2002 Ford Explorer Complaint Log

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. REAR END HUMS AND VIBRATES. THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTING HARD FROM 2ND TO 3RD AND MADE A JERKING MOTION AROUND 40-45 MPH. THE TRANSMISSION NOW HAS THE OVER DRIVE LIGHT FLASHING AND IS STUCK IN GEAR. IT WILL NOT SHIFT. LOOKING ONLINE FOR A REMEDY, I HAVE NOTICED THAT THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM AMONG THOUSANDS OF EXPLORER OWNERS. JUST TRY IT OUT YOURSELVES, GOOGLE 2002 FORD EXPLORER... VERY 1ST HIT IS PAGE AFTER PAGE OF HOW TERRIBLE THIS VEHICLE AND ITS TRANSMISSION IS. NOW I AM MAKING PAYMENTS ON A VEHICLE THAT IS SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY AND IS INOPERABLE DUE TO FORDS LACK OF CONCERN ABOUT ITS PRODUCT. THEY WERE QUICK TO SELL THIS VEHICLE! QUICK TO TAKE A MULTI MILLION DOLLAR BAIL OUT! TAKE SOME OF THE BAIL OUT MONEY AND FIX THEIR PRODUCT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *TR

TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 60K MILES. HARD SHIFTING, JERKING, SUDDEN SHIFTS INTO 4X4 HIGH. REPLACEMENT COST OF 2800 DOLLARS. THREE VISITS LATER AND IT STILL ISN'T RIGHT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE WHEEL BEARINGS ON THREE OF THE WHEELS HAVE TO BE REPLACED. A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE MANUFACTURER STATED SINCE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED, HE WAS INELIGIBLE FOR A FREE REMEDY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000. UPDATED 01/12/10 *BF UPDATED 01/14/10.*JB

2002 FORD EXPLORER 1. GOING TO FULL ACCELERATION (PEDAL TO THE FLOOR) WHEN PASSING CAR OR ENTERING HIGHWAY FROM SIDE ROAD 2. ACCELERATOR PEDAL STAYS PRESSED ON THE FLOOR EVEN WHEN FOOT IS REMOVED. THIS HAPPENED TWICE ON THE LAST 2 TIMES THAT THE PEDAL WAS FULLY DEPRESSED. 3. FAILURE IS AVOIDED BY NOT PRESSING ACCELERATOR PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAS STARTED TO FAIL ON, AFTER CHECKING ONLINE I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING, THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SHIFT WITH RESISTANCE AND THE OVER DRIVE LIGHT FLASHED CONTINUALLY. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 79300.

I AM SORRY I AM NOT A GOOD SPELLER I WAS PULLING OUT OF THE GAS STATION PULLED UP A LITTLE SO I COULD SEE THEN A LITTLE MORE AND SEEN A CAR SO I WENT TO PUT IT IN REVERSE BUT THE GEAR SHIFT STICK BROKE RIGHT IN MY HAND I ALMOST GOT HIT BUT THANK GOD THERE WAS SOMEONE WITH ME THAT PUT HIS LIFE ON THE LINE GOT UNDER THE CAR AND CHANGED IT MANUALLY THE USED PART I HAVE TO GET IS 250.00 DOLLARS AND LABOR IS LIKE 300.00 I HAVE TO HAVE A HOLE NEW STEERING COLUMN PUT IN THE CLIP THAT MAKES IT CHANGE BROKE I JUST DON'T THINK IT IS RIGHT TO HAVE SOMETHING AS WEEK AS THAT PART ON THERE WE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED AND WHEN I LOOKED IT UP ON THE INTERNET THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE THIS SAME THING HAS HAPPENED. *TR

