2002 Ford Explorer complaints

THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF FORD HAS ISSUED A RECALL TO THEIR TSB ARTICLE NO. 620978 REFERENCING THE SUN ROOF. *NM *SC THE CONSUMER STATED THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE SUN ROOF IN HOW IT RETRACTS. *JB

CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FOR THE REAR WINDOW LIFTGATE. THE PARTS HAVE NOT BEEN RECEIVED BY THE DEALER. LIFTGATE BRACKET NHTSA 04V442000. *AK

STEERING COLUMN BROKE WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND IT CRASHED INTO A GUARD RAIL. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES, AND WENT TO THE DOCTOR ON HER OWN. VEHICLE WAS TOWED, AND TOTALED OUT BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY.*AK

2002 FORD EXPLORER DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT STOPPED WORKING.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR *JB

I OWN A 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLS BOUGHT NEW FROM THE DEALERSHIP. THERE WAS A RECALL ISSUED IN OCTOBER 2004 FOR THE REAR LIFT GLASS HINGE (04S20). I HAVE BEEN WAITING OVER 2 MONTHS FOR PARTS TO BE AVAILABLE. IT WAS FINALLY REPAIRED ON 1/6/05 AT KEATING FORD DEALERSHIP. TODAY 1/9/05 MY WIFE HAD DRIVEN TO THE GYM AND WAS CALLED TO THE FRONT DESK. CRACKLING HAD BEEN HEARD BY FELLOW GYM MEMBERS PRIOR TO THE REAR GLASS SHATTERING TO PIECES AND METAL FRAME IS BUCKLED. NO EVIDENCE OF VANDALISM WAS PRESENT. THE NEW PARTS MUST HAVE BEEN DEFECTIVE OR INSTALLED IMPROPERLY. I HAVE FILED A CLAIM WITH MY INSURANCE COMPANY, LIBERTY MUTUAL. THE REPRESENTATIVE STATED SHE HAD A CALL A FEW DAYS AGO ABOUT A SIMILAR INCIDENT FROM ANOTHER FORD EXPLORER OWNER. I HAVE CONTACTED MY DEALER AND LEFT A MESSAGE BUT UNFORTUNATELY, BEING A SUNDAY, IT IS CLOSED. *AK

I WENT TO MY AUTOMOBILE AND RAISED JUST THE WINDOW PART OF MY HATCH AND GOT SOME STUFF OUT OF MY VEHICLE AND I SHUT THE HATCH JUST AS I ALWAYS DID AND WHEN I SHUT IT I HEARD A NOISE AND I LOOKED AT MY VEHICLE AND THE METAL OR FIBERGLASS ON THE HATCH HAD CRACKED ALL THE WAY TO THE UNDER SURFACE OF THE HATCH. *AK

UPON PARKING THE VEHICLE AND RETURNING BACK TO START IT UP LEVER WHICH CHANGED THE GEARS BROKE INSIDE THE STEERING COLUMN. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT. *AK THE KEY BECAME STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND THE SHIFTER BROKE AT THE COLUMN BECAUSE THE STEERING SHAFT BROKE. *NM

TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT TO OVERDRIVE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED ON FIVE OCCASIONS. THE OVER DRIVE LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND THE BAND WOULD BURN UP. *SC

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED STRANGE SOUNDS AND DELAY WHEN SHIFTING THE VEHICLE FROM PARK TO REVERSE. *BF THE ABS LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. *SC

THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER NUMBER 04V442000/REAR LIFTGATE GLASS. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER TO HAVE THE REPAIR MADE, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN WAITING SINCE SEPTEMBER 2004; THE PARTS HAVE NOT COME IN AS OF YET. THE DEALER INFORMATION IS 3400 14TH W, BRADENTON FL. 34205, 941-747-4411. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *JB RECALL CAMPAIGN: # 04S20 ON VEHICLES BUILT FROM JOB #1 2002 THROUGH MARCH 10, 2002 AT ST. LOUIS ASSEMBLY PLANT (SLAP) OR THROUGH MARCH 3, 2002 AT LOUISVILLE ASSEMBLY PLANT ( LAP). *TC

END GATE CRACKED, NO APPEARANT REASON. *AK

RECALL 04V442000 CONCERNING REAR LIFTGATE GLASS. AFTER RECALL REPAIRS WERE MADE THE REAR GLASS SHATTERED WHILE OPENING THE LIFTGATE. THE VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALER.*AK

NHTSA RECALL 04V442000 ON THE REAR LIFTGATE GLASS. DEALER REFUSED TO HONOR THE RECALL BECAUSE THE COMPUTER SHOWED THAT THE VIN NUMBER WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. HOWEVER, CONSUMER RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE . *AK

