2002 Ford Explorer complaints

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER WAS NO LONGER WORKING. THE SERVICE DEALER DID NOT STATE WHY THE PANEL WAS NO LONGER WORKING. THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS FAILED, SUCH AS THE RADIO, BLOWERS, WINDOWS, AIRBAGS, AND ALL OF THE SAFETY EQUIPMENT. THE DEALER STATED IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITHIN THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. THE PART TO REPAIR WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER; THEY REFERRED HIM TO THE DEALER TO FIND AN AFTERMARKET PRODUCT TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM.*AK

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT. THE CONTACT HAS BEEN HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE REAR END. THE REAR END MADE AN EXTREMELY LOUD ROARING SOUND. TOOK THE VEHICLE THE VEHICLE TO THREE DIFFERENT REPAIR SHOPS. ONE SAID IT WAS THE TIRES, AND THE OTHER TWO MAINTAINED THAT IT WAS AN EXPENSIVE REAR END PROBLEM. SHE TALKED TO OTHER PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME TYPE OF VEHICLE AND THEY ALL HAD THIS PROBLEM. ALSO, HAD A RING AND PINION REPLACED IN THE REAR END NOT LONG AFTER SHE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. CURRENTLY, THEY TOLD HER THAT THIS WHAT WAS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN ALONG WITH OTHER PARTS , INCLUDING THE REAR AXLE. THIS NOISE ORIGINALLY STARTED AT 55-65 MPH, AND NOW IT WAS MAKING NOISE AT 40-70 MPH. AFTER GOING OVER 70 MPH COULD NOT HEAR IT AS BADLY. ALSO, THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING FLUID FROM THE RING AND PINION. A STRANGE SOUND THAT WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, LIKE A BUZZING SOUND THAT SOUNDS LIKE TRANSMISSION. IN ADDITION, THE HATCHBACK GLASS FELL ON THE CONTACT'S HEAD. IT JUST POPPED OUT. THIS HAPPENED TWICE. THEY DO NOT EVEN ATTEMPT TO OPEN THE GLASS IN THE HATCH. THE DEALERSHIP WHERE SHE PURCAHSED HER VEHICLE STILL HAS RECORDS OF WHAT WAS REPLACED ON VEHICLE.*AK

ABS LIGHT CAME ON AT 19,518 MILES, 22,071 MILES, AND 27,078 MILES. MORE IMPORTANTLY, HOWEVER, ARE MY ISSUES WITH THE 2002 EXPLORER REAR END. 10/1/03: 27,078 MILES ABS LIGHT CAME ON, THE DEALER REPLACED THE ASSEMBLY. REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS LEAKING, DEALER REPLACED THE SEALS. 7/28/04: 40,541 MILES REAR END LEAKING AGAIN. HALF SHAFTS WERE WORN. REAR LOCKING DIFF WAS SLIPPING. THE DEALER HAD TO REPLACE BOTH HALFSHAFTS, SEALS, AND CLUTCH PACKS. 9/22/04: 43,203 MILES REAR AXLE CHATTERING. REPLACED WHOLE REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY. 2/25/05: 54,960 MILES REAR DIFF MAKING MORE NOISE. LEFT REAR AXLE BEARING WAS NOISY. REPLACED LEFT REAR AXLE HUB AND ASSEMBLY. ON TEST DRIVE, THE DEALER FOUND THAT THE BEARING THEY JUST INSTALLED WAS BAD, SO THEY HAD TO REPLACE IT AGAIN. 8/11/05: 68,000 MILES LEAKING FLUID FROM REAR END. THE DEALER PERFORMED THE FOLLOWING MAINTENANCE: REPLACED DIFF SEALS, REPLACED TIMING CHAIN, REPLACED RIGHT FRONT HUB ASSEMBLY, REPLACED RING AND PINION, REPLACED FRONT END TIE RODS, REPLACED BOTH LOWER BALL JOINTS, PERFORMED FRONT END ALIGNMENT. ALL TOLD, I HAVE HAD MY EXPLORER IN THE SHOP AT LEAST 10 TIMES. MY WARRANTY IS ABOUT TO EXPIRE (7,000 MORE MILES) AND I'M GOING TO TRY TO GET FORD TO BUY THE VEHICLE BACK. FROM WHAT I'VE HEARD, THIS IS NOT AN EASY PROCESS AND APPARENTLY DOESN'T HAPPEN OFTEN WITH SUCH 'HIGH MILEAGE' VEHICLES. IF THEY DON'T BUY IT BACK I WILL BE FORCED TO TAKE A HUGE LOSS ON THE VEHICLE. I WILL THEN PURCHASE ANYTHING BUT A FORD. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING THE OWNER'S CAR AND PULLED OVER TO PARK. HE SWITCHED THE CAR INTO DRIVE JUST TO PULL UP A FEW FEET AND THE CAR LEAPED FORWARD. HE HIT THE BRAKE AS HARD AS HE COULD BUT COULD NOT STOP THE CAR, AND HIT THE BUMPER OF THE CAR IN FRONT. THIS HAPPENED ON 8-5-05. THE OWNER OF THE CAR NOR THE CONTACT HAD ANY PRIOR PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR. THE CONTACT STATED HE HAD NO FURTHER PROBLEMS SINCE 8-5-05.*AK

