2002 Ford Ford Truck

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Think Neighbor. The contact stated that after entering the vehicle and attempting to secure the front driver’s seat belt latch into the buckle, the seat belt latch failed to lock into place. The seat belt loosened and unlatched from the buckle while the contact was driving. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000.

FORD F 250 TRITON V10 NO. 2 SPARK PLUG AND COIL BLEW OUT OF THE ENGINE HEAD. APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL AND OTHERS. FORD WILL CHARGE 650.00 TO FIX. *TR

FORD F 250 TRITON V10 NO. 2 SPARK PLUG AND COIL BLEW OUT OF THE ENGINE HEAD. APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL AND OTHERS. FORD WILL CHARGE 650.00 TO FIX. *TR

WHILE GOING AROUND A HAIRPIN TURN THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE FELL OFF ROTOR AND ALL, THIS INCIDENT CAUSED THE 2002 FORD LIGHTNING TRUCK TO SLIDE INTO THE CURB CAUSING THE TRUCK TO ROLL COMPLETELY OVER LANDING BACK ON IT'S 3 TIRES THAT WERE LEFT. FROM THE LOOK OF IT THE AXLE BOLT FELL OFF CAUSING THE TIRE TO FALL OFF. DRIVER WAS GOING UNDER THE SPEED LIMIT & NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE INVOLVED. ACCORDING TO A FRIEND THIS SAME INCIDENT HAPPENED TO HIS LIGHTNING TRUCK. SOUNDS LIKE A DEFECT ON FORDS PART. *TR

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AND HARD BANG WHEN IT GO INTO GEAR. FORD SERVICE DEPT.DIAOGNOSE TRANS OP, NO CODES,LINE PRESSURE TEST.R110-N-75 OD95 L-95. R&R TRANSMISSION PAN FOR INSPECTION, PIECES OF BRASS BUSHINGS IN PAN. R&R TRANS TO OVERHAUL. REPLACED OD PLANETARY ASSY .BUSHINGS BETWEEN GEARS COME APART) FLUSHED COLLING LINES,REPLACED CONVERTER(METAL CONTAMINATION.) REPLACED VALVE BODY(VALVES STICKING). CLEARED PCM MEMORY & REFLASHED PCM. ROAD TEST. ALL THE ABOVE WORK WAS DONE ACCORDING TO THE INVOICE. WHEN I DROVE THE TRUCK I COULD HEAR A NOISE THAT WASN'T THERE BEFORE, I TOOK THE TRUCK BACK TO THE DEALER AND CHECKED THINGS OUT AND TOLD ME EVERY THING WAS FINE, BUT IT WASN'T. *TR

2002 FORD EXPLORER VERY COLD NIGHT NOTICED A HUGE CRACK IN THE REAR PANEL BELOW REAR WINDOW RIGHT OUT OF NOWHERE THE CAR WAS FINE HOURS BEFORE AND AS I WALKED PAST IT AGAIN SAW A HUGE CRACK BY THE EMBLEM AND UNDER.*CN

DRIVING MY VEHICLE WITH MY 2 CHILDREN 2 AND 10 YEAR. DROPPING THE 2 YEAR OLD OFF TO SCHOOL. STOP THE VEHICLE GO TO PUT THE SHIFT GEAR INTO PARK, BREAKS RIGHT OFF IN HAND, IF THE RUBBER WASN'T AROUND IT, I COULD HAVE WALKED OUT OF THE CAR WITH IT. I WAS STUCK THERE KEEPING MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES BECAUSE THE GEAR WAS ALSO STUCK BETWEEN REVERSE AND PARK. *TR

TRANSMISSION TAKES 3-5 SECONDS TO GO INTO REVERSE THIS IN ITS SELF DANGEROUS WHEN NEEDING A QUICK REVERSE. THE MAIN REASON FOR A COMPLAINT IN TRANSMISSION NEEDING TO BE REBUILT AFTER ONLY 45,000 I DON'T TOW ANYTHING AND AM A GOOD DRIVER I KNOW OTHERS WITH SAME VEHICLE SAME PROBLEM TAKE NOTE UHAUL WILL NOT RENT TO EXPLORER OWNERS BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THIS TRANSMISSION (CALL UHAUL AND FIND THIS OUT). *TR

