2002 Ford Explorer Complaint Log

THE CONSUMER STATED THE HOME FIRE HAZARD CREATED BY FAULTY DESIGN OF NON UL APPROVED PERSONAL SNOW PLOW USE FOR SUV MANUFACTURED BY WESTERN PRODUCTS. SNOW PLOW ELECTRIC MOTOR WAS UNFUSED AND OVERHEATED NOT RESPONDING TO THE COMMAN CONTROLLER SHORTING OUT AND CAUSING A SERIOUS EXPENSIVE FIRE. *JS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE DISPLAYED SIGNS THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING. THE CONTACT SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF, AND RESTARTED IT BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK ON THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE WAS 191,000.

AFTER ARRIVING BACK HOME FROM DINNER I WAS PUTTING THE CAR INTO PARK. HALF WAY BETWEEN REVERSE AND PARK THE GEAR SHIFT ARM BROKE! *JS

BOUGHT AN EXPLORER WE THOUGHT WAS A PRIVATE OWNER ON CRAIGLIST IN CHICAGO, AND FOUND OUT HE WAS A DEALER FROM INDIANA. HE SIGNED THE TITLE AS FIRST AUTO INC. 2620 165TH IN HAMMOND IN 46323. THE NAME OF SELLER IS [XXX] . THE DMV FILE A COMPLAINT ON OUR BEHALF AND STATED WHAT HE DID WAS ILLEGAL. WE DID NOT KNOW HE WAS A DEALER TIL WHEN WE TRIED TO TRANSFER OUR PLATES THE NEXT DAY. WE TOOK THE TRUCK IN FOR SERVICE AND MY MECHANIC STATED THAT CARFAX HAS THE MILES ALMOST 80,000 MORE THAN WHAT IS ON THE ODOMETER. THE ODOMETER LISTED 110,000 AND CARFAX WAS FAR PAST THAT AMOUNT. THE DEALER ROLLED BACK THE MILES OF EXPLORER. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE GEAR SHIFT FRACTURED AND ONLY OPERATED IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 250,000.

O/D LIGHT KEEPS FLASHING, WILL NOT SWITCH INTO SECOND GEAR UNTIL YOU LET OFF THE THROTTLE. GETS AS HIGH AS 38,000- 40,000 RPM. *TR

DROVE CAR TO TIRE DEALER FOR WHEEL ALIGNMENT. PARKED AND LEFT FOR THEM TO WORK ON. THE NEXT DAY,DEC 10,2014, THE SERVICE TECH DROVE THE CAR FOR A TEST RIDE TO CHECK THE ALIGNMENT BEFORE HE ADJUSTED. HE THEN DROVE INTO THE BAY AND APPLIED FOOT PRESSURE TO THE GAS PEDDLE TO GET ONTO THE ALIGNMENT RAMP. THE PEDDLE STUCK AT HIGH RPMS , 4000+, . AS SUCH THE CAR RAN OFF OF THE RAMP , HE APPLIED BRAKES, TO NO AVAIL, SHUT CAR OFF AT SAME TIME. WHICH STOPPED THE CAR, BUT NOT BEFORE IT CRASHED INTO THE ALIGNMENT MACHINE AND TIRES. CAR WAS HUNG UP ON PART OF THE RAMP HAD TO BE JACKED OFF OF RAMP. FRONT BUMPER DAMAGED, CROSS MEMBER UNDER TRANS PAN BENT, LEFT RARE LOWER CONTROL ARM BENT..TIRE DEALER HAS SENT THE CAR TO FORD DEALER, ON DEC 11,2014 I SPOKE WITH FORD DEALER AND THE HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM LIKE THIS BEFORE. TOLD HIM OF YOUR REPORT PE 05037 AND YOUR LETTER TO FORD. . SINCE YOUR LETTER TO FORD THE INTERNET HAS AT LEAST 25 REPORTS OF THIS SAME PROBLEM MOST WITH ACCIDENTS. THERE MAY ONLY BE 240,000 OF THIS CARS ,AS YOUR REPORT NOTES, BUT THIS PROBLEM CAN CAUSE A DEATH .THIS CAR WAS MADE WITH IN THE TIME PERIOD STATED IN YOU REPORT. THE FIX IS TO REPLACE THE CABLE. I TOLD FORD THAT I WOULD NOT ACCEPT THE CAR UNLESS THE CABLE WAS REPLACED. ON THE OTHER HAND I WOULD EXPECT YOU TO FOLLOW UP ON THIS DEADLY PROBLEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE IN REVERSE, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. ADDITIONALLY, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT FAILED TO RESPOND AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO TREES THEN WENT FORWARD INDEPENDENTLY CRASHING INTO SHRUBS, A FENCE, AND A BUILDING. IN ADDITION, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND SMOKE STARTED TO EMIT FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BRUISE AND NECK AND HEAD INJURIES THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