MULTIPLE WHEEL BEARING FAILURE ON 2002 FORD EXPLORER 4X4, 42,000 MILES. LOUD NOISE PROMPTED ACTION BEFORE COMPLETE FAILURE. COMPLETE FAILURE MAY HAVE RESULTED IN WHEEL LOCK-UP AND POSSIBLE CRASH. DESPITE COMPLAINT AND RESQUEST FOR THE REPAIR TO BE COVERED GIVEN LIMITED MILEAGE, NO ASSISTANCE FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY. DEALER DID REPLACE ONE UNIT AT NO CHARGE. FORD PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE OF ANOTHER OWNER WITH SIMILAR PROBLEM, HAD TO REPLACE ALL FOUR WHEEL BEARINGS. THIS IS CERTAIN TO BECOME A MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM AS THESE CARS AGE IF FORD IS NOT HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEFECT AND FORCED TO TAKE PREIMPTIVE ACTION TO SAVE LIVES.*AK

THE PARTS TO PERFORM THE REAR LIFTGATE GLASS RECALL 04V442000 WEREN'T AVAILABLE ON THE DATES INDICATED IN THE RECALL LETTER. THE DEALERSHIP NOR THE MANUFACTURER HAD ANY INDICATION ON WHEN THE PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE. *AK

CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE SRS LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE SRS SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND REPLACED IT FOUR TIMES. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

FORD EXPLORER, 2002. STRESS CRACK (ABOUT ONE EIGHTH INCH WIDE, SEVEN INCHES LONG) IN FRAME BELOW REAR HATCH WINDOW, TO THE LEFT OF THE FORD NAME PLATE. CRACK OCCURED WITHOUT ANY EXTERNAL FORCE BEING APPLIED (NO COLLISION, NOT STRUCK BY FOREIGN OBJECT, ETC.) THE FRAME IS SIMPLY NOT ABLE TO CARRY THE WEIGHT OF THE GLASS WINDOW. CONSEQUENTLY, THE REAR GLASS WINDOW APPEARS TO BE IN DANGER OF FALLING OUT. THIS IS THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM AS REPORTED AT WWW.NHTSA.DOT.GOV IN OID NUMBERS: 10049180, 10052830, 10052901, 10053989, 10079762, 10104457, 10105660. IN EACH CASE, NEITHER THE DEALER NOR FORD WOULD FIX THE DEFECTIVE WINDOW FRAME. AND LIKEWISE, THEY WILL NOT FIX THE ONE ON MY VEHICLE, EVEN THOUGH I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRENTY IN EFFECT. AN INDIVIDUAL IN THE BODY SHOP AT MY DEALER SAID THAT HE HAS RECENTLY SEEN ABOUT A DOZEN SIMILAR PROBLEMS.*AK

AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS OF HEARING A "WHOOSHING" TIRE SOUNDS FROM THE BACK OF THE 02 FORD EXPL XLT, AND DEALERS TELLING US THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG, TOOK VEHICLE TO A LOCAL SERVICE CENTER AND HAD TO HAVE REAR SUSPENSION/AXLES REPLACED (4/04) AND ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE 2 BACK TIRES BECAUSE OF THE DAMAGE. NOW, 1/05, SAME NOISE IS PRESENT AND WEAR ON BACK TIRES, WE ARE NOW BEING TOLD THAT THE BACK SUSPENSION/AXLES ARE BAD AGAIN AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. LESS THAN ONE YEAR AND WE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. OBVIOUSLY FORD NEEDS TO LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM. VEHICLE HAD 78K MILES ON IT. *AK

THERE IS A CRACK IN THE PLASTIC JUST UNDER THE LIFTGATE GLASS DOWN TO THE LIFTGATE HANDLE. IT JUST APPEARED ON A COLD MORNING IN NEW JERSEY WITH NOTHING DONE TO CAUSE IT. I KNOW FORD MAKES VEHICLES THAT CAN WITHSTAND THE COLD WITHOUT CRACKING, RIGHT? HOPEFULLY, THIS WILL NOT AFFECT THE STURDINESS OF THE REAR GLASS. BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAS 37000 MILES ON IT, FORD WOULD NOT FIX IT. NOT THE WAY TO GET RETURN CUSTOMERS.*AK

AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE AIR BAG MODULE HAD TO BE REPLACED.*AK

THE CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKES. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE CREATES CONDENSATION ON THE BRAKE AND THE DRIVER MUST INCREASE THE THROTTLE BEFORE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WILL RELEASE. THE OWNER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD "THAT WAS THE WAY IT WAS DESIG NED TO FUNCTION AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY WILL DO. *JB *SC

