2002 Ford Explorer Complaint Log

MY TRUCK WORKED FINE FOR THE FIRST 18000 MILES I HAVE HAD IT AND NOW IT HAS ALMOST 45000 MILES ON IT. WHEN THE TRUCK TRIES TO CHANGE GEARS FROM SECOND TO THIRD THE TRANSMISSION MAKES A CLUNK NOISE AND THEN THE REST OF THE TIME IT CHANGES GEARS FINE. THE NOISE JUST HAPPENS BETWEEN SECOND TO THIRD GEAR.*JB

THE SEAT COMPONENTS THAT ARE UNDERNEATH THE DRIVER'S SIDE HAVE A SEVERE AMOUNT OF RUST ON THEM. *LA

PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION, REAR AXLE AND SEATBELTS. (NAR) *MR TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WAS FOUND OUT TO BE A PROBLEM IN THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED ALSO FOR PARKING BRAKE NOT LOCKING IN POSITION. ALSO, CONSUMER ENCOUNTERED A PROBLEM WITH RIGHT REAR HATCH GUIDE FOR DOOR PIN COMING APART, AND TRIM ON DRIVER'S SEAT BOTTOM WAS COMING LOOSE. IN ADDITION, AIR BAG LIGHT ON DASH KEPT COMING ON AND STAYED ON. *LA *CB

TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN A 2002 FORD EXPLORER, TIMING CHAIN GUIDE FAILURE (4.0L PREVIOUS FORD RECALL) FORD REPLACED TRANS. NOW THAT TRANS IS FAILING. REPLACED TIMING CHAIN AND GEAR SET. *NM

THE VEHICLE WENT INTO FOUR WHEEL DRIVE ON ITS OWN. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONSUMER IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *JB

THE REAR SEAL ON THE AXLE ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED 5 TIMES ON THE CONSUMERS 2002 FORD EXPLORER. *JB THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. *SC *JB

THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED. AS A RESULT THE ABS SENSOR LIGHT CONTINUED TO STAY ON. *AK

ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE, INABILITY OF FORD TO REPAIR. THE ABS WARNING LIGHT COMES ON, SECOND TIME IT HAS BEEN TO DEALER FOR REPAIR. DEALER TELLS ME THEY HAVE NO FIX, I CALLED TO FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE, THEY SAY THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT DON'T HAVE A FIX. VEHICLE IS DRIVABLE BUT I DON'T HAVE THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES, LIGHT IS STILL ON. A CHECK WITH A TROUBLESHOOTING WEB SITE: HTTP://WWW.FORD-AUTO-AND-PARTS.COM/TROUBLESHOOTING/ANSWERS/ID-1224.HTML INDICATES THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE EXPLORERS. NHSTA NEEDS TO LOOK INTO THIS AND FORCE A REPAIR OR RECALL. *LA

WHEN STOPPING OR SLOWING DOWN, INTERMITTENTLY THE VEHICLE STALLED WHEN TURNING LEFT, THERE WAS A KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL. THE HEAT VENTS THAT BLEW DIRECTLY ON THE CONSUMER DID NOT WORK. THESE PROBLEMS HAVE OCCURRED AT LEAST THREE TIMES IN ONE MONTH. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER WERE NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *JB

AT THE BOTTOM OF THE LIFTGATE UNDERNEATH THE BACK WINDOW, RIGHT NEXT TO THE FORD EMBLEM. I HAVE A CRACK FROM THE TOP OF THE FRAME TO THE BOTTOM. I HAVE HAD THIS CRACK ON MY VEHICLE FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS. I TOOK IT TO THE NEAREST FORD DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WASN'T COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, OR WAS NOT ON RECALL. SINCE THEN I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL OTHER VEHICLES JUST LIKE MINE WITH THE SAME CRACK IN THE BACK UNDERNEATH THE BACK WINDOW NEXT TO THE FORD EMBLEM. *TR

4X4 LIGHT ON DASH WOULD SPORADICALLY FLASH ON AND THEN GO OFF. DURING A SNOW STORM, FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE FAILED TO WORK, CAUSING THE CAR TO SLIDE ON ROADS. HAD TO BUY SNOW CHAINS TO GET THE CAR TO A DEALER. IT TOOK TWO VISITS BEFORE DEALER COULD DIAGNOSE PROBLEM AND REPLACE A 4X4 ELECTRONIC SHIFT MODULE PART # 2C5Z*7E453*BD.