DT: CONTACT STATED 2002, FORD EXPLORER HAS BEEN HAVING SHIFTING PROBLEMS. HE NOTICED THE PROBLEM OCCURRING AT 26,000 MILES . IT WAS SHIFTING VERY HARD. HE WILL BE DRIVING WHEN THE CAR WILL NOT SHIFT INTO SECOND OR THIRD GEARS, IT WILL SLIP INTO NEUTRAL, THE CAR WILL SLOW DOWN IN TRAFFIC AND CAUSE A SAFETY HAZARD. HE HAD THE TRANSMISSION RE PROGRAMMED. IT HELPED IT TWICE; BUT THEN IT STARTED DOING THE SAME THING. THE THIRD TIME THE CONTACT WENT BACK TO DEALER AND THEY WOULD NOT REPROGRAM IT AGAIN. HE THOUGHT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. SECOND AND THIRD GEARS GEAR WERE NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY. FOUND IDENTICAL PROBLEMS ON THE INTERNET. THERE WAS 62,000 MILES ON THE CAR. IT STARTED HAPPENING AROUND 2003 AND HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE.*AK

MY WIFE WAS UNLOADING TWO GRANDSONS FROM OUR 2002 FORD EXPLORER. SHE HAD REMOVED THE YOUNGEST ONE WHEN THE FOUR YEAR OLD GOT INTO THE DRIVER'S SEAT ON HIS KNEES AND PRETENDED TO DRIVE. THE IGINITION WAS OFF AND TRANSMISSION IN PARK. HE PULLED ON THE SHIFT LEVER, THE AUTOMOBILE BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARDS. MY WIFE OPENED THE DRIVERS DOOR TO STOP THE VEHICLE. IT BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARDS FASTER AND THE OPEN DOOR STRUCK HER KNOCKING HER TO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE STRUCK TWO TREES SHHORTLY AFTER THAT CAUSING $5675.77 IN DAMAGES TO THE VEHICLE. I CALLED FORD MOTOR COMPANY 0N AUGUST 5, 2005AND SPOKE TO TIFFANY EXPLAINING THAT THE "BRAKE-SHIFT INTERLOCK' HAD FAILED CAUSING THE INCIDENT DESCRIBED ABOVE. HER QUESTION TO ME WAS, "WHAT DO YOU WANT FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO DO ABOUT THIS." I REPLIED THAT I WANTED COMPENSATION FOR DAMAGES AND THE DEFECT CORRECTED. SHE SAID THAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY WOULD NOT INVESTIGATE THIS DEFECT, NOR MAKE ANY COMPENSATION FOR DAMAGES AND THAT I SHOULD HANDLE EVERYTHING THROUGH MY INSURANCE COMPANY. I CALLED AGAIN ON AUGUST,09,05 AND SPOKE TO DAMIAN WHO GAVE ME THE SAME REPLY AS YIFFANY.*JB

REAR HATCH WINDOW LIFT FAILED AND CAUSED REAR GLASS TO SHATTER (LUCKILY NO ONE WAS HURT). THE WINDOW WAS LIFTED TO REMOVE ITEMS FROM THE REAR AND THE LIFT ARM APPARENTLY WAS WEDGED UNDER THE GLASS AND IT EXPLODED SO LOUDLY THAT NEIGHBORS 2 HOUSES AWAY RAN OVER AND PEOPLE WALKING DOWN THE STREET CAME TO MAKE SURE NO ONE WAS INJURED. WE HAD THE GLASS REPLACED BY A GLASS COMPANY--THIS TOOK 4 DAYS DUE TO THE UNAVAILABILITY OF THE GLASS. THEY ALSO INDICATED THEY HAD JUST (THE SAME DAY) REPLACED ANOTHER WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AND THEY HAD SEEN SEVERAL IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS. THE STRUTS WERE NOT REPLACED AND WE WERE ADVISED NOT TO USE THE HATCH DOOR UNTIL THEY ARE. OUR DEALER WAS NOT RESPONSIVE ON THIS MATTER BUT I BELIEVE THERE NEEDS TO BE AN INVESTIGATION. THE GLASS CO SAID THAT THE WINDOW DESIGN WAS CHANGED IN OR AFTER 2002 SO THE STRUTS ARE LOWER AND SUPPORT THE GLASS CORRECTLY. *JB

I HAD JUST LEFT WORK WITH MY MOTHER AND NOTICED A SMELL OF BURNING RUBBER OR WIRES. WE DROVE FOR APPROX. 4 BLOCKS STILL SMELLING THIS. WE ROLLED DOWN THE WINDOWS THINKING IT WAS COMING FROM OUTSIDE. I EVEN TURNED OFF MY AIR CONDITIONING THINKING IT WAS PULLING THE ODOR IN FROM OUTSIDE. WE THEN DECIDED WE SHOULD TURN AROUND AND GO BACK TO MY PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT AND HAVE THE MECHANICS CHECK IT OUT. I TURNED THE CORNER AND SMOKE STARTING COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WE THEN PULLED OVER TO CALL OUR WRECKER. THE SMOKE GOT WORSE, SO WE GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND MOVED AWAY. WE THEN CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES FLAMES STARTED COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THEN, THERE WAS A SMALL EXPLOSION AND THERE WAS A HOLE BLOWN IN THE CENTER OF THE HOOD CLOSE TO THE WINDSHIELD. THE FLAMES WERE THEN SHOOTING ABOUT 6 TO 8 FT IN THE AIR. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND PUT THE FIRE OUT. WE HAVE NOT YET HEARD IF IT IS A TOTAL LOSS, BUT I'M SURE IT IS. *NM