HAD TROUBLE SHIFTING COLUMN SHIFT & THEN IT BROKE OFF IN MY HAND. *JB

THE CONSUMER CAME TO A STOP AT A RED LIGHT. WHEN HE PULLED OFF, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL JAMMED DOWN TO THE FLOOR. THE CONSUMER HAD TO PHYSICALLY PULL THE GAS PEDAL UP WITH HANDS. *JB

NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE FOR RECALL 04S20 REPAIRS CONCERNING LIFTGATE WINDOW. DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED. FAMILY FORD 973-347-5379. *AK RECALL CAMPAIGN; NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 04V442000. *TC

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, THEN EXPLODED INADVERTENTLY. AS A RESULT, THE STEERING WHEEL CAUGHT ON FIRE. VEHICLE REMAINED IN A GARAGE WHERE THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. *AK

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED CONSUMER WAS CLOSING THE REAR HATCH AND THE ENTIRE WINDOW SHATTERED. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AND ALTHOUGH THE BALL AND SOCKET JOINT TO THE HATCH WINDOW WAS RECALLED, MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO ASSIST CONSUMER UNLESS A WAIVER WAS SIGNED SO THAT CONSUMER WILL NOT SUE THE MANUFACTURER. CONSUMER REFUSED TO SIGN WAIVER, BUT WOULD ONLY LIKE TO GET THE DEFECT REPAIRED. THIS OCCURRED PRIOR TO CONSUMER RECEIVING NOTIFICATION NOT TO OPEN THE HATCH AFTER THIS DEFECT HAPPENED. *AK

WHEN SHIFTING FROM DRIVE TO PARK COLUMN SHIFT LEVER WOULD GET STUCK. UPON A STALLING ,, WHEN SHIFTING FROM DRIVE INTO PARK TO RESTART THE CAR, COLUMN SHIFT LEVER BROKE OFF RESULTING IN BEING UNABLE USE THE VEHICLE WHILE IN A PARKING LOT AT NIGHT WITH SMALL CHILDREN IN THE CAR. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER, WHERE WE WERE TOLD THE WHOLE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT AN ESTIMATE OF $747.00 FOR A THREE YEAR OLD VEHICLE.*AK

TRANSMISSIONS PROBLEM, BEEN TO TWO DEALERS, AND CANT FIX THE PROBLEM. FORD WIL NOT HELP. I FIRST WENT IN BEFORE MY 3-36 WAS UP NOW IM 45 DAYS OVER AND THEY WON'T PAY . IT MISSES UNDER A LOAD AND WHEN PASSING OTHER CARS FEELS VERY UNSAFE . *AK

I WAS DRIVING,WHEN I HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMMING FROM UNDERNEATH MY FORD EXPLORER.I THOUGHT FOR A SECOND OR TWO,THAT I HAD RAN OVER SOMETHING IN THE STREET.THE VEHICLE,SLOWED.WHEN I STOPPED FOR THE TRAFFIC LIGHT,IT WOULD NOT MOVE.THE OD OFF LIGHT WAS FLASHING.THE ONLY WAY I COULD MOVE THE TRUCK WAS IN NEUTRAL.I HAD THE TRUCK TOWED TO JOE RIZZA FORD IN N.RIVERSIDE,IL.THEY TOLD ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED.I PURCHASED THIS TRUCK FROM RIZZA NEW ON 09/11/01.59,000 MILES WAS ON THE SPEDOMETER.I BELIEVE THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE.I WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST ME $3,400.00 TO GET IT REPLACED.I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO GO FURTHER IN DEBT AND BUY ANOTHER VEHICLE.*AK

THE PANEL ON THE REAR LIFTGATE WHICH CONTAINS THE FORD EMBLEM CRACKED FOR NO REASON AND I WAS INFORMED BY 2 DEALERSHIPS THAT IT HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES IN THE PAST TO SIMILAR FORD VEHICLES BUT THAT THEY WILL NOT REPAIR MINES BECAUSE IT HAS OVER 36,000 MILES ON IT, BUT MY COMPLAINT IS THAT IT IS A FACTORY DEFECT AND THE AMOUNT OF MILES SHOULD NOT MATTER TOWARDS FORD REPAIRING THIS DEFECT.*AK

WHEN SHIFTING GEAR FROM "PARK" TO "DRIVE" THE COLUMN SHIFTER WAS NOTICABLY DIFFICULT TO MOVE. WITHOUT WARNING , THE COLUMN SHIFTER FELL OFF, RESULTING IN NOT HAVING A CAR TO DRIVE. I AM CURRENTLY TRYING TO HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED. *JB

