2002 Ford Explorer complaints

"ELECTRO-CHROMATIC" INSIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR - OBSCURES FORWARD VISION - PARTICULARLY IN TURNS TO THE RIGHT AND AT INTERSECTIONS.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THE SMOKY REARVIEW MIRROR OBSCURES THE VIEW OUT THE REAR WINDOW. *YD

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING A HEAD ON COLLISION OCCURRED WHICH RESULTED IN A FIRE.*AK *YH

WHILE OPENING MANUAL TAILGATE WINDOW GLASS EXPLODED, GLASS WAS THROWN INSIDE VEHICLE WITH SUCH FORCE THAT INTERIOR PANELS WERE SCRATCHED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK RE-EVAL TO BE VALID SINCE PE OPENING_PCO PE04045_PCO

MINOR TRAFFIC ACCIDENT, DAMAGE TO LEFT FRONT BUMPER AND FENDER, NEAR BATTERY. RESULT WAS INSTANT FLAME UNDER HOOD AND VEHICLE DESTROYED.*AK

CONSUMER HEARS CLICKING NOISE IN TRANSMISSION. ALSO, VEHICLE JERKS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKE, HOWEVER VEHICLE WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN, CRUISE CONTROL STAYED ON. CONSUMER THEN DEPRESSED ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THEN THE BRAKE THROTTLE RELEASED.*JB

THERE IS A SULFUR SMELL EMITTING FROM THE EXHAUST. THIS IS APPARENT WHILE DRIVING WITH THE WINDOWS OPEN OR CLOSED WITH THE HEAT/AC ON. AFTER WAITING SIX WEEKS FOR THE BACKORDERED CONVERTER TO ARRIVE, IT WAS INSTALLED AND THE PCM WAS REPROGRAMMED WITH THE LATEST CALIBRATION UPDATE. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL REPAIRS THAT WOULD APPLY TO MY CONCERN. I, ALONG WITH MY FAMILY, HAVE BEEN TOLERATING THIS ODOR CONCERN SINCE TAKING DELIVERY OF THE VEHICLE. WE ARE WORRIED ABOUT POSSIBLE TOXIC FUMES THAT ARE BEING INHALED IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. I AM VERY UNCOMFORTABLE TRANSPORTING MY FAMILY IN THIS VEHICLE.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING AT 25 MPH STEERING BECAME IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN IN ANY DIRECTION. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY STATED THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH A DEFECTIVE SEAL. CONSUMER FEELS CONSUMERS LIFES WERE PUT INTO DANGER BECAUSE OF A KNOWN PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

CONSUMER STATES ATTEMPTED TO OPEN LIFTGATE TO UNLOAD GROCERIES WHEN THE LIFTGATE BLEW OUT CRASHING ON THE TOP OF THE ROOF OF THE TRUCK, SHATTERING THE GLASS TO THE LIFTGATE WINDOW. VEHCLE HAS BEEN SHOP FOR 14 DAYS. BODY ROOF WAS BADLY DAMAGED. *TT PE04045.PCO

WHEN STOPPED AT LIGHT VEHICLE MAKES A LOUD HUMMING NOISE. TOOK TO DEALER, AND DEALER COULDN'T IDENTIFY PROBLEM. *AK

THE TRUCK HAS A VERY STRONG ROTTEN EGG SMELL THAT COME IN THE VEHICLE. MYSELF AND OTHER PASSENGERS HAVE EXPERIENCED NAUSEA AND HEADACHES FROM THE SMELL. IT HAS BEEN SERVICED SEVERAL TIMES TO NO PREVAIL. THE DEALSHIP SAYS THAT THE SMELL SHOULD GO AWAY AFTER THE TRUCK HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR 10,000 MILES. THEY HAVE NO SOLUTION.*AK

THERE IS A STRONG SULPHUR SMELL COMING FROM EXHAUST. IT IS VERY NOTICEABLE INSIDE VEHICLE. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE, AND SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO.*AK

THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY AND IS PRODUCING A STRONG "ROTTEN EGG" SMELL. I AM WORRIED ABOUT THE TOXICITY AND GENERAL SAFETY OF THE FUMES BEING PRODUCED, NOT TO MENTION THE NAUSEATING EFFECT THE FUMES HAVE. THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP SAYS THAT THE FORD FIELD SERVICE ENGINEER DOES NOT HAVE A FIX AND THAT THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE FORD EXPLORER. THE LOCAL DEALER ALSO STATES THAT THEY ARE BEGINNING TO RECEIVE COMPLAINTS FROM CROWN VICTORIA OWNERS. I PLAN TO RETURN THE VEHICLE TO THE MANUFACTURER USING MISSISSIPPI'S "LEMON LAW."*AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE IS MAKING A LOUD NOISE IN THE REAR DUE TO SUSPENSION PROBLEMS. DEALER CONTACTED. PLEASE ADD VIN. *AK

IF A PERSON TALLER THAN 5'7 ENTERS INTO THIS SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE, THE HEAD RESTRAINT COMES TO THE BASE OF THE NECK RIGHT AT SHOULDER LEVEL. UPON POSSIBLE IMPACT THE DRIVERS/PASSENGERS HEAD WILL SNAP BACK AND BREAK. ALSO BECAUSE OF THE SEAT HEIGHT EVEN AT ITS LOWEST POSITION, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER'S HEAD TOUCHES CEILING OF INTERIOR OF THE CAR. WE DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. THE SEAT NEEDS TO BE CHANGED THANK YOU. *AK

TWO PROBLEMS, ONE WITH TRANSMISSION AND ONE WITH INSTRUMENT LIGHTS. 1) TRANSMISSION WOULD DELAY ENGAGING INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE WHEN BEING TAKEN OUT OF PARK (LOCAL DEALER SAID THIS WAS "NORMAL") BUT TRANSMISSION WOULD ALSO "CLUNK" AND "LURCH" WHEN CLIMBING HILLS. LOCAL DEALER (VISTA FORD) ADJUSTED WITH COMPUTER ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND IMPROVED THE PROBLEM, BUT NOW THERE IS STILL THE OCCASIONAL DELAY BEFORE TRANSMISSION ENGAGES AND AN OCCASIONAL "BANG" (WORSE THAN "CLUNK") ALONG WITH A VIOLENT "JERK" (WORSE THAN A "LURCH") AND THIS NOW HAPPENS DURING NORMAL DRIVING ON LEVEL GROUND. 2) FOR THE ENTIRE 300 DAYS I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE THE ILLUMINATION OF THE "MESSAGE CENTER" DISPLAY IS SO DIM DURING THE DAY THAT IT IS AMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO READ (DEALER SAYS THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH NO FACTORY FIX). THE DISPLAY IS NOT CONTROLLED BY THE RHEOSTAT THAT ADJUSTS THE BRIGHTNESS OF THE GENERAL INSTRUMENT ARRAY SO THE PROBLEM MUST BE WITH THE INTENSITY OF THE LED DISPLAY ITSELF.

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE TRAVELING AT 40 MPH, CONSUMER HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT FAILED TO STOP AT A LIGHT. CONSUMER STATES NONE OF THE VEHICLES AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.8JB

CONSUMER STATES WHILE BACKING OUT OF GARAGE REAR END WINDOW AND DOOR ASSEMBLY OPENED WITHOUT WARNING, RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO DOOR AND GLASS.*JB

AFTER VEHICLE HAS WARMED UP AFTER ABOUT 20 MINUTES OF NORMAL OPERATION THERE IS AN ODOR THAT SMELLS AS IF OIL IS BURNING. THE BEST WAY TO DESCRIBE THIS ODOR IS IT AS IF OIL WAS SPILLED ON A HOT MANIFOLD. THE ODOR CAN BE SMELLED IN THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE HEATING/AC VENTS IN THE VEHICLE WHEN OPERATING. WHEN THE ENGINE IS TURNED OFF THE ODOR IS VERY PREDOMINENT. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DEALER TWICE THEY STATE THEY CANNOT FIND ANY PROBLEM. MY CONCERN IS THAT THERE MAY BE A VEHICLE FIRE FROM THIS UNKNOWN SOURCE OF WHAT APPEARS TO BE BURNING OIL SOMEWHERE IN THE VEHICLE. SOMETHING WAS MENTIONED THAT ON OTHER FORD TRUCKS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS WERE BEING REPLACED, BUT NOT ON THIS MODEL.*AK