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE AIR CONDITIONER QUIT WORKING. I HEARD THE COOLANT AND COMPRESSOR STILL WORKING, BUT NO FAN BLOWER ON LEVELS 1,2 AND 3 LEVEL 4 STILL WORKED LUCKILY. I ALSO HAVE A HOWLING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR END UNDER LIGHT ACCELERATION AND HARD SHIFTING WHEN ACCELERATING AND LETTING OFF OF THE GAS DURING A SHIFT. THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS CAUSED BY A FAULTY RESISTOR, THE REST HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. I NOTICE A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE FOR THE SAME SYMPTOMS, A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED.*JB

I HAVE HAD MY TRANSMISSION IN MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER REBUILT BY A LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP AT 53,000 MILES AND A FORD RE-MANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION INSTALLED AT THIS DEALERSHIP AT 69,000. THIS LOCAL DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED THE TRANSFER CASE TWICE, DRIVE AXLE, AND UNIVERSAL JOINTS BETWEEN 69,000 AND 74,000 TO CORRECT AN ONGOING REPORTED SHIFTING PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. MY TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 109,000, AGAIN, MUCH TO MY DISMAY. THE DEALERSHIP RESPONDED THAT IT WAS A MANUFACTURER'S ISSUE AND SUGGESTED THAT I CONTACT FORD. UPON CONTACTING FORD MOTOR COMPANY, I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A DEALERSHIP ISSUE AS THE DEALERSHIP HAD INSTALLED THE TRANSMISSION AND MAY HAD DONE SO INCORRECTLY. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST WHO REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AND INDICATED THAT THE PREVIOUS TRANSMISSION WAS, IN FACT, DEFECTIVE. *JB

DT: CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE HAS DEFECTIVE WHEEL BEARINGS, MAINLY IN THE REAR, BUT HE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE ONE ON THE FRONT. THE VEHICLES WHEELS STARTED GRINDING AND THEY BECAME LOOSE ON THE AXLE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT ALL OF THE WHEEL BEARINGS ON THIS PARTICULAR MODEL WERE GOING BAD. THE CONSUMER TRIED TO NOTIFY THE MANUFACTURER BUT THEY WERE UNRESPONSIVE.*AK *JB

DT: THE VAN WAS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD AND ONLY HAD 32,000 MILES ON IT AND THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL BEARING HAS ALREADY FAILED. IT WAS MAKING A ROARING NOISE EVERY SINCE PURCHASING THE CAR. TOOK IT TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND THEY TOLD HER THE BEARING WAS BAD. *AK

TRANSMISSION CASE WEARING TO THE POINT WHERE IT HAS TO BE REPLACED FOR APPROXIMATELY $3000. *JB

DT: THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY ON DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER'S SIDES. THIS HAPPENED ON AUGUST 5, 2005. NOT CONTACTED FORD. *AK

APRIL 04 PURCHASED 2002 FORD EXPLORER; JUST OVER 60,000 MILES. NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY;SOLD AS IS. DAY AFTER PURCHASE, NOTICED KNOCKING SOUND. RETURNED TO DEALER. STATED SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR AC. REPAIRED, DID NOT HEAR AFTER REPAIR. APPROXIMATELY ONE WEEK AFTER PURCHASE, NOTICED DELAY IN GEARS ENGAGING WHEN GOING FROM PARK TO DRIVE , PARK TO REVERSE ALSO GEAR SHIFT SEEMED TO BE LOOSE. RETURNED TO DEALER; TOLD IT WAS NORMAL FOR THIS MODEL. ADVISED TO KEEP IN OVERDRIVE. LATE JULY 2004, NOTICED DELAY SEEM TO BE GETTING LONGER AND JERKING SUDDENLY WHEN FINALLY ENGAGED. WHILE DRIVING ,OD LIGHT FLASHED ON AND OFF ERRATICALLY. PROBLEM WITH OD LIGHT INTERMITTENT. SPOUSE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER; TOLD THAT IT WASN'T UNDER WARRANTY, BUT WE COULD MAKE A SERVICE APPOINTMENT. SPOUSE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A SHOP HAD DONE BUSINESS IN THE PAST. THOUGHT THAT IT COULD NEED TRANSMISSION FLUID. CHECKED FLUID LEVELS NOT DEFICIENT. PROBLEMS CONTINUED; HAD THEM LOOK AT IT A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER. COULD NOT DETERMINE PROBLEM, ADVISED TO TAKE TO A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST IF CONTINUED. PROBLEM PERSISTED. SEEMED TO GET WORSE AS THE WEATHER TURNED COLDER. LATE DECEMBER 04, DELAYS IN ENGAGING GEARS WORSENED; NOW MAKING A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE AND LUNGES WHEN ENGAGES, OD LIGHT FLASHED ERRATICALLY ON A FREQUENT BASIS AND ENGINE SERVICE LIGHT ON AND GEAR SHIFT SEEMED TO BE COMING OUT. JANUARY 2005, SPOUSE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP FOR DIAGNOSTIC. TRANSMISSION SHOT. REBUILT AT A COST OF $2

