2002 Ford Explorer Complaint Log

WITH VEHICLE STOPPED, WHILE SHIFTING GEAR LEVER UNDER STEERING WHEEL FROM DRIVE TO PARK, THE GEAR LEVER BROKE RENDERING THE GEAR LEVER HANDLE USELESS WITH TRANSMISSION BETWEEN PARK AND REVERSE AS INDICATED BY THE INDICATOR. A CAST CYLINDRICAL PART LINKED TO GEAR LEVER BROKE. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER TO BE REPAIRED. *NM

PURCHASED VEHICLE FROM CROSSROADS FORD , RALEIGH NC JUNE 24,06 WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC NOV 22,06 CHECK TRANSMISSION APPEARED ON MESSAGE CENTER, ODO LIGHT STARTED FLASHING, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT GEARS. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT INCREASE SPEED WHILE ENGINE RPM WERE INCREASING. VEHICLE GAVE NO PRIOR WARNING OF IMPENDING PROBLEM FROM JUN TO NOV AND HAD BEEN DRIVEN LOCALLY FOR THE PERIOD OF OWNERSHIP. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER CLOSE TO MY HOME I WAS INFORMED THAT AFTER DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND REFERRING TO FORD TSB THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE, THEY INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS AN UNFORTUNATE SITUATION, BUT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO FOR ME AND TO CALL THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. CALLED CROSSROADS FORD AND LEFT A MESSAGE FOR MIKE BEVAN (SERVICE ADVISOR) HE FAILED TO RETURN MY CALLS. MY HUSBAND CALLED MIKE BEVAN AND WAS ABLE TO SPEAK WITH HIM, MIKE INFORMED MY HUSBAND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO AND IF WE WOULD BRING THE VEHICLE TO HIM THEY WOULD LET US KNOW THE COST TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND WAS SURPRISED AT THE LARGE NUMBER OF OWNERS LISTED ON CARREVIEW.COM WITH THE SAME SITUATION. IF THIS HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY ANOTHER VEHICLE COULD HAVE REAR ENDED MY VEHICLE CAUSING DAMAGE AND INJURY. *NM

LEFT PANEL BELOW TAILGATE WINDOW CRACKED WITHOUT ANY CONTACT TO VEHICLE - NOTHING HIT THE CAR AND THE CAR DID NOT HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. *JB

AFTER NOTICING PROBLEMS WITH THE REAR SUSPENSION, IT WAS DISCOVERED BY MY DEALER THAT BOTH REAR SPRINGS WERE CRACKED, AND ALSO THE SHOCKS WERE FROZEN IN PLACE. I ASKED FOR THE OLD PARTS AND IT IS OBVIOUS FROM SEEING THE SPRINGS THAT THE BREAKAGE RESULTED FROM BAD STEEL. DEALER ADVISED ME IT IS NOT CURRENTLY UNDER RECALL. *NM

TRANSMISSION NEEDS REPLACING IN A 2002 FORD EXPLORER, 81,000 MILES. *NM

2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT. NOTICED A CRACK IN THE REAR PANEL LOCATED BELOW TAILGATE GLASS THE CRACK IS FROM TOP TO BOTTOM. THE LOCATION OF THIS CRACK IS APPROXIMATELY 3 INCHES TO THE RIGHT OF THE FORD EMBLEM UNDER THE REAR TAILGATE WINDOW.

TL *- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE REAR WINDOW HAS A CRACK NEAR THE WINDOW MOLDING. NO INCIDENT OCCURRED WHICH WOULD HAVE CAUSED THE WINDOW TO CRACK. THE CONTACT ALSO OBSERVED ANOTHER VEHICLE, SAME MAKE AND MODEL WITH AN IDENTICAL PROBLEM. *AK UPDATED 03/07/07*JB

AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER REMAINS ON AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE. *JB

WELL....HERE IS THE 2ND COMPLAINT THAT I'M FILING ON MY VEHICLE. I PURCHASED MY EXPLORER BRAND NEW WITH ONLY 10 MILES. I THOUGHT I WOULD GET THE BRAKES CHECKED SINCE I HAD 68,000 MILES ONLY TO FIND OUT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS BAD AND NEEDING REPAIR. FORD DROPPED THE BALL ON THAT!!! NOW I DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR PANEL HAS CRACKED. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD AGAIN!!! THERE NEEDS TO BE A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FILED AGAINST THEM!!! *JB