UNSAFE TRANSMISSION FORD CAN T FIX IT LOCKED TRANSMISSION UP AND I SHOWED UP AT DEALER WITH WHITE SMOKE CLOUD BEHIND THE CAR FORD STILL INSISTS NOTHING WRONG. *TR

THE MIRRORS ON BOTH MY 2002 FORD SPORT TRAC AND 2002 FORD RANGER DO NOT WORK PROPERLY. THE MIRRORS (X4) ARE ELECTRIC AND WILL NOT MOVE TO THE RIGHT. THEY WORK IN THE AXIS OF LEFT, UP, AND DOWN. I HAVE TALKED WITH OTHERS WHO HAVE THE SAME TYPE OF MIRROR ON THEIR 2002 VEHICLES AND ALL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

TIRE TREAD PEALED OFF MY TIRE CAUSING SIGNIFICANT DAMAGES TO MY SIDE STEP, THE METAL AROUND MY TIRE WHEEL GOT BENT UP INTO MY DOOR AND TORE OFF ALL MY WHEEL WELL PLASTIC. ALMOST CAUSED MY FRONT BUMPER TO COME OFF IT IS NOW TORN ON THAT SIDE AND A PLASTIC PIECE UNDER THE BUMPER IS BARELY HANGING IN THERE. I STILL HAVE THE TIRE AS IT DIDN'T DEFLATE. MY STEERING WHEEL CLICKS AND MAKES MY CAR SKIP WHEN I MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN. AS IF THE TIRES ARE NOT TURNING CORRECTLY. THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON! *TR

THIS IS A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE FLAWED DESIGN OF FORD EXPLORER LIFTGATES. 2002 AND 2003 VEHICLES WERE AFFECTED, BUT I WAS SURE THERE WERE MORE. THE BACK PANEL CRACKED COMPLETELY DOWN THE PANEL SEPARATING THE TWO SIDES. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE END RESULT COULD BE BUT IT CERTAINLY LOOKED LIKE A PIECE COULD FLY OFF AND INTERFERE WITH FOLLOWING VEHICLES. THERE WERE HUNDREDS, IF NOT THOUSANDS OF THESE VEHICLES ON THE ROAD WITH THE SAME EXACT CRACK, AND FORD RECEIVED HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS BUT REFUSED TO FIX IT SO FAR. AS USUAL, THEY WILL PROBABLY WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE WAS HURT OR WORSE BEFORE TAKING ACTION. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS.*AK

PURCHASED A 2002 FORD EXPLORER, FROM THE DEALERSHIP IN DECEMBER 2006. IN JANUARY 2007 I AWOKE TO CLEAR THE SNOW OFF MY VEHICLE WHEN I NOTICED A HUGE CRACK ON THE BACK PANEL UNDER THE TAILGATE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO FORD IMMEDIATELY, AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE, BUT THAT IT WAS AN ONGOING PROBLEM. WHEN TEMPERATURES REACHED A HIGH THE CRACK THEN EXPANDED AND THE CRACK WAS NOT NOTICABLE. WHEN THE TEMPERATURE GOT COLD AGAIN THE CRACK WAS VERY APPARRENT. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THERE WAS A FAULT WITH THIS PANEL, BUT ERE NOT ABLE TO COVER IT. *AK

I TOOK THE KIDS TO THE BABYSITTER AND WENT TO PUT THE TRUCK IN PARK AND THE GEAR SHIFTER BROKE OFF INSIDE THE STEERING COLUMN. IT HAS ALWAYS HAD A PLACE WHERE THE SHIFTER LEVER WOULD KIND OF CATCH BETWEEN REVERSE AND PARK AND YOU HAD TO WIGGLE IT WHEN PUTTING IT INTO PARK . I WAS TOLD IT HAD TO HAVE A NEW STEERING COLUMN THAT IS $500+ NOT INCLUDING LABOR. I THINK THIS COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS. WHAT IF IT HAPPENED GOING DOWN THE ROAD OR WHEN MY 15 YEAR OLD [BEGINNER DRIVER] WAS DRIVING. *TR