ON 8/15/09, [XXX]WAS OPERATING HIS 2002 FORD EXPLORER IN HOUSTON, TX WHEN THE EXPLORER WAS STRUCK FROM THE REAR BY A PICKUP TRUCK. DURING THE COLLISION, [XXX]SEAT BACK COLLAPSED AND, ALTHOUGH HE HAD BEEN WEARING HIS SEAT BELT, HE WAS EJECTED THROUGH BROKEN-OUT REAR WINDOW GLAZING. [XXX] SUSTAINED MULTIPLE BLUNT FORCE INJURIES FROM WHICH HE DIED. THE SEAT BACK IN THE 2002 EXPLORER IS ATTACHED TO A RECLINER MECHANISM ON EACH SIDE OF THE SEAT. THE RECLINER MECHANISMS ARE ATTACHED TO THE SEAT CUSHION FRAME BY SPIRAL COIL PINS. WHEN THE EXPLORER WAS STRUCK FROM THE REAR, THE VEHICLE MOVED FORWARD IN RELATION TO [XXX] BODY, CAUSING HIS BODY TO LOAD THE DRIVER'S SEAT BACK. AS THIS OCCURRED, THE FORCE OF THE SEAT BACK BEING MOVED REARWARD BY [XXX] BODY CAUSED THE RECLINER MECHANISMS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE SEATS TO MOVE FORWARD; AS THEY DID SO, THEY CONTACTED THE SPIRAL COIL PINS, AND FRACTURED THOSE PINS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE SEAT. WHEN THE SPIRAL COIL PINS FAILED, THE SEAT BACK COLLAPSED ONTO THE REAR SEAT CUSHION, AND [XXX] WAS EJECTED INTO THE CARGO AREA OF THE EXPLORER AND THEN OUT OF THE REAR WINDOW GLAZING. [XXX] SUFFERED MUTLIPLE BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA INJURIES, WHICH TOOK HIS LIFE. UPON INVESTIGATION, INCLUDING COMPARISON OF A NUMBER OF OTHER, EXEMPLAR DRIIVER'S SEATS FROM 2002 EXPLORERS, IT HAS BECOME CLEAR THAT THE SPIRAL COIL PINS ARE DEFECTIVELY INSTALLED IN MANY EXPLORER SEATS. THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT IS MANIFESTED BY THE SPIRAL COIL PINS BEING INSERTED THROUGH MATING HOLES ON THE SEAT CUSHION FRAME TO INCONSISTENT DEPTHS, WHICH CAN CAUSE THE PINS NOT TO SEAT PROPERLY IN THOSE HOLES. IN THE CASE OF [XXX], BECAUSE THE SPIRAL COIL PINS WERE NOT INSERTED FAR ENOUGH INTO THE MATING HOLES WHEN MANUFACTURED, THE PINS ON HIS SEAT WERE FRACTURED BY THE RECLINER MECHANISMS AND FAILED TO HOLD HIS SEAT BACK UPRIGHT IN THE COLLISION. THIS FAILURE MECHANISM IN THE PINS ALLOWED FOR [XXX]EJECTION. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR A SIMPLE OIL CHANGE AND INSPECTION AND THEY NOTICED 2 REAR COIL SPRINGS BROKEN AND BAD REAR RIGHT WHEEL BEARING. I FEEL THIS IS A MAJOR REPAIR/RECALL FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD TAKE CARE OF BEFORE SOMEONE SERIOUSLY GETS INJURED OR DIES. I DRIVE THIS VEHICLE TO AND FROM WORK LOCALLY WITH 2 SMALL CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 6. I'M GLAD WE DIDN'T GET INTO A MAJOR ACCIDENT WITH THIS HAPPENING. *TR

IN MAY 2005, THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE. THE O/D LIGHT HAD BEEN GOING ON AND OFF FOR A NUMBER OF DAYS. TRANSMISSION HAS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $4500. CAR HAD APPROXIMATELY 60000 MILES. IN JANUARY OF 2008, THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO BECAUSE THE TIMING BELT WENT AT A COST OF $3000. CAR HAD 75000 MILES. IN AUGUST 2009, BOTH REAR SPRING WERE DISCOVERED TO BE BROKEN WHEN THE CAR WAS TAKEN IN FOR A WHINING IN THE REAR, WHICH WAS THE REAR AXLE BEARING. THE CAR HAD 94000 MILES, COST OF REPAIR WAS $1200. *TR

NOTICED A NOISE FROM REAR OF VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION, I FOUND BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS WERE BROKEN. SPRINGS WERE REPLACED WITH NEW. OLD PARTS HAVE BEEN DISPOSED OF BUT DO HAVE PHOTOS. *TR

THE GEAR SHIFT IS HARD TO GET INTO PARK. SOMETIMES AFTER IN PARK THE SUV STILLS MOVES. NO DAMAGE OR CRASH YET. BUT I MAKE SURE TO PUT ON EMERGENCY BRAKE. *TR

NEW TIRE BLOWS OFF AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT 5,000 TO 7,000 MILES. *TR

AUGUST 10,2009 WHILE DRIVING NOTICE SMOKE WASN'T SURE IF IT WAS ME THEN PULL OVER TO NOTICE WHEN HOOD WAS LIFT UP THEIR WAS FIRE. I THEN CALL FIRE DEPARTMENT ALONG WITH POLICE. MY INSURANCE NATIONWIDE THEN HAD IT PLACE IN TO AUTO BODY SHOP WHICH IT COULDN'T BE FIXED. *TR

AFTER VEHICLE HAS BEEN PUT IN PARK, IT WILL ROLL ABOUT A HALF FOOT OR SO WHEN DOOR OR HATCH IS SHUT. VEHICLE IS NOT GOING ALL THE WAY IN PARK AND YOU DON'T KNOW IT. IT HAS ROLLED TO THE POINT WHERE IT HAS BUMPED ME BUT THAN STOPS. *TR