CONSUMER WAS ABOUT TO START VEHICLE WHEN IT WAS NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A MESSAGE ON THE DASHBOARD THAT REAR HATCH DOOR WAS AJAR. WHEN CONSUMER WENT TO CLOSE THE DOOR, THE GLASS EXPLODED OUT OF THE FRAME, WHICH FELL APART. THE HYDRAULIC PISTON HAD A BENT INSERT WHICH CAUSED THE INFRACTION. *AK PE04045.PCO

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER ON FOUR PREVIOUS OCCASIONS TO ADDRESS AN OVERHEATING PROBLEM THAT OCCURRED SUDDENLY WHILE DRIVING. TEMPERATURE GAUGE WOULD SPIKE AND THEN RETURN TO ALMOST NORMAL LEVELS. ON THE FIFTH TRIP TO THE DEALER 10/24/03, WAS THEN TOLD THE PROBLEM IS A CRACKED CYLINDER HEAD., THIS WAS LATER DIAGNOSED AS A PISTON PROBLEM. VEHICLE IS STILL WITH DEALER WITH COMPRESSION PROBLEMS. *AK

REAR WINDOW FELL OFF THE HINGES. *AK PE04045_PCO

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE. THE DEALER STATED THAT IT WAS THE SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER. THE FIRST THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY; YET, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY RISK. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24963 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80000.

THE HALF WAY CARGO GLASS EXPLODED WHILE CONSUMER OPENED THE DOOR. TECHNICIAN STATED IT WAS RELATED TO NHTSA RECALL 01I010000. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: 2002 FORD EXPLORER AND MERCURY MOUNTAINEER SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE BRACKETS CONNECTING THE LEFT CYLINDERS TO EACH SIDE OF THE LIFTGATE GLASS COULD ROTATE OUT OF POSITION IF EITHER THE URETHANE BOND OR TORQUE ARE NOT SUFFICIENT. THIS WAS NOT A SAFETY RECALL; HOWEVER, IT WAS DEEMED AS A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY NHTSA. *AK DUP_PCO

MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT HAS EXPIERENCED ALL THE POWER TRAIN PROBLEMS THAT I AHVE FOUND ON THIS SITE.MY DEALER AHS BEEN ADMIRABLE IN TRYING TO RESOLVE THESE PROBLEMS BUT IT SEEMS WE GET ONE FIXED AND ANOTHER STARTS.THE FIRS WAS THE TRANSFER CASR HAD A SHUTTER IN IT BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND GEAR , THEN THE REAR END HAD A BAD BEARING, THEN THE LEFT REAR AXLE HAD A BAD WHEEL BEARING, THEN THE VEHILCE WAS STAYING IN FOUR WHEEL DRIVE ALL THE TIME, THIS HAPPENED ON A TRIP THIS FALL BARE GROUND. THEN THE LATEST IS THE TRANSMISION IS GOING TO NEUTRAL AT STOP SIGNS AND RED LIGHTS BY ITSELF. THE VEHILE THEN SITS AND REVS UNTIL WITH A BANG THE TRANSMISSON ENGAGES AGAIN. *AK

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILING IN 2ND GEAR. SEEMS TO BE A WIDELY KNOWN PROBLEM IN THE V-6 2002 EXPLORER. STARTED ACTING UP AT 60K, AS SOON AS THE WARRANTY WAS OUT.*JB

I HAVE HAD SEVERAL INSTANCES WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOPPED POSITION WHEN THERE HAS BEEN A 2-3 SECOND HESITATION BEFORE IT ACTUALLY KICKS IN, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THERE IS A LOUD VIBRATION COMING FROM THE RIGHT REAR OF THE VEHICLE, AND THE SHIFTING BECOMES VERY ERRATIC AND THE O/D LIGHT FLICKERS. I HAVE TALKED TO SEVERAL DEALERS. TWO OF THEM HAVE STATED THAT THE VIBRATION IS BECAUSE OF THE ROAD SURFACE. WHEN TRYING TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE, THERE IS A POPPING SOUND AND HESITATION BEFORE THE VEHICLE ACTUALLY MOVES. *LA