CONSUMER STATES WHILE TRAVELING AT 35 MPH, COMING UP TO A STOP THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DIED WITHOUT WARNING. NLM

NO DESCRIPTION GIVEN. NLM

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE COMING TO A STOP VEHICLE SUDDENLY DIED. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS. NLM CONSUMER ADDS THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED TWICE BEFORE WHILE DRIVING, BUT WAS ABLE TO RESTART IT. DEALER CANNOT LOCATE PROBLEM. *TT

WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE WILL AUTOMATICALLY SHUT OFF. VEHICLE WILL ONLY SHUT OFF WHEN IT IS IDLING. WHEN GOING UP HILLS VEHICLE WILL STALL.*AK. CONSUMER STATES THE TRANSMISSION GIVES A TICKING NOISE WHEN THE ENGINE IS RUNNING.8JB

ENGINE STALLS IN LOW RANGE GEAR WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. *AK

SEVERE VIBRATION. *AK

AFTER REMOVING FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR PEDAL, VEHICLE CONTINUES TO ACCELERATE, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. *AK *YD

FUEL FUMES WERE GETTING INTO THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE BEEN TO DEALER ON FOUR OCCASIONS, BUT PROBLEM WAS REOCCURRING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

INSIDE OF THE PARKING LOT WHILE TRAVELING THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM CORRECTIVE MEASURE HAD BEEN MET. NLM

CONSUMER STATE WHILE DEFROSTING WINDOWS CONSUMER CANT SET THE CORRECT AC TEMPERATURE TO UNFOG WINDOWS AND KEEP THEM CLEAR. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER. NLM

WHEN DRIVING IN SNOW HORN DOES NOT WORK, OR MAKES A VERY MUFFLED SOUND. WHEN WEATHER WARMS UP AND VEHICLE SITS IN THE SUN, HORN WILL OPERATE AGAIN. *JG *AK

VEHICLE WILL STALL WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. THIS INCIDENT CAN HAPPEN ON QUARTER OR LESS OF GAS IN GASOLINE TANK. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THERE IS A SQUEAKING NOISE ORIGINATING POSSIBLY FROM THE SUSPENSION WHEN DRIVING OVER SPEED BUMPS OR UNEVEN ROAD SURFACES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ESPECIALLY DURING WINDY CONDITIONS. ALSO THERE IS VIBRATION OCCURRING IN THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE AT 55 - 60 MPH. THE VIBRATION CAN ALSO BE FELT FROM UNDER THE SEAT WITH THE WINDOWS ROLLED UP. *TT

2002 FORD EXPLORER 4 DOOR V6 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION 4 WHEEL DRIVE. I START MY FORD EXPLORER AND PLACE IT EITHER IN "REVERSE" OR "DRIVE" AND THERE IS A 10 TO 15 GAP OF THE VEHICLE NOT ENGAGING IN EITHER GEAR. VEHICLE JUST DRIFTS AND THEN ENGAGES AFTER A PERIOD OF 10 TO15 SECONDS. I CALLED THE FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND THEY INFORMED ME IT WAS NORMAL. I TOLD THEM I NEVER DROVE A VEHICLE THAT EVER HAD THIS PROBLEM. I BELIEVE IT MAY BE A SAFETY ISSUE ESPECIALLY WHEN PARKED ON A HILL OR YOU THINK YOU MIGHT HAVE ACCIDENTLY PLACED IT IN NEUTRAL.*AK

ICE AND SLUSH ENTER THE DOOR PANELS FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE CAUSING, DOORS TO FREEZE SHUT. *AK

