2002 Ford Explorer Complaint Log

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 75MPH ON HIGHWAY AND ANOTHER VEHICLE JUMPED INTO HER LANE. SHE VEERED OFF THE ROAD, AND HAD CONTROL OF VEHICLE. WENT BY ONTO LANES, AND OTHER VEHICLE HIT HER FROM BEHIND . SHE JERKED VEHICLE OFF ROAD, AND FRONT REAR GOODYEAR TIRE EXPLODED. UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIRBAGS DEPLOYED HALFWAY. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK

THE LOCKING MECHANISM FOR THE SHOULDER RESTRAINT (RIGHT SIDE) FELL OFF. *AK

WE ARE HAVING ALOT OF TURBULANCE PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICAL WITH HAVING THE BACK WINDOWS DOWN!IT'S SO BAD THAT THE WHOLE ROOF SHAKES AS WELL AS THE SOUND IS SO EAR PIERCING THAT IT FEELS LIKE YOUR EAR DRUMS ARE GOING TO BREAK!WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO FORD TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AS WELL AS HAVING IT LOOKED AT BY THE FORD SERVICE REP,WE ARE TOLD TO KEEP THE WINDOWS UP AND LOCKED!WHEN WE PURSHASED THE VEHICAL WE WANTED A FOUR DOOR WITH WINDOWS TO OPEN NOT JUST TWO.TO MYSELF AND MY FAMILY MY CONCERN IS HEALTH RELATED AS WELL,WE HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN AND IF THE WINDOWS ARE PUT DOWN BY THEM ,MY CONCERN IS IT COULD BRAK THEIR EAR DRUMS.FORD SHOWS NO CONCERN IN THIS MATTER ,BEING WE ARE THE ONLY ONES TO COMPLAIN.THIS IS A DEFECT WITH THE MANUFACTURE,AND ARE NOT WILLING TO FIX THE PROBLEM! WE COULD USE YOUR HELP. THANK YOU,MR. ANTHONY MAGEE & FAMILY. *AK

WHENEVER VEHICLE HITS A BUMP IT'S HARD TO CONTROL, GOES ALL OVER ROAD. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP, BUT DEALER REFUSED TO LOOK AT VEHICLE.*AK CONSUMER HAS REPLACED THE MICHELIN TIRES AT THEIR COST, P235/70R16, DOT E20291511, VEHICLE AND TIRES ONLY HAD 470 MILES. *SLC

MAIN COMPUTER MODULE MALFUNCTIONS, CAUSING OTHER MAJOR COMPONENTS, SUCH AS TRANSMISSION/ POWER WINDOW, AND DOORS NOT TO WORK. *AK

BRACKET AND SPRING THAT HOLDS HATCHBACK WINDOW UP BROKE COMPLETELY OFF, CAUSING LEFT SIDE OF THE WINDOW TO ALMOST DROP INTO FRAME. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK PE04045.PCO

ON CLOSING REAR WINDOW THE THING EXPLODED IN MY FACE. FORTUNEATELY I WAS NOT INJURED, BUT WAS COVERED WITH GLASS. I FEEL I WAS VERY LUCKY NOT TO HAVE GOTTEN GLASS IN MY EYES. *AK PE04045.PCO

CONSUMER STARTED TO SLOWLY OPEN TAILGATE WINDOW, AND PISTON POPPED OFF BACK OF WINDSHIELD, DENTED INSIDE TOP OF VEHICLE, AND WEDGED BETWEEN GLASS AND BODY OF TRUCK. CONSUMER STOPPED, OPENING PROCESS. THIS WAS HOW FIRST EXPLORER'S BACK WINDOW EXPLOD TO TAKE VEHICLE BACK.*AK PE04045.PCO

VEHICLE DOESN'T HAVE A TRANSMISSION FLUID INDICATOR SLOT. EVEN IN THE OWNERS MANUAL IT DOESN'T HAVE A CHECK TO SHOW WHERE IT WOULD BE LOCATED. CONSUMER WENT TO THE DEALER FOR ASSISTANCE, AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO LOCATE IT. CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO CHECK TRANSMISSION FLUID IF NEEDED. CONSUMER CAN'T GET A RESPONSE FROM FORD.*AK

PISTON THAT RAISES BACK WINDOW FLEW OUT ON A COUPLE OF OCCASIONS. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER COULD NOT FIND CAUSE OF PROBLEM.

