There are 50 owner-reported brakes complaints for the 2002 Ford Explorerin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
IN THE MORNING OR WHENEVER DAMP MY FRONT BRAKES LOCK UP WHEN DRIVING, THEN STOPPING..
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOORBOARD. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN UNKNOWN COLLISION FACILITY AND DEEMED DESTROYED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.
REAR PADS AND ROTORS FAILED JUNE 8, 2015. O/D LIGHT BLINKING WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, ON JUNE 12, 2015. TRANSMISSION SHOP GOT THE CODES AND STATED I DON'T HAVE 2ND AND 5TH GEARS. $2000.00 COST. PLEASE FORCE RECALL! HELP! MANY OTHER REPAIRS INCLUDING U-JOINTS, TIE RODS, FRONT AXLE, FRONT ROTORS WITH PADS ETC. SINCE I BOUGHT IT IN APRIL 2013.
I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK THANK GOD I WAS ALMOST HOME AT THIS TIME, MY FORD EXPLORE WAS DRIVING FINE ALL OF A SUDDEN I HERD A POP AND A BANG AND THEN THE MOTOR STARTED STUMBLING AND SHAKING. AS IT WAS RUNNING THE MOTOR KEPT ON POPPING I GOT OUT AND SEEN A SPARK PLUG NEXT TO DRIVER SIDE FENDER UNDER THE HOOD ALSO THE COIL THAT WAS PLUGGED ON TO THE PLUG WAS THERE TOO.I TRIED TO GRAB THE COIL BUT GOT SHOCKED BECAUSE THE RUBBER ON THE COIL WAS BROKE FROM THE PLUG FLYING OUT LIKE A BULLET AND HITTING THE COIL BRAKING IT IN FOUR OR FIVE PLACES THATS Y I GOT SHOCKED SO MUCH.THE HOLE POINT IS THAT THE PLUG STRIPED OUT OF THE HEAD AND DID ALL THIS DAMAGE. NOW I HAVE NO WAY TO FIX THIS ISSUE ONE OF THE WAYS TO FIX IT CAN BE TO REPLACE THE HEADS ON THE MOTOR WITCH WILL COST LOTS OF MONEY.WHAT CAN I DO IM DESPERATE SO IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE A HELPING HAND BY THE DEALER BUT THEY CLAIM IT'S NOT THERE FAULT BUT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO SO MANY FORDS BECAUSE OF THE HEADS THEY HAVE USED ON THIS MOTOR PLEASE MAKE A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE IT IS A DEFECT I DO BELIEVE IT IS. I FOUND OVER 50 PEOPLE ONLINE HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE SAME ISSUES AS ME. PLEASE HELP US..... *TR
THIS IS THE THIRD TIME I HAVE TO REPLACE BRAKES (FULL JOB) WITH ABS CONCERNS. *TR
THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I HAD TO REPLACE BRAKE PADS AND OTHER BRAKE PARTS ON THIS CAR WITHIN THE SAME YEAR (2012-13). *TR
WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES AT APPROXIMATE SPEED OF 3 TO 5 MPH, ANTI LOCK BRAKES ACTIVATE. FORD DEALERSHIP HAD THE VEHICLE FOR 7 DAYS, REPLACED THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE SENSOR AND ADVISED ME THAT THE VEHICLE WAS FIXED. AS SOON AS I LEFT THE DEALERSHIP, I NOTICED THE SAME PROBLEM. TO DATE, FORD HAS NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM, OR REFUNDED MY MONEY FOR THE REPAIR THAT WAS NOT NECESSARY (ANTI LOCK BRAKE SENSOR.) *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED SMOKE AND FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE AND THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE WAS UNKNOWN. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED AT THE MASTER CYLINDER. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND A CLAIM WAS FILED. THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING FURTHER INSTRUCTION BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.
