2002 Ford Explorer Tires & Wheels Problems

TL* THE CONTACT STATED THE WHEN DRIVING A 2002 FORD EXPLORER AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, EQUIPPED WITH COOPER TIRE, TIRE LINE SOLARIS AS, TIRE SIZE 225-70-R16, DOT INFORMATION WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE WALL BLEW AND THE TIRE SEPARATED FROM THE RIM. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE VIN, MILEAGE, INFORMATION WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED.

I WAS DRIVING ON I-65 SOUTH BOUND ON I-65 IN GOODLETTESVILLE, TENNESSEE WHEN MY LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. THE TIRE HAD PLENTY OF TREAD LEFT AND APPARENTLY THE STEEL BELTS CAME APART AND BLUE OUTWARD.

I HAD HAD THIS 2018 JEEP RENEGADE NOT EVEN 2.5 MONTHS AND IT NEEDED AN OIL CHANGE AND THE TIRES WERE COMPLETELY WORN OUT THEY WERE EVERY ONE SLICK AS COULD GET AND DANGEROUS. I CALLED THE DEALER BECAUSE THE TIRES WENT BAD AND I HADN'T HAD THE FIRST 50K MILES ON IT YET AND THEY DID NOTHING. CALLED THE TIRE COMPANY THEY DID NOTHING. SO I REPLACED THEM AND ANOTHER ALMOST 3 MONTHS GO BY AND THE TIRES ARE COMPLETELY WORN OUT AND SLICK AGAIN. THIS HAS REPEATEDLY HAPPENED EVERY 2-3 MONTHS TO WHERE THEY ARE SO DANGEROUS YOU EITHER DRIVE 30 MPH OR GET THEM CHANGED. 3 TIMES I'VE REPLACED THE TIRES AND AND THE OIL GOES SO FAST. AND NOW I AM STUCK WITH THIS VEHICLE I DON'T FEEL SAFE IN. I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY THESE PRICES FOR A 30K VEHICLE THAT'S NOT WORTH 10K.

WHEEL STUDS BREAKING OFF & CAUSING DANGER FOR MY FAMILY,THEREFORE MAKING IT UNSAFE FOR THE FAMILY.MANY REPORTS HAVE BEEN MADE ABOUT THESE PARTICULAR VEHICLES.WHEN IM ABLE I WILL GET RID OF BOTH MY FORD VEHICLES FOR MY FAMILIES SAFETY & WELLBEING.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE RODE ROUGHLY. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THREE OF THE WHEEL STUDS WERE SHEARED OFF. THE FAILURE OCCURRED FOUR TIMES WITH THE REMAINING WHEEL STUDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. UPDATED 10/02/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED WITHIN 7 MONTHS THE THE REAR WHEEL STUDS SUDDENLY SHEARED OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE LAST TIME THE DRIVER WAS ON THE FREEWAY WITH 5 CHILDREN IN THE CAR. UPDATED 3/30/2015 *JS

I HAVE ONLY OWNED MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER FOR A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AND I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS 3 TIMES. JUST TODAY I HAVE NOTICED THAT THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING IS GOING AGAIN AND I JUST REPLACED BOTH REAR WHEEL BEARINGS A MONTH AGO. THIS IS VERY EXPENSIVE AND I'M AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THE QUALITY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER WITH COOPER DISCOVERY HTP TIRES, SIZE: 235 70 R16 (N/A). THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 65 MPH WHEN THE FRONT AND REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRES BLEW OUT, CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO SHAKE AND THE CONTACT TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A SIDE RAIL AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT OF SEVERE WHIPLASH INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND WAS NOT INSPECTED FOR THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

FAILURE OF REAR WHEEL BEARINGS ON BOTH SIDES. TIME BETWEEN ONSET OF NOISE AND NEAR CATASTROPHIC FAILURE WAS APPROXIMATELY 300 MILES. FEARING A HIGH PROBABILITY THAT THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS MIGHT FAIL WITHOUT WARNING AND POSSIBLY CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AND INJURIES, THE ONLY OPTION WAS TO INCUR THE HIGH COST TO REPLACE ALL FOUR WHEEL BEARINGS AND RELATED PARTS. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORD EXPLORERS ACROSS A WIDE RANGE OF MODEL YEARS AND IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURING DESIGN DEFECT. NHTSA HAS BEEN MADE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE VIA A SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS FROM OWNERS AND MUST COMPEL FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO ISSUE A RECALL OF ALL FORD EXPLORERS BEGINNING WITH MODEL YEAR 2002 OR EARLIER. THE RECALL RIGHTFULLY MUST INCLUDE FULL REIMBURSEMENT FOR REASONABLE AND CUSTOMARY REPAIR COSTS INCURRED BY OWNERS AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRATION. *TR