THE BACK WINDOW RAISED UP WHILE THE TRUCK WAS PARKED, AND WHEN I TOUCHED THE WINDOW TO SHUT IT, IT BLEW UP COMPLETELY, LEAVING NOTHING IN THE REAR. ALL THE GLASS WAS SHATTERED, AND THE STRUTS HOLDING THE WINDOW WERE BLOWN OUT. I RECEIVED CUTS ON MY ARMS AND WRISTS. PE04045.PCO

THERE IS A NOISE THAT SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING IS LOOSE IN STEERING COLUMN. MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH DEALER , AND DEALER REFUSED TO FIX VEHICLE BECAUSE IT WAS NOT PURCHASED THERE. *AK

HYDRAULIC ARM THAT HOLDS UP HATCHBACK WINDOW BROKE. THE PRESSURE FROM THE BROKEN PLUNGER ARM PRESSED AGAINST THE BACK GLASS AND CAUSED IT TO EXPLODE OUT. THE PRESSURE WAS SO EXTREME THAT THE DOOR PANEL WAS MOVED TWO INCHES AWAY FROM THE FRAME. CAR WAS PARKED IN A GARAGE AT THE TIME THE GLASS AND DOOR BLEW OUT. PE04045.PCO

WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH ON WET PAVEMENT HAD TO APPLY BRAKES HARD TO BRING VEHICLE TO A STOP. THIS HARD BRAKING ENGAGED ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM AND BROUGHT VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP. HOWEVER, WHEN CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE, BRAKES WOULD NOT RELEASE, AND BRAKES WERE GRABBING. CONSUMER HAD TO RELEASE BRAKES BY PULLING BRAKE PEDAL UP WITH HIS FOOT. DEALERSHIP COULD NOT REPRODUCE THIS PROBLEM. *AK *JB

ON JUNE 4, 2001, I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO WORLD FORD KENDALL SERVICE (FLORIDA REGISTRATION #MV-06413) FOR REPAIR (INVOICE #W71526) OF THE LEFT REAR LIFTGATE CYLINDER WHICH WAS DETACHED FROM ITS BRACKET, THE MECHANIC (JOSE FUENTES) TRIED THREE TIMES TO REPAIR IT ACCORDING TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY'S TECHNICAL SERVICE ADVISORY #01T02 AND WAS UNABLE TO REPAIR IT, THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE (JOSE TEJEDO) EVEN WENT TO ONE OF THEIR STOCK VEHICLES, A NEW 2002 FORD EXPLORER TO CHANGE THE LIFT GATE CYLINDER WITH MINE AND IT DETACHED AFTER TWO CLOSINGS, THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE ALSO STATED THAT THE FLIP-UP GLASS WAS BENDING IN THE MIDDLE DURING CLOSING AND CREATING A POTENTIAL FOR THE GLASS TO SHATTER, HE ALSO STATED THAT FORD NEEDS TO COME UP WITH A BETTER WAY TO FIX IT AND THAT FORD NEEDS TO RECALL IT. PE04045_PCO RE-EVAL TO DET TO BE VALID SINCE PE OPENING_PCO *SC

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINS ILLUMINATED, INDICATING A MALFUNCTION. DEALER STATES THAT AIR BAG MODULE IS DEFECTIVE. *AK

4 HOURS AFTER TAKING DELIVERY OF VEHICLE CONSUMER PARKED IT AND OPENED TAILGATE WINDOW. WINDOW EXPLODED WITH GLASS FLYING 15 FEET. WINDSHIELD WIPER ASSEMBLY HIT CONSUMER IN CHEST, AND GLASS FLEW INTO EYES. DEALER PICKED VEHICLE UP. THEN, STATED HE COULD REPAIR VEHICLE OR REPLACE IT. CONSUMER CHOSE NEW VEHICLE. CONSUMER STILL HAS PAIN IN EYE, STILL UNDER MEDICAL ATTENTION.*AK PISTON POPPED OFF THE WINDOW AND CAUSED GLASS TO EXPLODE, CONSUMER HAS SINCE HAD ANOTHER PIECE OF GLASS REMOVED FROM HER EYE. *SLC PE04045.PCO