RUBBING NOISE IN THE REAR END. DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM AND REPLACED BEARINGS IN THE FRONT LEFT HUB. DEALER SAID 2 OF THE TIRES WERE BADLY CUPPED SO THE COULD NOT HEAR ANY OTHER PROBLEM. PROBLEM/NOISE STILL THERE. *AK

74400 MILES. NOISE COMING FROM REAR END AND FEELS LIKE THE BRAKES ARE DRAGGING WHEN SLOWING DOWN. THE NOISE WAS WORSE WHEN ENGAGING THE 4-WD HIGH. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A BAD TRANSFER CASE ASSEMBLY. WAITED 2 DAYS BECAUSE THE FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE HAD TO APPROVE THE REPAIR. WAS TOLD THE MAIN SHAFT HAD CRACKED AND WAS ENGAGING THE 4-WD EVEN THOUGH IT DID NOT SHOW UP ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. AFTER PICKING UP THE VEHICLE IT SEEMED TO BE BETTER EVEN THOUGH NOT COMPLETELY GONE. MY MISTAKE FOR NOT RETURNING THE TRUCK BECAUSE IT STARTED TO GET WORSE AT 75400 , AND NOW THE FORD CUSTOM CARE CERTIFIED THE TRUCK AS A USED CAR COVERING DRIVE TRAIN UNTIL 75000 MILES, AND IT WOULD NOT AUTHORIZE ANY FURTHER WORK EVEN THOUGH THE PROBLEM STILL HAD THE SAME SYMPTOMS FROM 2 OTHER VISITS AT THE SAME DEALER. EVEN THOUGH THE SERVICE ADVISOR AT THE DEALERSHIP RECOMMEND THAT THE WORK BE DONE. *AK

75400 MILES. NOISE FROM REAR END BECOMING MORE NOTICEABLE. ALSO, THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY WON'T SHIFT FROM 2ND TO 3RD. DEALER DIAGNOSED THE REAR END PROBLEM AS BEARINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND PROBABLY THE REAR HUBS WERE BAD. THE TRANSMISSION WAS BAD, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. FORD DEALER SERVICE ADVISED ME TO CONTACT FORD 800 NUMBER, AND OPERATOR AFTER PUTTING ME ON HOLD AND TALKING TO THE DEALER TURNED THE PROBLEM OVER TO THE NEXT LEVEL OF CUSTOMER CAR BECAUSE HER LIMIT OF $500 WOULD NOT BEGIN TO COVER THE REPAIRS. FORD COSTUMER CARE CALLED ME AND AFTER LETTING ME TELL MY STORY SAID THERE WAS NO PROGRAM DOLLARS AVAILABLE FOR ASSISTING IN FIXING EITHER PROBLEM, EVEN THOUGH THE REAR END PROBLEM WAS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE PREVIOUS VISIT AT 74,400 MILES PER THE DEALERS RECOMMENDATION. ALSO INFORMED ME THAT NOT EVEN THE $500 WAS AVAILABLE ,AND THE OPERATOR HAD NO RIGHT TO OFFER THAT AMOUNT. TOOK THE CAR FROM THE DEALER AFTER PAYING $120, PLUS $100 CAR RENTAL THEY WOULD NOT COVE) SINCE THE MILEAGE WAS 400 OVER WARRANTY 75000 MILEAGE LIMIT TO DIAGNOSE A PROBLEM THEY FAILED TO CORRECTLY DIAGNOSE THE FIRST 2 TIMES. *AK