I HAVE RECEIVED ONLY ONE RECALL NOTICE ON MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER RELATING TO PROBLEMS WITH THE TAILGATE WINDOW. TONIGHT, AFTER EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS THAT CAUSED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION TO JUMP TO A HIGHER RATE OF A MARKEDLY HIGHER RATE OF REVOLUTION, I WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT I HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THESE PROBLEMS COST OVER $815 TO REPAIR. THE DEALERSHIP ALSO HAD TO REPLACE A SOLENOID SWITCH ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. I QUICKLY LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE RECALL DATABASE TO SEE IF OTHERS HAD EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEMS I EXPERIENCED. I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE A LARGE NUMBER OF RECALLS THAT I FAILED TO RECEIVE ANY NOTIFICATION FOR. I AM FILING THIS TO REQUEST: (I) FORD TO REQUIRE DEALERSHIPS TO NOTIFY CONSUMERS PERSONALLY IN WRITING OF RECALLS...IF NHTSA OR THE MANUFACTURER DEEMS AN ISSUE IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO ISSUE A RECALL NOTICE, SHOULDN'T THE DEALER BE REQUIRED TO DELIVER WRITTEN NOTIFICATION TO THE CONSUMER? IT IS AN UNFAIR AND DECEPTIVE TRADE PRACTICE TO DO LESS THAN THIS, ESPECIALLY AFTER THE CONSUMER HAS FAILED TO RECEIVE THE BENEFIT OF HIS OR HER PURCHASE AND MAY BE RISKING OF DANGER TO HIMSELF OR OTHERS; AND II. NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURES DESCRIBED ABOVE. THE CAR LITERALLY "JUMPS" INTO A MUCH HIGHER RATE OF REVOLUTION AND ACCELERATION REQUIRING THE DRIVER TO IMMEDIATELY HIT THE BRAKES. IT'S TOO DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY IN CITY TRAFFIC OR IN AREAS WHERE SMALL CHILDREN ARE PLAYING. *JB

2002 FORD EXPLORER [XXX] TRANSMISSSION NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY. REAR END NOISY AT 40 MPH. NOT REPAIRED. *JB UPDATED 07/19/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

1) BEGAN WITH WHIRLING NOISE COMING FROM REAR END, ENDED WITH A LEAKING REAR END COMPONENT. BOTH REAR END PINION SEALS REPLACED,NEW SYNTHETIC OIL ADDED AND RE-PACKED WITH ALL NEW GASKETS.(NEW SEALS WERE ORDERED DIRECTLY FROM FORD) I WAS TOLD THAT THESE PARTICULAR PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE IN AFTERMARKET. *NM

BOUGHT FORD EXPLORER (2002) USED FROM TOYOTA DEALER. DROVE FINE FOR OVER 6 MONTHS. BEGINNING IN MARCH (2005), UPON ACCELERATION (ESP. ON HILLS), VEHICLE LURCHES/SHUDDERS AS IT GAINS SPEED. HAVE TAKEN IT TO 3 DIFFERENT FORD DEALERS, WITH NO RESOLUTION (INITIALLY SAID THAT MY NEW TIRES WERE 1/4-INCH DIFFERENT IN SIZE...TIRES WERE REPLACED AND PROBLEM CONTINUED). CONTINUOUS LURCHING FINALLY FRIED THE GEM MODULE (AND FRONT/REAR SPEED SENSORS). FORD STILL DID NOT HAVE AN ANSWER. TOOK IT TO REPUTABLE LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THAT IT WAS NOT THE TIRES, NOR SENSORS, BUT A PROBLEM WITH "SLOP" IN THE TRANSFER CASE. THIS SLOP MADE THE 4X4 AUTO SENSE SLIPPAGE AND COMPENSATE, BUT MORE SLOP MEANT MORE SLIPPAGE AND MORE COMPENSATION, HENCE THE REPEATED LURCHING FEELING. GRAPHICAL ELECTRICAL CHART INDICATED THAT 4X4 WAS ENGAGING AND DISENGAGING APPROXIMATELY 40X A SECOND. AFTER-MARKET WARRANTY WOULDN'T COVER REPAIR AT LOCAL MECHANIC, SO BROUGHT CAR TO FORD DEALER (6TH TIME), WHO "THINK" PROBLEM IS IN THE TRANSFER CASE.