I GOT IN IT AFTER 15 MINUTES OF IT WARMING UP, PULLED OUT OF THE DRIVE AND THE RPM WENT TO 3000RPM BEFORE IT SHIFTED IN SECOND GEAR. THEN THE O/D LIGHT STARTED FLASHING ON AND OFF, NEXT THE CHECK TRANSMISSION INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON. WENT HOME AND CALLED A MECHANIC, TOOK IT TO HIM AND THEN BAD NEWS. IT HAS WORKED PERFECTLY UP TO THIS POINT. *TR

I GOT A KNOCK ON MY DOOR BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TELLING ME THAT MY CAR SET ON FIRE I FILED A CLAIM WITH MY INSURANCE AND THEY TOLD ME TO FILE A CLAIM WITH FORD BECAUSE THEY HAVE REASON TO BELIEVE IT WAS THE CRUISE CONTROL BUTTON THAT SET THE CAR ON FIRE . *TR

OVERDRIVE LIGHT CAME ON. CHECK TRANSMISSION LIGHT CAME ON. THE TRUCK SUDDENLY STARTED SCREECHING LOUDLY, NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WHILE GOING TO THE AIRPORT ON AN EXPRESSWAY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, AND BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE WITHIN THE WIRES IN THE DOOR LOCKS AND ANTI THEFT SYSTEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 205,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, ANOTHER VEHICLE REAR ENDED THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED UNKNOWN MINOR INJURIES AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED CHEST AND EYES INJURIES. NEITHER SET OF INJURIES REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 6/11/15*CN UPDATED 9/26/2017*CN

CRACK IN REAR LIFT GATE PANEL THAT LED TO SHATTERED REAR WINDOW UPON NORMAL CLOSING. *TR

THERE WAS A RECALL FOR FAULTY HINGES YEARS BACK, FORD REPLACED. I NOTICED FAULTY HINGE WHEN WAXING VEHICLE, HINGE IS ASKEW. CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE, VERIFIED IT WOULD NEED REPLACING OR GLASS WINDOW COULD FALL OFF, INFORMED I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR REPAIR. SINCE THE FAULTY HINGE IS THEIR PRODUCT, I THINK THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE, AND IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD. I HAVE HAD THIS CAR SERVICED EVERY 3 MONTHS SINCE I BOUGHT IT. IT IS WELL MAINTAINED, I HAVE SPENT A FORTUNE REPLACING FAULTY FORD PARTS. THE GLASS HINGE IS A FORD HAZARD THAT I BELIEVE FORD IS RESPONSIBLE FOR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V399000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) AND THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT AN AUTHORIZED DEALER REPLACED THE WIRING HARNESS BUT DID NOT INSPECT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE CONNECTOR TO DETERMINE IF THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE REMEDIED FOR THE RECALL. THE CONTACT REPORTED THE SAFETY CONCERN TO THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY WOULD NOT COMPLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FULLY REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE SAFETY CONCERN AND PROVIDED NO REMEDY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE STARTED TO OVERHEAT AND STALLED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE WATER PUMP AND HEATING CORE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 183,000. UPDATED 1/16/15*CN UPDATED 9/7/2017*CN

PARKED IN PARKING LOT ON LEVEL SURFACE. STARTED ENGINE WENT TO PUT IN REVERSE AND SHIFTING LEVER FELL OFF. CONTACTED FORD INSTEAD OF SELLING BROKEN PART WANTED TO SELL COMPLETE STEERING COLUMN. *TR

