2002 Ford Explorer Complaint Log

MY FAMILY AND I WENT TO MY FAMILY MEMBERS HOUSE AND AFTER PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND UNLOCKING THE DOORS MY DAUGHTER'S DOOR (REAR PASSENGER) WOULD NOT UNLOCK NOR OPEN FOR THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE, BY SWITCH NOR MANUALLY. FOR MY DAUGHTER TO EXIT THE VEHICLE SHE HAD TO CLIMB IN THE FRONT SEAT TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, WE HAVE A BABY THAT RIDES IN A CAR SEAT SO SHE COULDN'T EXIT ON THE DRIVER PASSENGER SIDE. I'VE DISCOVERED THAT THE ONLY WAY TO FIX THIS IS TAKE THE PANEL OFF AND TAKE THE ONE SCREW OFF THAT HOLDS THE HANDLE MECHANISM AND PULL IT A FEW TIMES TO FINALLY RELEASE THE LATCH. I JUST READ ABOUT A FORD RECALL ON FAULTY LATCHES. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IN THIS RECALL AND MY LATCH ISSUE IS MY LATCH WILL NOT RETURN TO AN OPEN STATE. I FEEL THAT MY ISSUE IS RELATED IN THE SAME CONTEXT, AND FEEL THAT THERE IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IF SOMETHING HAPPEN MY DAUGHTER COULD NOT GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO DIAGNOSE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WHILE UNDER WARRANTY, FORD FINALLY FOUND A PROBLEM AT 46,XXX MILES (NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, BUT FORD OFFERED A $1000 DEDUCTIBLE). BURT FORD OF ARAPAHOE FORD INC. CENTENNIAL, COLORADO REPLACED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WITH A REMANUFACTURED SERIAL# 0302462W AND REPLACED THE REAR AXLE RING AND PINION GEAR SET, BEARINGS, AND SEALS (SEPT. '06). WE RECEIVED A FORD POWERTRAIN SERVICE PART WARRANTY UNTIL 06/17/2008 (7YRS FROM ORIGINAL OWNERS DATE OF PURCHASE). WE ARE TAKING THE VEHICLE BACK TO SERVICE NOW (MAR. '07) FOR THE SAME PROBLEMS TO CHAMPION FORD OF SANDY, UTAH AFTER 6,000 MILES OF USE.

2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT 4WD: I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY TRANSMISSION ON 5 OCCASIONS. EACH TIME THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SHIFT REALLY HARD AND THUMP. FORD FIXED IT AND A FEW MONTHS LATER, THE SAME PROBLEM. ON THE LAST OCCASION, I BROUGHT IT IN BECAUSE IT WOULD STUTTER IN 2ND GEAR LIKE IT WAS SLIPPING (IT FELT LIKE A STALLING VEHICLE). FORD REBUILT THE TRANNY AND I GOT IT 2 DAYS LATER. IT IS NOW 3 DAYS AFTER THE FIX AND IT IS DOING IT AGAIN. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD AS LONG AS I LIVE. *JB

TRANSMISSION OVERDRIVE LIGHT STARTED TO FLICKER. DEALER TELLS ME THAT 2ND GEAR IS FAILING AND WHEN IT FAILS MY TRANSMISSION WILL FREEZE AND LOCK UP CAUSING A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE WHICH IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. *NM

2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHINING NOISE FROM REAR DIFFERENTIAL. WHINING GOES AWAY IF PRESSURE IS REDUCED FROM ACCELERATOR. THERE WAS A LOT LEAKING AROUND THE REAR AXLE SEALS, IT WAS FIXED UNDER WARRANTY THE FIRST TIME AT 17500 MILES AND WAS JUST FIXED AGAIN AT 54500 MILES ON MY DIME. HAVE UNCOVERED MANY OTHER 2002 EXPLORER OWNERS WITH SIMILAR REAR DIFFERENTIAL ISSUES. WOULD SEEM THAT SINCE THERE ARE MANY OTHERS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE THAT THERE IS SOME DESIGN/MATERIALS FLAW IN THE REAR END GEARBOX CAUSING THIS ISSUE. THIS IS A DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD PROMPT A SAFETY RECALL DUE TO POTENTIAL OF THE DIFFERENTIAL LOCKING UP. *NM