I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER I BOUGHT ABOUT A YEAR AGO. EVERYTHING WAS WORKING FINE..I HAVE MY ABS LIGHT ON..WHEN I TRY TO STOP THE CAR MY BRAKE ENGAGE BUT WHEN IT COME TO THE FINAL STOP IT GIVES AND THE PRESSURE ON THE TRUCK IS NO LONGER THERE.. I FEEL LIKE I AM GOING TO CRASH IN TO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME.. I BROUGHT THE TRUCK TO THE MECHANIC AND CHECKED EVERYTHING AND DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT.. NO LEAKS OR ANYTHING.. BUT DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS CAUSING IT... I NOTICED THAT THERE ARE MANY OF THE SAME ISSUES REGARDING THE BRAKES NOT WORKING PROPERLY.. PLEASE ADDRESS THIS ISSUE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED.. THANK YOU *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD UNTIL REPEATED PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THAT PEDAL. A POP NOISE WAS ALSO HEARD COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE FIREWALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THERE WAS A WIRE MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE BRAKE PEDAL SWITCH. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS IN THE PROCESS OF INSTALLING A NEW BRAKE PEDAL SWITCH. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 73,000. UPDATED 10/21/10. *LJ UPDATED 10/25/10
I HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER. I STARTED GETTING THE CRACK IN MY HATCH BY THE REAR WINDOW IN 2005. IT HAS SPREAD AND GOTTEN WORSE AND I STILL HAVE NOT FIXED IT. LAST YEAR IN 2009 OUR ABS LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON AND OFF AND WHEN I GO TO BRAKE AT TIMES IT FEELS LIKE THEY KICK ON AT IRREGULAR TIMES, BUT I ALSO FEEL I DO NOT HAVE THE BRAKING POWER I SHOULD. IN JUNE 2010 I WAS DRIVING THE EXPLORER AND THE O/D LIGHT STARTING BLINKING AND THE EXPLORER WAS SHIFTING OUT OF CONTROL. WE HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACE AND THE U-JOINTS AND THE REAR AXLE FIXED FOR AROUND $2900. WE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY IN JULY 2010. I CALLED FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND TOLD THEM ALL OF MY ISSUES AND THEY TOLD ME THAT SINCE THEY DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH COMPLAINTS THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. TO THIS POINT I WAS AGGRAVATED AND COULDN'T BELIEVE THE WAY THEY HAD TREATED ME AND LET ALONE OTHERS WHO I AM SURE MADE THE SAME CALL. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE EVEN NOW WHEN IT IS IN GEAR IN PARK THE CAR SEEMS TO MOVE BACK AND FORTH. *TR
I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY DOING 65 AS POSTED, I STARTED TO FEEL SHAKING FROM THE TIRES AND IT GOT TO THE POINT I COULDN'T CONTROL THE VEHICLE, LUCKY I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND CALL AAA FOR A TOW, A STATE POLICE OFFICER PULLED BEHIND ME AND SAID LET ME GUESS HUB BEARING. THE POLICE DEPT ALSO HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS MY 8TH REPAIR I AM DOING AND NEXT WEEK I AM DOING THE OPPOSITE SIDE. IT IS COSTING ME 600.00 DOLLARS FOR EVERY SIDE I AM DOING. I MADE A COMPLAINT TO FORD COMPANY AND THEY TOLD ME THERE IS NO RECALL. THEN WHY IS MY MECHANIC TELLING ME HE GETS NUMEROUS REPAIR JOBS ON THE SAME VEHICLES. PLUS I SPOKE TO A CO WORKER THAT HAS THE SAME YEAR AND VEHICLE DOING THE SAME THING. WHEN IS SOMETHING GOING TO GET DONE. OR IS THE COMPANY GOING TO WAIT TILL SOMEONE GETS KILLED. BBB AND BLUMINTHAU WAS TOLD ABOUT AND STILL NO RESPONSE FROM NO BODY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS PULSATING, ACCOMPANIED BY AN ABNORMAL GRINDING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES WOULD HAVE TO BE REPAIRED. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD FEEL SPONGY WHEN DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT TWO OF THE ABS SENSORS WERE FAULTY AND WERE OVERRIDING THE BRAKES. THE MECHANIC DISCONNECTED THE ABS SENSORS. THE CONTACT DID NOT EXPERIENCE ANY FAILURES AFTER THE SENSORS WERE DISCONNECTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE APPROACHING A STOP AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. THE ENGINE IDLED ROUGHLY AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE INDICATOR REMAINED LIT UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. WHEN THE IGNITION WAS STARTED, THE ENGINE WOULD AUTOMATICALLY IDLE WITHOUT ACCELERATION. THE FAILURES OCCURRED ON A SEPARATE OCCASION. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND CANNOT BE DRIVEN. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 114,000.