FORD HAD A RECALL ON THE HINGES OF THE GLASS PANEL ON THE HATCH OF THE TRUCK. I HAD NO PROBLEM WITH THE CAR PRIOR TO THAT REPLACEMENT. SEVERAL MONTHS AGO I FOLLOWED THROUGH WITH THE DEALER & HAD THE RECALLED HINGES REPLACED. I BELIEVE THAT THE WORK MAY HAVE ADDED STRESS TO THE HATCH....SOMETHING HAS HAPPENED. I NOTICED IN THE MORNING OF 2/3/07 THAT THE BACK OF MY TRUCK HAD A HAIRLINE FRACTURE TO THE RIGHT OF THE FORD EMBLEM. THIS IS THE TRUCK PART THAT OPENS UP FOR ME TO PUT MY GROCERIES IN THE CAR & THE SAME PART THAT HAD THE RECALLED HINGES REPLACED. WELL, BY THE DAY'S END - THE HAIRLINE FRACTURE IS NOW A FULL BLOWN CRACK. THERE ARE NO OTHER MARKS ON THE TRUCK INDICATING ANY OTHER DAMAGE/ACCIDENT THAT WOULD HAVE PROVOKED THIS FRACTURE. I TRULY BELIEVE IT IS A DESIGN FLAW/DEFECT IN THE WAY THE HATCH CLOSES & WITH THE BELOW ZERO TEMPERATURES - IT HAS ADDED STRESS TO THIS AREA. I STOPPED BY THE AUTOBODY SHOP & WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE HATCH - I AM STILL WAITING FOR THE ESTIMATE - WHICH MAY BE WELL OVER $ 1K..... I HAVE TAKEN PICTURES OF THIS DEFECT - AND TO MY SURPRISE, THIS MORNING 2/6/07 - I FOUND ANOTHER 2002 FORD EXPLORER WITH THE SAME DEFECT. I HAVE TAKEN PICTURES OF BOTH TRUCKS AND WILL CERTAINLY FORWARD THEM TO YOU AS WELL AS FILING A COMPLAINT WITH FORD. I WONDER HOW MANY OTHER 2002 FORD EXPLORERS HAVE THIS DEFECT IN THE SAME AREA. PLEASE HELP! *NM

CONTINUOUS ROARING NOISE COMING FROM REAR OF OUR 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WAS DETERMINED THAT REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS BAD. IF IT WOULD HAVE GONE OUT WHILE DRIVING, TRUCK COULD HAVE LOCKED UP. WAS TOLD BY SERVICE THAT WAS A BIG SAFETY CHANCE TO TAKE. OUT OF WARRANTY ON MILES. (BUT NOT ON 3 YEARS).SO IT COST US $1900 OUT OF POCKET TO REPAIR. HAVE ALSO BEEN TOLD FORD IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *JB

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. I HAVE APPROXIMATELY 85,000 MILES ON THIS CAR AND HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE O/D LIGHT CAME ON FLASHING. THEN IT REFUSED TO SHIFT INTO SECOND GEAR. IT HAS SHIFTED HARD SINCE WE PURCHASED IT USED WITH APPROXIMATELY 25,000 MILES ON IT. WHAT A PAIN. I HAVE BEEN TO MANY FORD FORUMS AND I SEE NOTHING BUT TROUBLE WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL YEAR. FORD NEEDS TO RECALL THIS CAR PRONTO. EVERY ONE I KNOW WHO HAS THIS MAKE AND MODEL ARE HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS. THEY NEED TO CORRECT THIS ITEM NOW. OR WE WILL JUST HAVE TO BUY JAPANESE NEXT TIME. THEY BELIEVE IN CUSTOMER SERVICE.

AUTO ACCIDENT AND DRIVER'S AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I SUFFERED INJURIES TO ANKLES, FRACTURE TO RIGHT LEG, BRUISES TO CHEST AREA AND HIP AREA. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. I REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO FORD FOR THEIR RECORDS.

MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER, AT APPROX. 62,000 MILES WAS MAKING A LOUD HUMMING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR WHEELS WHEN YOU HIT THE GAS. I TOOK IT TO A GOODYEAR SERVICE CENTER & WAS TOLD THEY'VE SERVICED AT LEAST 6-7 OF THE 2002 EXPLORERS FOR THE SAME ISSUE- SOME WITH ONLY 30,000 MILES. THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS POOR DESIGN ON FORD'S PART OF THE WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY? IT COST ME OVER $300 TO FIX THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR WHEEL ASSEMBLY- THEY HAD TO REPLACE A ROTOR IN THE PROCESS BECAUSE WATER GOT IN WHERE THE SEAL BROKE AND RUSTED TO THE ROTOR AND HAD TO BE CUT OFF. THEY SAID THE SEAL IS BAD ON THE ASSEMBLY AND THE WHOLE WHEEL ASSEMBLY COMES APART. THEY SAVED PARTS TO SHOW ME & SAID IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE (REAR WHEEL COULD COME OFF). I'M VERY ANGRY- I'M NOW HEARING THE SAME HUMMING NOISE COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR WHEEL. I FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ONLINE FOR THE SAME ISSUE, YET FORD HAS NOT HAD A RECALL?!? THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, AND IF ANYTHING HAPPENS TO MY CAR WITH MY DAUGHTER INSIDE, FORD WILL HAVE A HUGE LAWSUIT ON THEIR HANDS. I HAVE BEEN VERY DISSATISFIED WITH MY FORD EXPLORER. THE CAR HAS ALSO FAILED TO START INTERMITTENTLY SINCE IT WAS NEW. EACH OF THE 4-5 TIMES I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER, I AM TOLD THEY CAN'T RECREATE THE ISSUE AND THAT FORD HAS SERVICE GUIDELINES AND THEY CANNOT TEAR MY CAR APART TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. I HAD ANOTHER ELECTRICAL ISSUE WHERE FOR OVER A YEAR I'D BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE "DOOR AJAR" LIGHT WOULD SUDDENLY GO ON & THE INTERI

REF 2002 FORD EXPLORER, TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THIRD GEAR WENT OUT AT 57,000 MILES. BEACH FORD REPLACED. HAVE NEVER GOTTEN THE GEARS SYNCRONIZED. HAVE TO TOUCH GEAR SHIFT SOMETIMES TO PUT IN GEAR. TONIGHT CAR IS BACK AT BEACH FORD WITH A TRANSMISSION PUMP LEAK. REPORTED THIS CAR LAST WEEK FOR ACCELERATION PROBLEMS. *NM

TURNED CAR INTO PARKING LOT, HAD FOOT ON BRAKE CAR BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. FINALLY, WITH MUCH PUMPING OF THE BRAKE, IT FINALLY STOPPED. NEARLY HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. *JB

RIGHT AFTER 2002 EXPLORER SPORT 4X4 WAS OUT OF WARRANTY A WHINE FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL IN THE RANGE OF 40 - 80 MILE PER HOUR HAPPENS. FORD STATES TO LIVE WITH IT AND DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILTY FOR DEFECTIVE PARTS AND MANUFACTURING OF DIFFERENTIAL.

PURCHASED A 2002 FORD EXPLORER NEW. WITH LESS THAN 45,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REBUILT. CAR NOW HAS LESS THAN 65000 MILES AND THE ENGINE HAS TO BE REPLACE. FORD WILL NOT OFFER ANY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. RAPHAEL

I AM THE OWNER 2002 FORD EXPLORER THAT I PURCHASED FROM METRO MOTORS OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS IN AUGUST 2002. ON SEPTEMBER 17, 2004, WHILE I WAS DRIVING HOME, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL DETACHED COMPLETELY FROM THE AXIS OF THE VEHICLE. I DROVE OFF FROM THE STOP LIGHT. WHILE I WAS ACCELERATING I FELT THE STEERING WHEEL TURN SHARPLY TO LEFT AND THE WHEEL BUCKLE. A FEW MINUTES LATER, I FELT A TUG ON THE STEERING WHEEL, AND THEN I FELT THE WHEEL BUCKLE. THE VEHICLE CRASHED TO SUDDEN STOP. I EXITED THE VEHICLE AND SAW THAT THE FRONT DRIVER''S SIDE WHEEL WAS COMPLETELY DETACHED AND NOTICED THE WHEEL WAS ROLLING DOWN FROM THE POINT OF WHERE THE VEHICLE STOPPED. THE WHEEL STOPPED ABOUT TEN FEET TO FIFTEEN FEET (10 FT. TO 15 FT.) AWAY WITH THE ENTIRE DRUM ASSEMBLY AND WHEEL STILL ATTACHED. I HAVE ALSO BEEN NOTIFIED BY SEVERAL OTHER FORD EXPLORER OWNERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR DEFECT. THE LATEST OCCURRED IN MIAMI, FLORIDA ON SEPTEMBER 23, 2004 WITH THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT WHEEL DETACHING FROM THE AXIAL AND FLIPPING THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY INJURING THREE (3) AND ONE (1) OTHER DIED. THEY WERE DRIVING IN A FORD EXPLORER. A SIMILAR INCIDENT OCCURRED DECEMBER 2002 IN ORLANDO, FLORIDA WHEN A FAMILY OF FIVE FLIPPED IN A FORD EXPLORER KILLING THREE KIDS AND HER HUSBAND LOST AN EYE. ANOTHER INCIDENT OCCURRED JUST FOURTEEN (14) DAYS AFTER WITH A FORD ESCAPE WITH THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL DATACHING FROM THE VEHICLE. SINCE WRITING MY COMPLAINT TO ALL FORD OFFICES, SEVERAL OTHER AUTOMOBILE