CHROME WHEELS DISINTEGRATING. WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT IT WAS COSMETIC AT THE TIME. NOW THE ALUMINUM HAS BECOME POROUS AND I BELIEVE IT TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

TODAY THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO HANG IN 1ST GEAR, THEN SLAMMED INTO THE NEXT GEAR. IT JERKS AND SLIPS CONSISTENTLY. THE OVERDRIVE OFF LIGHT IS FLASHING, AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. THE CAR SAYS "CHECK TRANSMISSION" ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. I CALLED 4 FORD DEALERS AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THE CAR IS A 2002 EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER 4X4 WITH THE 6 CYLINDER. I KNEW IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AS IT HAS 68,000 MILES ON IT. HOWEVER, THIS IS LOW MILEAGE TO HAVE TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM FOR THESE CARS, AND FORD DOESN'T CARE. I AM STUCK WITH THE CAR THAT CANNOT BE SAFELY DRIVEN NOW. OWNERS OF THESE CARS NEED HELP TO GET FORD TO ISSUE A RECALL. *JB

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER THAT HAD A NOISE IN THE REAR END WITHIN THE 1ST 30,000 MILES. FORD REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING. THEY SAID IT WAS THE TIRES. WE REPLACED ALL TIRES AND THE NOISE CONTINUED. AFTER 3 REAR ENDS/DIFFERENTIAL BEING REPLACED AND PAID FOR BY MYSELF, I THINK IT IS TIME TO START A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST FORD MOTOR COM. *NM

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *NM

AT ROUGHLY 45K MILES, MY 2002 EXPLORER ALSO HAD THE WHINING NOISE FROM THE REAR END AT 55-65 MPH, OIL DRIP MARKS ON THE DRIVEWAY - TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT I NEEDED A RIGHT WHEEL BEARING, REPLACED FOR $800. NEXT TIME WAS JUST THIS SUMMER (76K MILES) - AGAIN HAD THE WHINE RETURN, DRIPS ON THE DRIVEWAY AND THIS TIME IT WAS THE ENTIRE REAR END - ALL BEARINGS WERE SHOT. SPENT ANOTHER $1600. ON REPAIRS, PLUS RENTAL VEHICLE COSTS TO TRAVEL ON VACATION. FEW DAYS AGO (78K MILES), HAD "CHECK GAUGE" LAMP LIGHT WHEN OIL PRESSURE GAUGE DIPPED TO ZERO, THEN RECOVER IMMEDIATELY. THIS HAPPENED THREE OTHER TIMES BEFORE I GOT HOME, WITH NO FLUTTER IN THE ENGINE OR ANYTHING THAT WOULD INDICATE A REAL PROBLEM. NEXT EVENING WE STARTED THE VEHICLE, IT MADE A EVIL RACKET AND QUIT ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, NEVER TO START AGAIN. AAA TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER LEFT MESSAGE (ON MY VOICE MAIL AT HOME - I HAD TO SAVE IT) THAT THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED FOR ROUGHLY $5,000. PLUS TAX. I REALLY NEED TO SPEAK TO AN ATTORNEY. THIS IS WHAT I PAID $34,000 FOR 4 YEARS AGO? PERFECT CONDITION TRADE VALUE TODAY IS 9,200? *NM