THIS SAME INCIDENT OCCURRED FOUR TIMES. THE SPEED IN EACH INCIDENT VARIED FROM 15 MPH ON THE FIRST OCCURRENCE TO 65 MPH ON THE FOURTH. BASICALLY, WHILE DRIVING THE CAR, THE ENGINE DIED, THE LIGHTS FLASHED ON THE DASH, I LOST ALL POWER STEERING. ON EACH OCCAISION. I PULLED THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, PUT THE TRUCK IN PARK, AND RE-STARTED THE ENGINE. ON EACH TIME, THE ENGINE RE-STARTED WITHOUT HESITATION. I REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE TRUCK; THUS, THEY MADE NO REPAIRS. THEY CLAIMED TO HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. *AK

WHEN DRIVING STEERING WILL LOCK UP FOR ABOUT 5 TO 7 SECONDS. THIS HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER CONTACTED. PLEASE ADD VIN. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 30-40 MPH, ENGINE STALLED, LIGHTS ON DASH FLASHED ON AND LOST ALL POWER, DEALER CONTACTED. *AK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A LOOSE FUSE WITH 3 CODES SHOWING ON THE COMPUTER, HOWEVER ON MARCH 1, 2002 THE VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN WITHOUT WARNING AND A FUSE WAS SHOWING A BAD PRESSURE SENSOR WHICH WAS REPLACED, CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN FOR THE THIRD TIME.*JB

CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN ACCELERATION PROBLEM, CONSUMER STARTED TO BRAKE, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP, IT STARTED TO BUCK AND JERK FOR ABOUT 4 CAR LENGTHS AND THEN WENT BACK TO NORMAL. *JG

ON DATE OF ACCIDENT, I WAS DRIVING ON 12 MILE APPROACHING INTERSECTION OF ORCHARD LAKE ROAD. I'M COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, GOING ABOUT 1-2 MPH, WHEN THE ENGINE SURGED. MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE, AND I COULD HEAR AND FEEL MY ENGINE ACCELERATING, AND TO AVOID REAR ENDING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME, I TURNED THE WHEEL AND WENT UP THE CURB, AND FINALLY STOPPED WHEN I HIT AN INTERSTATE SIGN. THE EVENT TOOK PLACE IN ABOUT FIVE SECONDS. ON THE MONDAY FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT, I TOOK MY TRUCK TO JEROME DUNCAN FORD AND EXPLAINED WHAT HAPPENED. I ALSO INFORMED THEM THAT ON 2 OCASSIONS MY CAR WOULD NOT START. THE DIAGNOSTIC SHOWED THAT MY PCM NEED TO BE REPLACED. IT COULD NOT BRING UP ANY MISSING CODES FOR THE SURGE OF MY ENGINE. THE PCM CONTROLS THE ENGINE AND IS THE DRIVE TRAIN. I DON'T BELIEVE FOR ONE SECOND THE DEFECTIVE PCM ISN'T THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT. I NEVER RELASED MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE! MY CAR IS STILL AT THE DEALER, AND I REFUSE TO HAVE THE PCM CHANGED TILL A FIELD ENGINEER LOOKS INTO IT. I TOLD THEM I DON'T WANT THE TRUCK BACK TILL THEY FIND WHAT CAUSED THE SURGE, AND THAT THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE SERVICE DRIVE MANAGER SAID THAT THIS MONDAY (2/25/02) HE WOULD TAKE MY TRUCK OUT AND WAIT FOR IT TO SURGE ON HIM. THEY ARE NOT TAKING THIS AS A SERIOUS MATTER! THEY TOLD ME I COULD START SOME "LEGAL" ACTION PAPERWORK (WHERE THERE WILL BE AND INVESTIGATION, AND A FORD FIELD ENGINEER WILL LOOK INTO IT) AND I TOLD THEM THAT I WAS WILLING TO START PAPERWORK. THEY EXPLAINED IT COUL

CONSUMER IS CONCERNED ABOUT TOXIC GASSES INSIDE OF VEHICLE. THERE IS A ODOR COMING INSIDE OF VENT AREA.*AK

POWER REAR WINDOW HAS ONLY 3 POSITIONS, FULLY OPEN, OPEN 1" FROM TOP, FULLY CLOSED, ONCE ACTIVATED THERE IS NO EMERGENCY STOP UNTIL THE 1" FROM TOP POSITION. WINDOW DRIVE MOTOR IS VERY POWERFUL, NO WARING IN PLACE. COULD RESULT IN CRUSHING OF HAND AND OTHER SERIOUS INJURIES.