THE HANDLE TO SHIFT THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION FROM PARK TO REVERSE BROKE OFF AT THE METAL PART INSIDE THE STEERING COLUMN. THIS IS COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS IF I WAS DRIVING! FORD STATES THEY NO LONGER PRODUCE THE PART. *TR

WENT TO PUT VEHICLE IN RESERVE AND GEAR SHIFT ON THE COLUMN FELL IN MY HAND, COMPLETELY SNAPPED. *TR

WHEN BRAKING VEHICLE ACCELERATES. COULD NOT STOP HAD TO PUT IN N AND IT STALLED BEFORE HITTING A STORE FRONT AND A SECOND TIME ON THE WAY HOME AT A RED LIGHT. *TR

MY DAUGHTER WENT TO OPEN MY REAR HATCH AND THE WINDOW FELL. THE HINGE COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM THE CAR. I WENT TO FORD TO HAVE THEM LOOK AT IT THEY STATED THAT IT WAS A RECALL ITEM BUT THAT IT HAD ALREADY BEEN FIXED IN 2005. I ASKED IF IT HAD BEEN FIXED WHY WOULD THE SAME PROBLEM OCCUR. THEY COULDN'T GIVE ME AN ANSWER. ALL THEY SAID WAS THAT THEY ONLY PAY FOR THE FIRST OCCURRENCE NOT AND SUBSEQUENT OCCURRENCES. MY ISSUE IS THAT IF AN ITEM CONTINUES TO BREAK THAT IS NO LONGER AND ISSUE WITH THAT ITEM ITS AND ISSUE WITH THE DESIGN OF THE ITEM. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN. WHAT IF THE GLASS FELL ON MY DAUGHTER OR SHATTERED ON HER. I DON'T SEE WHY I HAVE TO REPLACE A FAULTY FORD ISSUE. *TR

PAINT JOB ON ENGINE HOOD IS BUBBLING UP. SUV HAS BEEN REGULARLY WASHED AND WAXED; SO ONE WOULD NOT EXPECT PROBLEMS WITH THE PAINT JOB. BASED UPON INTERNET RESEARCH, FORD HAS PAINT JOB ISSUES WITH VEHICLES SOLD FROM 2000-2005. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS RECENTLY REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V442000 (STRUCTURE), BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT REMEDIED. THE LIFTGATE HINGE FRACTURED AND CAUSED THE GLASS TO SHIFT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

SEAT BRACKET BROKE WHEN HITTING THE BRAKES WHEN A DEER JUMPED OUT IN FRONT OF ME. *TR

TRANSMISSION FAILURE BEFORE 100000 MILES WHILE ON FREEWAY

BROUGHT VEHICLE IN JAN 2014. EVERY SINCE FIRST DAY BROUGHT, HAD A PROBLEM WITH GETTING FUEL INTO VEHICLE WITHOUT FUEL PUMP CLICKING AS IF VEHICLE IS FULL. THIS HAPPENS AT ABOUT EVERY FUEL STATION I GO TO. THIS IS VERY FRUSTRATING. BROUGHT PLENTY OF FORDS, BUT THIS IS THE FIRST ONE THAT DOES THIS. BEFORE I GET A FEW OUNCES OF FUEL INTO THE VEHICLE IT WILL CLICK AND CONTINUE DOING THIS AS LONG AS IM TRYING TO PUT IN FUEL. LOVE VEHICLE BUT HATE IT BECAUSE OF THIS. I READ ON OTHERS HAVING SAME PROBLEM. CAN SOMEONE PLEASE HELP US ALL./ THIS IS DEFINITE A RECALL. [XXX] (RETIRED VET / RETIRED U. S. POSTAL SVC. ). INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

I WAS IN A ACCIDENT ON AUGUST 21, 2014. TWO OR MORE DEER'S RAN OUT IN FRONT OF MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER AND I RAN OFF THE ROAD HITTING A POLE. IT CRUSHED THE WHOLE FRONT END AND MY AIRBAG NEVER DEPLOYED. MY TRUCK IS A TOTAL LOSS AND I DID HAVE ON MY SEAT BELT BUT THE AIRBAG SHOULD OF DEPLOYED. *TR

WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND FELT A SHARP JERK/PULL TO THE RIGHT. AT FIRST THOUGHT IT WAS A FLAT TIRE SO GOT OFF ON NEXT EXIT. WASN'T A FLAT TIRE BUT COULD SMELL SOMETHING AWFUL. MADE GRINDING SOUND AND STILL HAD BAD SMELL, KNEW WE HAD TO DRIVE IT BACK TO THE PLACE WE ARE STAYING AT. HAD HAZARD LIGHTS ON AND ONLY DROVE 10-15 MPH BECAUSE OF THE SOUND AND BECAUSE OF HOW SCARY IT WAS. KNEW SOMETHING BAD WAS HAPPENING TO OUR CAR. BRAKES AT THIS POINT PRACTICALLY WENT OUT. WOULD NOT HAVE TO PRESS BRAKES TO STOP VEHICLE AT A RED LIGHT, THE CAR WOULD JUST STOP. STEERING WHEEL WAS NOT EVEN, BUT MORE OR LESS 90 DEGREES TO THE RIGHT. PULLED INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND INTO THE DRIVEWAY AND A CAR LEAVING THE STREET SAW THAT OUR VEHICLE AT THIS POINT WAS ON FIRE! EXTINGUISH FIRE (SINCE IT WAS A GAS FIRE) AND LOOKED AT THE DAMAGE. LOOKS LIKE THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WASN'T EVEN CONNECTED TO ANYTHING. DO NOT KNOW HOW OR WHEN FIRE STARTED BUT THE FLAMES WHEN WE NOTICED WERE ABOUT 1 FOOT TALL AND WIDE BY THE INTERNAL DRIVER SIDE WHEEL. *TR

AT FIRST WHEN SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION WOULDN'T GO INTO ANY GEAR. WE HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. WHEN GOT VEHICLE BACK STILL HAD SAME PROBLEM TOOK IT TO TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST PUT ON COMPUTER FIXED THE INITIAL PROBLEM. THE TRANSMISSION WE HAD PUT IN HAD MUCH MORE PROBLEMS. OVERDRIVE STARTED BLINKING THEN LOST 2ND AND 5TH GEAR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKING, THE SHIFT SELECTOR FRACTURED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT FROM DRIVE TO PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

BACK TAILGATE PANEL WAS CRACKED (DEFECT) AND THE BACK WINDOW JUST EXPLODED WHEN THE TAILGATE WAS OPEN. *TR

PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE (FLAT SURFACE) AND ATTEMPTED TO PUT THE CAR INTO PARK AND THE GEARSHIFT LEVER BROKE OFF INTO MY HAND. THE SAME THING HAPPEN ABOUT A YEAR AGO, AND OUR MECHANIC REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE PARTS. *TR