2002 FORD EXPLORER RECALL NOTICE*CW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE IS IN THE REPAIR SHOP FOR UNRELATED REPAIRS AND HAS BEEN THERE SINCE AUGUST 2009 DUE TO LACK OF PARTS. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE REGARDING THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH AND ACCORDING TO THE RECALL, THE VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BE PARKED NEAR STRUCTURES AS A FIRE COULD OCCUR. HOWEVER, THE REPAIR SHOP INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE LOWERED OR MOVED BECAUSE THE ENGINE WAS LOOSE. *JB

AFTER HEARING SEVERAL DIFFERENT NOISES COMING FROM THE EXPLORER, I TOOK IT IN TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. I WAS TOLD THAT THE FRONT STRUTS WERE BROKEN AND NEEDED REPLACED. I PAID TO HAVE THOSE REPLACED. AFTER LEAVING, I CONTINUED TO HEAR A SECOND NOISE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT AGAIN. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULDN'T FIND ANY PROBLEM. AFTER ANOTHER WEEK I DIDN'T HEAR THE NOISE ANYMORE. I THEN STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH A CHUGGING OCCURRING IN THE ENGINE. WHILE HAVING THIS SERVICED, I WAS TOLD THAT THE REAR SPRINGS WERE BROKEN AND THE STRUTS ALSO NEED REPLACED. THE FIRST ESTIMATE FOR THE REAR SPRINGS AND STRUTS WAS $780! SO FAR ON THE 2002 EXPLORER I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT (50K MILES), OD SENSOR REPLACED (45K MILES), ABS SENSOR REPLACED (45K MILES), REAR CONTROL ARM REPLACED (75K MILES), FRONT STRUTS (78K MILES), AND REAR LATCH REPLACED (RECALL). THE EMERGENCY BRAKE (75K MILES) ALSO NEEDED REPLACED. WHEN THE CONTROL ARM WAS REPLACED, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE CRUMBLED APART. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT I AM LUCKILY THE BROKEN SPRING DID NOT PIERCE THE TIRE AND CAUSE A BLOWOUT. THE SPRINGS/STRUTS AND THE TRANSMISSION ARE COMMON PROBLEMS AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. BETWEEN PAYING OUT OF POCKET AND THE ISSUES COVERED BY AN AFTER MARKET WARRANTY, OVER $5000 HAVE BEEN SPENT ON A VEHICLE 7 YEARS OLD WITH ONLY 79000 MILES. THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER TOWED ANYTHING OR BEEN DRIVEN OFF ROAD. *TR

MAINTAINING A STEADY FREEWAY SPEED. A LOUD POP EMITTED FROM THE ENGINE FOLLOWED BY A SUCCESSION OF SMALL POPS IN RELATION TO THE ENGINE SPEED. IT WAS OBSERVED THAT THE NUMBER 4 SPARK PLUG (PASSENGER SIDED) HAD EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A SERVICE GARAGE. A NEW THREADED INSERT WAS INSTALLED IN THE SPARK PLUG HOLE ALONG WITH A NEW SPARK PLUG AND COIL. *TR

LIKE SO MANY OTHERS, I AM THE UNFORTUNATE OWNER OF A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. AND LIKE THE THOUSANDS OF OTHERS, I AM HAVING A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM - FLASHING OVERDRIVE LIGHT - HARD SHIFTING BETWEEN SECOND AND THIRD GEARS - AT TIMES DIFFICULTY GOING INTO FIRST GEAR. FORD IS FULLY AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HAS DONE NOTHING TO RECTIFY IT. I THINK THAT SOMEONE NEEDS TO HOLD FORD ACCOUNTABLE. THE ONLINE COMPLAINTS ARE OVERWHELMING. THEY NEED TO FIX THEIR PROBLEMS JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE! *TR

LIKE SO MANY OTHERS, I AM THE UNFORTUNATE OWNER OF A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. AND LIKE THE THOUSANDS OF OTHERS, I AM HAVING A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM - FLASHING OVERDRIVE LIGHT - HARD SHIFTING BETWEEN SECOND AND THIRD GEARS - AT TIMES DIFFICULTY GOING INTO FIRST GEAR. FORD IS FULLY AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HAS DONE NOTHING TO RECTIFY IT. I THINK THAT SOMEONE NEEDS TO HOLD FORD ACCOUNTABLE. THE ONLINE COMPLAINTS ARE OVERWHELMING. THEY NEED TO FIX THEIR PROBLEMS JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE! *TR

STARTED CAR AND WHEN I PUT CAR IN DRIVE, SHIFT GEAR ON 2002 EXPLORER JUST FELL OFF THIS IS HAPPENING ALL OVER THE USA I COULD HAVE BEEN DRIVING AND THIS COULD HAVE HAPPEN. MY WIFE AND CHILD COULD HAVE BEEN DRIVING. DO PEOPLE HAVE TO DIE TO MAKE THIS A RECALL WHY ISN'T THIS A RECALL. *TR