I HAVE REPLACED 8 WHEEL BEARINGS ON THIS AUTO. 4-21-12 I WAS ON THE HWY TO THE NEAREST BIG CITY TOWING A BORROWED UTILITY TRAILER, WHICH IS 90 MILES FROM MY HOME, AND I AM SO FORTUNATE THAT I DID NOT LOOSE MY WHEEL. AT THE TIME, I THOUGHT IT WAS MY NEW TIRES BUT WHEN I WENT TO THE DEALER OF MY TIRES HE SHOWED ME THE PLAY THAT MY BACK WHEEL HAD AND TOLD ME I WAS A VERY LUCKY GIRL THAT MY TIRE DIDN'T SNAP OFF. FAST FORWARD AND I HAVE JUST REPLACED BOTH BACK WHEEL BEARING AGAIN WITH ONLY 23,000 MILES ON THE PREVIOUS REPLACED BEARING. 14,000 ON THE ONE BEFORE THAT! FORD YOU HAVE A PROBLEM!! *TR

REAR PASSENGER WHEEL STARTED SHAKING. STOPPED AND REMOVED WHEEL COVER AND FOUND THREE WHEEL STUDS SHEARED OFF. HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED TO TIRE STORE. REPLACED WHEEL, HUB AND ALL STUDS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 60 MPH WHEN THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THERE WERE THREE LUG NUTS THAT HAD BECOME LOOSE AND CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC TO HAVE THE WHEEL REPLACED. LESS THAN ONE MONTH LATER, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE LUG NUTS HAD BECOME LOOSE AGAIN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LUG NUTS WERE BECOMING LOOSE FROM THE VIBRATION OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS OR REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

CPSC# I11A0238A. 2002 FORD EXPLORER. STUDS FOR VEHICLE REAR RIGHT TIRE COMPLETELY SNAP IN HALF. *LN

FOR THE SIXTH TIME SINCE 2009, I WAS DRIVING AND HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A POP. MY BOYFRIEND NOTICED MY RIGHT REAR TIRE WOBBLING. I KNEW IMMEDIATELY A STUD OR STUDS HAD BROKEN. WHEN HE POPPED OFF THE CAP, TWO STUDS WERE LITERALLY SNAPPED AT THE BOLT, CLEAN BREAK. THIS HAS HAPPENED SIX OTHER TIMES, ONE IN WHICH MY TIRE WAS HANGING ON BY ONE STUD AND NEARLY CAUSED ME TO WRECK INTO A TELEPHONE POLE. I THOUGHT IT WAS MY MECHANIC MAKING ERROR AFTER ERROR BUT COULD NEVER FIND AN ISSUE. NOW, AFTER DOING SOME EXTENSIVE RESEARCH, I SEE IT IS FORDS ERROR. THIS IS A LIFE THREATENING ISSUE. I HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS GETTING NEW ROTORS, NEW TIRES, ETC. THINKING THIS WAS IT. CLEARLY IT'S NOT. FORD NEEDS TO EITHER REIMBURSE OR RECALL THE VEHICLES. I'M DONE. *KB

YOU NEED TO SERIOUSLY LOOK INTO RECALLING ALL 2002 FORD EXPLORERS FOR POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS WHEEL AND HUB ASSEMBLIES. THIS HAPPENED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, IT HAPPENED IN AUGUST 2008. I JUST MOVED INTO MY DORM, AND I HAD TO GO HOME FOR A LITTLE WHILE. I WAS ON THE PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE, AND MY TRUCK BEGAN SWERVING TO THE POINT THAT I HAD NO CONTROL OVER IT, AND I HAD TO PULL OVER. WHEN I GOT OUT, I PULLED THE LUG COVER OFF THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL TO FIND THAT FOUR OF THE FIVE LUGS WERE SNAPPED. I HAD TO PAY $400 TO HAVE IT TOWED, AND WHEN IT GOT TO THE GARAGE, THEY FOUND THAT THE WHEEL BEARINGS AND HUB WERE DAMAGED. THE NEXT TIME IT HAPPENED, IT HAPPENED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR WHEEL, AND, AGAIN, THE LUGS SNAPPED AND THEY FOUND THE HUB AND WHEEL BEARINGS TO BE THE CAUSE OF IT. THIS WAS ABOUT A MONTH AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT. THE THIRD INCIDENT INVOLVED BOTH FRONT WHEELS, BUT LUCKILY ONLY THE WHEEL BEARINGS AND HUBS WERE DAMAGED AND MY WHEELS STAYED IN PLACE. THIS HAPPENED ABOUT NOVEMBER OF 2010. IN JANUARY OF 2011, THE REAR WENT AGAIN. THIS TIME IT WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF A SNOW STORM, SO I HAD TO WAIT IN THE FREEZING COLD FOR TWO HOURS UNTIL THE TOW TRUCK COULD COME. CURRENTLY, MY VEHICLE IS SITTING IN A GARAGE TO HAVE YET ANOTHER WHEEL BEARING REPLACED BECAUSE IT HAS FAILED. IN TOTAL, IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS HAVE BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES EACH AND THE FRONT WHEELS HAVE NOW BEEN REPLACED TWO TIMES EACH. EVERY TIME IT HAPPENS, IT FEELS AS THOUGH YOU ARE DRIVING ON ICE, AND THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY GETS TO THE POINT WHERE IT CANNOT BE CONTROLLED ANY LONGER. I'VE HAD NUMEROUS INCIDENTS WHERE I'VE BEGAN TO FISHTAIL. EVERY TIME IT GOES TO THE GARAGE, THEY PUT IT ON THE LIFT AND THE WHEELS JUST DANGLE THERE. THE MECHANIC, ONE TIME, KICKED IT AND IT FELL OFF. HE DID THIS TO SHOW HOW CLOSE I WAS TO A MAJOR ACCIDENT. THESE VEHICLES NEED TO BE RECALLED AND EQUIPPED WITH SUPERIOR PARTS. FORD WILL EVENTUALLY KILL SOMEONE. *TR