A WHINING SOUND COMES FROM THE FRONT END END OF THE VEHICLE, UPON FIRST INSPECTION BY A MECHANIC A BAD TIRE WAS FOUND AND BLAMED ON THE NOISE. AS IT WAS BEARABLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, WE IGNORED IT TRUSTING THE DIAGNOSIS. WE PLANNED ON PURCHASING TIRES SOON AND BELIEVED THE PROBLEM WOULD BE SOLVED. NEW TIRES WERE PURCHASED AND AN ALIGNMENT DONE AND THE SAME SOUND CAME FROM THE FRONT END MOST NOTICEABLY 45-65 MPH. NOW WE ARE TOLD IT IS A WHEEL BEARING AND THE COST FOR THE PARTS ALONE IS $350.00 NOT TO MENTION THE $55/HR. LABOR. WE ALREADY HAD THE REAR END REPLACED FOR NOISE AND NOW WE ARE TOLD THAT A DANGEROUS SITUATION INVOLVING ANOTHER PART OF THE DRIVETRAIN IS LOOMING. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND I WOULD HOPE THAT FORD WOULD ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM THAT THE VEHICLES HAVE AND REMEDY IT. I HAVE HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING TO VEHICLES WITH FAR LESS THAN MY 65,000 MILES AND THESE PARTS WERE BUILD TO LAST A WHOLE LOT LONGER AS THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE SEALED AND MAINTENANCE-FREE, INSTEAD THEY FAIL TOO OFTEN AND COST A FORTUNE. I BELIEVE THIS WILL BE MY LAST FORD PRODUCT IF I DO NOT RECEIVE SOME SORT OF SATISFACTORY RESPONSE FROM FORD. *NM

11/7/03 AT 20,272 MILES UNIT IN FOR REAR AXLE WHINE DEALER REPLACED THE DRIVE SHAFT BUT REAR AXLE WHINE NOT FIXED. 11/13/04 AT 34269 MILES VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER FOR REAR END HOWL AGAIN REPLACED REAR DIFFERENTIAL UNIT. NEXT MORNING WIFE WENT TO TAKE CHILD TO DAY CARE AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO OVER 35 MPH WITHOUT RESISTANCE. HAD TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THE WAS TOLD A FAULTY DIFFERENTIAL UNIT. PUT THE OLD ONE BACK IN AND REORDERED ANOTHER REAR DIFFERENTIAL UNIT AND PUT THE NEW UNIT IN ON 11//17/04 AT 34,291 MILES. WHEN THE SERVICE RECORDS STATE FOUND BAD BEARING IN THE UNIT. 6/12/06 REAR END AXLE SEAL LEAKING REPLACED THE REAR END WHINE WAS STILL EVIDENT. 6/12/06 AT 62,31 MILES REAR AXLE SEAL LEAK REPAIRED. 11/09/06 AT APPROX 68,000 MILES TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED. REFERENCE TSB#16898 REAR AXLE WHINE AND TSB#03254. HAVE SEEN A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THESE TRANSMISSION FAILURES ON LINE FOR THE 2002 FORD EXPLORER'S. LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THE REAR END WHINING IS BINDING THE TRANSMISSIONS AND CAUSING THEM TO FAIL. ALSO SEE TSB#06216, TSB#18466, TSB#18423. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE FRONT SEAT BELT RETRACTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

TRANSMISSION OUT. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ACCELERATING, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED AND A NOISE WAS HEARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES WHERE THE TRANSMISSION CONVERTER WAS REPLACED TWICE, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RECURRED. ALSO, WHILE THE CONTACT WAS CHANGING THE OIL IT WAS NOTICED A WIRE FROM THE BATTERY WAS BARE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION IS STILL NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY AND DURING ACCELERATION, THE VEHICLE STILL VIBRATES. UPON INSPECTION THE 02 SENSOR WAS FOUND DAMAGED. THE SENSOR WAS COVERED IN GLUE AND WRAPPED AROUND TO THE TRANSMISSION MOUNT. UPDATED 12/01/06. *JB

