERSTAND HOW THIS CONDITION WAS DUE TO MY NEGLIGENCE IN NOT ATTENDING TO THE BRAKING SYSTEM. HOWEVER, THE BRAKE PADS HAVE NOT BEEN WORN OUT IN EITHER REPLACEMENT SITUATION. THE SERVICE ADVISER & SERVICE MANAGER BOTH CLAIM THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO, AS THE ROTORS CANNOT BE TURNED, RUST IS A

WE RECENTLY LEARNED FROM HTTP://WWW.NHTSA.GOV/ THAT FORD COIL SPRING PROBLEMS MAY NOT BE LIMITED TO WINDSTAR MINIVANS. " FORD COIL SPRING PROBLEMS MAY NOT BE LIMITED TO WINDSTARS WASHINGTON, JAN. 31, 2001 -- THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRANSPORTATION SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) HAS UPGRADED ITS INVESTIGATION OF 926,000 FORD WINDSTAR MINIVANS AFTER REPORTS THAT A SPRING IN THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM CAN BREAK AND PUNCTURE A TIRE. " WE OWN A 2002 FORD EXPLORER, [XXX], WHICH HAS TWO (2) BROKEN REAR COIL SPRINGS, BOTH OCCURRING AT THE SAME TIME. THE SPRINGS BROKE FOR NO APPARENT REASON AND THE TRUCK IS SELDOM USED FOR HAULING; HAS NEVER BEEN OVERLOADED. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP ADMITTED HE HAS SEEN THIS BEFORE ON WINDSTAR AND OTHER FORD VEHICLES, BUT WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT, OTHER THAN REPAIR IT AT MY COST. THE COST FOR THE REPAIRS & REPLACEMENT COIL SPRING(S) WAS $ 535.00. THE TRUCK WAS OUT OF COMMISSION FOR THREE DAYS. THE FORD DEALERSHIP IS: IRWIN MOTORS UNION & BISSON AVENUE LACONIA, NH 03246 THANK YOU FOR ACCEPTING THIS INFORMATION AND FOR ANY ASSISTANCE YOU MAY PROVIDE IN FORCING THE MANUFACTURER TO STAND UP TO THIS ISSUE, AN ISSUE WORTHY OF A RECALL DUE TO THE SAFETY HAZARD - THE BROKEN COILS CAN CUT THE TIRES DURING TRAVEL. [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] . *NM UPDATED 07/18/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

RUBBING NOISE HEARD ON REAR WHEEL. FOUND PARKING BRAKE PADS HAD DIS-BONDED FROM BRAKE SHOE. SAFETY SYSTEM THAT FORD MOTOR DEALER, CHANTILLY, VA INDICATED IT WOULD NOT REPLACE EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A DEFECT. *NM

I OWN A 2002 FORD EXPLORER 4X4 AND WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE O/D LIGHT BEGIN TO FLASH AND AT A STOP LIGHT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ENGAGED TO DRIVE. FINALLY AFTER TURNING OF THE VEHICLE AND RE STARTING IT AND PROCEEDED TO GO. TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO DROP THE PAN AND IF THERE WAS METAL IN IT I WOULD NEED A WHOLE NEW TRANSMISSION. THEY CALLED ME A FEW HOURS LATER TO INFORM ME THAT THE TECHNICIAN SAW LOTS OF METAL AND THE COST OF A NEW TRANSMISSION WOULD BE 3400.00 DOLLARS. I SAID ARE YOU SURE THAT THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED PROPERLY WITH A TRANSMISSION WITH 50,000 MILES AND HE SAID THE TESTS DON'T LIE. WELL, I SAID I WOULD BE UP TO THE DEALERSHIP TO SEE THIS METAL AND 2 MINUTES LATER HE CALLED SAYING THAT THE TECH. DIDN'T ACTUALLY PULL THE PAN DOWN. PICK UP MY EXPLORER AND THEY WERE SO VERY NICE TO GIVE ME THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ON IT TOO; THINK THAT WAS A MISTAKE. TOOK IT TO COTTMANS TRANSMISSION RIGHT DOWN FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY HOOKED IT UP TO A COMPUTER AND CODES P0733 AND P0745 WERE FLASHING: PROBLEM A BROKEN INTERMEDIATE BAND AND O/D BAND. THEY SAID THAT COULD HAVE MORE DAMAGE BUT WOULD SEE WHEN TRANSMISSION WAS DOWN. THEY WEREN'T SURPRISED BY THE DEALERSHIPS CLAIM; IT IS ALL ABOUT MONEY TO THEM. AFTER 2 DAYS THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE 2 BANDS WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED, A TORQUE CONVERTER, TRANSMISSION REBUILD KIT AND A LITTLE THING CALLED A PLANET GEAR WAS CAUSING THE WHOLE PROBLEM IT SEEMS. THE BEARING