AFTER A SHORT DRIVE TO AND FROM THE GAS STATION I NOTICED A STRONG FUEL SMELL FROM OUR 2002 FORD EXPLORER. NOTICED WET SPOT ON THE DIVEWAY THE FOLLOWING DAY. A SHORT 6 DRIVE CONSUMED NEARLY A QUARTER TANK OF GAS. NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN AS OF YET. HAVE NOT DRIVEN THE CAR SINCE. ARE ANY OTHER REPORTS OF SUCH FAILURES? IS IT SAFE TO DRIVE THE CAR?

DIFFERENTIAL FAILED; REPAIRED UNDER ORIGINAL FACTORY NEW VEHICLE WARRANRTY. DIFFERENTIAL FAILED AGAIN, 9000 MILES LATER, WHEN VEHICLE WAS OUT OF ORIGINAL WARRANTY. DEALER WANTS $825.00 TO REPLACE THE EXACT SAME PARTS AGAIN IN THE DIFFERENTIAL.

VEHICLE STUMBLED WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN INTO MY DRIVEWAY I FED IT GAS TO KEEP IT FROM STALLING AND IT ACCELERATED RAPIDLY INTO MY GARAGE DOOR. WHILE UNDER WARRANTY THIS PROBLEM REPORTED TO DEALER BUT THEY CLAIMED THEY WERE NEVE ABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM. THE LAST SERVICE UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY SAID SAME PROBLEM REPORTED AND THIS TIME I WAS CHARGED FOR THE TEST BUT ONCE AGAIN THEY FOUND NOTHING I COMPLAINED TO FORD VIA THEIR WEB SITE BUT THEY NEVER REPLIED TO MY EMAILI

THE ACCELLERATOR ON OUR 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT STICKS INTERMITTENTLY.

VEHICLE MADE INCREASINGLY LOUD NOISE AT RIGHT REAR WHEEL AREA. SOUNDED LIKE AIRPLANE TAKE-OFF OR TUNNEL SOUND AT REAR WHILE DRIVING. NOISE INCREASED ON WIDE TURNING ROADS AS IF SOME KIND OF PRESSURE EXERTED ON RIGHT REAR WHEEL. THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE TIRE PRESSURE PROBLEM. BEFORE HAVING TIRE CHECKED THE VEHICLE BECAME NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE ON A STRAIGHT-AWAY AT 25 MPH WITH SERIOUS NOISE IN THE REAR THAT SOUNDED LIKE SOMETHING WOULD FALL APART SOON. FORTUNATELY I WAS VERY CLOSE TO A AUTO SERVICE CENTER IN A 25 MPH AREA. CAR COULD NO LONGER BE USED. THE RIGHT REAR HUB BEARING ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. THE OTHER 3 WERE CHECKED AND WERE FINE. I DO NOT HAVE ANY OF THE PARTS.

2002 FORD EXPLORER ACCELERATOR BECAME STUCK OPEN.*MR THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE. *JB

REAR AXLE HAS HAD RECURRENT LEAKS. THESE WERE REPAIRED 3 TIMES UNDER WARRANTY. ON THE FOURTH OCCASSION THE DEALER REPLACED THE AXLE. THIS WAS ALSO DONE UNDER WARRANTY. PROBLEM WAS FIRSTED NOTED AT JUST UNDER 30,000 MILES. AXLE REPLACEMENT WAS AT 58,OOO MILES

DT: CONTACT STATES WHEN TAKING FOOT OFF OF THE THROTTLE IT CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THIS HAPPENED THREE TIMES. THE LAST TIME WAS LESS THAN 30 DAYS AGO. IT HAS ONLY BEEN HAPPENING FOR THE LAST THREE MONTHS. IT HAS HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY. IT DOES NOT HAPPEN AT A LOW SPEEDS; BUT AT OTHER SPEEDS ABOVE 35 MPH. ROAD CONDITIONS HAVE BEEN PERFECT AT EVERY INCIDENT.*AK

DT: THE CONSUMER STATES 2002 FORD EXPLORER QUIT WHILE GOING 60 MPH. STARTEDS BACK UP. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THIS OCCURRED ON JULY 2, 2005. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN RUNNING FINE ALTHOUGH CONSUMER TOOK IT BACK AFTER HE PURCHASED IT TO HAVE THE IDLE LOOKED AT. HE NEVER THOUGHT IT RAN QUITE RIGHT. DEALERSHIP STATED THE PMC, MAIN COMPUTER, WAS THE PROBLEM. THIS WAS REPLACED BUT, THE MANUFACTURER HAD TO BE CALLED TO GET IT PROGRAMMED CORRECTLY. CONSUMER STATED THAT IT LOOKED LIKE THEY HAD TO TRY TWO DIFFERENT COMPUTERS IN THE VEHICLE, AND FORD HAD TO BE CALLED 3 TIMES.*AK

FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW (AUTOMATIC WINDOWS) STOPPED WORKING. MY EXPLORER WAS JUST A LITTLE OVER THE MILEAGE LIMIT ON THE WARRANTY. I TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD COST OVER $300 TO REPAIR. THE MODULATOR IN THE WINDOW HAD FAILED. I CALLED FORD AND THEY AGREED TO THE REPAIR FOR $100. THAT SATISFIED ME. NOW, THE SAME THING HAS HAPPENED WITH THE REAR PASSENGER WINDOW. IF I USED THESE TWO WINDOWS EXCESSIVELY, I COULD SEE SOMETHING POSSIBLY HAPPENING. BUT, I DON'T - I'M THE ONLY OCCUPANT OF THIS VEHICLE 98% OF THE TIME. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT I CAN DO TO GET FORD TO REPAIR THIS OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE PART?