I HAVE TAKEN IN MY 2002 FORD TWICE TO HAVE THE HATCH HINGE REPAIRED. THE THIRD TIME I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP WAS BECAUSE I GOT A RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE. THE RECALL DESCRIPTION WAS FOR: THE LIFTGATE GLASS STRUT MAY BECOME DISENGAGED OR THE HINGE MAY FRACTURE ALLOWING THE GLASS TO FALL AND POSSIBLY BREAK. AFTER A YEAR OF IT'S RECALL THE HINGE AGAIN POPPED OUT BUT THIS TIME THE REAR GLASS OF MY VEHICLE DID SHATTER. I TOOK MY VEHICLE AGAIN TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP (WHERE I'VE TAKEN IT NOW FOR THE FOURTH TIME) AND THEY STATED THAT BECAUSE THEY ALREADY "FIXED" THE RECALLED PART THEY WERE NOT OBLIGATED TO REPLACE THE REAR WINDOW HATCH. TWO THINGS ARE POSSIBLE: 1. THE FORD DEALERSHIP INSTALLED THE RECALLED PART INCORRECTLY OR 2. THE RECALLED PART WAS ALSO DEFECTIVE. I AM NOT GOING TO PAY OUT OF MY POCKET FOR THE RECALLED PART TO BE FIX. *JB

REAR END ROAR AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND REDUCED GAS MILEAGE. *JB

I OWN A 2002 FORD EXPLOERE AND TRANSMISSIONWAS GIVING ME PROBLEMS. ALSO, HAS SOME VABRATION IN REAR END AND FRONT END ,TOOK IT TO FORD ON WARANTY, AND THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG . WELL NOW I HAVE A TRANSMISION PROBLEM AND OUT OF WARANTY, AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO FOR ME, I WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO GET THE PROBLEM FIXED. BUT THEY SHOULD OF LOOK IN TO THIS PROBLEM WHEN I HAD THE CAR FOR A MONTH. NOW A YEAR LATER THE TRANSMISION WAS NO GOOD. *AK

BLINKING O\D LIGHT, TRANSMISSION WILL ONLY SHIFT INTO OVERDRIVE UNDER NO LOAD, LATE AND HARD SHIFT FROM 1ST TO 2ND (OR ACCEL TO ABOUT 20 MPH THEN BACK OFF TO MINIMIZE JAR TO DRIVE LINE COMPONENTS), AND 4-WHEEL DRIVE WILL NOT ENGAGE. SAFETY ISSUES: (1) PULLING OUT IN TRAFFIC, CAN'T ACCELERATE UNTIL SHIFTS INTO 2ND GEAR (HAVE TO BACK OFF IN 1ST BEFORE IT SHIFTS) (2) 4-WHEEL TRACTION LOCK DOES NOT FUNCTION. FROM THE DAY I BOUGHT THIS EXPLORER NEW, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED LATER AND HARDER THAN I THOUGH APPROPRIATE. THEN AT ABOUT 80 TO 85K MILES THE OD AND 4-WHEEL DRIVE STOPPED WORKING AND SHIFTS BETWEEN 1ST TO 3RD BECAME MUCH WORSE. THE TORQUE CONVERTER LOCK UP STILL SEEMS TO BE WORKING (CAN TELL WHEN IT'S RUNNING ROAD SPEED IN 3RD GEAR). AFTER SOME RESEARCH USING FORD SHOP MANUALS, THERE SEEMS TO BE DIRECT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN 1ST TO 2ND LATE/HARD SHIFTS AND THE OVERDRIVE PROBLEM BUT I CAN;T FIND AN OFFICIAL FORD POSTING OR TECH BULLETIN TO PROVIDE DETAILS. INTERNAL PRESSURES CONTROL THE SHIFTING AND THERE ARE SEVERAL VALVES, ORIFICES, SOLENOIDS, ETC THAT CAN CAUSE IMPROPER CONTROL PRESSURES. FORD MUST KNOW OF THE PROBLEM AND TRUTHFULLY, I THINK THE RELIABILITY OF THE TRANNY IN THE IRS EXPLORER FALLS WELL BELOW THE PUBLICS EXPECTATIONS AND SHOULD BE EVEN FARTHER BELOW FORDS ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA. DESPITE THE PREMATURE FAILURE, I WOULD PROBABLY BE CONTENT IF FORD PROVIDED THEIR EXPLORER OWNERS A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FAILURE, DEVELOPED A LONG TERM FIX, PROVIDED FORD OWNERS SOME REASONABLE OPTIONS TO INSTALL THE PARTS AND/OR MAKE THE MODIFICATIONS NEEDED FOR A LONG TERM FIX (TO INCLUDE SELF REPAIR AS AN OPTION), AND ESTABLISH A HELP DESK TO ASSIST CUSTOMERS WITH THIS EXTREMELY HIGH TRANSMISSION FAILURE RATE. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED IT WOULD BE IN 4-WHEEL DRIVE HIGH. SOMETIMES WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BACKED UP AND/OR MAKING RIGHT OR LEFT TURNS THE VEHICLE WOULD GO INTO 4-WHEEL DRIVE HIGH ON ITS OWN. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE VEHICLE KICKED INTO 4-WHEEL DRIVE HIGH ON ITS OWN. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED BUT THE CONTACT PLANS TO CALL THEM SOON. THE 4X4 HIGH LIGHT ILLUMINATED EACH TIME.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL IN AUGUST OF 2007. HE TOOK HIS VEHICLE TO A LOCAL DEALER TO HAVE THE RECALL REPAIRED AND THEY STATED THAT THE PARTS WOULD BE UNAVAILABLE UNTIL NOVEMBER. HE CALLED ANOTHER DEALER AND THEY CURRENTLY DO NOT HAVE ANY PARTS AS WELL. HE ATTEMPTED TO NOTIFY THE MANUFACTURER, BUT WAS UNABLE TO SPEAK WITH A REPRESENTATIVE DIRECTLY. THE CONTACT HAS NOT HAD THE SPEED CONTROL SWITCH DEACTIVATED. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51,000.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER SHUTTING THE LIFTGATE GLASS IT SHATTERED AND RAINED DOWN. THE BROKEN GLASS CUT THE ARM, LEG AND FOOT OF THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT A REPAIR WOULD NOT BE PERFORMED BECAUSE THE WINDOW CYLINDER DID NOT APPEAR TO BE DAMAGED. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL # 01I010000 WHICH PERTAINS TO THE SIDE AND REAR GLASS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