I OWN A 2002 FORD EXPLORER 4X4 AND WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE O/D LIGHT BEGIN TO FLASH AND AT A STOP LIGHT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ENGAGED TO DRIVE. FINALLY AFTER TURNING OF THE VEHICLE AND RE STARTING IT AND PROCEEDED TO GO. TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO DROP THE PAN AND IF THERE WAS METAL IN IT I WOULD NEED A WHOLE NEW TRANSMISSION. THEY CALLED ME A FEW HOURS LATER TO INFORM ME THAT THE TECHNICIAN SAW LOTS OF METAL AND THE COST OF A NEW TRANSMISSION WOULD BE 3400.00 DOLLARS. I SAID ARE YOU SURE THAT THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED PROPERLY WITH A TRANSMISSION WITH 50,000 MILES AND HE SAID THE TESTS DON'T LIE. WELL, I SAID I WOULD BE UP TO THE DEALERSHIP TO SEE THIS METAL AND 2 MINUTES LATER HE CALLED SAYING THAT THE TECH. DIDN'T ACTUALLY PULL THE PAN DOWN. I PICKED UP MY EXPLORER AND THEY WERE SO VERY NICE TO GIVE ME THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ON IT TOO; THINK THAT WAS A MISTAKE. TOOK IT TO COTTMANS TRANSMISSION RIGHT DOWN FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY HOOKED IT UP TO A COMPUTER AND CODES P0733 AND P0745 WERE FLASHING: PROBLEM A BROKEN INTERMEDIATE BAND AND O/D BAND. THEY SAID THAT IT COULD HAVE MORE DAMAGE BUT WOULD SEE WHEN TRANSMISSION WAS DOWN. THEY WEREN'T SURPRISED BY THE DEALERSHIPS CLAIM; IT IS ALL ABOUT MONEY TO THEM. AFTER 2 DAYS THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE 2 BANDS WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED, A TORQUE CONVERTER, TRANSMISSION REBUILD KIT AND A LITTLE THING CALLED A PLANET GEAR WAS CAUSING THE WHOLE PROBLEM IT SEEMS. THE

AFTER BRINGING MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, I WAS INFORMED THAT I NEEDED BACK BRAKES. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC AND HE INFORMED ME THAT MY BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WERE COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH AND ROTTED. THIS COULD HAVE POTENTIALLY CAUSED THE CAR TO BECOME UNABLE TO STOP. I HAD TO REPLACE ALL FOUR BRAKES (ROUTINE), BRAKE PADS, AND ROTORS. MY CAR ONLY HAS 40,000+ MILES ON IT. *NM

ROAR/WHINE FROM REAR END @ 40-65 MPH. STOPS WHEN FOOT REMOVED FROM ACCELERATOR. *JB

MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER REAR END STARTED WHINING AROUND 45000 MILES. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT THE REAR END NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WITH A COST OF $2000. I DECIDED NOT TO HAVE THE WORK DONE AT THAT TIME. THEY SAID THAT IT WOULD GET LOUDER AS TIME GOES BY. IT NOW HAS 65920 MILES AND THE WHINE IS A LITTLE LOUDER. I HAVE OWNED A LOT OF AUTOMOBILES , MOSTLY FORDS AND THIS IS THE 1ST ONE THAT HAD THE REAR END WEARING OUT WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE. IN READING 2002 EXPLORER COMPLAINTS THERE ARE MANY WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. MY NEXT CAR MAY NOT BE A FORD.*JB