SAME AS NOTED FROM OTHER FORD EXPLORE 02 OWNERS.....THE BOTTOM OF THE REAR WINDOW IS CRACKED SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE IN 03. I HAVE NOW ATTACHED A SIGN USING STICK ON LETTERS THAT READ ON THE BACK PANEL "FORD QUALITY' WITH AN ARROW POINTING TO THE CRACK AS THE DEALER AND FORD WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT AS EVIDENT BY ALL THE COMPLAINTS. I THINK FORD NEEDS THIS TYPE OF PUBLICITY! *TR

WHILE CHANGING THE OIL IN THE VEHICLE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT SEVERAL DRIVER SIDE MOTOR MOUNT BOLTS WERE LOOSE. MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE PROBLEM, AND INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT MAYBE THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AT THE FACTORY. *AK *NLM

TAILGATE WINDOW SHATTERED WITHOUT WARNING WHEN ATTEMPTING TO CLOSE IT. DEALER STATED THE HYDRAULIC CYLINDER TWISTED AWAY FROM THE BRACKET. *AK *JB *NM PE04045.PCO

I PURCHASED A 2002 EXPLORER NEW AND HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE IN TO DEALER TWICE WITH SAME COMPLAINTS. VEHICLE GOES INTO NEUTRAL WHILE IN DRIVE AND BACK INTO DRIVE WITH A LOUD BANG AND CLUNG. VEHICLE ALSO TAKES ABOUT 30 SECONDS TO GO INTO GEAR FROM PARK TO DRIVE OR REVERSE AND ALSO A LOUD BANG & CLUNG WHEN IT FINALLY DOES GO IN. THERE IS ALSO A LOUD WHINING SOUND ON THE HIGHWAY AT HIGHER SPEEDS. DEALER EACH TIME SAYS THEY CAN NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH VEHICLE AND UNLESS THEY CAN DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM THEY CLAIM THEY CANNOT FIX. IT DOES NOT MATTER THAT IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING WHILE I DRIVE IT. *LA

ABS SENSOR LIGHT STAYED ON. DEALER STATED OIL LEAKED ONTO THE SENSOR. THERE WAS NO SOLUTION, AND ABS SYSTEM DISENGAGED. *AK

SEATS ARE RUSTED UNDERNEATH, UNDER DASH METAL RUSTING. CONTACTED LOCAL DEALER WHERE PURCHASED, SAID THEY CONTACTED FORD, CONDITION NORMAL. I CONTACTED FORD, SAME ANSWER. CONCERN IS RUST IS A NEVER ENDING CONDITION AND IN TIME (WHAT EVER IT MAY BE) WILL CAUSE FAILURE. HAVING PAID QUITE A LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR VEHICLE, I FIND IT HARD TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS PRACTICE IS SAFE AND NOT A CONCERN. *JB

TRAILER TOWING WIRING IS FUSED AT 40 AMPS TO THE TRAILER PLUG. A SHORT IN THE SIGNAL WIRING CAUSED THE TRAILER WIRING INSULATION TO MELT OFF BEFORE THE FUSE BLEW. I WAS FORTUNATE TO HAVE IT HAPPEN WITH MY BOAT TRAILER WHERE THE WIRING IS ENCLOSED IN THE IRON CHANNEL OF THE TRAILER. HAD THIS BEEN A CAMPER, IT COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE. THE WIRES GOING TO THE TRAILER PLUG SHOULD BE FUSED AT 7.5 AMPS AS IN PREVIOUS MODEL EXPLORERS. SEE THE EMAIL I RECENTLY COPIED YOUR DEPARTMENT FOR FULL EXPLANATION OF THIS INCIDENT. THIS PROBLEM EXISTS IN THE 2002 AND 2003 EXPLORERS AND POSSIBLE OTHER FORD PRODUCTS. *LA

MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER HAD IT'S REAR GLASS FALL OFF WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO OPEN IT 2 DAYS AGO. I CALLED FORD AND THEY SOUNDED SURPRISED. I CALLED THEM BACK WITH THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE 50,000+ VEHICLES RECALLED FOR THIS AND THEY REMAIN UNIMPRESSED. I'M LOOKING FOR SOME HELP. I CALLED WINCHESTER FORD, (WINCHESTER VA) 540 667 4434. ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED. THANKS VERY MUCH, BEN