I BOUGHT BY 2002 FORD EXPLORER FROM BOARD FORD ON 07/24/2004. IT HAD 57051 MILES ON IT. AT 77117 MILES THE TRANSMISSION GEARS WENT OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE 91 FWY. I THEN HAD IT REPAIRED AT CERRITOS FORD. IT ONCE AGAIN WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 92120 MILES. IT WAS A FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE WHILE DRIVING FOR YOUR GEARS TO GO OUT ON A BUSY HIGHWAY. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER BOTH TIMES SAFELY. *NM

2002 FORD EXPLORER 71,000 MILES....TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD AND WHINING FROM REAR END WITH SOME VIBRATION....FORD SHOULD RECALL AS I HAVE READ MANY OTHERS HAVE SAME PROBLEMS. *JB

AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT, FLASHES SEVERAL TIMES AND THEN STAYS ILLUMINATED

CRACKS APPEARING ON THE TAILGATE OF 2002 FORD EXPLORER. *TR

THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT. HIT ANOTHER CAR AT ABOUT 40 MILES AN HOUR AND THE FRONT DRIVERS AND PASSENGER AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE TWO INJURED. THE FRAME WASN'T BENT AND THE ENGINE WAS OKAY. WHAT SAVED THE PASSENGERS WAS AN ADD-ON BUMPER GUARD I HAD ON THE FRONT. TRUCK WAS TOWED TO A FORD DEALERSHIP AND THE SERVICE MANGER SAID THE SAME THING ABOUT THE BUMPER GUARD. *JB

I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE WITH 60,000 THOUSAND MILES ON IT AND NOW I AM FINDING OUT THAT IT MAY BE JUNK. IT IS EXPERIENCING MANY OF THE PROBLEMS YOU READ ABOUT THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS VEHICLE. IT SHIFTS REALLY HARD INTO 3RD AND THE REAR END MAKES A WHINING NOISE/GRINDING TYPE NOISE. *NM