2002 EXPLORER, 50,000 MILES LOUD NOISE COMING FROM REAR END (DIFFERENTIAL) AT SPEED ABOVE 40 MPH. FROM INTERNET RESEARCH I'VE READ WHERE MANY OTHERS ARE REPORTING SIMILAR NOISES. DEALER QUOTES $1500-1700 TO REPLACE REAR END. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR BEARING WENT OUT ON 9-6-05. THE CONSUMER IS UNSURE IF IT WAS ON THE RIGHT OR THE LEFT. SHE DID NOT HEAR A NOISE PRIOR TO THIS BUT REPORTED THAT THE VEHICLE FELT SLUGGISH. THE CONTACT SAID THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT STEERING PROPERLY AND IT WAS PULLING ALL OVER THE ROAD. SHE REPORTED THAT STEERING WAS VERY SLOPPY AND SHE COULD NOT CONTROL THE VEHICLE. SHE CALLED FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND THEY TOOK A COMPLAINT FROM HER AND SAID THEY WOULD EVALUATE IT WITHIN 3-5 DAYS.*AK *MR

1. I NOTICED A HUMMING TYPE SOUND THAT WOULD INCREASE AS I SPED UP. I THOUGHT I HAD A WHEEL OUT OF ALIGNMENT, OR TIRE OFF BALANCE. I WAS DUE FOR MY 36,000 MILE MAINTENANCE CHECK, SO I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE EVERYTHING CHECKED OUT. THEY PERFORMED A $400.00 MAINTENANCE PACKAGE TO MY VEHICLE ON MAY 4, 2004, OF WHICH I THOUGHT INCLUDED INSPECTING TIRES, WHEELS, ETC. THEY RETURNED MY VEHICLE TO ME AND AS I DROVE HOME, NOTICED THE HUMMING SOUND WAS STILL OCCURRING, BUT I JUST HAD EVERYTHING CHECKED, AND THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A NOISE THAT WAS NORMAL. 2. THE NOISE CONTINUED ON, GETTING WORSE (LOUDER) AND WAS BOTHERSOME, SO I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR A SECOND OPINION. UPON REVIEW OF MY VEHICLE, HE SUGGESTED REPLACING THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY AND BEARINGS. 3. ON JULY 3, 2004 THE RR HUB ASSEMBLY AND BEARINGS WERE REPLACED AT A COST OF $360.52. THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED. I DON'T BELIEVE THE OLD PART IS STILL AVAILABLE. BUT, AFTER SPEAKING WITH OTHER MECHANICS, I HAVE HEARD THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH SEVERAL VEHICLES OF THIS TYPE AND WANTED TO LET SOMEONE KNOW I HAD A PROBLEM WITH THIS TOO.

I HAVE HAD TO HAVE MY VEHICLE SERVICED FOR THE AIRBAG LIGHT STAYING ON TWO TIMES IN THE PAST. BOTH TIMES I WAS TOLD IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE SENSOR FOR THE AIRBAG. THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN ABOUT ONE MONTH AGO AND I TOOK IT TO BE SERVICED AGAIN LAST WEEK. THIS TIME I WAS TOLD IT WAS AN "ELECTRICAL WIRING PROBLEM" WITH MY FORD 2002 EXPLORER THAT WAS CAUSING THE LIGHT TO STAY ON. REPAIR WAS A WHOPPING 487.00. FIRST, I AM WONDERING WHY THEY DIDN'T DISCOVER THIS PROBLEM ON THE PRIOR TWO OCCASIONS AND SECONDLY, I HAVE SINCE DISCOVERED THAT A CO-WORKER HAS ALSO HAD TO HAVE HER FORD ESCAPE SERVICED 4 TO 6 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE LAST TIME, SHE WAS TOLD IT WAS THE SENSOR. HER AIRBAG LIGHT HAS SINCE CAME ON AGAIN. IS THIS A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM WITH THE FORD FAMILY OF SUVS?*JB