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP IN 2ND OR 3RD GEAR. HAD TO MOVE VEHICLE TO SIDE OF ROAD, AND THEN HAD IT TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. MECHANIC CHECKED THE VEHICLE OVER AND COULD NOT RESOLVE THE LOCKED GEAR PROBLEM.*AK

MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER APPEARS TO HAVE REAR-END PROBLEMS. HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS AND IT STARTED OUT WITH A WHINING NOISE IN THE REAR-END AND HAS PROGRESSED TO A HARD SHIFT AND ON OCCASION A CLUNKING WHEN THE VEHICLE SHIFTS AROUND THIRD GEAR.

I OWN A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THIS MORNING MY WIFE OPENED THE TOP PORTION OF THE REAR TAIL GATE, AS SHE CLOSED IT, THE GLASS SHATTERED GIVING HER MINOR CUTS ON BOTH ARMS. THE OUTDOOR TEMPERATURE WAS 62 DEGREES F AND SUNNY. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF TAMPERING. I'VE TRIED TO CONTACT FORD REPS AND HAVE HAD NO LUCK!! PE04045.PCO

WHEN MOVING THE DRIVE SELECTOR FROM PARK TO REVERSE, OFTEN THERE IS A LONG DELAY BEFORE THE GEAR ENGAGES. WHEN IT ENGAGES, THE TRANSMISSION MAKES A LOUD BANG AND THE VEHICLE LUNGES BACKWARD AT HIHG SPEED.*AK

ON TWO OCCASIONS THE HYDRAULIC CYLINDER THAT SUPPORTED REAR WINDOW SLIPPED OUT OF THE BRACKET THAT WAS DESIGNED TO SECURE IT. THE THIRD TIME THE INCIDENT OCCURRED THE CYLINDER POPPED OUT OF THE BRACKET AND SHATTERED THE WINDOW. *AK PE04045.PCO

WHILE DRIVING THE TRUCK, THE ABS LIGHT WOULD APPEAR INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONSUMER HAS MADE CONTACT WITH THE DEALERSHIP ON SIX SEPARATE OCCASIONS AND THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. PLEASE ADD ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *PH VEHICLE HAS EXPERINCED SEVEN OCCURENCES WHERE ABS LIGHT HAS ILLUMINATED ON DASHBOARD AFTER SLIGHTLY ENGAGING BRAKE EQUIPMENT. ABS LIGHT HAS ALSO ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED.*MR

THE STATED THE VEHICLE FELT AS THOUGH IT WAS GOING TO SHUT DOWN, AS IF THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAILING. AS DAYS WENT BY THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT STARTED TO BLINK DAYS LATER THE VEHICLE MADE A SUDDEN HALT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, THE CONSUMER TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND BACK ON, IT RAN FOR AWHILE AND THEN STOPPED AGAIN. *AK *JB *NLM

WHILE DRIVING, AND AFTER SETTING THE CRUISE CONTROL, VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE BEYOND THE SET SPEED. PROBLEM OCCURRED FIVE TIMES. MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE PROBLEM.*AK

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT SIDE AIR BAG PROBLEMS. WHILE DRIVING THE THE DRIVERS AND PASSENGER SIDE IMPACT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY TYPE OF IMPACT ON THE ROAD. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND REPLACED THE AIR BAGS UNDER THE VEHICLE'S WARRANTY.*AK NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER EXPLAINED THE CAUSE OF THE THE FAILURE . *TS *NLM

THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE IDLING AT A LIGHT. *PH THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE VALVE. UNFORTUNATELY WITHIN THREE DAY THE VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SURGE WHILE SURGING IDLING. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO PERMANENTLY RESOLVE THAT PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER NOTICED A WHINE IN THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL BUT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE CONSUMER THE NOISE WAS STILL PRESENT. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY WHEN ALL THESE PROBLEMS STARTED. *NM

THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL HAS HAD AN INCREASINGLY LOUD WHINE AT SPEEDS ABOVE 45 MPH. IT WAS FIRST NOTICEABLE AT MILEAGE OF 30,000. NOW AT 55,000 MILES IT HAS GOTTEN WORSE. I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE DIFFERENTIAL SOON, BUT FORD HAS NOT ENGINEERED AN IMPROVED REAR-END. THEREFORE THE PROBLEM WILL PROBABLY REOCCUR. MANY FORD EXPLORERS (2002-2005 ) HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM. THIS REPAIR SHOULD BE PAID FOR BY FORD AS A KNOWN DEFECT. *NM