I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL CHANGED AND BOTH WHEEL BEARINGS. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AT 80000 MILES FOR ME BUT IS SO WIDE SPREAD IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL THAT IT OCCURS OVER AND OVER. *LN

WE OWN A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. IT HAS APPROXIMATELY 56,000 MILES ON IT TO DATE. WE TOOK IT INTO THE MECHANIC FOR AN ANNUAL INSPECTION AND WERE TOLD THAT 3 OF THE 4 WHEEL BEARING ASSEMBLIES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WE HAD BEEN HEARING A LOUD, ALMOST GRINDING NOISE, WHILE DRIVING. THESE ASSEMBLIES, BEING OF POOR QUALITY, MEAN 3 OF THE 4 WHEELS ON OUR VEHICLE WERE LOOSE. I SEE A VERY LARGE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE REGARDING THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE. VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

APPARENTLY THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE HUBS AND BEARINGS ON THE 2002 FORD EXPLORER. I HAVE A "RUBBING SOUND", HAD IT CHECKED, AND WAS TOLD I HAVE TO REPLACE THEM. IT IS APPROXIMATELY, $1000.00 (LOWEST I COULD FIND) TO REPLACE THEM. FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUED BY FORD (TSB 05-25-8, AND 051710) WHICH CLEARLY DESCRIBES THE BEARING ISSUE TO MECHANICS. UNFORTUNATELY FORD REFUSED TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH GOODYEAR WRANGLER SRA TIRES. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH AND THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE EXPLODED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH A SPARE TIRE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 100,000.

DISCOVERED THE REAR HUB BEARINGS ON MY FORD 2002 EXPLORER WERE TOTALLY GONE, IN JANUARY 2010, STARTED WITH A LOUD ROAR IN THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE. THE AUTO MECHANIC STATED THAT THE WHEEL WAS VERY DANGEROUS AND WAS ABOUT TO COME OFF THIS CAR. I HAD THE REPAIR WORK DONE IMMEDIATELY, THEN TODAY, MAY 3 2010 NOTICED THE SAME ROAR, THE AUTO SHOP DEEMED IT THE SAME ISSUE, THE REAR HUB BEARINGS WERE REPLACED AGAIN ON MAY 3. THIS HAS TO BE STOPPED, THIS PROBLEM COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS. FMC NEEDS TO OWN UP TO THE PROBLEM. I WAS LUCKY TODAY, THE JAN 2010 REPAIR WAS UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, BUT I MIGHT NOT BE AS LUCKY THE NEXT TIME. I JUST PRAY IT'S A SAFE VEHICLE TO DRIVE. *TR

IN 03/2008 I WENT IN THINKING I HAD BRAKE PROBLEM AND ENDED UP WITH A RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING REPLACED. I WAS TOLD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS YEAR AND MODEL FORD. NOW ITS 12/2009 AND I HAVE THE SAME NOISE, I GO TO THE DEALER AND TELL HIM I THINK ITS THE LEFT FRONT BEARING AND AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION THEY SAY THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE LEFT FRONT BUT THE LEFT REAR IS ABOUT READY TO FALL OFF. I AM GLAD I WENT TO GET THE TRUCK CHECKED BEFORE IT FELL OFF AT 65 MPH ON I80. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. I HAVE RESEARCHED ONLINE AND THERE HAVE BEEN MANY INCIDENTS WITH THE WHEEL BEARINGS/HUBS ON 2002 FORD EXPLORERS THEY KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM AND FORD IS NOT FIXING IT. WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO GET THE PROBLEM RECALLED? ACCIDENTS WITH DEATHS? *TR