2002 FORD EXPLORER XLS. AT 24,000 MILES, TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR:TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REBUILT. AT 26,000 MILES, LOAD WHINING HEARD FROM REAR OF VEHICLE. BROUGHT TO DEALERSHIP ON THREE OCCASIONS TO COMPLAIN AND WAS TOLD THEY "COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE NOISE" AND "IT IS HOW IT IS SUPPOSED TO SOUND". ON THE THIRD RETURN , I PRODUCED SEVEN PAGES OF DOCUMENTED COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER OWNERS FOUND ON THIS WEB SITE AND OTHERS. THEY DECIDED THAT NOW THEY MIGHT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND REPLACED THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL AND DRIVE SHAFT. PROBLEM WAS FIXED FOR THE NEXT 30,000 MILES BUT IS NOW DISPLAYING THE SAME NOISE AND IS "CLUNKING" IN TO DRIVE AND REVERSE. SEPARATE PROBLEM WITH THE DAYLIGHT RUNNING LIGHTS, THEY FLASH LIKE AN EMERGENCY VEHICLE TILL I TURN THE HEAD LIGHTS ON. I DID NOT NOTICE TILL I WAS PULLED OVER BY A SHERIFF AND QUESTIONED AS TO WHY I HAD EMERGENCY LIGHTS INSTALLED ON MY VEHICLE. ON A POSITIVE NOTE, I DO GET THROUGH TRAFFIC JAMS A LOT FASTER NOW. *NM

5 SPEED AUTO TRANSMISSION ON 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT FAILED AT 43000 MILES. TRANSMISSION WAS FLUSHED AT 40000 AND PROBLEMS BEGAN AFTER FLUSH. NO FINANCIAL HELP FROM DEALER. SERVICE REP TOLD ME PISTON STRIKING TRANSMISSION CASE WAS COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS TRANSMISSION AND WARNED ME NOT TO REPLACE IT WITH A USED 2002 FORD 5 SPEED AUTO TRANNY. *JB

TRANSMISSION FAILURE TO SHIFT PROPERLY INTO REVERSE AND BETWEEN 3RD AND 4TH GEARS AFTER NORMAL USAGE FOR 38 MONTHS AND 66,00 MILES. REPAIR FACILITY STATES THAT THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM FOR THIS MAKE/MODEL/YEAR BETWEEN 60 AND 80K MILES. TRANSMISSION REBUILD AND REMILLING OF TRANSMISSION CASE IS REQUIRED. *NM

HARD SHIFTING OF TRANSMISSION. ESPECIALLY GOING INTO 3RD GEAR. SOUNDS & FEELS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING TO BREAK DOWN AT ANY TIME. IN TURN, LEAVING ME & MY CHILDREN STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. *NM

WHILE TURNING INTO A PARKING SPACE AND BRAKING, MY VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A SURGE IN ACCELERATION THAT THE BRAKING COULD NOT CONTROL. VEHICLE WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH. IN AN ATTEMPT TO AVOID A CONCRETE ABUTMENT, THE PASSENGER FRONT FENDER CLIPPED THE DRIVER REAR FENDER OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. WHEN I QUESTIONED FORD ABOUT PROBLEM, THEY SAID THEY HAD NO RECALLS AND I SHOULD GET IT LOOKED AT. THE PROBLEM HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. *NM

2002 FORD EXPLORER, REAR END WHINING, REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME. FIRST TIME AT 48K MILES. NOW AGAIN AT 57K. SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. *JB

BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS ARE BROKEN - MILEAGE 50,000. JUST NOTED WHILE DOING UNDERCARRIAGE INSPECTION. *JB

SO I BOUGHT A USED 2002 FORD EXPLORER (V6) AND IMMEDIATELY HAD A LOUD VIBRATION COMING FROM THE REAR END. THE MECHANIC KNEW WHAT IT WAS BEFORE I FINISHED THE FIRST SENTENCE. HE INFORMED ME THAT I WAS HIS FOURTH 02 EXPLORER THIS YEAR FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. HE FURTHER INDICATED THAT, IN HIS OPINION, USING LIGHT WEIGHT ALUMINUM ALLOY FOR THE REAR END WAS A VERY POOR DESIGN CHOICE. THE REPAIRS WERE MADE, AND, JUST OUT OF CURIOSITY, I JUMPED ON THE INTERNET TO SEE IF I WAS THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. I KEYWORD SEARCHED "2002 FORD EXPLORER" (YEAH, JUST THAT) AND HIT NUMBER ONE WAS A TWO PAGE TIRADE FROM QUITE A FEW OWNERS INDICATING THE SAME PROBLEM. ALSO, EVERY 02 EXPLORER OWNER I KNOW (6 OF EM) SAID THEY HAVE OR HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. HOW IS THERE NOT A RECALL? THAT '!@#$% COST ME 1200 DOLLARS. THAT WAS SIX MONTHS AGO. THERE'S ANOTHER VIBRATION IN THE REAR AGAIN. STATISTICALLY, THIS SURE SEEMS LIKE A COVER-UP BY FORD TO ME. *JB