HUMMING/WHINNING SOUND COMING FROM REAR-END ESPECIALLY WHEN ACCELERATING. BROUGHT IN TO DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES, REPAIRED 2 TIMES WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. REAR-END COMPLETELY CHANGED 2ND TIME. MAKING THE WHINNING SOUND AGAIN NOW EVEN LOUDER, DROWNS OUT RADIO. NOT UNDER WARRANTY ANYMORE BUT OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT WITH THE 2002 MODEL, CONSIDERING ALL THE COMPLAINTS WITH THE EXACT PROBLEM I HAVE READ UPON RESEARCH. WILL A RECALL BE ISSUED TO PREVENT ANY ACCIDENTS THAT COULD OCCUR FROM A REAR-END GOING OUT WHILE DRIVING? MY EXPLORER IS A FAMILY HAULER, HATE TO PUT MY BABIES AT RISK... *NM

SERIOUS SAFETY AND OPERATION ISSUE WITH THE 2002 YEAR FORD EXPLORERS SUV, THE REAR DRIVE DIFFERENTIAL IS FAILING, VIN#[XXX] IS AN EXAMPLE AT 12,700 MILES, SERIOUS INTERSTATE CRASH NARROWLY AVOIDED DUE TO THE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL.*AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

REAR END NOISE (GRINDING) IN OUR 2002 FORD EXPLORER DURING DE-ACCELERATION. FIRST TIME TO DEALER 8/25/03 MILEAGE 30,901, NOTHING DONE, 2ND TIME TO DEALER FOR THE SAME PROBLEM 11/03/03, MILEAGE 36,930 COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM. PROBLEM SEEMS TO GO AWAY, CAME BACK AROUND 75,000 MILES. TOOK VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER AND COMPLETE REAR END WAS REPLACED AT A COST OF $2600.00. NOT SURE WHY IT WAS NOT DETECTED WITH THE FIRST TIME TO THE DEALER?

MY DAUGHTER WAS IN A COLLISION IN 2003 IN MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER. I HAD IT ONLY A COUPLE OF WEEKS. THE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY, AND NOW THAT IT IS 5 YEARS LATER,THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON,BUT I HAVE NOT BEEN IN A CRASH. I TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP IN HOUSTON, BUT THEY WERE OF NO HELP! *TR

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN HE HEARD A LOUD HUMMING NOISE AND HAD DIFFICULTY TURNING VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE TECHNICIAN INDICATED THAT THE POWER STEERING ROD FAILED. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED IN JULY. IN AUGUST THE CONSUMER MADE A TURN AND THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION WHICH CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK UP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INDICATED THAT THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE GLASS IN THE REAR HATCH RATTLED. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW AND THE CONSUMER BELIEVES IT SHOULD NOT BE EXPERIENCING THESE TYPES OF PROBLEMS. *AK *NLM