ONGOING SHIFTING AND SLIPPING WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION. ALSO A LOUD SHRILL AT THE END OF THE ACCELERATION. THE TRANSMISSION CONVERTER HAS BEEN REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES AND THE TRANSMISSION LEAKED OUT FLUID AT HIGHWAY SPEED. AFTER THE REPAIR OF A STRIPPED TRANSMISSION LINE CONNECTOR AND A PILE OF GLUE TO FIX A BROKEN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO SERVICE BY THE DEALERSHIP AND THE WARRANTY COMPANY. THE CONVERTERS ARE "REMANUFACTURED" WHICH HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO FAIL. THE GLOB OF GLUE ON THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR WILL BE REVIEWED BY THE STATE AS TO THE PROPER REPAIR PROCEDURE. A LAW SUIT MAY FOLLOW DUE TO SEPARATE REPAIRS INCLUDING A TIRE WITH A NAIL, WHERE A NEW TIRE WAS PURCHASED AND A USED ON WAS INSTALLED (BF GOODRICH). THE TIRE WAS ALSO NOT BALANCED AND WAS OFF BY 1.5 OZ. THERE WAS ALSO A GASKET REMOVED FROM THE COOLING SYSTEM THAT CAUSED ANTIFREEZE TO SPILL OUT ONTO THE ENGINE. THE COOLING SYSTEM HAD BEEN SERVICED TWO MONTHS PRIOR AND WAS NEVER LEAKING UNTIL THE DAY THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED. THERE WAS ALSO THE DISCOVERY OF THE POSITIVE ELECTRICAL HARNESS TO THE STARTER HAVING EXPOSED WIRES DUE TO THE OIL FILTER DRAIN HOUSING MADE OF PLASTIC RUBBING AGAINST THE WIRES. THERE ARE THREE WIRES EXPOSED AND THERE MAY BE THE POTENTIAL FOR FIRE. *NM

LIFT GATE CAUSES THE BODY FRAME TO SPLIT. *JB

UPON INSPECTION OF THE WIRING JUST ABOVE THE OIL FILTER DRAIN SHROUD DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE THERE WAS A WIRE HARNESS FOUND WITH EXPOSED WIRES. THE THREE WIRES WERE ENCASED IN ONE BUNDLE BUT ARE SUPPOSED TO BE ISOLATED. IT APPEARS THAT THE HARNESS HAS BEEN RUBBING AGAINST THE UPPER EDGE OF THE OIL DRAIN SHROUD SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS BUILT. THIS BUNDLE OF WIRES SHOULD BE CHECKED AND REPAIRED ON ALL 2002 FORD EXPLORERS. THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY OF A FIRE. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE BRACKET CONNECTING THE RIGHT STRUT TO THE LIFTGATE ROTATED OUT OF POSITION, CAUSING THE LIFTGATE GLASS TO FALL AND SHATTER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL # 01I010000 WHICH PERTAINED TO THE SIDE AND REAR GLASS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH HAD MALFUNCTIONED. THE ORIGINAL SWITCH WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. UPDATED 12/28/06. *JB

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER WITH 52,000 MILES ON IT AND THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL IS STARTING TO WHINE VERY LOUD. THE WHINING STARTED AT ABOUT 30K MILES. IT HAS THE 3.73 LIMITED SLIP DIFFERENTIAL. I HAVE TALKED TO OTHER EXPLORER OWNERS AND THEY TOLD ME ABOUT THIS SITE TO FILE A COMPLAINT AS THIS SEEMS TO BE A GROWING PROBLEM

MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLS, 85,000 MILES, STARTED WITHOUT WARNING TO FLASH THE O/D LIGHT AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. *JB

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. MY COMPLAINT IS HAVING THIS CAR FOR ONLY 2 YEARS AFTER BUYING IT FROM THE RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA FORD DEALER, NOW THE CAR HAS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. I HAVE LOOKED UP A LOT OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM WITH 2002 FORD EXPLORER. AND THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS AS MINE.. AND WE GET STUCK WITH $4K FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION. I THINK THEY SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE IT'S A COMMON PROBLEMS WITH THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE.. CONSUMERS SHOULDN'T BE PAYING $4K FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION AFTER ONLY 4 YEARS HAVING THE VEHICLE..SOME PEOPLE COMPLAINTS EVEN HAPPENS AFTER 2 YEARS BUYING THE VEHICLE. I THINK YOU SHOULD INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM AND MAKE SURE FORD COMPANY IS NOT MAKING MONEY FROM CONSUMERS THROUGH REPAIRS OF A NEW TRANSMISSION. *JB

2002 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER V6 4X4 REAR WINDOW LOWER PLASTIC PANEL COMPLETELY CRACKED THROUGHOUT. *JB

REAR WHEEL BEARING FAILURE AT 80,000 MILES, BOTH REAR BEARINGS. *JB

2002 FORD EXPLORER - OVERDRIVE LIGHT FLASHING, TRANSMISSION HAS DIFFICULTY SHIFTING. WINDS UP TO EXCESSIVE RPM'S BEFORE SHIFTING. VEHICLE HAS ONLY 57,000 MILES. *NM