THE FORD RECALL FOR CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH IS A JOKE. I JUST HAD THE DEALERSHIP PERFORM THE REPAIR ON MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC AND WAS SURPRISED TO FIND THEY ONLY INSTALLED A FUSED JUMPER INSTEAD OF REPLACING THE FAILING SWITCH. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF THE POTENTIAL FOR FIRE BUT ALSO THE SWITCH FAILURE COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID PRESSURE. WITH THE JUMPER INSTALLED A FAILURE WOULD BLOW THE FUSE AND REMOVE THE SWITCH FROM OVERHEATING BUT THE SWITCH COULD STILL LEAK BRAKE FLUID ONTO THE HOT EXHAUST MANIFOLD. I TALKED WITH THE SERVICE REP AND ASKED WHY FORD DOESN'T REPLACE THE SWITCH. HE STATED " GOOD QUESTION, PROBABLY BECAUSE THE JUMPER IS CHEAPER " . AFTER SPENDING $30,000.00 FOR A VEHICLE YOU WOULD THINK REPLACEMENT OF THE SWITCH WOULD BE A MINIMAL COST TO THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY. I WAS CONSIDERING GETTING A NEW FORD SPORT TRAC BUT WILL LOOK TO ANOTHER MANUFACTURER FOR MY NEXT VEHICLE. FORDS SAFETY AWARENESS AND RESPONSIBILITY SUCKS. *TR
WHERE TO START... BROKEN CRUISE CONTROL, HEADLIGHT SWITCH HAS A SHORT, DRIVER SIDE PASSENGER WINDOW DOESN'T ROLL DOWN, TROUBLE GOING INTO GEAR, CAR SUDDENLY DIES AT INTERSTATE SPEEDS, LOUD GRINDING SOUND FROM THE ENGINE BAY (LIKE AN ELECTRIC KNIFE SHARPENER) THAT IS GETTING INCREASINGLY MORE FREQUENT, SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF, BRAKES SQUEAL AND DON'T STOP THE VEHICLE PROPERLY, SUPPORT FOR THE HATCH (WHICH IS CRACKED 8 INCHES OR SO IN TWO PLACES) DOESN'T LIFT HATCH COMPLETELY, AND THE FUEL ECONOMY IS DOWN TO 4-6 MPG IN THE CITY. I HATE IT! I DON'T FEEL LIKE MY GIRLFRIEND IS SAFE DRIVING IT, AND I THINK FORD SHOULD BE FORCED TO MAKE THEIR WRONGS INTO RIGHTS! *TR
BRAKE FAILURE 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC ONLY 38000 MI WHEN THIS OCCURRED IN AUG 07. I ALMOST HIT THE BACK OF A SCHOOL BUS WHEN DROPPING MY CHILDREN OFF AT SCHOOL. THE BRAKES WOULD GRIND AND NOT STOP THE VEHICLE AND SOMETIMES PULSATION WOULD OCCUR AT ANY SPEED. IT WAS LIKE THE ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM WAS COMING ON WHEN IT SHOULDN'T(SUMMER DRY ROADS) AND THEN GETTING STUCK IN THE BRAKE RELEASE STATE. SO WHEN TRYING TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITH THE FOOT PEDAL, THE ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM WAS WORKING AGAINST YOUR BRAKING ACTION. THIS CAUSES A VERY SCARY FEELING WHEN YOU HAVE YOUR FOOT TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE STILL REMAINS IN MOTION. THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED, BUT NOT THE PROBLEM. THE NEXT INCIDENCE OCCURRED IN A BUSY INTERSECTION WHEN WE WERE ALMOST HIT BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T STOP AT A RED LIGHT. WHEN TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC I ALMOST HIT 2 PEDESTRIANS IN A CROSSWALK AT A STOP SIGN. THE VEHICLE JUST KEPT ON GOING AND I QUICKLY BEEPED THE HORN FOR A NEAR MISS OF A MAN AND HIS LITTLE BOY. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM WHICH CAUSES THE BRAKES TO MALFUNCTION. HE SENT US TO ANOTHER MECHANIC AND HE SAID THIS IS A DEFECT IN CERTAIN FORD EXPLORER MODELS. THE ANTILOCK BRAKING SENSORS, ALONG WITH THE LOCATION OF THEM IS THE PROBLEM. HE SAID TO FIX THIS IT WOULD COST ANYWHERE BETWEEN 300-600 DEPENDING ON WHAT ELSE WAS DAMAGED, BUT HE STRESSED DRIVING THE VEHICLE LIKE THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD. I WAS UPSET BECAUSE OF THE LOW MILES ON THIS VEHICLE. IT WAS ONLY OVER WARRANTY MILES BY 2000 BUT 5 YRS OLD. I COULD NOT AFFORD TO FIX THIS SO I WAS INSTRUCTED TO PULL THE FUSE ON THE ABS BECAUSE IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE WITH THE ABS. I HAVE THREE CHILDREN AND THIS IS MY ONLY TRANSPORTATION. WITH THE ABS FUSE PULLED I DO NOT HAVE THE PROBLEM, BUT LACKING ABS. FORD NEEDS TO STAND BY THERE PRODUCT AND OFFER A RECALL ON THIS COMPLETELY UNSAFE MALFUNCTION OF THE ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM. *TR
I OWN A 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT, I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY ABS LIGHT COMING ON AND MY BRAKES NOT WORKING CORRECTLY, THEY PULSATE AS IF THEY ARE TRYING TO ENGAGE EVEN WHEN IT IS 90 DEGREES OUTSIDE AND COMPLETELY DRY. NOTHING UPSETS ME MORE THAN HAVING TO PUT ON MY BRAKES AND HAVING THE FEELING THEY ARE NOT GOING TO WORK. THIS PUTS ME IN DANGER AS WELL AS THOSE WHO OWN THIS MODEL. I AM SCARED TO DRIVE IT ANYMORE. I AM ASKING FOR HELP HERE BEFORE I KILL MYSELF, MY FAMILY OR SOME RANDOM PERSON BECAUSE OF FAULTY BRAKES. I DON'T THINK I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR FAULTY ABS PROBLEM THAT FORD HAS SCREWED UP ON. BELOW IT ASKS FOR AN INCIDENT DATE, LET ME TELL YOU THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL TIMES IN WHICH THEY KICK ON AND IT FEELS LIKE I'M NOT GOING TO STOP!!!! WHY DOES THERE HAVE TO BE A DEATH BEFORE THESE COMPANIES FINALLY RECALL AND FIX THE PROBLEM?? *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER LTD. THE ABS LIGHT CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58800. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE PART TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE WHAT WAS CAUSING THE ABS LIGHT TO STAY ON CONTINUOUSLY. THE DEALER CALLED FORD , AND THEY WERE RESEARCHING THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60000. *AK
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKES FAILED, WHICH CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THE BRAKES WERE INSPECTED ABOUT ONE MONTH PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT, AND THE PADS AND BRAKES WERE DID NOT DISPLAY ANY PROBLEMS. THE BRAKES FAILED AND THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TO A SERVICE DEALER TO DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN, AND NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED.
Showing 1–20 of 50 complaints
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 Apr 25, 2026