WHEN LOWERING THE LIFTGATE REAR WINDOW EXPLODED.*AK PE04045.PCO DOB IS 11/01_061604_PCO

MY HUSBAND AND I PURCHASED A 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT AROUND MID JULY/EARLY AUGUST 2002. IN AUGUST OF 2003 I NOTICE THAT MY CAR WAS EXPERIENCING SOME CLUNKING IN THE TRANSMISSION. I DON'T KNOW THE FULL DETAIL OF THAT PROBLEM BUT THEY GAVE ME AN EXTRA 5 YEAR WARRENTY ON MY VEHICLE. LAST YEAR MY FAMILY AND I TOOK A TRIP TO FLORIDA AND MY CAR WOULD GET THIS LOUD ROARING SOUND AT 45 MILES PER HOUR. WHEN WE RETURNED FROM MY TRIP I CALLED TO COMPLAIN ABOUT IT. THEY ASKED ME TO BRING IT TO THEM BUT THEY SAID THAT IT WAS MY TIRES. MY HUSBAND REPLACED THE TIRES HOPING THAT THIS WOULD RESOLVED THE PROBLEM. (EVEN BEFORE THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY REQUESTED US TOO). A WEEK LATER MY HUSBAND AND I WENT TO TEXAS AND THE SOUND GOT WORSE. UPON RETURNING FROM OUR TRIP I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS MY AXEL. MY FAMILY AND I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED BECAUSE OF THEIR MISTAKE. I 'VE HAD MY FRONT AND REAR WHEEL BEARINGS, AXEL, AXEL BOOT, HUBS BEARINGS, EMERGENCY BRAKE (WHICH THEY SAY WAS SPLIT) REPLACED. I STILL HEAR A PROBLEM WITH MY TRANSMISSION BUT THEY KEEP TELLING ME THAT MY CAR IS SAFE TO RIDE IN. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN THIS VEHICLE. I'VE GONE TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, FILED A COMPLAINT FOR ABITRATION. MY (PREPAID) ATTORNEY HAS EVEN SENT THEM TWO LETTERS ADVICING THEM TO TAKE THIS SITUATION SERIOUSLY. THEY NEVER REPLIED BACK TO ME OR MY ATTORNEY. I'M FORD PLAN AND I REALLY THOUGHT THAT I WOULD BE TREATED WITH A LITTLE MORE RESPECT. I WANT THEM TO BE RESPONSIBLE AND SEE THAT THEY SOLD ME A "LEMON". I REALLY NEED SOME HELP. THANK YOU.

2 OF MY COUSINS WERE INVOLVED IN A FORD EXPLORER TIRE BLOW OUT OUTSIDE OF RALEIGH NC ON AUGUST 16TH. AMAL MUARAKA, A PEDIATRIC SURGEON WAS KILLED INSTANTLY AND SUMMEET MURARKA WAS PLACED IN ICU AS THE NON-BRIDGESTONE TIRE BLEW OUT ON THE FORD EXPLORER AND THE VEHICLE FLIPPED 5 TIMES WHEN THE TIRE BLEW OUT. WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO ACT ON FORD'S MALICIOUS DECEIT. FORD'S HISTORY IS PLAGUED WITH SERIOUS ISSUES SUCH AS THE PINTO THAT BLEW UP AND THIS TIME IT WAS THE GOVERNMENTS INACTION AND FORDS COVER-UP THAT PREVENTED MY COUSIN FROM LIVING A FULL LIFE AT ONLY THE AGE OF 33. I CAN ONLY HOPE THAT THE GOVERNMENT WILL IMMEDIATELY RECALL THE FORD EXPLORER LINE EVEN IF IT CAUSES SERIOUS COSTS AND FINANCIAL BURDEN TO FORD TO SAVE LIVES AND PREVENT SO MANY FROM THE PAIN OF TRAGEDIES SUCH AS THE ONE THAT WE HAVE EXPERIENCED. AGAIN - IT IS MY BELIEF THAT IT IS THE FATAL DESIGN FLAWS IN THE FORD EXPLORER THAT CAUSED THIS WRECK AND THE DEATH OF MY COUSIN - HE IS SURVIVED BY HIS WIFE, AND 2 DAUGHTERS. PLEASE STOP FORD FROM MURDERING OTHERS!!!! *NLM