(1) EXCELLENT CARE OF VEHICLE, NO ACCIDENTS (2) REAR PANEL ON HATCH CRACKED ALL THE WAY THROUGH ON FIRST COLD DAY OF FALL 2006 (APPEARS TO BE STRESS FROM THERMAL EXPANSION/CONTRACTION) (3) DEALER SAID $350 TO REPLACE PANEL AND PAINT AND WAS NOT UNDER ANY WARRANTY FROM FORD

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, AND THE VEHICLE OPERATED AT A REDUCED SPEED. IT WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, WHO DETERMINED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE REPLACEMENT, THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

TRANSMISSION DIED FORD WOULD NOT WARRENTY. *TR

TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD BOTH IN/OUT OF PARK AS WELL AS BETWEEN GEARS. CYLANOID REPLACED TWICE WITHIN 2 YEARS. LOUD WHINE IN REAR ASSEMBLY/AXLE FLUID LEAK. NHTSA RELECTS NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS/SERVICE BULLETINS ON THIS ISSUE.

REAR WHEEL ALMOST FELL OFF ON MY WIFE'S 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THERE WAS NO LEADING SUSPICION TO THIS PROBLEM UNTIL IT HAPPENED. VERY DANGEROUS AND WITH MY WIFE BEING PREGNANT IT MAKES IT THAT MUCH MORE FRUSTRATING. *NM

REAR DIFFERENTIAL. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PUT THE GEAR SHIFTER INTO PARK, THE SHIFTER DETACHED FROM THE COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP, WHERE THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS REPLACED.

VEHICLE O/D LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH. STOPPED VEHICLE AND TRIED TO GET IT TO GO OFF - WON'T GO OFF. STARTED HOME AND VEHICLE SHIFTED "VERY HARD" INTO 3 OR 4TH GEAR. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP THE NEXT AVAILABLE DAY - TRANS MISSION NEEDS PRESSURE SOLENOID, VALVE BODY AND OTHER PARTS - $2000 WORTH OF REPAIRS. VEHICLE IS 4 YEARS OLD AND HAS 75,000. NOW TAKING TO ANOTHER DEALER TO GET RESOLVED. CALLED FORD - WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. ADVISED THEM OF THE MULTIPLE NTSB COMPLAINTS, SAID WE KNOW NOTHING ABOUT RECURRING PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE.

IN APRIL OF 2005 MY 2002 EXPLORER WITH JUST OVER 40,000 MILES STARTED MAKING GRINDING NOISE IN THE RIGHT REAR. TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND THEN TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP, BOTH SAID THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, HAD IT REPLACED ON 5/11/05. WITHIN 2 WEEKS, THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING ALSO STARTED MAKING A GRINDING NOISE, HAD IT REPLACED ON 5/25/05. CALLED FORD CUSTOMER CARE WHO SAID THEY COULD DO NOTHING. IN OCTOBER, 2006, AT 80,000 MILES (MOSTLY E-WAY MILES, NO OFF-ROAD DRIVING, ONLY ONE DRIVER AND I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER), THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN AND ONE OF THE FRONT BEARINGS IS GOING AS WELL. CALLED FORD CUSTOMER CARE AGAIN TO REPORT THE FAILURES, AND THEY STILL AREN'T INTERESTED. HAVE BEEN TOLD BY SEVERAL MECHANICS THAT THIS IS A KNOW DEFECT WITH 2002 EXPLORERS, WHEEL BEARINGS SHOULD LAST WELL OVER 100K MILES. FORD HAS NO PLANS TO RECALL OR EVEN REDESIGN THE DEFECTIVE WHEEL BEARINGS. AFTER READING COMPLAINTS FROM OTHERS, WHO HAVE HAD THE BEARINGS EXPLODE WHILE DRIVING, I SUSPECT THAT IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THE DEATHS FROM ACCIDENTS DUE TO THE DEFECTIVE WHEEL BEARINGS START GETTING REPORTED. I PERSONALLY DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. DUE TO FORD'S LACK OF CONCERN REGARDING THIS VERY EXPENSIVE AND DANGEROUS DEFECT IN THEIR VEHICLES, THE NEXT NEW VEHICLE I PURCHASE WILL NOT BE A FORD. **NM

2002 FORD EXPLORER - TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT 63,884 MILES - NO WARNING - JUST WENT OUT. AFTER REVIEWING SO MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET IT APPEARS THAT THERE IS A MAJOR DEFECT IN THIS PARTICULAR ENGINE. FORD NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. THIS WILL DEFINITELY BE MY LAST FORD PRODUCT. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, A NOISE WAS HEARD AND THE REAR DRIVER WHEEL FELL OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED OFF THE ROAD AND TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE.