2002 FORD EXPLORER HAS TRANSMISSION SHIFTING PROBLEMS AND WHINE FROM REAR DIFFERENTIAL. OUT OF FACTORY WARRANTY. DEALER HAS TO REPLACE REAR END AT MY COST. NO WAY A DIFFERENTIAL SHOULD GO OUT AT 48,000 MILES. DO NOT KNOW IF TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WILL BE SOLVED AT THIS TIME. *JB

2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT 4X4 CONTROL MODULE GOES OUT. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF POSTS TALKING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM IN FORUMS. THEY REMADE THE PART 3 TIMES BECAUSE THEY KNEW THEY HAD A PROBLEM. I GOT STUCK 2 MILES ON A BEACH WITH MY WIFE AND 2 CHILDREN BECAUSE THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE WOULDN'T KICK IN. THERE IS NO WARNING THAT IT IS BROKE UNTIL YOU TRY TO USE IT. *JB

2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. SHIFTING FROM PARK TO REVERSE CAUSES A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE AND THE VEHICLE JERKS FORWARD. THERE IS ALSO A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTING WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE. *TR

2002 FORD EXPLORER XLS ORIGINAL OWNER 72,000 MILES. HAVE NOTICED A WHINING HUMMING ,NOISE COMING FROM REAR OF VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING 50-70 MILES PER HOUR. BEEN DOING IT SINCE 30,000 MILES. DEALER SAYS POSSIBLE RIGHT WHEEL BEARING?

WE HAVE HAD THE WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED TWICE, BEGINNING IN 11/04 @ 61,528MILES, THAN IT NEEDED IT AGAIN ON 8/05 AT 79,000 MILES. WE ALSO HAD TO OVERHAUL THE TRANSMISSION AT 79000 MILES!

LOUD HUMMING NOISE COMING FROM READ END ON 2002 FORD EXPLORER AT SPEEDS OF 40+MPH...READ ALOT OF COPLAINTS, SEEMS TO BE A DIFFERENTIAL PROBLEM IN THE 1200-1500 DOLLAR RANGE.

DT: THE CALLER SAID VEHICLE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. IN SEPTEMBER 2002 AT 4775 MILES WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE MADE NOISE AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. IN NOVEMBER 2003 AT 34,114 MILES THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD CAME ON. SHE COULD SMELL SOMETHING. BOTH TIMES SHE WAS TOLD NOTHING COULD BE FOUND. CURRENTLY, ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD CAME ON AGAIN. WHILE GETTING ON THE HIGHWAY THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND WOULD ONLY GO 20 MPH. DEALER TOLD HER THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND THE CALLER WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. *AK

2002 FORD EXPLORER, EDDIE BAUER 4WD 4.0L; 83K MILES, FOR THE SECOND TIME ON VEHICLE HAS REAR AXLE SEAL LEAK. REAR AXLE SEALS AND PINION SEALS REPLACED AT 55K; HUMMING NOISE/WHINE FROM VEHICLE AT CRUISING SPEEDS. MANY SIMILAR PROBLEMS REPORTED ONLINE, AND FORD TSB'S ISSUED, BUT NO RECALLS. SEE, FOR INSTANCE: HTTP://FORUMS.CARREVIEW.COM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=93 FIRST REPAIR WAS OVER $700 AND THIS ONE WILL REQUIRE REAR ASSEMBLY REPLACEMENT, IN EXCESS OF $1200. FIRST REPAIR USED 'UPDATED PARTS' FROM FORD, SUPPOSEDLY DESIGNED TO PREVENT PROBLEM RECURRENCE.