THE 2002 FORD EXPLORER HAS A SEVERE TRANSMISSION ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE RESEARCHED. MY FORD TRANSMISSION DISSENGAGES WHEN YOU BREAK. THIS IS A DEFECT AND A SAFETY ISSUE. SINCE I DON'T KNOW WHEN THE TRANSMISSION DISENGAGES I WILL REV THE ENGINE (THINKING THE CAR SHOULD GO FORWARD ) AND THE ENGINES REVS THEN AFTER A DELAYED RESPONSE WILL SLAM THE CAR INTO GEAR AND JERK THE CAR FORWARD. THIS JERK COULD CAUSE ME TO HIT SOMETHING OR SOMEONE SINCE I'M NOT EXPECTING THE CAR TO MAKE THAT RESPONSE. THERE ARE A LARGE PEOPLE EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH THE 2002 FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSION (SEE REFERENCE BELOW) I THINK NHTSA SHOULD DO AN INVESTIGATION ON THE ISSUE TO SEE IF THERE IS REALLY A SYSTEMIC ISSUE WITH THE 2002 FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSION THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED AND POSSIBLE SAFETY ISSUE: REFERENCE: HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/EXPLORER/2002/TRANSMISSION/ HTTP://WWW.LEMONLAWCLAIMS.COM/2002_FORD_EXPLORER_TRANSMISSION HTTP://WWW.FORDPROBLEMS.COM/EXPLORER/TRANSMISSION-FAILURE.SHTML. *TR

I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMPLAINT REGARDING THE FORD WINDOW REGULATOR. I KNOW THAT THE F150 I BELIEVE HAS HAD THE SAME COMPLAINTS. HOWEVER, I CURRENTLY OWN A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. BOTH WINDOW REGULATORS HAVE BROKE ON MY VEHICLE A WEEK APART. I BELIEVE THAT SINCE SO MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THEIR FORD VEHICLE WINDOW REGULATORS THAT THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. I KNOW THAT AFTER A CERTAIN YEAR FORD HAD CHANGED THE WAY POWER WINDOWS WORKED. WELL, NOW THE WINDOW CABLE ON BOTH BACK WINDOWS HAS SNAPED. I WOULD LIKE TO CONTACT FORD TO MAKE A COMPLAINT AND TO SUGGEST A RECALL FOR THE WINDOW REGULATORS ON THE 2002 FORD EXPLORERS. THANK YOU.

MY 2002 FORD EDDIE BAUER EXPLORER IS MALFUNCTIONING. THE TRANSMISSION APPEARS TO BE FAILING AS IT WILL NOT ACCELERATE PROPERLY AFTER BEING IN A STOPPED POSITION, FOR EXAMPLE AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THIS IS BECOMING A SAFETY ISSUE IN THAT IN AN INTERSECTION SHOULD MY VEHICLE NOT ACCELERATE PROPERLY I MAY BE HIT BY ANOTHER CAR! I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO HAVE MY CAR REPAIRED TWICE BY TWO DIFFERENT MECHANICS IN A PERIOD OF ONE YEAR AND HAS COST ME $1400.00. THE REPAIRS SEEM TO WORK FOR A BRIEF PERIOD OF TIME THEN THE SAME SYMPTOMS OCCUR! I CAN NOT AFFORD TO INVEST ANY MORE MONEY ON THIS VEHICLE FOR REPAIRS. I FEEL FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD RECALL THIS FAULTY TRANSMISSION, FOR THE GOOD OF THEIR NAME, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY FOR THE SAFETY OF THEIR CUSTOMERS AND THE FAMILIES THAT RELY ON THEIR VEHICLES! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE ENTERING INTO THE VEHICLE FROM THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. WHEN THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE, THE SMOKE BECAME DARKER. THE FIRE APPEARED FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE, BUT THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED, BUT THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