I TOOK MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER IN FOR SERVICE AND REQUESTED THEM TO FIX THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. I WAS ADVISED THERE IS A FAULTY SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER SENSOR THAT WORKS WITH THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. I WAS TOLD THERE IS A SERVICE NOTICE FROM FORD, BUT NOT A RECALL. REPAIR WAS ONLY COVERED UNDER BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED AT VARIABLE SPEEDS, SOMETIMES NOT ENGAGING THE NEXT HIGHER GEAR OR AT TIMES THE ENGINE WOULD RACE, THEN SLAM INTO GEAR WITH A BANGING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER WHERE COMPUTER DIAGNOSTICS WOULD NOT RECOGNIZE THE 5TH GEAR IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSFER CASE WAS REBUILT, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN INSPECTED ON 7 OCCASIONS. THE REAR LIFT GATE WINDOW HINGE WAS REPLACED, BUT CONTINUED TO FALL OUT OF THE HINGE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED.

THE OVERDRIVE WARNING LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND THE ENGINE WAS WHINING AND RUNNING BETWEEN 3K TO 5K RPM. THE TRANSMISSION BAND BROKE AND CAUSED A SYSTEMATIC FAILURE. *NM

AT 80,000 MILES THE VEHICLE HAD 'WHINE' OR 'ROAR' FROM REAR END. I DECIDED IT WAS NOT WORTH FIXING AND 'LIVED WITH IT'. THE VEHICLE NOW HAS 136,000 MILES, STILL 'ROARS', AND HAS TWO SEALS (THAT RESIDE IN DIFFERENTIAL CASE) THAT ARE NOW LEAKING. I WILL NOW HAVE TO SPEND AT LEAST $1200 TO FIX AND HAVE ALREADY SPEND $200 TO DIAGNOSE. *JB

ON THE BACK LIFTGATE, THE MIDDLE BODY PIECE HAS CRACKED AGAIN AFTER BEING REPLACED AROUND THE FORD SYMBOL. DEALER HAS REPLACED ONCE AND WILL NOT REPLACE AGAIN. THE AXLE HOUSING IS LEAKING NEXT TO THE DIFFERENTIAL. *NM

BOUGHT MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER NEW. AT 90000 MILES, THE MILEAGE GAUGE WENT OUT AND FORD DEALERSHIP TOLD ME IT WOULD COST $600 TO REPAIR. MY LOCAL REPAIR SHOP TOLD ME THAT THIS PROBLEM IS COMMON WITH FORD EXPLORERS AND EXPEDITIONS OF THE SAME YEAR. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SOUNDED AS IF SOMETHING WAS RUBBING AGAINST THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND INSPECTED. THE REAR END WAS OBSERVED TO BE RIDING LOW. AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THE REAR SPRINGS WERE FRACTURED AND THEY WERE REPLACED.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE GAS PEDAL STUCK CAUSING AN ACCIDENT BY HITTING A VAN AND BARELY MISSING A HOUSE. THIS WAS THE FIRST OCCURRENCE AND THE ACCIDENT WAS REPORTED TO THE POLICE, HOWEVER, THE POLICE HAVE NOT FINALIZED THE POLICE REPORT.

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER WITH ABOUT 57,000 MILES. I RECENTLY HAD AN OIL CHANGE AT A PLACE CALLED THE OIL WELL AND THEY NOTICED OIL LEAKING FROM THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL AND ADVISED I SHOULD TAKE IT TO THE DEALER AS IT APPEARED THAT THE SEALS WERE LEAKING. THE OIL WELL ADVISED THAT I TAKE IT TO THE DEALER TO GET THE SEAL REPLACED BUT THE LEAK DID NOT APPEAR TO BE BAD. I JUST TOOK MY EXPLORER TO THE DEALER ON AUG 4, 2006 AND WAS TOLD IT WAS LEAKING BADLY AND THEY REPLACED THE SEALS. AFTER WAITING SEVERAL HOURS , I WAS TOLD THE CAR WAS READY BUT THE IS A WHINING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR WHICH THEY ADVISED THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL BEARINGS ARE BAD AND THAT IT WILL COST ABOUT $1400.00 TO REPAIR. IT APPEARS I AM NOT ALONE IN THIS PROBLEM WHICH I AM TOLD BY THE DEALER IF IT IS NOT FIXED THAT THE REAR COULD LOCK UP AND THEN I COULD HAVE EVEN WORST PROBLEMS. IT APPEARS THAT THE 2002 FORD EXPLORER HAD A REAR DIFFERENTIAL PROBLEM THAT FORD NEEDS TO CORRECT JUDGING BY THE OTHER COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. *NM