I BOUGHT A USED 2002 FORD EXPLORER (USED) ON 2/8/03, WITH @43,000 MILES, AND AT TIMES, I EXPERIENCED A LURCHING IN MY CAR, WITH BANGING BETWEEN SHIFTS MOST OFTEN WHEN SWITCHING FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE, BUT SOMETIMES WHEN STRICTLY IN DRIVE, EVEN AT COMPLETE STOPS, SUCH AS RED LIGHTS. AS IT WAS BECOMING REPETITIVE, I BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE WITH THE DEALER I PURCHASED IT FROM - LARSON FORD IN LAKEWOOD, NJ. THE FIRST SERVICE WAS ON 5/24/04, IN WHICH THEY SAID IT WAS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM, AND REPLACED THE DRIVESHAFT AND YOLK, WITH A COST OF $879.75 TO ME. AS THE PROBLEM WAS NOT CORRECTED, I BROUGHT MY CAR BACK ON 8/2/04, AT WHICH TIME THEY TOLD ME THAT THE SOLENOID WAS NOT RESPONDING, THEY REPLACED IT, AND TRIED TO CHARGE ME ANOTHER $900.00, WHICH I REFUTED, BECAUSE I HAD ALREADY PAID FOR THIS TO BE "FIXED". UNFORTUNATELY, THE LURCHING WHEN SWITCHING FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE (WITH BRAKE ON)STILL OCCURS, ALTHOUGH NOT AS VIOLENTLY; HOWEVER, I HAVE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN RISES IN RPM FOR NO APPARENT REASON, EVEN AT COMPLETE STOPS WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THIS HAPPENED AS RECENTLY AS LAST WEEK, BUT SINCE IT DOES NOT HAPPEN EVERY TIME I AM STOPPED, I AM HESITANT TO BRING IT FOR SERVICE, BECAUSE IT WILL PROBABLY NOT BE APPARENT DURING A TEST DRIVE SINCE IT IS A SPORADIC OCCURRENCE. THE CAR IS A 2002 FORD EXLPORER, 4.0 LITER, V6 ENGINE, AUTOMATIC WITH O/D.

AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, I APPLIED THE ACCELORATOR AND IT STUCK IN THE INCREASED ACCELERATION POSITION. AFTER A FEW FRANTIC SECONDS (10 - 15 APPROX), I MANAGED TO RELEASE IT BY KICKING IT. AT THE TIME, I FELT THAT IT WAS POSSIBLE THAT THE FLOORMAT OR CARPETING MAY HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE PROBLEM, BUT WAS NOT SURE. I HAVE NOT TAKEN IT TO A SHOP BECAUSE OF THAT UNCERTAINTY. HOWEVER, THE CURRENT ODI INVESTIGATION CONVINCED ME OF THE STRONG POSSIBILITY THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT.

WHILE STARTING TO MOVE FORWARD, THE ACCELERATOR STUCK TWICE IN THE LAST MONTH. ONCE I NEARLY WENT THROUGH A CLOSED GARAGE DOOR. UNTIL NOW I THOUGHT SOMETING GOT IN THE WAY OF THE ACCELERATOR. HEARD THAT THIS WAS AN EQUIPMENT PROBLEM. NOW I WILL SEEK TO HAVE THE DEFECT REPAIRED.

DT: THE CONSUMER STATES THAT ON 2002 FORD EXPLORER THE THROTTLE STUCK. HE HAD A HARD TIME STOPPING THE VEHICLE IN A WORK ZONE. CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKE EXTREMELY HARD AND PUT THE PARKING BRAKE ON AND ENGINE CONTINUED TO ROAR. DEALERSHIP STATED THAT HE HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING. THIS OCCURRED IN SEPTEMBER 2, 2004, AND HAS NOT HAPPENED SINCE. HE READ AN ARTICLE IN THE JULY 13, 2005 WASHINGTON POST STATING THAT OTHER CONSUMERS WERE HAVING A SIMILAR PROBLEM. WHEN HE STARTED VEHICLE AGAIN THE ROAR STOPPED, AND HE PUSHED ON THE THROTTLE, WHICH CAUSED IT TO OPERATE AGAIN. CONSUMER HAD LEFT FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND TAPPED THE ACCELERATOR.*AK

TWO DIFFERENT TIMES, BOTH STOPPING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE ACCELERATOR KEPT GOING. STOMPED ON THE BRAKE AS HARD AS POSSIBLE, FINALLY HAD TO TURN OFF THE KEY. TOOK THE 2002 FORD EXPLORER TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG.