I HAVE HAD TROUBLES WITH THE WHEEL ENDS ON MY FORD SINCE I BOUGHT IT IN 2005. I DIDN'T REALIZE THE PROBLEMS THAT I AM HAVING ARE COMMON IN THIS VEHICLE. I STARTED NOTICING MORE BRAKE DUST ON SOME OF THE WHEELS THAN OTHERS. THEN ON MY REAR/PASSENGERS TIRE I HEAR A SQUEAKING, GRINDING NOISE WITH A LITTLE WABBLE IN THE WHEEL. TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER -SAID THEY GRINDED SOMETHING DOWN. DIDN'T HEAR THE NOISE ANYMORE. MY ABS LIGHT KICKS ON WON'T GO OFF HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH DEFECT IN WHEEL END ASSEMBLY APPARENTLY. PAID $150 TO GET IT OFF COMES RIGHT BACK ON WEEKS LATER!! MY ENTIRE WHEEL END ALMOST FALLS OFF WHILE ON THE HWY. PULL OVER ALL 4 STUDS HAD COME COMPLETELY OFF OF THE WHEEL EXCEPT 1, THE WHEEL WAS LITERALLY HANGIN. HAD TO HAVE ALL STUDS REPLACED. HAVE HAD TO HAVE WHEEL STUDS REPLACED FREQUENTLY AT SOME POINT ON ALL FOUR TIRES. PAID TO HAVE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED FINALLY $300+. FRONT, DRIVERS WHEEL BEARINGS WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING 70-80 MPH ON HWY, LOSS CONTROL, BARELY MADE IT OFF HWY IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE! 1-2MONTHS LATER FRONT PASSENGERS WHEEL BEARINGS GO BAD HAVE TO BE REPLACED-$300+ EACH TIME. HAD FRONT BRAKES & ROTORS REPLACED MARCH '07, REAR BRAKES & ROTORS JAN '08. THIS MONTH SEPT '09 HAD TO HAVE REAR BRAKES & ROTORS REPLACED. COULD ONLY AFFORD TO HAVE BRAKE PADS REPLACED. ONLY PUT 30,000MILES ON IT SINCE HAD B/R CHANGED IN '08. WHY AM I HAVING TO HAVE THEM BOTH CHANGED A YEAR LATER. SOMETHING IN THE WHEEL END ASSEMBLY IS CAUSING INCREASED WEAR & TEAR ON REAR BRAKES, ROTORS AND EVERYTHING ELSE! NOW MY BRAKE PADS ARE BURNING INSANELY CRAZY, ALOT OF SMOKE COMES FROM THE WHEEL. NEW BRAKE PADS SHOULDN'T BURN THAT FAST EVEN WITH SOMEWHAT BAD ROTORS. (THAT SHOUDN'T BE BAD), HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE SHOP THIS WEEK. ALL ARE COMMON ISSUES APPARENTLY. PLEASE REVIEW LINK W/COMPLAINTS ON THIS '02 MODEL. & THEY TELL ME MY BALL JOINTS ARE GOING OUT! THANK YOU. HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/EXPLORER/2002/WHEELS_HUBS/WHEEL_BEARING_FAILURE.SHTML. *TR

FAULTY TRANSMISSION. WAS REPLACED AT 58,049 MILES WITH A RE-MANUFACTURED ONE DIRECT FROM FORD. 85,374 MILES AND IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. LESS THAN 20 DAYS AFTER THE THREE YEAR WARRANTY, BUT MILEAGE IS STILL UNDER. THIS MADE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE, AND WAS DANGEROUS WHEN DRIVING IN TRAFFIC ON THE INTERSTATE. I HAVE TWO SMALL CHILDREN THAT RIDE IN THIS VEHICLE AND DO NOT APPRECIATE THAT THIS HAS BEEN A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE MODEL YEAR, THERE IS A PART OF THE SOLENOID THAT COULD LITERALLY BLOW A HOLE IN THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH COULD CAUSE A VEHICLE FIRE, AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO HOLD FORD ACCOUNTABLE BY OUR GOVERNMENT. WE WANT PEOPLE TO BUY AMERICAN, YET AREN'T HOLDING THE MANUFACTURERS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE QUALITY OF THE PRODUCTS THEY PUT OUT, NOR WILL THEY THEMSELVES STAND BEHIND A KNOWN ISSUE AND MAKE IT RIGHT FOR THE THOUSANDS OF CONSUMERS THAT GAVE THEM OUR HARD EARNED MONEY AND PURCHASED FROM THEM. I'VE OWNED FIVE OTHER BRANDS OF VEHICLES, WHICH HAD MORE MILEAGE ON ALL OF THEM THAN I CURRENTLY HAVE ON THIS VEHICLE, AND NEVER HAD ISSUES WITH A TRANSMISSION ON ANY OF THEM. YOU ASK SEVERAL QUESTIONS BELOW RELATING TO FIRE, DAMAGE, CRASH, DEATH OR INJURIES. IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE A FIRE OR CRASH OCCURS BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. A FAULTY TRANSMISSION COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IN HEAVY TRAFFIC BECAUSE OF NON-PERFORMANCE, NOT TO MENTION THAT THE NOISE IT MADE WAS VERY SCARY AND I'M LUCKY THAT NOISE ALONE DID NOT CAUSE ME TO LOSE FOCUS AND HAVE AN ACCIDENT. THE GOVERNMENT JUST PROVIDED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN "BAIL-OUT" MONEY TO THIS COMPANY (AGAIN - CONSUMER'S HARD EARNED MONEY). PERHAPS IF THEY PUT OUT A HIGHER QUALITY PRODUCT AND STOOD BEHIND IT THEIR SALES WOULD'VE BEEN BETTER AND WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO GIVE THEM MORE MONEY TO KEEP SELLING US PRODUCTS THAT ARE NOT OF THE QUALITY I EXPECT FROM AMERICAN MADE. *TR