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 04V442000 REAR CONCERNING TAILGATE GLASS. HOWEVER, CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE PARTS WOULD BE IN LATE NOVEMBER. CONSUMER CONTACTED FORD MANUFACTURER, AND WAS TOLD THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BE IN. CONSUMER HAS BEEN WAITING FOR FOUR MONTHS. *AK CONSUMER SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT FOR DECEMBER 15, 2004 TO HAVE THE PART REPLACED WITH A DIFFERENT COMPONENT. *NM

REAR BEARING FAILURE OF 2002 FORD EXPLORER. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER BECAUSE OF REAR END NOISE AND WAS TOLD THE BEARING WAS ABOUT TO EXPLODE AND COULD HAVE LOST AN AXLE. *AK

04 V 442 000/REAR LIFTGATE GLASS: THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO GET THE DEALER TO HONOR THE RECALL. *JB

WHILE TRAVELING AT 25 MPH DRIVER'S GEAR POPPED OUT, AND VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO MOVE. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION WHEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER.*AK

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE THROTTLE CABLE BECAME STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO INCREASE SPEED TO DANGEROUS LEVELS. APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES DID LITTLE TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN. IMMEDIATELY STOPPED AT SERVICE STATION WHICH IDENTIFED THE PROBLEM AS THE THROTTLE CABLE, NOTING THE THERE WAS AN EXISITING SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. NEW PARTS WERE ORDERED AND REPAIR WAS EFFECTED - COST APPROX $200.00. *AK

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 04V442000 FOR THE REAR WINDOW, AND AFTER NUMEROUS CALLS THE PARTS HAVE NOT BEEN RECEIVED BY THE DEALERS. *AK

WITH NORMAL DRIVING, THE DIFFERENTIAL OF MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER HAS PROGRESSED FROM HUMMING TO A LOADER ROAR WHILE DRIVING AT ALL SPEEDS, WHICH I WAS TOLD WAS 'NORMAL FOR FORDS'. 5,000 MILES LATER I AM LOOKING AT $1,300.00 TO REPLACE THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL AT MY OWN COST, SINCE FORDS WARRANTY RAN OUT AT A MEASLY 36,000 MILES. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD IN THE FACT THAT IF YOU LISTEN TO WHAT DEALERS AND MECHANICS TELL YOU, YOU CAN BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND HAVE YOUR WHOLE REAR END BUST OUT ON YOU, LEAVING THE CAR WITHOUT ANY CAPABILITIES TO MOVE ANYWHERE. FOR SOMEONE WHO IS NOT THE MOST CONFIDENT DRIVER OR DOES NOT NOW HOW TO REACT, THIS CAN LEAD TO SOME VERY ERRATIC BEHAVIOR.*AK

THIS VEHICLE EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE PROBLEMS, AND THE DEALER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS. CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. VEHICLE SWAYED FROM LEFT TO RIGHT ON ITS OWN. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO, DOOR RUBBER PANEL FAILED TO STAY ATTACHED TO THE DOOR. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED,AND VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. HOWEVER, THE RUBBER PANEL WAS ADJUSTED PROPERLY BY THE MECHANIC. CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THIS PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED. *AK

MY FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSION IT WAS AT 36000 MILES, MY CAR WAS TUNED AND SERVICED AS SHUDULE, AND IT COST A TOTAL OF $1700.00 TO FIX. WHICH THE CAR IS ONLY 2 YEAR OLD. THE AIR CONDITION STOP WORKING IN DECEMBER OF 2003 AND AT THE TIME MY CAR WAS BARELY 1 YEAR OLD THIER HAS BEEN MANY OTHER CONCERN WITH MY EXPLORER THAT I AM MAKING $500.00 PAYMENT ON. I BELIVED I HAVE PURCHASE A DEFECTED CAR. *AK