CLASSIC REAR DIFFERENTIAL. HUMMING AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 55 TO 65 MPH UNDER LOAD AND LEAKING SEALS AND MY VEHICLE HAS 57K MILES ON IT. IT IS A FORD DEFECT.*JB

I HAVE 68K MILES ON MY 2002 EXPLORER AND FELT I WAS IN NEED OF NEW BRAKES AND DROPPED OFF THE VEHICLE AT MIDAS. I WAS CONTACTED BY THE MECHANIC THAT AFTERNOON AND WAS ADVISED: "SIR I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT YOUR BRAKES ARE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION; HOWEVER, I'M SORRY TO BE THE BEARER OF VERY BAD NEWS. YOUR REAR DIFFERENTIAL SEALS ARE BAD AND LEAKING AND THE DIFFERENTIAL IS CLOSE TO 'FALLING OFF' OF YOUR VEHICLE! HE FURTHER STATES, "HE HAS BEEN AN AUTHORIZED MECHANIC FOR 25 YEARS AND FEELS THIS IS AN INHERENT FLAW FROM FORD AS THIS IS NOT THE FIRST ONE HE HAS SEEN AND THAT I PROCEED TO THE NEAREST FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR THEM TO CORRECT THIS DANGEROUS "SAFETY ISSUE." THE MECHANIC ALSO GAVE ME A COPY OF THE TSB FROM FORD. I CALLED A LOCAL FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENT THE SAME DAY IN A STATE OF PANIC! A SERVICE MANAGER ASSURED ME THAT NOT ONLY WAS THE MECHANIC WHO ALERTED ME OF THIS "FLAW" NOT AUTHORIZED BY FORD, BUT HE WAS ONLY OVER-REACTING! I TOOK MY EXPLORER IN TODAY WITH THE NOTICE PRINTED BY MIDAS AND IT WAS ONLY DISCOUNTED AS BEING A "SERVICE BULLETIN FOR TECHNICIANS." I PAID $55 FOR THEM TO RUN THE SAME TESTS AS MIDAS HAD DONE, WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER; "THE RIGHT REAR BEARING NEEDS REPLACING, THE SEALS OF THE DIFFERENTIAL NEEDS ARE BAD AND LEAKING AND NEED REPLACING, THERE WAS NO RECALL ON MY VEHICLE, YOU'RE OUT OF WARRANTY, AND THE REPAIRS WOULD BE $700+ AND SERVICE SHOULD BE DONE VERY SOON AS THE DAMAGE WILL WORSEN. NO ONE AT THE DEALER WOULD ADMIT THAT THIS WAS A RECALL. I PAID A $55 DIAGNOSIS CHARGE FOR THEM TO TELL ME WHAT PARTS HAD FAILED WHICH I ALREADY KNEW. I DECLINED THE REPAIRS, ADVISED THE SERVICE MANAGER I WOULD BE CALLING MY ATTORNEY FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTION. I AM NOW SEEKING LEGAL ADVICE AS I SEE I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WHO HAS EXPERIENCED THIS "INHERENT FORD FLAW" AND WILL DO MY BEST TO SEE THAT FORD ADDRESSES THIS SAFETY ISSUE. THIS IS A SERIOUS FLAW FROM FORD!*JB

SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF CYLINDER HEAD WHILE DRIVING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS, COULD HAVE CAUSED FIRE HAD TO REPLACE THE CYLINDER HEAD INSTEAD OF A TAP KIT TO AVOID METAL SHAVINGS RUINING THE ENGINE. *NM