WAS DRIVING A 2002 FORD RANGER AND HIT A CAR BROADSIDE AND THEN HIT A UTILITY POLE AND AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY.

I HAD BOUGHT A USED 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT A FEW MONTHS AGO AND NOTICED A LOT OF HORIZANTAL CUTS ON THE SIDEWALLS OF THE MICHELAN TIRES ON THE VEHICLE. AFTER LOOKING ON THIS WEB SITE AND NOTICED A RECALL FOR THE FORD THAT I OWNED ( NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # 01V171000 ) AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP NEAR ME. THEY SAID THEY HAD NO RECALL IN THEIR SYSTEM FOR MY VEHICLE EVEN THOUGH MY FORD WAS MADE AT THIS LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY PLANT AT THE TIME SPECIFIED ON THIS RECALL. I EVEN CALLED THE FORD COMPLAINT LINE AND THEY AS WELL SAID NOTHING WAS IN THEIR SYSTEM? IS THERE ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE TO REMEDY THIS SITUATION, IT IS DEFINITELY A TIRE DEFECT AND THE FORD STILL HAS PLENTY OF TREAD LEFT; JUST KIND OF WORRIED FOR MY SAFETY? THEY WOULDN'T EVEN INSPECT IT FOR POSSIBLE PROBLEMS WITH THE TIRES.*AK

ACCORDING TO DETROIT'S WXYZ NEWS REPORTER, STEVE WILSON, MY 2002 EXPLORER SPORT TRAC HAS THE SAME FAULTY CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH THAT THE RECALLED FORD'S HAVE AND THE ONES YOU ARE NOW EXAMINING. I'M NOT HAPPY TO KNOW THAT I HAVE THAT SWITCH AND WANT IT REPLACED, TOO. I HAVE DISCONNECTED IT AND FEEL CHEATED THAT I CAN NOT USE AN EXPENSIVE AND CONVENIENT ITEM LIKE THAT. I FELT AS IF I WOULD HAVE BEEN DRIVING IN A FIRE TRAP IF I DIDN'T HAVE IT DISCONNECTED. PLEASE HELP ME OUT HERE! THANK YOU, BJBAUER

ON THE RIDE HOME FROM PURCHASING MY NEW CAR, MY SEAT BELT CAME UNLATCHED. THIS EVENT REPEATED SEVERAL TIMES ON THE RIDE HOME. I CALLED THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY, AND THEY SAID TO BRING THE CAR IN AND THEY WOULD FIX IT. THE MIDDLE FRONT SEAT BELT WASN'T ASSEMBLED TO BEGIN WITH, SO THEY SAID THEY WOULD FIX BOTH PROBLEMS. DUE TO THE FAMILY CATCHING THE FLU THAT DAY I DID NOT BRING THE CAR IN, HOWEVER THE SEATBELT BEGAN ENGAGING PROPERLY. A FEW MONTHS LATER IT BEGAN LATCHING INTERMITTENTLY AGAIN. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, BUT THEY SAID IT WAS WORKING PROPERLY. I?VE HAD THIS HAPPEN NUMEROUS TIMES OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, WHERE I CAN?T GET THE SEATBELT TO LATCH AT ALL, YET THE DEALERSHIP [I?VE BEEN TO SEVERAL] SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. AFTER 2 YEARS OF CHECKING 2002 RECALLS AND FINDING NOTHING, I FINALLY CHECKED THE 2001 RECALLS AND FOUND SEVERAL EXPERIENCES JUST LIKE MINE. ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO I MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALERSHIP BY PHONE FOR AN UNRELATED RECALL, AND THEY WERE AWARE I HAD A 2002. I TOLD THE PERSON ABOUT MY SEATBELT PROBLEM, AND WAS TOLD IT WAS A KNOWN ISSUE, AND WOULD BE FIXED FOR FREE. WHEN I ARRIVED AT THE DEALERSHIP I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG, AND THAT IT WOULD COST $125 TO FIX. I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN JANUARY 2002, AND IT WAS SOLD AS A 2002, BUT IT HAD SITTING ON THE LOT FOR MONTHS. THE SEATBELT PROBLEM HAS ME WONDERING IF I ACTUALLY BOUGHT A 2001. *AK