ON A HOT DAY, I OPENED THE GLASS LIFTGATE & THE PASSENGER SIDE STRUT GLUE CAME UNDONE, CAUSING THE LIFTGATE TO NOT SHUT PROPERLY. I THEN REMOVED THE STRUT SO THAT I COULD CLOSE THE LIFTGATE WITHOUT BREAKING THE GLASS, & CONTINUE TO DRIVE. I NEVER OPENED IT AGAIN. A MONTH LATER, THE GLUE ON THE HOLDING STRUT & THE GLASS ON THE DRIVER SIDE BECAME UNDONE. (ALSO, ON THE FIRST WARM DAY OF THIS SPRING SEASON, I POWERED DOWN THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SEAT WINDOW, BUT I WAS UNABLE TO GET IT TO GO BACK UP, ALTHOUGH THE POWER WAS WORKING. IT BECAME EVIDENT THAT THIS IS ALSO ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE INFERIOR BONDING PRODUCT USED ON THIS WINDOW. THE INTERIM REMEDY WAS THAT I TAPED THE WINDOW UP WITH DUCT TAPE TO PROTECT THE VEHICLE FROM THE ELEMENTS & THEFT.) IT'S CLEAR THAT SINCE THIS HAS HAPPENED IN 2 SECTIONS OF MY NEW VEHICLE THAT THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE BONDING PRODUCT USED ON THESE WINDOWS. I FOUND THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS VERY PROBLEM ON MY VEHICLE. (RECALL NO. 01I010000.) THERE IS ALSO A PHONE NO. TO CALL REGARDING THIS PROBLEM AS FORD HAS DECIDED TO CONDUCT A SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGN TO INSPECT AND TORQUE THE LIFTGATE GLASS BRACKET ON AFFECTED VEHICLES. I CALLED THIS NUMBER AND WAS ADVISED THAT, ALTHOUGH I HAVE THE EXACT VEHICLE AND PROBLEM AS THE RECALL REQUIRES, MY VIN NUMBER DOES NOT RENDER ME ELIGIBLE FOR THE RECALL. IN ADDITION, ALTHOUGH I CLEARLY HAVE AN AFFECTED VEHICLE,  I WAS NOT OFFERED THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THE BENEFIT OF THE SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGN.GIVEN THE NATURE OF THE PROBLEM, THE NEWNESS OF THE VEHICLE & THE FACT THAT IT HAS HAPPENED ON TWO WINDOWS, THIS IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. IN ADDITION, THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE EXACT PROBLEM (ON THE BACK WINDOW) ON MY EXACT VEHICLE. IF FOR SOME REASON MY VIN NUMBER IS NOT INCLUDED, IT OBVIOUSLY SHOULD BE INCLUDED. AFTER ALL, HOW DO THEY INITIALLY DETERMINE WHICH GROUPS OF CARS HAVE BEEN AFFECTED IF NOT BY THE CONSUMERS COMPLAINING OF THE PROBLEM? BEING FIXED TOMORROW FOR $800.*AK PE04045.PCO

WHILE DRIVING (65 MPH) ON I 95 THROUGH RICHMOND VIRGINIA, AT 12:30 AFTER MIDNIGHT, MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER (62,000 MILES) DEVELOPED A VIBRATION. I MADE IT TO THE FORD DEALER AND LEFT IT FOR REPAIRS. THE REAR END BEARING, AXLE SHAFT, CV JOINT FAILED. FOUR (4) DAYS LATER I WAS ON THE ROAD. IT WAS A VERY FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE. FORD WOULD NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY. THERE IS NO MAINTENANCE ON THE REAR AXLE BEARINGS. THIS IS A NEW DESIGN AND I BOUGHT AN EARLY UNIT.*AK

DRIVESHAFT AREA/REAR NOISE-SINGING/HUM. *AK

ABS SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE ON 2002 EXPLORERS. ABS LIGHT CAME ON MANY MANY TIMES WITHIN A 1 YEAR SPAN SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE NEW. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES AND THEY STATED THE FAULT WAS FROM THE REAR SPEED SENSOR ASSEMBLY AND REPLACED IT EVERY TIME. *AK OTHER PROBLEMS ENCOUNTER INCLUDE HOSE DISCONNECT ON REAR WASHER (REPAIRED BY DEARLER), CRACKED THIRD BRAKE LIGHT (REPLACED BY DEALER), DEFECTIVE REAR VIEW MIRROR (3 INCIDENTS, EVENTUALLY REPLACED IT MYSELF WITH AN AFTERMARKET PART), REAR SEAT BELT WOULD NOT STAY BUCKLED (ASSEMBLY REPLACED BY DEALER), CLIMATE CONTROL LEAK TO LOWER EVEN IF SET TO UPPER VENT (DESIGN FLAW, DEALER STATED THIS WAS NORMAL), STEREO WILL INTERMITTENTLY NOT TURN ON (CANNOT GET DEALER TO VERIFY), BRAKE PETAL LOCATION RELATIVE TO ACCELARATOR PETAL CAUSES UNDUE STRAIN ON LEG, FLOOR VENT EXPELLS HOT AIR DIRECTLY AT CALF, FIT AND FINISH IS HORRIBLE ON A $30K+ VEHICLE! I HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN FORD'S PRODUCT OR THERE SERVICE NETWORK. I CAN SAFELY SAY THIS WILL BE THE LAST FORD I WILL EVER BUY.