I OWN A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS 3 YEARS OLD, THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT IN IT. ONE DAY IT WASN'T DRIVING RIGHT, AND BY THE NEXT DAY THE TRANSMISSION WAS OUT. THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR WARRANTY (IT WAS STILL UNDER 100K MILES) I ENDED UP SHELLING OUT OVER $2000 FOR THIS TO BE REPAIRED. I HAVE HAD ALOT OF PEOPLE TELL ME THAT THEY HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR EXPLORER. THE SHOP THAT REPAIRED THE CAR HAD LOTS OF TROUBLE WITH THE TRANSMISSION AS WELL. IT TOOK THEM A MONTH TO GET IT RUNNING PROPERLY. I STILL HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE THIRD GEAR. IT DOES NOT SHIFT PROPERLY AND WILL SOMETIMES SKIP THE GEAR ALL TOGETHER. I AM PROUD TO OWN AN AMERICAN MADE CAR, BUT IT RUNS LIKE CRAP AND I WISH THAT FORD WOULD DO SOMETHING TO CORRECT THIS. IT IS NOT OLD ENOUGH TO HAVE THIS KIND OF PROBLEM, AND MANY PEOPLE ARE IN THE SAME BOAT AS ME WITH THEIR EXPLORER. I AM STILL TRYING TO PAY THIS OFF AS WELL AS CONTINUE TO MAKE THE CAR PAYMENT. *TR

A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER 4.0 XLS STARTED TO MAKE A ROARING SOUND FROM THE REAR WHEELS AND THE GAS MILEAGE SEEMED TO BE A COUPLE MPG LESS. I THINK I HAD ABOUT 25K MILES AT THE TIME. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND ASKED THEM TO CHECK IT OUT, I THOUGHT IT COULD BE THE BEARINGS, THEY FOUND NOTHING. I WAS VERY CONCERNED SINCE I WAS GOING TO TAKE MY FAMILY ON VACATION... NOW, STILL CONCERN I DID AN INTERNET SEARCH SEEING IF ANYONE ELSE WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I FOUND HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/EXPLORER/2002/WHEELS_HUBS/WHEEL_BEARING_FAILURE.SHTML AND NOW I AM EVEN MORE CONCERNED. I THINK I AM SITTING ON A TIME BOMB. THERE WERE SO MANY COMPLAINTS, THAT I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS TRULY A DESIGN FLAW THAT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED. I HAVE HAD IDENTICAL ISSUES AND I DON'T ABUSE THE CAR. COULD YOU PLEASE INVESTIGATE BEFORE I END UP IN AN ACCIDENT? THANK YOU. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A ROARING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE'S REAR AXLE. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE DIFFERENTIAL WAS LEAKING AND THERE WERE ALSO METAL FLAKES IN THE DIFFERENTIAL.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE STEERING COLUMN HANDLE FRACTURED AND DETACHED. BEFORE IT FRACTURED, THE STEERING HANDLE SEEMED TO HAVE A CLICKING SOUND IN IT. THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS NEARLY PARKED THEREFORE THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO AVOID ANY ACCIDENTS. THE STEERING HANDLE WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 09/13/06. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THERE WAS A SENSATION OF RUNNING OVER SOMETHING. THE VEHICLE THEN STALLED COMPLETELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHERE THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT DUE TO THE ENGINE LOCKING UP, THE ENTIRE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

ACCORDING TO MY MECHANIC "THE CAGED NUT BROKE FROM 8 AN INCH BOLT WITH WASHERS ON THE REAR END" HE HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT BEFORE. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, IT JUMPED GEARS, ACCELERATED FORWARD AND HIT A TREE. THE VEHICLE WAS IDENTIFIED TO BE STILL IN PARK AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO COULD NOT DETERMINE OR DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER RECOMMENDED THAT THE CONTACT SHOULD USE THE PARKING BRAKE IN THE FUTURE.