1.EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE -ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION WHILE HAVING MY CAR AT THE DEALER WHILE IN WARRANTY I MADE NOTE TO THE SERVICE INDIVIDUAL,THAT SOME THING FELT WRONG WHEN MY CAR WOULD SHIFT IN TO ANOTHER GEAR WHILE MOVING .NOTHING WAS EVER FOUND WRONG OR ANY DOCUMENTATION WAS MADE. 2.FAILURE AND ITS CONSEQUENCES-AS MY VEHICLE REACHED 43,900 MILES MY TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SHIFT EVEN MORE HARDER AND SOMETIMES WOULD NOT GO IN TO GEAR.THE REAR WOULD VIBRATE TO THE POINT WHERE IT SHOOK THE VEHICLE HARD. 3.WHAT WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE-WHEN VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER IT WAS QUICKLY BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT MY VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARANTY AND AFTER DIAGONOSING THE PROBLEM THAT THE TRANS ASSY SOLENOID HAD TO BE REPLACED. I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS UP ON A LIFT . THIS COST ME A TOTAL OF $976.91. I FEEL THAT I WAS LED ON UNTIL MY WARRANTY EXPIRED AND THAT FORD SHOULD COVERED THE COST OF THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE THIS IS A FAIRLY NEW VEHICLE AND IT WAS NOT MY FAULT THAT THIS PART WENT BAD.THIS PART SHOULD BE RECALLED.*AK

EVEN WITH A FULL TANK OF GAS THE GAS GAUGE WILL GO TO "0" AND THE "CHECK GAUGE" LIGHT COMES ON BECAUSE THE SENDER ASSEMBLY UNIT OF THE GAS GAUGE DOES NOT WORK. WHEN WE TOOK OUR EXPLORER TO DUB MILLER FORD IN ROSENBERG ON NOV. 19TH, THERE HAD BEEN ANOTHER 2002 EXPLORER BROUGHT IN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM THAT MORNING. THE PART IS NOT AVAILABLE AND IS ON BACK ORDER. THE PART COST $76.79 BUT THE LABOR WILL BE $270! THIS IS A LOT OF MONEY FOR US TO PAY DUE TO AN FORD'S EGINEERING PROBLEM. ARE MANY OTHER 2002 EXPLORERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS? THANKS! SHELLEY AND GALE TOWNS. *AK

WHINING NOISE COMING FROM REAR DIFFERENTIAL. VEHICLE HAS ONLY 44,000 MILES. POSSIBLE CRASH IF DIFFERENTIAL LOCKS UP AT HIGHWAY SPEED. FORD SAYS I NEED TO REPLACE ENTIRE DIFFERENTIAL, YET NOT WILLING TO PAY PART OF THE COST. INTERNET RESEARCH SHOWS THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2002 EXPLORER.*AK

1. DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES ON THE EVENING (7:30 PM) OF 12-4-04 TO A HOLIDAY PARTY WITH JUST MYSELF AND MY WIFE. UPON ARRIVING WITHIN SECONDS OF THE LOCATION AN ANONOYMOUS DIRVER STOPPED OUR VEHICLE AND MADE US AWARE THAT THERE WAS A FIRE COMING FROM UNDER OUR VEHICLE, A 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT. AS WE JUMPED OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND SAW THE FIRE A NEIGHBOR WATCHING CALLED THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT. WITHIN MINUTES THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND TRIED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. BEING UNSUCCESFUL IT TOOK THE FIRE DEPARTMENT APPROXIMATELY AN HOUR TO STOP THE FIRE AT WHICH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THERE WAS NOTHING TO BE REPAIRED AS THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. AND THERE HAD BEEN NO INDICATION THAT THERE WAS ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT.*AK

NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE FOR RECALL 04V442000 CONCERNING LIFTGATE GLASS. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. MALLEN, 440-442-8000. *AK

WHILE DRIVING OUT OF A GARAGE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. IN MAY 2004 THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BY THE DEALER DUE TO AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATING. CURRENTLY, SIX MONTHS LATER, WHILE DRIVING OUT OF A GARAGE AT 5 MPH THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY.*AK

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTED HARD WHEN CHANGING GEARS,AND SLOW IN REVERSE. CONSUMER HEARD A GRINDING NOISE WHEN THE GEAR WENT INTO OVERDRIVE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK

DASHLIGHT ILLUMINATES, DOOR CHIME SOUNDS AND AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS ENGAGE INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO MULTIPLE DEALERS AND HAVE HAD MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO RECTIFY YET THE ISSUE HAS YET TO BE RESOLVED.*AK

I BOUGHT MY 2002 EXPLORER IN MAY OF 04. IT ONLY HAS 40,000 MILES AND THERE IS A SEVERE WHINING NOISE IN THE REAR-END. IT WILL ALSO JERK AND SLAP SOMETIMES WHEN I LET OFF OF THE GAS. I ALSO PUT IT IN 4-WHEEL DRIVE AND IF FEELS AND IT SLAPS AND JERKS LIKE THE WHOLE UNDERNEATH IS GOING TO FALL OUT.*AK

CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL FOR THE REAR HATCH . THE CYLINDER WAS DEFECTIVE. DEALER HAD NO PARTS FOR THE RECALL. *AK