SHIFTER LEVER BROKE OFF. *TR

ALARM STARTED GOING OFF AND THE BACK GATE DOOR BECAME UNLOCKED WITHOUT ANYONE BEING IN OR NEAR THE SUV SATURDAY NIGHT JUNE 14,2014. IT CONTINUED OFF AND ON EVERY TWENTY MINUTES, THEN TEN MINUTES. THIS WAS AT NIGHT ABOUT SEVEN O'CLOCK. IT STOPPED. THE NEXT DAY ON SUNDAY AFTER COMING BACK FROM A RELIGIOUS MEETING IT STARTED GOING OFF AGAIN WITH AN ERROR MESSAGE STATING THAT THE REAR BACK DOOR WAS OPEN. IT WAS AND I DIDN'T OPEN IT. I OPENED AND CLOSED EVERY DOOR AFTER USING THE PANIC BUTTON TO STOP THE ALARM. IT STARTS WITH THE LIGHTS COMING ON IN THE FRONT OF THE SUV, THEN THE ALARM WILL START BEEPING VERY LOUDLY WITHOUT STOPPING. THIS GOES ON FOR ABOUT A GOOD HOUR EVERY DAY SINCE WITH YOU GOING OUT THERE TO TURN IT OFF WITH THE PANIC BUTTON. I DID SOME RESEARCH TO FIND OUT WHAT IS MAKING THIS HAPPEN AND I WAS AMAZED AND SHOCKED AT HOW MANY 2002 FORD EXPLORERS AND OTHER FORD CARS, TRUCKS, AND SUVS HAS THIS PROBLEM. IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM BECAUSE NO ONE KNOWS HOW TO STOP IT AND IT ENDS UP WITH YOU HAVING TO LEAVE YOUR DOORS UNLOCKED TO STOP THE ALARM FROM GOING OFF AND KILLING YOUR BATTERY. I HAVE LIMITED RESOURCES AND I WANT TO KNOW WHY FORD HAS NOT ADDRESSED THIS PROBLEM SINCE IT AFFECTS SO MANY PEOPLE. I DON'T WISH TO DIE BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE ABOUT THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM. I DON'T WANT MY FAMILY OR ME WORRYING ABOUT MY SAFETY BECAUSE IF ANYONE FINDS OUT MY SUV IS UNLOCKED, I COULD BE ACCOSTED, OR ROBBED OR KILLED AND NOTHING WILL BE DONE ABOUT IT BECAUSE THE AUTO INSURANCE PEOPLE SAY YOUR CAR HAS TO BE LOCKED. PLEASE ADDRESS THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM WITH FORD SINCE NO ONE ELSE SEEMS TO CARE BECAUSE I KNOW FOR A FACT THE FORD PEOPLE DON'T. BY THE WAY IT GOING ON NOW! THANK YOU. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER AND IT HAS NOT BEEN WRECKED AND I HAD THE LIGHT THAT COME ON IN MY DASH AND THEY SAID THAT MY SEAT BELT PRETENTIONER WAS GONE IN MY SEAT BELT. *TR

DRIVING IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO HIGH. I WAS ALMOST HIT BY A SEMI TRUCK ON I-94 NEAR I-275. *TR

TIMING CHAIN PROBLEMS; BACK CHAIN 'PLASTIC' TENSOR BROKE AND AFFECTED CRITICALLY ENTIRE ENGINE. MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. TRANSMISSION SOLENOID PROBLEMS; SHIFT ROUGH FROM 1ST TO 2ND. PUT NEW SOLENOID BLOCK, PROBLEM STILL THERE. FORD DOES NOT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

A PART THAT SHOULD NEVER FAIL, THE SHIFTER HANDLE BROKE OFF. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON AND EXPENSIVE FAILURE. *TR

I PURCHASED THIS TO USE AS A SECOND VEHICLE FOR CAMPING TRIPS SO THE MILEAGE ON IT IS VERY LOW FOR ITS AGE. SUDDENLY ONE DAY OF NORMAL LOCAL DRIVING, THE O/D LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO RUN VERY ROUGH. IT COULDN'T SEEM TO ACCELERATE AND RPMS WERE HIGH. I HAD TO DRIVE HOME WITH EMERGENCY FLASHERS ON SINCE THE CAR FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO DIE ANY MOMENT. SINCE O/D FLASHING MEANS SOMETHING WITH TRANSMISSION, I TOOK IT TO TWO DIFFERENT TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOPS WHO BOTH DIAGNOSED A BAD TRANSMISSION THAT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT ABOUT $3,500. I WAS SHOCKED THAT I WOULD NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION WITH ONLY 43000 MILES ON VEHICLE DESPITE ITS AGE. BOTH SHOPS INFORMED ME THAT THE 2002 FORD EXPLORERS ARE NOTORIOUS FOR BAD TRANSMISSIONS. I CALLED FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO REQUEST ASSISTANCE WITH THIS REPAIR. THEY WOULD NOT HELP ME IN ANY WAY. THE VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVABLE AND I AM NOT IN A FINANCIAL POSITION TO TAKE ON SUCH AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR FOR A SECOND VEHICLE. RIGHT NOW IT IS SITTING UNUSED IN MY DRIVEWAY WHILE COSTING ME TO KEEP IT INSURED. CAN'T BELIEVE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME SINCE I THOUGHT I WAS BUYING A REPUTABLE PRODUCT. FORD ABANDONED ME WHEN THEIR PRODUCT FAILED. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD PRODUCT AGAIN. THE LEAST FORD COULD HAVE DONE WAS ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR MISTAKES AND NOT CHEAT THE PUBLIC. OTHER ISSUES I AM HAVING IS FLAKING PEELING PAINT AND A CRACK THROUGH THE FORD EMBLEM ON THE REAR DOOR PANEL. *TR