THE DRIVERS SIDE TAIL LIGHT WIRING MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING A FIRE AFTER ON 28 DAYS OF OWMNERSHIP, THE VEHICLE WAS DECLARED TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN MOTION AT THE TIME THE FIRE OCCURRED. NLM

WHEN STOPPED AT A LIGHT, THERE IS A STRONG SULFUR ODOR IN THE CAR CAUSING OCCUPANTS TO HAVE TROUBLE BREATHING. OWNER HAS DEVELOPED BREATHING PROBLEM SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE WILL HESITATE WITHOUT NOTICE WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC. *AK

LEFT HYDRUALIC SUPPORT BRACKET FOR REAR WINDOW HAS BROKEN OFF THREE TIMES.*AK *SLC PE04045.PCO

PLUNGER THAT HOLDS HATCHBACK WINDOW OPENED/ FELL OFF DUE TO DESIGN DEFECT, CAUSING WINDOW TO COME CRASHING DOWN ON CONSUMER, RESULTING IN HEAD AND NECK INJURIES.*AK PE04045.PCO

WHILE DRIVING AT 35MPH AND WITH NO WARNING FRONT WINDSHIELD SHATTERED, AND CAUSED CONSUMER TO HAVE VISUAL PROBLEMS. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK CONSUMER STATES THE THE REAR WINDOW OPENS ON ITS OWN, HAS HAS DONE SO ON 3 OCCASIONS.*JB

THIS IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING O HAPPEN. MY PANEL BELOW THE REAR WINDOW IN 2002 EXPLORER MAY SOON FLY AND HIT ANOTHER CAR ON THE FREEWAY AND CAUSE A BIG ACCIDENT. THIS IS A PROBLEM FROM HUNDREDS OF OTHER FORD EXPLORERS. A RECALL SHOULD BE MADE BEFORE MAJOR ACCIDENTS HAPPEN BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. *TR

CONSUMER HAS HAD VEHICLE IN THE SHOP 4 TIMES FOR THE REAR WINDOW. *JG WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS COMING TO A STOP IT WOULD SURGE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO HELP THE CONSUMER WITH THE PROBLEM. *NM

VEHICLE'S HATCHBACK GLASS SHATTERED.*MR TWO INCIDENTS OCCURRED WHERE THE CONSUMERS HATCH BACK GLASS SHATTERED.THE DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THEM TWICE BUT THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT THERE IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING DEFECTIVE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF THE HATCHBACK DOOR/GLASS. AND MAYBE MEASURES NEED TO BE TAKEN FOR A RECALL ISSUED. *CB PE04045.PCO

CONSUMER'S WIFE FELT THAT VEHICLE WAS VEERING TO HER RIGHT. DEALERSHIP FOUND OUT THAT PINION BOLT WAS MISSING.(NAR) *LA

PROBLEMS WITH THE MATERIAL ON THE MOON ROOF. *MR THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INDICATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER WOULD ONLY COVER THE PROBLEM IF THE VEHICLE WAS WITHIN IT'S WARRANTY 36000 MILES/36 MONTHS, THE VEHICLE HAD 45000 MILES. THE CONSUMER CAME ACROSS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN WHICH EXPLAINED THE TYPE OF PROBLEM THE VEHICLE WAS HAVING SB620978. *NM

PART THAT HOLDS THE BACK WINDOW IN THE FORD EXPLORER HAS DEVELOPED A CRACK. ***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***.*MR

CONSUMER EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS GETTING THE DEALERSHIP TO PERFORM RECALL LIFTGATE REPAIRS ON VEHICLE.*MR THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER BUT THEY REFUSED TO DO THE RECALL WORK BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT PURCHASED THERE. *NM

CONSUMER REQUESTING SERVICE BULLETIN ON THE 2002 FORD EXPLORER. *TS *JB

LTR FM CONSUMER (KY) RE THE PROBLEMS SHE'S HAD W/THE REAR END OF HER 2002 FORD EXPLORER, WANT FORD TO BUY BACK HER VEHICLE. *TS IN THE SUMMER OF 2003 THE CONSUMER HEARD A WHINNING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR END. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO NOTICED OIL WAS LEAKING FROM THE REAR END AND REPLACED THE SEAL. A FEW MONTHS LATER THE NOISE RETURNED THE SEAL WAS REPLACED AGAIN. A FEW MONTHS LATER THE NOISE RETURNED AGAIN. THE ENTIRE REAR END HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE FOR FORD TO BUY BACK THE VEHICLE. *NM