I WAS CHANGING THE REAR BRAKES ON MY MOTHERS 2002 FORD EXPLORER AND FOUND THAT THE LEFT REAR COIL SPRING WAS BROKEN IN 2 PLACES AND CRACKED QUITE SOME DISTANCE THROUGH THE CENTER OF THE SPRING. I LOOKED ONLINE TO SEE IF THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND IT TURNS OUT IT IS A HUGE PROBLEM. THE FIRST LINK I CLICKED ON LEAD ME TO A FORUM WITH 92 THREADS WERE PEOPLE HAVE HAD BROKEN SPRINGS ON THEIR 2002 EXPLORER. THIS IS CLEARLY A WIDESPREAD ISSUE. I DO HAVE THE OLD SPRING, BUT AM MISSING ONE PART BECAUSE IT MUST HAVE FALLEN OUT WHILE DRIVING. *TR

I TOOK MY CAR TO HAVE THE TIRES REPLACED. WHEN THE MECHANIC PUT THE CAR ON THE LIFT HE INFORMED ME THAT BOTH OF MY REAR SPRINGS WERE CRUMBLING. ONE OF THE SPRINGS WAS BROKEN IN 3 PLACES, THE OTHER WAS BROKEN IN TWO PLACES. THE MECHANIC CLAIMS IN HIS 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE HE HAS NEVER SEEN A BROKEN SPRING AT 51,000 MILES, WHEN THE VEHICLE IS ONLY USED AS A FAMILY CAR AND HAD NOT BEEN A RESULT OF AN ACCIDENT. HE SAID HOW LUCKY I WAS THAT THE SPRING DID NOT COME APART KILLING MYSELF AND MY FAMILY ON THE HIGHWAY. WE CONTACTED FORD, HOPING THAT THEY HAD RECALLED THIS FAULT AFTER WE SAW HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET. FORD SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL AND WE WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRS. THIS REPAIR IS GOING TO COST OVER $500. I GUESS IT IS A SMALL PRICE WHEN MY FAMILY COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. I AM HOPING THE GOVERNMENT CAN CONTACT ALL FORD EXPLORER CUSTOMER TO WARN THEM OF THIS PROBLEM AND HOPEFULLY PREVENT A CERTAIN DEATH. *TR

BEING DOING SOME RESEARCH ONLINE ABOUT THE "O/D" LIGHT BLINKING ON MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER. FROM WHAT I FOUND, THE RESULTS HAVE BEEN ASTOUNDING. EVERY ISSUE I FOUND ON BLINKING O/D IN MY RESEARCH LED TO HAVING TO REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION; AVG. COSTS BEING AROUND $2600. EVEN AFTER THE REPAIRS, THEY STATE THAT THE ISSUES STILL CONTINUE AND SPEND OVER $1000 ON SOMETHING ELSE THE DEALERS SAY IS WRONG. ONE SITE, AUTOBEEF.COM, HAD APPROXIMATELY 740 COMPLAINTS (I STOPPED READING AFTER 150) ON THIS ISSUE. BEFORE I PAY OUT OVER $3000, I JUST WANT TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS ISSUE PLAGUING THE 2002 FORD EXPLORER LINE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON AND CHECK GAS CAP INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHUT OFF. IN ADDITION, THE GAS TANK WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO FILL UP WHILE PLACING FUEL IN THE TANK. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THESE ISSUES. HE FEELS THAT IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD FOR THE VEHICLE TO SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 171,000.

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, NO DEBRIS, AND OUR SUNROOF EXPLODED. AS THE SCREEN WAS CLOSED NO INJURIES, BUT POTENTIAL FOR CUT AND EYE INJURIES BY RAZOR SHARP GLASS. NO ONE BEHIND US AFFECTED. HUGE NOISE VERY STARTLING. *TR

IN 2009 ON THE WAY TO OUR FAMILY VACATION OUR TRANSMISSION FAILED. WE HAD IT TOWED AND THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED WITH A FORD REBUILT TRANSMISSION WITH A WARRANTY PURCHASE. IN 2012 THIS REBUILT TRANSMISSION FAILED AND WE HAD IT TAKEN TO A FORD DEALER AND THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED WITH ANOTHER TRANSMISSION. THIS CURRENT TRANSMISSION IS EXHIBITING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS THE LAST TWO DID PRIOR TO FAILURE. *TR

WHEN IN A FORD DEALERSHIP FOR LUBE, OIL & FILTER CHANGE, THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS WERE BROKEN. *TR