I GOT MY EXPLORER NOT TOO LONG AGO. IT WAS RUNNING GREAT THEN OUT OF NO WHERE THE O/D LIGHT KEEPS FLASHING AND MY TRANSMISSION STARTS TO SLIP. A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND I THINK FORD NEEDS TO STEP UP AND TAKE CARE OF THIS BECAUSE I HAVE KIDS AND THIS IS MY ONLY CAR AND I AM ON A FIXED INCOME. IF FORD DOES NOT WANT TO FIX THESE PROBLEMS OR RECALL THEM THEN NEVER WILL I BUY A FORD AGAIN. *TR

FIRST OF ALL THE TRANSMISSION IS STARTING TO SLIP. WHEN ACCELERATING THE CAR TRANSMISSION SLIPS WHEN SHIFTING INTO THIRD GEAR. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY NEED TO REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION. THE SECOND PROBLEM IS THAT THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. I HAVE NOT BEEN IN A ACCIDENT OR ANYTHING. IT JUST CAME ON. I READ ONLINE THAT IF THE LIGHT IS ON AND I AM IN AN ACCIDENT THE AIRBAGS WONT DEPLOY. THIS SEEMS REALLY DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE COVER UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

WHEN IS THE NHTSA GOING TO ADDRESS THE CHRONIC ISSUES WITH THE 2002-2005 FORD EXPLORER AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS? IT IS COMMON KNOWLEDGE ( INCLUDING BY FORD) THAT THESE TRANSMISSIONS ALL FAIL ANYWHERE FROM 50,000 MILES UP TO LESS THAN 150,000 MILES. TOWING WITH THIS VEHICLE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE ISSUE.THE MARKET IS FLOODED WITH THESE BROKEN EXPLORERS AND THEY ARE THE REGULAR CUSTOMERS AT THE REPAIR SHOPS IF PEOPLE DON'T JUNK THEM AND CAN AFFORD TO HAVE THEM FIXED. THEY ARE A HAZARD ON THE ROAD WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY FAILS TO MOVE IN TRAFFIC OR FROM A STOP AT AN INTERSECTION. I WAS NEARLY REAR ENDED WHEN MY VEHICLE STARTED INTO A BUSY INTERSECTION AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILED LEAVING ME COASTING IN TRAFFIC. I AM SURE THAT MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN LODGED AGAINST THESE VEHICLES AND THAT SERIOUS INJURY HAS OCCURRED AS A RESULT OF THE TRANSMISSION FAILURES. THE INTERNET EVEN SELLS QUESTIONABLE REPAIR FIXES FOR THESE TRANSMISSIONS. *TR

I WAS AT THE SCHOOL TO PICK UP MY KIDS,I TURN ON MY FORD EXPLORER 2002 XLT V6 4.0 TO DRIVE AND THEN THE SHIFT LEVER BROKE ON NEUTRAL POSITION, THAT WAS DANGEROUS BECAUSE, HOW WILL I PARK MY CAR? IF IT HAPPENED ON A DOWNHILL, HOW ARE WE GOING TO PARK IT.IS THAT POSSIBLE TO MAKE A RECALL A FORD COMPANY TO FIX THE CAR. *TR

SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING MY FORD EXPLORER FROM THE DEALERSHIP I NOTICED A SMALL CRACK IN THE REAR HATCH AROUND THE FORD EMBLEM. THIS PART OF THE HATCH IS ALSO CONNECTED TO THE REAR GLASS WINDOW THAT LIFTS OPEN. I TOOK MY VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT AND WILL BE RECALLED EVENTUALLY SO I SHOULD KEEP CHECKING BACK. THE RECALL NEVER HAPPENED AND AFTER 10 PLUS YEARS THE CRACK GOT LARGER LETTING MOISTURE IN AND RUSTING. MEANWHILE I WAS NOTICING THE MAJORITY OF FORD EXPLORERS FROM THAT YEAR HAD THE SAME CRACK ON THE REAR HATCH IN THE SAME PLACE! ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO I WENT TO SIMPLY OPEN THE REAR HATCH AND THE GLASS WINDOW BUCKLED AND SHATTERED WITH AN EXPLODING SOUND SIMILAR TO A GUNSHOT. GLASS WAS EVERYWHERE! THE PIECE WITH THE CRACK LITERALLY BROKE IN HALF. THANKFULLY NO ONE GOT HURT, BUT IF MY KIDS WERE IN THE CAR OR MY FACE WAS ANY CLOSER IT COULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTER. I TRULY BELIEVE FORD NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR DEFECTIVE REAR HATCHES IN THESE MODELS TO PREVENT INJURIES. *TR

OVER THE PAST YEAR I HAVE NOTICED THAT THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING SEVERE RUST ISSUES ON VARIOUS COMPONENTS INCLUDING LOWER BODY WORK, SPECIFICALLY UNDER THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS IN ADDITION TO EMERGENCY BRAKE COMPONENTS. WHEN I FIRST NOTICED THE ISSUE I TOOK IMMEDIATE ACTION TO REPAIR THE DAMAGED BODY WORK AREAS BY USING ANTI-RUST TREATMENTS AND APPLYING NEW PAINT AS RECOMMENDED BY A CERTIFIED MECHANIC. THE ISSUE THOUGH IS STILL ONGOING TO THE POINT WHERE DOOR SEALS ARE NO LONGER WATER TIGHT AND SMALL PIECES OF BODY WORK ARE FLAKING AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE AS A RESULT OF WIND RESISTANCE AND BUMPS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. I HAVE ALSO NEEDED TO REPLACE RUSTED EMERGENCY BRAKE COMPONENTS WHICH I WAS ADVISED WERE NO LONGER FUNCTIONAL OR SAFE. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH IT APPEARS THAT A LARGE NUMBER OF FORD/MERCURY/LINCOLN VEHICLES (PRIMARILY BETWEEN 2002 AND 2004) ARE EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE AND THAT SUPPOSEDLY FORD IS AWARE OF A KNOWN PAINT DEFECT THAT IS THE ROOT CAUSE, HOWEVER NO RELATED RECALLS OR FURTHER INFORMATION HAS SURFACED. (EXAMPLE TESTIMONIALS HERE: HTTP://WWW.LEMONLAW.COM/WORDPRESS/MORE-PROBLEMS-FOR-FORD-PAINT-DEFECTS-IN-2000-2005-MODELS/ ) MY VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN REGULARLY SERVICED AND WELL MAINTAINED AND I WOULD NOT EXPECT TO BE SEEING AN ISSUE AS SIGNIFICANT AS THIS GIVEN THE VEHICLE'S AGE AND MILEAGE. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED AS I AM NOT CONFIDENT IN THE OVERALL SAFETY OF MY VEHICLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE RECENT VEHICLE FAILURE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 133,000.

EXPLORER O/D LIGHT BLINKS AND SHIFTS ROUGH FROM 1ST TO 2ND.

WHEN DRIVING TO WORK THREE BLOCKS AWAY FROM MY HOUSE I STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT. I STARTED TO TAKE OFF AGAIN ONCE THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND A SOUND FROM THE ENGINE SCARED ME. THE TRUCK STARTED TO SOUND LIKE A LAWN MOWER. I THEN HAD THE TRUCK TOWED AND TAKEN TO THE GARAGE WHERE THE MECHANIC SHOWED ME THAT THE SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT THE ENGINE. HE SAID THAT WITH FORDS IT HAPPENS ALOT AND IF YOU SEARCH ONLINE THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE THAT IT HAPPENS TO. HE THEN TOLD ME ONCE HE FIXES IT I SHOULD SELL IT RIGHT AWAY UNLESS I AM WILLING TO SPEND WHAT THE CAR IS WORTH ON REPLACING HEADS. IF FORD KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL ON THIS ALREADY. *TR