TRUCK STALLED AFTER PUTING IT IN DRIVE, AT RED LIGHT, AFTER STARTING, AT LOW SPEED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. REGAPED THE SPARK PLUGS AND REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER.

SPEED CONTROL SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FROM 65MPH (WHERE CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET) TO 95 MPH. IT WAS FULL THROTTLE AND INCREASING SPEED WHEN I HIT THE BRAKE AND IT STOPPED ACCELERATING. DEALER SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG AND DOES NOT KNOW WHY IT DID THIS. I'M STILL WORKING WITH THEM TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM BECUASE I NO LONGER TRUST IT. I WAS NOT TOUCHING ANY CONTROLS OR PEDALS WHEN THE CAR BEGAN ACCELERATING.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 70MPH RIGHT REAR TIRE DEFLATED. TIRE HAD A CUT IN IT. CONTACTED DEALER , MICHELIN TIRE.PLEASE ADD TIRE SIZE AND DOT. *AK

DOOR HANDLES KEEP BRAKING/DRS WILL NOT OPEN/ OWN 2 OF SAME HAVE GONE THROUGH 5 HANDLES ON EACH TRUCK / FORD WAS NO HELP/ IN AN EMERGENCY THE DOORS COULD FAIL TO OPEN/ DEALER SAID THEY'RE STOCKING CASES OF HANDLES TO REPLACE W/SAME DEFECTIVE PARTS/ MY 3 YEAR OLD SON TRIED TO OPEN THE DOOR, AND IT BROKE / HE COULD NOT APPLY MUCH FORCE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, HEADLIGHTS TEND TO BE DIM, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO VIEW FRONT OF VEHICLE, MECHANIC HAS ADJUSTED HEADLIGHTS TWICE; HOWEVER, HEADLIGHTS TEND TO SET BACK IN DIM MODE. *AK *JB

THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT 3 TIMES SINCE SEPTEMBER 2001. THE STEERING COLUMN HAS BEEN REPLACED, THE WHEEL BEARINGS HAVE BEEN REPLACED(THIS WAS SUPPOSE TO ELIMINATE STEERING COLUMN RATTLE) AND THE LOWER CONTROL ARM HAS BEEN REPLACED. I STILL HEAR AND FEEL A METALLIC RATTLE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. IN MY REVIEW OF YOUR WEBSITE OTHER 2002 EXPLORER OWNERS ARE EXPERINCING THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE TALKED TO AT LEAST THREE OTHER OWNERS THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. MY DEALER HAS DONE EVERYTHING RECOMMENDED BY FORD, BUT NOTHING HAS SOLVED THE PROBLEM. FORD IS "WORKING ON IT". THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING ON IT SINCE SEPTEMBER 2001. MY SAFETY CONCERN IS THIS. IF SOMETHING IS LOOSE THAT IS CAUSING THIS NOISE IT HAS TO BE PROGRESSING. WHAT WILL HAPPEN AFTER MORE MILEAGE BUILDS ON THIS VEHICLE? WILL I BE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY ONE DAY AND LOSE CONTROL DUE TO STEERING FAILURE? THERE IS TO MUCH SMOKE HERE FOR THAT NOT TO BE FIRE SOONER OF LATER BY MY EXPLORER OR SOME OTHER OWNER. HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR A COMPANY THE SIZE OF FORD TO SOLVE A PROBLEM?*AK

AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY, CAUSING MINOR INJURIES TO DRIVER. FORD WAS NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE WHY AIR BAG DEPLOYED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 32 MPH ENGINE STALLED UNEXPECTEDLY, CAUSING A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE, CHANGED A MODULE, AND PERFORMED A COMPUTER UPGRADE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION. *AK