BOUGHT 2002 EXPLORER IN 2003 WITH 12,000 MILES. SERVICNG DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION AND TORQUE CONVERTER UNDER WARRANTY @ 32,000 MILES AFTER O/D LIGHT STARTED FLASHING. NOW NEEDS ANOTHER TRANSMISSION @ 54,000 MILES. CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN SERVICED, DRIVEN LIGHTLY, NEVER TOWED, NEVER ABUSED. DEALER WILL NOT PAY OR HELP OUT ONE BIT. FORD KNOWS 2002 EXPLORERS HAVE DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSIONS AND REAR ENDS, IS IGNORING PROBLEM, LEAVING CONSUMER TO ABSORB COST! HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER, REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER ASSEMBLY, AIR CONDITIONING UNIT UNDER WARRANTY. FRONT AND REAR WHEEL BEARINGS NEEDED REPLACING- OUT OF WARRANTY. REAR END IS MAKING CLASSIC "HUMMING" SOUND THAT FORD IS ALSO IGNORING-PINION GEARS. *NM

PERSISTENT QUALITY PROBLEMS: ENGINE, TRANSMISSION, POWER STEERING, AIR COMPRESSOR, AND RELATED SAFETY HAZARDS SUCH AS DEFECTIVE REAR HINGE. *NM

BEARINGS. NOTICED A CLUNKING COMING FROM THE FRONT. WAS TOLD I NEED NEW BEARINGS AND IT WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $1200. ONLY 55K MILES. *NM

I OWN A 2002 FORD EXPLORER THE MILES ON IT ARE 69,013. THE TRANSMISSION WENT. I HAD TO HAVE IT REBUILT FOR 2129.60. WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN FOR SERVICE THE MECHANIC SAID THAT THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL AND THAT NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. COULD SOMEONE CHECK INTO THIS. I FIND IT VERY HARD TO BELIEVE FOR A VEHICLE WITH SUCH LOW MILES TO HAVE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ROLL DOWN THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT WINDOW, THE WINDOW WOULD NOT GO DOWN AND THE SMELL OF SMOKE APPEARED. THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE CONSOLE AREA ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OFF OF THE ROAD UNTIL THE SMOKE SUBSIDED. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED.

2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT 4WD REAR END TROUBLES, THIRD TIME HAVING WORK DONE ON THE REAR AXLE AND ASSEMBLY, TROUBLED STARTED AT ABOUT 40000 AND NOW AT 72000 MILES. SEALS, BEARINGS, REAR AXLE. HUMMING AND WHINING NOISE FROM REAR END AT BOTH HIGHWAY SPEED AND CITY DRIVING. DEALER QUOTED OVER THE PHONE COULD RUN IN EXCESS OF $2000 FOR PARTS AND LABOR, TOOK IT TO A LOCAL GARAGE SPENT $1032 DOLLARS FOR REPAIRS. REPLACED WITH DEALER ONLY PARTS, NO SAVINGS THERE. FORD CLAIMS NO PROBLEMS WITH REAR END. ALL INDICATIONS IS THE PROBLEM WILL RETURN. I'M NOT CONVINCED THE PROBLEM IS FIXED. *NM

TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON A 2002 FORD EXPLORER 4 DOOR. TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 78,000 MILES AND WAS REBUILT BY CONDIT FORD IN NEWTON NJ AROUND JULY 2006. TRANSMISSION FAILURE AGAIN AT 128,000 MILES ON APRIL 9, 2010 AND WAS REBUILT BY FOXWORTH'S AUTO SERVICE IN GREENSBORO, NC. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE 25-35 MPH, THERE WAS A SOUND LIKE AN EXPLOSION COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE WHERE THE GARAGE DETERMINED A SPARK PLUG HAD BLOWN OUT. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THIS WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES. THE DEALERSHIP ALSO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT ONCE THIS HAPPENS, IT KEEPS HAPPENING AND EVENTUALLY THE ENGINE WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE COIL WAS DAMAGED WHEN THE SPAR PLUG FAILED. UPDATED 08/08/06. *JB