There are 11 owner-reported body & structure complaints for the 2002 Ford Explorer Sport Tracin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
DOOR HANDLE ISSUE. REAR DOORS CANNOT BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE. *TR
FORD EXPLORER SPORT-TRAC 2001-2005 THE BODY MOUNTS ARE CRUMBLING, KNOWN DEFECT ON ALL THESE VEHICLES, INFERIOR RUBBER - CAUSING EXPOSURE OF BODY TO FRAME. POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE - COULD VERY LIKELY CAN CAUSE ROLL-OVERS AS THE RUBBER DISINTEGRATES THERE IS NO SUPPORT BETWEEN THE BODY AND THE FRAME. FORD IS AWARE OF THIS DEFECT BUT HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM.
BODY/CHASSIS MOUNTS ARE DETERIORATING AND CRUMBLING. BODY IS NOW LOOSE ON THE FRAME AND HAS SLIGHT MOVEMENT. THESE MOUNTS ARE NOT RUBBER LIKE MOST; THEY ARE SOME SORT OF URETHANE COMPOSITE. INTERNET RESEARCH AND TRUCK OWNER SITES CONFIRM THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. FORD DOES NOT SEE THIS AS A SAFETY/RECALL ISSUE AND HAS DIRECTED OWNERS OF SUSPECT VEHICLES TO YOUR DEPARTMENT. THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN SALT OR SNOW AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN IN NORTH CAROLINA. THE CAB SHAKING AND RATTLING IS CAUSING MOVEMENT THAT WILL UNDOUBTEDLY EFFECT THE BRAKE LINES AND STEERING COLUMN AS THEY ARE ATTACHED TO BOTH THE BODY AND THE CHASSIS. FORD IS NOW USING ANOTHER COMPOUND FOR THE MOUNTS APPARENTLY IN RESPONSE TO COMPLAINTS. *TR
BODY MOUNT BUSHINGS HAVE DETERIORATED. THE CAR IS ONLY 8 YRS OLD. I LOOKED TODAY AFTER HEARING A CRACKING/POPPING NOISE AND THE DRIVERS' SIDE FRONT BUSHING (THERE ARE TWO ON EACH SO, TECHNICALLY, BUSHINGS) ARE ALMOST COMPLETELY GONE. THE PASSENGER SIDE AND 2 MIDDLE MOUNT BUSHINGS ARE ALSO CRACKED AND DETERIORATING. I HAVE CONFIRMED THAT THIS IS EXCEEDINGLY PREMATURE AND ESSENTIALLY UNHEARD OF IN CARS THIS AGE. IN FACT, I'VE BEEN TOLD IN CARS 20 YRS OLD THAT OFTEN THE BUSHINGS ARE STILL FINE. EARLY DETERIORATION IS UNSAFE AND, APPARENTLY, NOT UNCOMMON IN THESE TRUCKS. THUS, I WANTED TO REPORT IT. *TR
SEVERE DETERIORATION OF THE BODY MOUNT BUSHINGS TO THE POINT WHERE THEY CRUMBLE WHEN TOUCHED. INFERIOR MATERIAL. *TR
BODY MOUNT CAB BUSHINGS ARE DETERIORATING SO BADLY THEY FLAKE OFF IN YOUR HAND IF YOU TOUCH THEM. *TR
THERE IS EXTREME DETERIORATION OF THE RUBBER BODY MOUNT BUSHINGS...THESE ARE WHAT HOLDS THE CAB TO THE FRAME. THE ONES ON MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC ARE SO BADLY DETERIORATED THAT WHAT RUBBER IS LEFT WILL CRUMBLE IN MY FINGERS. *TR
THE KIT FOR THE LIFT GATE REPAIR IS NOT AVAILABLE TO MAKE THE REPAIR. NHTSA RECALL LIFT GATE 04V442000. *NM
THE PAINT IS BUBBLING AND PEELING FOR THE CENTER INSTRUMENT PANEL. ALSO NOTICED DRIVER SEAT FEELS LOOSE. NOW TODAY NO A/C. DOES NOT GET COOL. *LA
THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER AND THE ENTIRE ROOF COLLAPSED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLES BODY WAS WEAK. *JB
THERE IS A HOLE IN FRONT BUMPER WITHOUT A FRILL OR GUARD WHICH ALLOWS DEBRIS TO ENTER DIRECTLY INTO VEHICLE'S RADIATOR.*AK
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026