THE LIFTGATE MOLDING DEVELOPED A CRACK SEVERAL INCHES LONG AFTER OWNING THE VEHICLE FOR 2 1/2 YEARS WITH ROUGHLY 55,000 MILES. A RECALL NOTICE WAS RECEIVED DEALING WITH THE LIFT GATE WINDOW,BUT, THE RECALL DIDN'T INCLUDE THE CRACKED MOLDING. I HAVE NOTICED MANY EXPLORERS WITH THIS SAME ISSUE. I ADDRESSED THIS ISSUE WHEN I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO HAVE THE RECALL WORK COMPLETED, BUT MY FORD DEALERSHIP WAS NOT WILLING TO FIX THE LIFT GATE UNTIL I AGREED TO HAVE THEM PERFORM OTHER VEHICLE MAINTENANCE TO THE TUNE OF OVER $400. I FEEL THIS IS MORE OF A FORM OF BLACKMAIL THAN KINDNESS. I FEEL THIS LIFT GATE IS A FAULTY PRODUCT AND I SHOULDN'T HAVE HAD TO PAY THE "EXTRA" MONEY TO HAVE THE GATE MOLDING FIXED. I DO BELIEVE THE RECALL ON THE LIFT GATE WINDOW AND THE FAULTY MOLDING ARE CONNECTED. AFTER THE RECALL WINDOW WAS REPAIRED AND BEFORE THE MOLDING WAS REPLACED, THERE WAS A CONSTENT RATTLE DUE TO THE CRACKED MOLDING. *AK

THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED, THE PAINT WAS DEFECTIVE, AND THE RUNNING BOARD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS DAMAGED. THE BACK BED ON TRUNK NEEDED TO BE REALIGNED AND THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT WHILE DRIVING. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR DID NOT CLOSE PROPERLY EVEN AFTER REPAIR.*PH *JB

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE LEFT REAR INSIDE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED AND BLEW OUT, SIZE LT22575R16. MR DOT # VD1L 1X1 (THIS VEHICLE IS AN AMBULANCE). *YH

WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, MY CAR COMPLETELY CONKED OUT FOR "NO APPARANT REASON." I PULLED OVER THE CAR (THE BEST THAT I COULD) AND STARTED IT BACK UP. I WENT HOME AND IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED MY LOCAL DEALER AND TOLD THEM OF MY PROBLEM. THE MAN AT THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME TO DRIVE MY CAR FOR A FEW MORE DAYS TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS. I ALSO HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING SOME "MISSING"/SHAKING WITH MY CAR (PERIODIC PROBLEM.) THE SHAKING IS APPARENT WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER IS ON BUT DOES OCCUR PERIODICALLY WHEN IT IS OFF. FEELING UNCOMFORTABLE WITH ALL THESE PROBLEMS, I CALLED MY LOCAL DEALER BACK AND SET AN APPIONTMENT TO HAVE MY CAR LOOKED AT. ON JUNE 3RD, MY CAR WAS LOOKED AT BUT WAS TOLD THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS. I AM VERY CONCERNED WITH THIS, ESPECIALLY WITH THE CONKING OUT SINCE IT IS INDEED A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE.*AK

SHOULDER HARNESS EXTREEMLY DIFFICULT TO ACCESS. *AK

TRANSMISSION NOISE IN REVERSE. *AK