DT: THE CONSUMER'S FATHER WAS IN ACCIDENT YESTERDAY, JULY 12, 2005 AT ABOUT 10:00 AM. CONSUMER SAYS THAT VEHICLE WAS STRUCK ON THE DRIVER'S REAR CORNER PANEL BREAKING OFF THE REAR WHEEL ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *JB

DT: CONSUMER STATES HER 2002 FORD EXPLORER HAD THE THROTTLE STICK LAST WEEK. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD HER THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE UNTIL FORD ORDERED THEM TO OR THEY HEARD FROM THE NHTSA. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON IT S OWN AND SHE HAD TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND TAKE THE KEY OUT. *JB

RIGHT, REAR ELECTRIC WINDOW FAILED FOR NO APPARENT REASON AFTER OWNING VEHICLE FOR 42 MONTHS AND 37,000 MILES. WINDOW WILL NOT RISE. VEHICLE TAKEN TO MECHANIC FOR REPAIR.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM NEAR LEFT REAR WHEELWELL BEGAN CLICKING FOR NO APPARENT REASON AFTER 42 MONTHS AND ABOUT 37,000 MILES OF OWNERSHIP. CONSTANT LOUD CLICK MAKES IT IMPRACTICAL TO DRIVE VEHICLE OR RIDE IN VEHICLE. VEHICLE TAKEN TO MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED IT IS AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE IN THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM. MECHANIC HAS BEEN UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM.

1. INSPECTION OF VEHICLE 2. REAR COILS SPRINGS BROKEN 3. REPALCEMENT

AIRBAG LIGHT LIGHTS UP OFF AND ON WITH NO REASON. DEALERSHIP WAS NO HELP.

TWO INSTANCES OF WHINING NOISE AT 50+ MPH AND FLUID LEAKAGE FROM REAR AXLE SEAL 2002 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED. THE FIRST ONE CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL WHEN ACCELERATING ON HIGHWAY; RESULTING IN COMING TO REST WITHIN INCHES OF CONCRETE BARRIER AFTER JERKING ACROSS SEVERAL LANES. DIFFICULT TO DETERMINE SINCE REAR TRANSAXLE FLUID LEAKS DOWN DRIVE SHAFT TO BRAKE ASSEMBLY. I ONLY NOTICE BECAUSE I PERFORM A MONTHLY INSPECTION OF THE UNDERCARRIAGE. 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 39000 MILES; SECOND AT 50000 MILES. THESE SEALS SHOULD LAST LONGER. SECOND INSTANCE HAD VIBRATION WHEN ENGAGING THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND OUD WHINING NOISE/ VIBRATION FROM REAR; THEN FLUID LEAKAGE. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE FOR THE FORD EXPLORER. SEVERAL WORK COLLEAGUES HAD THE REAR AXLE SIEZE DUE TO LUBRICANT LOSS WITH SIMILIAR SYMPTOMS, ALMOST CAUSING SERIOUS ACCIDENT. MY DEALER ACKNOWLEDGES (BILL ESTES, BROWNSBURG, IN) 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

DT: THE CALLER SAW AN NEW REPORT ON 48 HOURS ABOUT FORDS BURNING UP AND HAS CONCERNS ABOUT HIS VEHICLE. THE DEALER SAID TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER TO SEE WHAT THEY SAY. THE MANUFACTURER SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL ON IT. THE CONSUMER FELT THAT THIS WAS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND FORD SHOULD REPLACE THE PART BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE HAPPENS. *AK THE CONSUMER IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH AND IT'S POTENTIAL TO CAUSE A FIRE. *SC *JB

2002 4X4 EXPLORER LIMITED WITH V8. AT 7390 MILES (3/12/03, INVOICE # W40836) TWO ISSUES; THE TRANSMISSION NEVER SHIFTED PROPERLY AND IT STARTED LEAKING FLUID EVERYWHERE. TWO WEEKS LATER THE DEALER ADMITTED THEY DIDN''T KNOW THE CAUSE AND REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION WITH A NEW ONE. ENGINE SEVERELY OVERHEATED (INVOICE 3W47852). AT 20K MILES THE TRUCK WILL ONCE IN A WHILE STOP (AS IF I HIT SOMETHING) AS I START TO BACK OUT OF THE GARAGE - PROBLEM DISCOVERED AT 31K BRAKE JOB - REAR SHOES ON PARKING BRAKE BROKE LOOSE ON DRIVERS SIDE (BOTH) AND ONLY ONE ON PASSENGER SIDE. LOOSE SHOE ON PASS. SIDE WOULD WEDGE WITH GOOD ONE AND LOCK UP WHEELS WHEN MOVING SLOW. LOT'S OF ARGUMENTS AND FORD FINALLY REPLACED SHOES (4/25/05 INVOICE # 99323). AT 26K (11/05, NO INVOICE) ONE TIRE WENT FLAT AND UPON INSPECTION BY A TIRE SHOP, THAT TIRE AND A SECOND TIRE HAD TREAD SEPARATION - RUNNING GOODYEAR''S. FORD QUICKLY REPLACED BOTH TIRES WITHOUT ANY QUESTIONS. AT 29K, MY FAMILY AND I MOVED FROM MI TO GA. EACH TIME I STOPPED FOR GAS THE EXPLORER SOUNDED LIKE THE FRONT END WAS GRINDING METAL TO METAL ON THE GEARS. THE 4X4 WAS IN AUTO FOR THE TRIP AND ONCE I GOT BACK ON THE HIGHWAY ABOVE 20 MPH THE NOISE WENT AWAY. HOWEVER, IT CONTINUED TO SHIFT POORLY AND IT STARTED TO SURGE (SHAKE) OR THUMP LIKE SOMETHING WAS CATCHING IN THE DRIVE TRAIN EVERY TIME I WOULD LET OFF THE GAS PEDAL AND ALLOWED THE TRUCK TO DECELERATE WITHOUT BRAKING. EVEN AFTER NEW BRAKES AND ROTORS, THE PROBLEM GOT WORSE AND WORSE - NOW AT 3