MY 2002 EDDIE BAUER FORD EXPLORER REVVED AT 30 MPH THEN THE O/D LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND THE CHECK TRANSMISSION LIGHT CAME ON. IMMEDIATELY I TOOK IT TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE 3RD GEAR WAS GONE. NEW TRANSMISSION NEEDED. VERY SADDENED. *JB

O/D LIGHT FLICKER. ON RESTART WENT AWAY. DEALER INDICATED THERE WAS INTERNAL TRANSMISSION DAMAGE. TRANSMISSION COULD NOT BE REBUILT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WHILE IN SHOP THEY DISCOVERED PROBLEMS WITH THE REAR END AS WELL. CAR HAS 72,000 MILES AND NEEDS TRANSMISSION AND NEW REAR END. I WAS SHOCKED. *JB

ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECOMES STUCK AT TIME CAUSING HIGH IDLE SPEED. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO CAL WORTHINGTONS 4 TIMES IN THE PAST COMPLAINING OF STUCK ACCELERATOR OR EXCESSIVE IDLE. THE DATES WERE 6/20/02, 12/04/03, 5/23/05, 10/17/05 AND NOW THE ACCELERATOR IS STUCK COMPLETELY AT 4000 RPM. *NM

TL* - THE CONTACT STATES THAT ON JANUARY OF 2005 HER 2002 FORD EXPLORER HAD A DEFECTIVE APPLIQUE LOCATED BELOW TAILGATE GLASS HAD DEVELOPED A CRACK FROM TOP TO BOTTOM. THE LOCATION OF THIS CRACK IS APPROXIMATELY INCHES TO THE LEFT OF THE FORD EMBLEM. CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THAT THE CRACK WAS A STRESS CRACK, PROBABLY DUE TO TEMPERATURE EXPAND. ON OCTOBER OF 2006 CONTACT EXPERIENCE THE SAME CRACK THIS TIME IT CRACKED INTO TWO PIECES. CONTACT STATES THAT SHE CAN PROVIDE PICTURES IF NEEDED.

THUMPING NOISE FROM DRIVERS SIDE FRONT END IN THE WHEEL AREA. THE NOISE IS MOST NOTICEABLE AT BETWEEN 40 AND 60 MPH DURING ACCELERATION. IT ALSO BECOMES A HUMMING NOISE AS THE GAS PEDAL IS RELEASED AND THE CAR IS COASTING OR DECELERATING. HAD NEW TIRES PUT ON THEN NEW BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS. NOTHING FIXED THE PROBLEM. TALKED TO MY BROTHER, ANOTHER LOYAL EXPLORER OWNER, AND HE HAD SAME PROBLEM DIAGNOSED AS A BEARING NEEDING REPLACING. HE ALSO TOLD ME ABOUT A LEAK ON HIS GARAGE FLOOR IN THE REAR MIDDLE OF THE CAR WHERE THE REAR AXLE IS. I TOLD HIM I HAVE SAME EXACT SPOT OF SOMETHING LEAKING ON MY GARAGE FLOOR. WE READ ABOUT ALL THE SEAL PROBLEMS WITH THE AXLE AND NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. HE SPENT OVER $1000 ON THE FRONT BEARINGS AND NOW IN FOR ANOTHER BIG BILL FOR THE SEAL PROBLEM. I SEE WE ARE NOT ALONE IN OUR EXPLORER DISAPPOINTMENTS. ALL WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. COME ON FORD, BACK UP YOUR VEHICLE AND PAY FOR THESE DEFECTS TO YOUR SUVS. *JB