2002 FORD EXPLORER REAR COIL SPRING WAS DEFECTIVE, CONSUMER WANTS TO BE REIMBURSED. *TS *NM

2002 EXPLORER HATCH CRACKED. *TS THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE REASON WHY THE HATCH CRACKED WAS BECAUSE THE WINDOW AND THE PANEL WERE GLUED TOGETHER AND CONTRACTED AT A DIFFERENT RATE. *JB

2002 FORD EXPLORER'S REAR SPRINGS CRACKED. *TS *NM

2002 FORD EXPLORER WITH TAILGATE PROBLEMS CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE TAILGATE ASSEMBLY IS IN QUESTION**CC THE CONSUMER STATED FORD HAD A RECALL FOR THE 2002 FORD EXPLORER AND WILL NOT LONGER HONOR FIXING THE PROBLEM WITH THOUSANDS OF VEHICLES. *TR

RECALL NOTICE 09S09 ON 2002 FORD EXPLORER. *NJ

WHEN APPLYING ABS BRAKES PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. PROBLEM BECOMES MORE PRONOUNCED WHEN VEHICLE IS DRIVEN ON WET PAVEMENT. PLEASER GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

DURING GEAR TRANSITION VERY ROUGH, FEEL AND HEAR CLUNK NOISE.

WHILE DRIVING GEARS GET STUCK AND THEY ARE VERY HARD TO CHANGE. HOWEVER, VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT. WHILE DRIVING GEARS WOULD BECOME STUCK WHEN CHANGING FROM PARK TO REVERSE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

FRONT SEAT HAS NO HEAD REST SUPPORT. IF CONSUMER WAS HIT WITH AIRBAG NECK WOULD BREAK. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING SHORT OR LONG DISTANCES CONSUMER HAS NOTICED A VERY STRONG CHEMICAL ODOR IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. ODOR HAS CAUSED OCCUPANTS OF VEHICLE TO BECOME ILL. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER. CAUSE OF PROBLEM HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY, CAUSING MINOR INJURIES TO DRIVER. FORD WAS NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE WHY AIR BAG DEPLOYED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT 3 TIMES SINCE SEPTEMBER 2001. THE STEERING COLUMN HAS BEEN REPLACED, THE WHEEL BEARINGS HAVE BEEN REPLACED(THIS WAS SUPPOSE TO ELIMINATE STEERING COLUMN RATTLE) AND THE LOWER CONTROL ARM HAS BEEN REPLACED. I STILL HEAR AND FEEL A METALLIC RATTLE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. IN MY REVIEW OF YOUR WEBSITE OTHER 2002 EXPLORER OWNERS ARE EXPERINCING THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE TALKED TO AT LEAST THREE OTHER OWNERS THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. MY DEALER HAS DONE EVERYTHING RECOMMENDED BY FORD, BUT NOTHING HAS SOLVED THE PROBLEM. FORD IS "WORKING ON IT". THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING ON IT SINCE SEPTEMBER 2001. MY SAFETY CONCERN IS THIS. IF SOMETHING IS LOOSE THAT IS CAUSING THIS NOISE IT HAS TO BE PROGRESSING. WHAT WILL HAPPEN AFTER MORE MILEAGE BUILDS ON THIS VEHICLE? WILL I BE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY ONE DAY AND LOSE CONTROL DUE TO STEERING FAILURE? THERE IS TO MUCH SMOKE HERE FOR THAT NOT TO BE FIRE SOONER OF LATER BY MY EXPLORER OR SOME OTHER OWNER. HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR A COMPANY THE SIZE OF FORD TO SOLVE A PROBLEM?*AK

POWER REAR WINDOW HAS ONLY 3 POSITIONS, FULLY OPEN, OPEN 1" FROM TOP, FULLY CLOSED, ONCE ACTIVATED THERE IS NO EMERGENCY STOP UNTIL THE 1" FROM TOP POSITION. WINDOW DRIVE MOTOR IS VERY POWERFUL, NO WARING IN PLACE. COULD RESULT IN CRUSHING OF HAND AND OTHER SERIOUS INJURIES.