ON 01/29/2010, I TOOK MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER 4X4 TO KILL BRAKE & WHEEL TO HAVE NEW TIRES PUT ON THE VEHICLE. THE TECHNICIAN/MECHANIC ADVISED ME THAT THE LEFT REAR SPRING FOR THE VEHICLE WAS BROKE, BUT SITTING IN THE CENTER. I CALLED TIFFIN BRAKE & WHEEL TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE SPRINGS REPLACED. I WAS ADVISED BY AN EMPLOYEE THAT THE BUSINESS HAS HAD "A LOT OF EXPLORERS HAVE THEIR SPRINGS REPLACED." THE EMPLOYEE ALSO MENTIONED THAT A COMPLAINT SHOULD BE FILED, BECAUSE A RECALL MAY BE IN ORDER DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF EXPLORERS WITH BROKEN SPRINGS. I AM CONCERNED WITH THIS ISSUE, BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN OFF ROADED AND/OR ABUSED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED. THE ACTUAL DATE WHEN THE SPRING BROKE IS UNKNOWN. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHEN THE CONTACT LIFTED THE HATCH ON THE VEHICLE, THE GLASS STUART BRACKETS POPPED OFF AND CUT HIS HEAD AND WRIST. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS FAILURE. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 139,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE VEHICLE HAS CONTINENTAL SPORTIVA TIRES, SIZE 275-60-R17 (NA). WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE TIRES WERE NOT BALANCED PROPERLY. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE HAD A BUBBLE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT HE WAS SOLD AN OLD TIRE. THE TIRE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 140,000.

LOUD WHINE FROM REAR. TRANSMISSION SLIPPING BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR. FLASHING O/D LIGHT. *TR

2002 FORD EXPLORER APPROX.77,000 MILES SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE GEAR SHIFTER BROKE OF AT THE BASE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BE STUCK IN REVERSE. AFTER CONTACTING FORD HEADQUARTERS WAS INFORMED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET. THE DEALERSHIP CHARGES SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS TO REPAIR BECAUSE THE WHOLE STEERING COLUMN HAS TO BE REPLACED. PART IS CURRENTLY ON ORDER. *TR

2002 FORD EXPLORER HAS SHIFTING ISSUE AS A RESULT OF TRANSMISSION NOT WORKING PROPERLY. OCCURS RANDOM WHEN ACCELERATING FROM STOP AT LIGHTS OR PULLING INTO INTERSECTION. HAVE BEEN TO 2 DIFFERENT MECHANICS AND REPAIRED ONCE AND HAS STARTED TO OCCUR AGAIN ALTHOUGH MECHANICS STATE DO NOT NEED REPAIRED AND SHOWS NO CODES. ALSO, THE FLUID CANNOT BE CHECKED FROM UNDER THE HOOD AS IT IS LOCATED UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. EACH OIL CHANGE I HAVE THEM CHECK AND THE LEVEL IS OK. SINCE HAPPENS RANDOMLY DOES NOT ALWAYS HAPPEN WHEN THE MECHANICS LOOK AT THE VEHICLE. HAS BEEN FRUSTRATING SINCE VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT NEW AND TAKEN CARE OF WITH ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. ALL MECHANICS ARE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND JUST STATE TO DRIVE IT UNTIL IT FAILS COMPLETELY AND NEEDS A REBUILD OR SELL IT BEFORE THE REBUILD IS NEEDED. EACH TIME IT OCCURS USUALLY THERE IS NOT AN ISSUE JUST A HESITATION WITH A SLOW ACCELERATION. ALTHOUGH, SEVERAL TIMES THIS HAS OCCURRED RECENTLY WHEN PULLING OR MERGING INTO TRAFFIC NEARLY CAUSING ACCIDENTS WITH THE WIFE AND KIDS IN THE CAR. FROM ALL INFO I HAVE SEEN AND BASED ON EXPERIENCED MECHANICS THEY FEEL THERE WERE DESIGN FLAWS IN THESE 2002 VEHICLE TRANSMISSIONS. THEY ALL RECOMMEND EITHER TO SELL THE VEHICLE OR BE PREPARED TO DRIVE UNTIL THEY COMPLETELY FAIL AND NEED REBUILT. SOME STATE THEY HAVE WORKED ON THESE VEHICLES AND THAT I AM ACTUALLY LUCKY THAT I HAVE ONLY HAD THESE PROBLEMS AS MANY OF THEIR CUSTOMERS HAVE HAD ACCIDENTS AND ISSUES THROUGH OUT THEIR ENTIRE OWNERSHIP OF THE VEHICLE. WE HAVE ONLY HAD THIS ISSUE FOR APPROX THE LAST 2-3 YEARS SINCE PURCHASED NEW IN 2002. ALTHOUGH, A NEAR COLLISION WITH MY FAMILY AND ANOTHER VEHICLE FROM THIS ISSUE IS A SERIOUS CONCERN. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT 4.0L V6 AND WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST THAT AN INVESTIGATION LAUNCHED INTO THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION. THE OTHER DAY, AS I WAS TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, THE O/D OFF INDICATOR BEGAN BLINKING AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE CHECK ENGINE SOON INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON. IN DOING MY RESEARCH, AFTER READING NUMEROUS ONLINE COMPLAINTS RELATED TO THIS ISSUE, I HAVE CHOSEN TO SEEK YOUR ASSISTANCE AS A MEANS TO HELP OFFSET THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS WIDE-SPREAD, VERY WELL KNOWN AND DOCUMENTED PROBLEM. BASICALLY, THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REBUILT OR REPLACED, AT COSTS THAT RANGE FROM $2,000 TO $4,000. *TR THANK YOU!