DT: THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD PANEL WITHOUT ANY ACCIDENT. THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATED IF THE LIGHT ILLUMINATED THE ABS WAS NOT WORKING. HAS NOT BEEN TO A DEALER FOR THIS ISSUE AT THIS TIME. NO PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES, BUT WAS CONCERNED THE LIGHT FOR THE ABS WAS ON AND COULD NOT BE WORKING. THIS HAPPENED IN THE PAST, THERE WAS A REPAIR ON THE AXLE SPEED SENSOR OF THE ABS. THIS LASTED A YEAR, AND LATER VEHICLE HAD TO BE TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR THIS AND THE SENSOR MOUNT, CONTACT POINT WAS CLEANED, AND CLEARED" THE FAULT WARNING CODE ON THE COMPUTER. NOW THE ABS LIGHT WAS ON AGAIN. *AK

MY FORD EXPLORER REAR AXKE TO DIFF. SEALS ARE LEAKING OIL, AND THE REAR END IS VERY NOISY. FORD PUT NEW SEALS IN AT THE COST OF $340.64 . THE DAY I PICKEDED UP THE VEHICLE THEY WERE STILL LEAKING 30 MILES LATER WITH THE NEW DESIGNED SEALS IN. I PUT THE 2002 EXPLORER BACK IN THE GARAGE TO GET THE SEALS CHANGED 6 DAYS LATER. STHE REAR END IS STILL VERY NOISY, BUT THE SEALS ARE NOT LEAKING FOR THE TIME BEING. I CALLED THE FORD 800 NUMBER TO COMPLAIN AND TRY TO GET MY MONEY BACK WITH NO AVAIL.

DT: CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED. THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN, OPERATING AT A REDUCED SPEED, AND THEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THE CAR COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. CONSUMER INSPECTED VEHICLE AND FOUND NOTHING. GOT BACK INTO VEHICLE ABOUT 10 MINUTES AFTER THE OCCURRENCE, RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE TO A DEALERSHIP ABOUT 5 MILES DOWN THE ROAD AND THE CAR WAS MAKING FUNNY NOISES. DEALERSHIP SAID THE TRANSMISSION HAD A SOLENOID PROBLEM THAT CAUSED IT TO LOCK. DEALER KEPT CAR ABOUT WEEK AND A HALF. THE SOLENOID VALVE SHIFT WAS REPLACED ALONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION PAN AND GASKET. THIS LASTED ABOUT 2 WEEKS AND AGAIN THIS PROBLEM RECURRED . THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT LOCK AT THIS TIME BUT THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT DEALER FOR AN IGNITION PROBLEM. THE DEALER COULD DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, BUT THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT WAS CAUSING THIS. *AK

MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER APPEARS TO HAVE REAR-END PROBLEMS. HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS AND IT STARTED OUT WITH A WHINING NOISE IN THE REAR-END AND HAS PROGRESSED TO A HARD SHIFT AND ON OCCASION A CLUNKING WHEN THE VEHICLE SHIFTS AROUND THIRD GEAR.

BROKEN REAR SPRINGS

1) CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. 2) DPFE SENSOR WAS FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE 3) DPFE SENSOR WAS REPLACED AT MY COST EVEN THOUGH THERE IS A RECALL FOR VEHICLES WITH SAME YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL

LOUD NIOSE COMING FROM THE REAR END OF MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER 4X4 THAT HAS NOT BEEN FIXED AFTER REPEATED COMPLAINTS OR TAKEN SERIOUSLY BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP IN SIMI VALLEY, CALIFORNIA.

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. FOR THE PAST 2 MONTHS THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT HAS COME ON PERIODICALLY AND BLINKS UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF. I TOOK IT TO LINDSAY FORD IN WHEATON, MD AND THEY CHARGED ME $180 FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. THEY CALLED TO TELL ME I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. MY VEHICLE IS 4 YEARS OLD AND ONLY HAS 63,000 MILES ON IT. I THINK IT'S RIDICULOUS THAT I HAVE TO SPEND ALMOST $3,000 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION WITH THIS LOW MILEAGE ON MY CAR. THIS SOUNDS LIKE A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION TO ME. *NM