DRIVING AND HEARD ENGINE NOISE ENGINE STALLED WOULDN'T START IN THE MIDDLE OF RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC...I WAS GOING DOWNHILL AND ABLE TO ROLL TO THE SIDE OUT OF TRAFFIC AND TO SAFETY. ENGINE FROZE WHILE DRIVING WITH NO WARNING, NO SIGNS...IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC ENDANGERING MYSELF AND MY DAUGHTER. MY CAR SAT 2 WEEKS AT THE FORD DEALER AS THEY RECEIVED 5 CARS WITH ENGINES FROZEN AND COULDN'T GET TO MY CAR UNTIL 7/8/05 CAUSE THEY HAD TO REPLACE ENGINES. WHEN ENGINE WAS TORN DOWN I WAS ADVISED A VALVE SPRING BROKE AND DROPPED INTO THE CYLINDER TEARING UP THE ENGINE AND NOW I NEED A NEW ENGINE. FORD MOTOR WILL NOT BACK UP THEIR PRODUCT.

DT: CONSUMER STATED HE RECEIVED A RECALL 04520 IN 10-04. CONSUMER CALLED THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES. THEY PUT HIM ON A LIST AND INDICATED THEY WOULD CALL HIM BACK. IN 2-05 HE RECEIVED A CARD FROM FORD STATING DEALER COULD NOW ORDER PARTS FOR HIS VEHICLE. HE CALLED THE DEALER, AND THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE PARTS, AND THEY WILL ORDER THEM. THE DEALER SAID AGAIN HE WOULD BE PUT ON A WAITING LIST. THE RECALL WAS ON LIFTGATE BACK WINDOW BRACKETS. THAT WAS SIX MONTHS AGO AND THEY STILL HAVEN'T CALLED CONSUMER. *AK *NM

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER WITH 60K MILES ON IT. IT RECENTLY BLEW A SPARK PLUG OUT OF THE CYLINDER HEAD WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER AND ALARMING NOISE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON THE CHESAPEAKE BAY BRIDGE AND COULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT DOES AFFECT SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE WITH FORD V-8 AND V-10 ENGINES THAT HAS NOT BEEN PROPERLY ADDRESSED BY FORD. ESTIMATES TO REPAIR THIS DEFECT IN THE CYLINDER HEAD THREADS RANGE FROM 2500 TO 3500.

DRIVE TRAIN AND REAR AXLE HAVE PERSISTENT SHUDDER AND BINDING WHEN SHIFTING GEARS 2-3 AND UPON ACCELERATION DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN NOTIFIED AND WILL NOT RESOLVE PROBLEMS THAT HAVE BEEN ID'D W/ SERVICE BULLETINS FOR THE 5355-RW ASSEMBLY AND THE REAR-GEAR LUBRICANT RATIO MIX-UP INTHE SEALED REAR HOUSING EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE REC'D PROTOCAL FROM MFG. ON THE PROCEDURE AND/OR REPLACEMENT PARTSAS BEING AVAILABLE SINCE MAR 2001 THIS HAS BEEN NOTED IN OTHER COMPLAINTS THAT HAVE RESULTED IN SEVERE DAMAGE DONE TO THE REAR AXLE AND WHEEL COMPONENTS BUT THEY DO NOT SEE THIS AS A PROBLEM WHEN IN FACT IT CAN RESULT IN VEHICLE FAILURETHAT MAY RESULT IN INJURY OR EVEM DEATH. I PERSONALLY SEE THIS AS BLATANT NEGLIGENCE ON THE DEALERAND MFG. PART OF RESOLVING THIS ISSUE. MY EXPLORER EXHIBITED TROUBLE SINCE JULY'04 AND WAS MFGD. IN THE TIME FRAME THAT A DEFECT WAS BROUGHT TO FORD'S ATTENTION IN THIS MATTER. WHAT DO THEY WANT A CERTAIN NUMBER OF DEATHS OR INJURIES?

REAR HATCH HINGES POPPED OFF OF BOLTS, KNOWN PROBLEM, RECALLED SOME VEHICLES, DID NOT NOTIFY EVERY OWNER. WILL NOT PAY FOR REPAIRS.

REAR END ON MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER IS ROARING AND LEAKING FLUID.

DT: CONTACT STATES THERE WAS A HUMMING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL BEARING WAS BAD, THE SERVICE DEALER STATED THIS WAS A SAFETY CONCERN, AND TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN RIGHT AWAY. THE WHEEL BEARING HAS BEEN REPLACED. *AK