There are 20 owner-reported body & structure complaints for the 2002 Ford Explorer Sportin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
REAR WINDOW EXPLODED OVERNIGHT WHILE PARKED IN DRIVEWAY. WE LIVE IN SOUTHERN CA AND IT WAS A RARE COLD NIGHT WITH LOWS IN THE 30'S. SECURITY CAMERA'S VERIFIED NO ONE OR NO OBJECT DAMAGED THE WINDOW. IT JUST EXPLODED WHILE PARKED THE GLASS WAS STREWN ACROSS A 3 CAR DRIVEWAY.
I NOTICED THE REAR WINDOW LIFT GATE WAS SLIGHTLY AJAR, SO I CLOSED IT, AND SUDDENLY THE HINGE BRACKET ON THE RIGHT SIDE, CONNECTING THE WINDOW AT THE ROOF, POPPED LOOSE, EXTENDING THE WINDOW LIFT SUPPORT, MAKING IT NOW IMPOSSIBLE TO CLOSE THE BACK LIFT GATE GLASS. I CHECKED INTO THE ISSUE, AND FOUND A RECALL, CAMPAIGN # 04V442000. THIS HINGE HAS NEVER BEEN REPLACED. I WANT TO HAVE THIS FIXED UNDER RECALL.
BODY MOUNTS HAVE DETERIORATED , MECHANICS I HAVE HAD LOOK AT THIS SAID , SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN , IS UNSAFE AND THEY SEE IT ALL THE TIME ON THIS YEAR AND MODEL ALSO HAVE LEARNED THAT THIS PROBLEM CAUSE WINDSHIELD TO CRACK WHEN I APPLIED HARD BREAKING.
WHILE OPENING MY REAR HATCH WINDOW TO LOAD GROCERIES I NOTICED THE TOP RIGHT HINGE HAD DETACHED FROM THE CAR, LEAVING THE GLASS HATCH HANGING BY A SINGLE HINGE. WHEN I GOT HOME I GOOGLED THE PROBLEM AND DISCOVERED RECALL #04S20 AND MENTIONED IT TO MY DEALER WHEN I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR SERVICING. THEY SAID MY CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED, SO I CALLED FORD AND THEY AGREED. EVEN THOUGH THE RECALL SPECIFIES "ALL FORD EXPLORER MODELS" THEY SAY MINE IS THE 2-DOOR "SPORT" EDITION AND SO ISN'T INCLUDED EVEN THOUGH THE HATCH IS IDENTICAL (I'VE OWNED BOTH). THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR AND THIS IS THE 2ND TIME I'VE HAD THIS PROBLEM (THE OTHER HINGE BROKE 2 YEARS AGO). I'D APPRECIATE IT IF YOU COULD DETERMINE IF THE 2-DOOR MODELS ARE SUFFICIENTLY DIFFERENT THAT THEY CAN BE EXEMPTED FROM THIS RECALL, AND IF THEY SHOULD BE INCLUDED TELL ME HOW TO PROCEED. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
LIFT GATE WINDOW HINGE BROKE SCRATCHING THE PAINT AND HURTING MY HAND CATCHING IT SO IT WOULD NOT BREAK THE OTHER HINGE. CALLED FORD THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPEN AND THEY SAY ITS NOT PART OF THE RECALL WHICH I CANT FIGURE OUT SINCE THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THIS HAS HAPPEN TO ME SINCE I'M THE OWNER OF MY 02 EXPLORER SPORT AND FOUND OUT THIS HAPPEN TO THE ORIGINAL OWNER ONCE.SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE! I RESEARCH THIS ON LINE AND SEE MANY OTHER EXPLORER OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS AND THE SAME STORY COME ON LETS DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS!!!! *TR
REAR DOOR GLASS HATCH HINGES CAME OFF.THIS WAS MY WIFES VEHICLE DRIVEN VERY LITTLE UNTIL SHE PASSED AWAY 2009.THEN IT WAS DRIVEN EVEN LESS. BACK HATCH GLASS WAS NEVER USED AS FAR AS I KNOW. SHE ALWAYS USED THE METAL DOOR. I DROVE IT TO GROCERY STORE,PUT GROCERIES IN BACK USING LARGE DOOR. WHEN I GOT HOME I JUST GRABBED GLASS HATCH HANDLE BY MISTAKE,IT CAME OFF IN MY HAND.BOTH HINGES WERE BROKEN. I DON'T KNOW FOR HOW LONG,THE LATCH WAS ALL THAT KEPT IT IN PLACE.WHEN THE LATCH OPENED IT EXPLODED OUTWARD ,RESULTING IN BADLY DAMAGED PAINT AND BOTH REAR DEFROSTER WIRES TO BE TORN OFF GLASS.LUCKILY IT WAS ME AND NOT MY WIFE,COULD HAVE BEEN A LOT WORSE.LIFT CYLINDERS WERE SO STRONG I COULD NOT PUT IT BACK IN PLACE,HAD TO YELL FOR NEIGHBORS FOR HELP!HAD IT REPAIRED LOCAL FORD DEALER.TOLD ME ABOUT RECALL FOR MODELS EXCEPT SPORT.NO RECALL FOR IT.$150.50(NOT INCLUDING PAINT) FOR REPAIRS & 10 DAYS @ DEALER.IT NOW HAS 71,800 MILES GLASS HATCH NEVER USED,IT HAS BROKEN DRIVERS SIDE HINGE AGAIN.07/28/2014.HAVE NOT CONTACTED DEALER AGAIN AS OF THIS TIME. BUT I PLAN TO EXPRESS MY CONCERNS FOR SUCH INADEQUATE REPLACEMENT PARTS. ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED.THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW, NEVER ABUSED AND WELL MAINTAINED. *JS
BODY MOUNT BUSHINGS COMPLETE FAILURE. ALL MOUNTS FAIL. MOUNTS FALL COMPLETELY APART AND NOTHING LEFT EXCEPT FOR WASHERS AND BOLTS.THIS CAN CAUSES BODY TO MOVE ON FRAME..HAVE MADE FORD MOTOR AWARE BUT NO ACTION TAKEN. *JS