THE PLASTIC APPLIQUE PANEL BELOW THE GLASS ON THE LIFTGATE HAS DEVELOPED TWO VERTICAL CRACKS, APPROX 1/8TH" IN DIAMETER RUNNING THE LENGTH OF THE PANEL (APPROX 5 INCHES) TO THE LEFT AND TO THE RIGHT OF THE 'FORD' EMBLEM. THESE DEVELOPED SPONTANEOUSLY OVER TIME, ONE AFTER ANOTHER. THERE WAS NO COLLISION OR OTHER TRAUMA TO TRIGGER THESE CRACKS. RESEARCH REVEALS THAT _MANY_ OTHER 2002 EXPLORER OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME DEFECT. I NOTICED THE SAME CONDITION ON SEVERAL OTHER 2002 FORD EXPLORERS SIMPLY DRIVING AROUND TOWN. FORD WILL NOT REPAIR THIS PROBLEM WHICH IS MOST OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, A BURNING ODOR WAS SMELLED COMING FROM THE A/C VENTS IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED, THE REAR VENT WAS HOT TO THE TOUCH AND A BURNING ODOR WAS EVIDENT. THE SERVICE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK UPDATED 10/30/2006 -*NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR HATCHBACK DOOR WINDSHIELD FELL OFF WHILE THE DOOR WAS OPEN BREAKING GLASS OVER THE CONCRETE WHICH DEFLECTED BACK UP CAUSING INJURIES TO THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TO A SERVICE DEALER TO DETERMINE THE CAUSED OF THE PROBLEM.

FORD EXPLORER 2002. REAR DIFFERENTIAL WHINING AND LEAKING AXLE SEALS. THE SEALS HAVE BEEN REPLACED ONCE ALREADY AND NOW IT IS BACK IN THE SHOP TO HAVE REPLACED AGAIN. 66,000 MILES ON VEHICLE. *JB

THE TAIL GATE DOOR PANEL BELOW THE GLASS HAS TO LINE CRACKS. IT BEGAN TO SEPARATE. IT ALSO HAPPEN TO MY FATHER IN-LAW. I HAVE ALSO SEEN IT IN MANY OTHER EXPLORERS. *JB

I NOTICED A FLUID LEAK FROM THE REAR AXLE OF MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. IT TURNED OUT THAT BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT REAR AXLE SEALS HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE HAD ONLY 75K MILES ON IT WHEN THE LEAK BEGAN. I DOUBLE CHECKED THE RECOMMENDED SERVICE SCHEDULE TO SEE IF I HAD MISSED SOMETHING BUT THEY DO NOT RECOMMEND THAT THE REAR AXLE FLUID BE CHANGED UNTIL 150K MILES. SO THIS IS NOT A CASE OF OWNER NEGLECT. AFTER SOME DISCUSSION AT THE DEALER SERVICE CENTER THEY INFORMED ME THAT THIS REPAIR IS FAIRLY COMMON ON EXPLORERS, MOUNTAINEERS AND AVIATORS AND THAT THE REPAIR KIT HAS A NEWLY DESIGNED SEAL. IF THERE IS A NEWLY DESIGNED SEAL AVAILABLE, THIS STRONGLY SUGGESTS THAT THE ORIGINAL SEALS ARE INSUFFICIENT. THIS IS ALSO PROVEN BY THE FACT THAT BOTH SEALS FAILED, NOT JUST ONE. THE COST OF THE REPAIR WAS QUOTED AT $490 ($380 OF WHICH WAS LABOR COST). THIS IS TOO MUCH TO ASK A CONSUMER TO PAY FOR A PART THAT WAS UNDER DESIGNED AND NOT PROPERLY TESTED PRIOR TO BEING PUT INTO PRODUCTION. THEREFORE, I BELIEVE THESE REAR AXLE SEAL PARTS SHOULD BE RECALLED AND THE OEM SHOULD BE FORCED TO REIMBURSE VEHICLE OWNERS FOR REPAIR COSTS. I ALSO NOTICED THAT THERE ARE TSB'S REGARDING EXPLORER, MOUNTAINEER, AND AVIATOR VEHICLES THAT MAY HAVE BEEN FILLED WITH THE WRONG REAR AXLE FLUID AT TIME OF PRODUCTION BUT HAVE NO WAY TO GET MORE INFORMATION ON THIS TO SEE IF MY VEHICLE IS AFFECTED. I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN ANY INFORMATION NHTSA MAY HAVE. *NM

VEHICLE MAKES A WHINNING SOUND FROM THE REAR DRIVE SHAFT WHEN ACCELLARATING OVER 35 MPG.

MY TRANSMISSION ON MY 2002 EXPLORER IS SLIPPING FROM 2ND TO 3RD AND MAKING A HISSING NOISE. I UNDERSTAND THERE HAS BEEN ALOT OF COMPLAINTS ON THESE TRUCKS. I WANT IT FIXED OR REPLACED. I HOPE THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS AUTOMOBILE FROM FORD. *NM

2002 FORD EXPLORER 39,000 ALL 4 BRAKE ROTORS RUSTED TO THE POINT THEY COULDN'T BE CUT AND WERE LITERALLY EATEN AWAY . *JB