ON DATE OF ACCIDENT, I WAS DRIVING ON 12 MILE APPROACHING INTERSECTION OF ORCHARD LAKE ROAD. I'M COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, GOING ABOUT 1-2 MPH, WHEN THE ENGINE SURGED. MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE, AND I COULD HEAR AND FEEL MY ENGINE ACCELERATING, AND TO AVOID REAR ENDING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME, I TURNED THE WHEEL AND WENT UP THE CURB, AND FINALLY STOPPED WHEN I HIT AN INTERSTATE SIGN. THE EVENT TOOK PLACE IN ABOUT FIVE SECONDS. ON THE MONDAY FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT, I TOOK MY TRUCK TO JEROME DUNCAN FORD AND EXPLAINED WHAT HAPPENED. I ALSO INFORMED THEM THAT ON 2 OCASSIONS MY CAR WOULD NOT START. THE DIAGNOSTIC SHOWED THAT MY PCM NEED TO BE REPLACED. IT COULD NOT BRING UP ANY MISSING CODES FOR THE SURGE OF MY ENGINE. THE PCM CONTROLS THE ENGINE AND IS THE DRIVE TRAIN. I DON'T BELIEVE FOR ONE SECOND THE DEFECTIVE PCM ISN'T THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT. I NEVER RELASED MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE! MY CAR IS STILL AT THE DEALER, AND I REFUSE TO HAVE THE PCM CHANGED TILL A FIELD ENGINEER LOOKS INTO IT. I TOLD THEM I DON'T WANT THE TRUCK BACK TILL THEY FIND WHAT CAUSED THE SURGE, AND THAT THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE SERVICE DRIVE MANAGER SAID THAT THIS MONDAY (2/25/02) HE WOULD TAKE MY TRUCK OUT AND WAIT FOR IT TO SURGE ON HIM. THEY ARE NOT TAKING THIS AS A SERIOUS MATTER! THEY TOLD ME I COULD START SOME "LEGAL" ACTION PAPERWORK (WHERE THERE WILL BE AND INVESTIGATION, AND A FORD FIELD ENGINEER WILL LOOK INTO IT) AND I TOLD THEM THAT I WAS WILLING TO START PAPERWORK. THEY EXPLAINED IT COULD TAKE UP TO 4 MONTHS, I TOLD THEM THAT IS NOT AN ISSUE, MY TRUCK IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. A DETAIL I FORGOT TO MENTION WAS THE SERVICE MANAGER STARTED TO SAY THAT THEY ALREADY CHANGED MY PCM, THEN TOLD ME THEY DIDN'T. SO CALLED HIM 2 MINUTES AFTER OUR CONVERSATION AND TOLD HIM THAT I DID NOT WANT IT CHANGED UNTIL SOMEONE FROM FORD LOOKED AT IT. HE SAID "OH YOU DON'T WANT IT CHANGED, I WAS JUST GOING TO HAVE IT CHANGED." I SAID DO NOT CHANGE IT! *AK

2002 FORD EXPLORER 4 DOOR V6 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION 4 WHEEL DRIVE. I START MY FORD EXPLORER AND PLACE IT EITHER IN "REVERSE" OR "DRIVE" AND THERE IS A 10 TO 15 GAP OF THE VEHICLE NOT ENGAGING IN EITHER GEAR. VEHICLE JUST DRIFTS AND THEN ENGAGES AFTER A PERIOD OF 10 TO15 SECONDS. I CALLED THE FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND THEY INFORMED ME IT WAS NORMAL. I TOLD THEM I NEVER DROVE A VEHICLE THAT EVER HAD THIS PROBLEM. I BELIEVE IT MAY BE A SAFETY ISSUE ESPECIALLY WHEN PARKED ON A HILL OR YOU THINK YOU MIGHT HAVE ACCIDENTLY PLACED IT IN NEUTRAL.*AK

WHEN DRIVING IN SNOW HORN DOES NOT WORK, OR MAKES A VERY MUFFLED SOUND. WHEN WEATHER WARMS UP AND VEHICLE SITS IN THE SUN, HORN WILL OPERATE AGAIN. *JG *AK

CONSUMER STATE WHILE DEFROSTING WINDOWS CONSUMER CANT SET THE CORRECT AC TEMPERATURE TO UNFOG WINDOWS AND KEEP THEM CLEAR. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER. NLM

NO DESCRIPTION GIVEN. NLM