FORD EXPLORER CRACKED READ PANEL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BOLT WHICH SECURED THE REAR HATCHBACK WINDOW HINGE FRACTURED CAUSING THE WINDOW TO SLIGHTLY DETACH. NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER 04V44200(STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS) WAS RELATED TO THE FAILURE YET THE CONTACTS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 103,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HINGES ON THE LIFTGATE STRUT FRACTURED CAUSING THE GLASS TO SHIFT SIMILAR TO THE FAILURE LISTED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V442000 (STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND OFFERED NO ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE. THE DEALER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 71,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE NOTICED THAT THE REAR LIFTGATE LATCH HINGES WERE FRACTURED AND CAUSING THE LIFTGATE TO IMPROPERLY SECURE THE GLASS. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT SHE WOULD NEED TO REPLACE BOTH HINGES ON THE REAR LIFTGATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 125,000. UPDATED 03/15/11*LJ UPDATED 11/28/11 *CN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR LIFT GATE HINGES FAILED AND CAUSED THE WINDOW TO FALL. THE DEALER MADE REPAIRS AT THE CONTACTS EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL AND WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,800. UPDATED 11/16/10*BF THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE TAILGATE WINDOW WAS OPENED, THE HINGES FAILED AND THE WINDOWS CAME OUT OF THE TAILGATE THE WINDOW THEN FAILED WHEN ONE OF THE CYLINDERS CAME OFF THE TAILGATE. THE WINDOW DID NOT BREAK. UPDATED 11/23/10. *JB
I OWN A 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT AND REAR GLASS HINGE FRACTURED/BROKE AND CAUSED GLASS TO FALL ON ONE SIDE AND HURT DAUGHTERS WRIST. TOOK TO LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID NO RECALL AND IT WOULD COST $300-$400 TO FIX AND THEN HYDRAULICS PROBABLY WOULD NOT WORK AND GLASS COULD BREAK INCREASING THE COST TO $700 - $800 OR MORE. I SEARCHED AND FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON WEB. I CONTACTED FORD BY PHONE AND WAS TOLD NO RECALL SO TO HAVE FIXED AND KEEP RECEIPT IN CASE THERE WAS A RECALL. THEY SAID NOTHING THEY COULD DO BECAUSE NO RECALL. NO CONCERN FOR SAFETY WAS SHOWN. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE CONTACT STATED THE LIFT GATE WINDOW HINGE SUPPORT BOLT BROKE DUE TO RUST CORROSION. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
PART# 2L2Z-98420A68-AA HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS FOR LIFTGATE BROKE 08/04-2008. RECALL CAMPAIGN#PE04045-PURCHASED ANOTHER HINGE FROM FORD PARTS DEPT. INVOICE# 216039 ON 08/04/2008-THEY DID NOT TELL ME THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS PART ITEM- BOUGHT PART AND REPLACED IT MYSELF. 08/26-2012 THE OTHER HINGE BROKE AND CALLED 1-888-327-4226 AND WAS TOLD RECALL WAS OVER- THE FORD STORE NEVER TOLD ME THIS PART WAS RECALLED AND CHARGED ME $43.95. NOW THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HATCHBACK HINGE HAS BROKEN AND HAVE BEEN TOLD I HAVE TO PAY TO GET IT REPAIRED MYSELF AGAIN. NEVER RECEIVED ANY POSTCARD FOR RECALL NOTICE. THIS PART IS DEFECTIVE-BOTH HINGES HAVE BROKEN- I HAVE PAID FOR ONE HINGE AND REPLACED IT MYSELF AND DO NOT THINK I SHOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE OTHER ONE ALSO AND SHOULD BE PAID THE $43.95 I PAID NOT EVEN COUNTING MY TIME AND LABOR AND FORD SHOULD PAY FOR THE OTHER SIDE SINCE THIS HINGE IS CLEARLY DEFECTIVE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. THE CONTACT LIFTED THE REAR HATCH AND OPENED THE GLASS DOOR. THE HINGE ON THE GLASS DOOR LOOSENED AND CAUSED IT TO FALL AND INJURE THE CONTACT'S THUMB. THE HINGE SHOULD BE SECURED IN PLACE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE AFTER HE WAS INJURED. THE RECALL APPLIED TO THE FORD EXPLORER AND FORD EXPLORER SPORTS. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 93,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE HINGES IN THE LIFTGATE WERE UNSCREWING. HE LOCKED THE WINDOW TO PREVENT IT FROM FALLING. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE WINDOW FELL DOWN AND SHATTERED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V442000 (STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS). HE ALSO EXPERIENCED ISSUES WITH THE ARMREST. IT WOULD NOT OPEN UNLESS HE FORCED IT, WHICH EVENTUALLY CAUSED IT TO FAIL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 79,015 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 74,000. UPDATED 11/17/08 *BF UPDATED 11/18/08. *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR GLASS HINGES WERE NOT ATTACHED TO THE TAILGATE PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 215,260.
NHTSA RECALL 04V442000 CONCERNING REAR LIFTGATE GLASS. NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE.*AK
THE HINGE FAILED ON THE LIFTGATE GLASS *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