WHILE ROTATING THE TIRES ON MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER I FOUND THAT BOTH REAR SPRINGS ARE BROKEN. I BELIEVE THIS IS CAUSED DUE TO SUB STANDARD MATERIALS AS MY CAR HAS NEVER BEEN USED FOR OFF ROAD OR TOWING. MY CAR HAS ONLY 62,000 MILES. BOTH SPRINGS AND STRUTS WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. *TR

2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT - TRANSMISSION FAILURE - PURCHASED NEW IN 9-02 WITH EXTENDED WARRANTY. ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION FAILED AND REPLACED AT 65K MILES BY DEALERSHIP UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLIPPING AT 130K MILES. AT 136K MILES, TRANSMISSION SHIFTS AT RANDOM, WILL NOT ENGAGE FROM STOP. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT WAS ROTATING HIS TIRES WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER COIL SPRINGS HAD FRACTURED. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE COIL SPRING. ONE YEAR LATER WHILE HAVING THE VEHICLE INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE REAR DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGERS SIDE COIL SPRINGS WERE ALSO FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 139,994.

I HAD BEEN TOLD THAT MY DRIVERS SIDE BEARING WAS GOING BAD AND HAD IT FIXED AND MY CAR WAS STILL MAKING A FUNNY NOISE BUT WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC THAT IT WAS MY BRAKES GOING BAD AND THAT THEY WOULD NEED REPLACED, SO WE WENT AND BOUGHT BRAKES AND ROTORS TO PUT ON OURSELVES. AS WE WERE PUTTING THEM ON WE NOTICED THAT MY WHEEL WAS CLOSE TO FALLING OFF!!! NOW WE HAVE TO REPLACE THE BEARING IN THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR AND ALSO THE AXEL SHAFT. WHAT IF MY WHEEL HAD CAME OFF AND KILLED MY 3 SMALL CHILDREN AND MY HUSBAND AND I? *TR

REAR WINDOW SUPPORTS FAILED AND WERE IN A FORD RECALL. FORD REPLACED THEM SEVERAL YEARS AGO, BUT NOW THE REAR WINDOW WILL NOT STAY UP AND IS DANGEROUS. *TR

AT ABOUT 110,000 MILES MY TRANSMISSION ON MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT STARTED SLIPPING. DRIVING DOWN THE EXPRESSWAY MY O/D LIGHT COMES ON AND I AM UNABLE TO ACCELERATE AS THE GEARS ARE NOT SHIFTING CORRECTLY. TOOK IT IN TO A LOCAL TRANSMISSION SHOP AND THEY INSTALLED AN OVERHAULED 5R55W TRANSMISSION. LESS THAN A YEAR LATER I TAKE MY TRUCK TO TRADE IT IN AND THE DEALER SAYS THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS BAD, GOING OUT AND THEY WOULD ONLY OFFER ME $2000 FOR MY TRADE. THE TRANSMISSION IS STARTING TO SLIP AGAIN AT 117,000 MILES AND I WILL AGAIN HAVE TO TAKE IT IN TO BE REPAIRED BEFORE THE OD STARTS FLASHING AGAIN AS I'M DRIVING TO WORK. LUCKILY I AM STILL UNDER THE 1 YEAR WARRANTY FROM THE TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP, BUT I WILL BE WITHOUT A VEHICLE AGAIN TO GET BACK AND FORTH TO WORK. *TR

ISSUE IS WITH THE AIRBAG WARNING LAMP COMING ON AND DISABLING THE AIRBAG SYSTEM IN A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. PER THE ERROR CODE LFC 34 THE ISSUE IS THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT PRETENSIONER, THOUGH THIS ALSO HAPPENS WITH THE DRIVER SIDE. THERE IS CURRENTLY A TSB OUT ARTICLE NO 03-11-3. FOR MY VEHICLE THE REPLACEMENT PART# IS 1L2Z-78610E22-AAC. THIS FAILURE IS CURRENT EVERYTHING THE VEHICLE IS TURNED ON. *TR

AIR BAG DEPLOYED WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, NO IMPACT. KEY WAS TURNED ON TO LISTEN TO RADIO WHILE DRIVER WAS CLEANING THE CARGO AREA. VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN TO LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP TWICE BEFORE WITH AIR BAG LIGHT AND STEERING COLUMN SPRING TO BE REPLACED. VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, FORD IS NOT WANTING TO PAY FOR REPAIRS EVEN THOUGH' IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY WHEN THE FIRST AIR BAG LIGHT ISSUE CAME ABOUT. WE ARE NOW WITHOUT THE VEHICLE FOR 4 MONTHS, IT IS NOT REPAIRED AND FORD WANTS TO REPLACE ALL THE AIR BAG COMPONENTS BECAUSE THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT HAPPENED OR CAUSED THE AIR BAG TO DEPLOY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. UPON REACHING HIS DESTINATION, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY INOPERABLE AND HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 96,000.