2002 FORD EXPLORER Complaints

View complaints related to 2002 FORD EXPLORER. The complaints found here are submitted by actual consumers with first hand experience. There are more than 3,320 complaints submitted for the 2002 FORD EXPLORER. You can submit your own complaint to the NHTSA or call the Hotline, Monday-Friday 8am to 8pm at (888) 327-4236, TTY: (800) 424-9153.

  • 2002 FORD EXPLORER
    - HARRISBURG, PA

    O/D OFF LIGHT FLASHING AND SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ON CONSTANT. TRANSMISSION HAS A HARD TIME SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR. IT HAD APPROXIMATELY 140,000 MILES WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENED. I AM NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER SO I AM UNSURE IF THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2002 FORD EXPLORER
    - PORTAGE, MI

    OUT TRANSMISSION ISN'T OUT YET, IT'S ON ITS WAY OUT. WHEN ACCELERATING IT STOPS AT 25-35 MPH AND THE RPM REV UP TO THE RED LIMIT IF YOU DON'T TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE GAS AND IT WONT SWITCH GEARS FOR A MINUTE OR SO. SOMETIMES YOU HEAR A LOUD DROPPING SOUND AND THE ENTIRE CAR JERKS WHEN IT SWITCHES GEARS. THIS FIRST HAPPENED WHEN SPEEDING UP ON A BUSY MAIN ROAD NEAR DETROIT, ALMOST CAUSING US TO BE REAR ENDED. WE TOOK IT TO A TRANSMISSION GARAGE AND WERE INFORMED IT WOULD BE $2,000 OR THERE ABOUTS TO FIX. HAD THE OTHER DRIVER NOT BEEN PAYING ATTENTION OR HAD THIS HAPPENED ON A HIGHWAY MYSELF, MY FIANCE, OUR FOUR CHILDREN WOULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR WORSE. APPARENTLY THE TRANSMISSION IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL OF VEHICLE AND THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE MADE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS BLATANTLY DANGEROUS DEFECT. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2002 FORD EXPLORER
    - INDIANAPOLIS, IN

    I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER EB AND THIS CAR IS A PIECE OF CRAP AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR THE TRANNY IS SLIPPING LIKE CRAZY AND ITS HARD TO CHANGE FROM PARK TO DRIVE. I HAVE LOOKED IT UP AND THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE AND IT IS A CLOSED TRANNY SO I CANT EVEN CHECK THE FLUID IN IT BUT FORD IS NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THE ISSUE I WILL NEVER OWN A FORD AGAIN. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2002 FORD EXPLORER
    - SUISUN CITY, CA

    BEEN JERKY AND JUMPING FOR 2 YEARS BUT TODAY THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT UPSHIFT WHEN STARTING OUT OR DOWN-SHIFT WHEN SLOWING DOWN. THE ENGINE WENT TO HIGH RPM WITH LITTLE OR NO FORWARD PROGRESS.ALL THIS WAS PRECEDED BY THE OVER-DRIVE LIGHT FLASHING ON AND OFF FOLLOWED NEXT BY THE CHECK TRANSMISSION LIGHT. NEXT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE FORUMS ON THIS VEHICLE WILL TELL YOU THAT THIS 6 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ON THE V-8 ENGINES ARE JUST JUNK. WAY TO MANY COMPLAINTS. WILL FORD FIX THIS ON AN OUT OF WARRANTY VEHICLE? AFTER PULLING. *JS

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2002 FORD EXPLORER
    - EFFORT, PA

    THE TRANSMISSION IS HAVING TROUBLE SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD, ENGINE LIGHT AND O/D OFF LIGHTS ARE ON. LOCAL MECHANIC SAYS THAT THE INTERMEDIATE BAND ON THE TRANSMISSION IS BROKEN. THIS IS A SEALED UNIT WITH NO WAY TO SERVICE WITHOUT A REBUILD.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2002 FORD EXPLORER
    - LOUISVILLE, KY

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED DUE TO A WIRE UNDER THE DASHBOARD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 160,000.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC
    - BUFFALO, NY

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR SHOP WHERE A MECHANIC PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND DETECTED A MALFUNCTION IN THE EMISSIONS CONTROL SYSTEM. THE MANUFACTURER HAD ISSUED A VOLUNTARY RECALL FOR THE EMISSIONS CONTROL SYSTEM HOWEVER, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 161,673.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT
    - CYPRESS, TX

    BODY MOUNT BUSHINGS COMPLETE FAILURE. ALL MOUNTS FAIL. MOUNTS FALL COMPLETELY APART AND NOTHING LEFT EXCEPT FOR WASHERS AND BOLTS.THIS CAN CAUSES BODY TO MOVE ON FRAME..HAVE MADE FORD MOTOR AWARE BUT NO ACTION TAKEN. *JS

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2002 FORD EXPLORER
    - DALTON, OH

    MY WIFE STARTED OUR EXPLORER AND TRIED TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND THE GEAR SHIFT HANDLE SNAPPED OFF IN HER HAND. ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED TO MANY OTHER FORD OWNERS! UNBELIEVABLE! SO NOW I HAVE TO HAVE MY VEHICLE TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE THIS "FORD PROBLEM" FIXED! AND ALSO SHELL OUT OVER $1000 DOLLARS JUST SO I CAN GET MY EXPLORER BACK ON THE ROAD!!! AND WHEN I CALLED THE LOCAL FORD GARAGE TO ASK ABOUT THIS DEFECT, THEY ACTED AS IF THIS PROBLEM HAS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE! BS! *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2002 FORD EXPLORER
    - LOS ANGELES , CA

    THE PROBLEM IS A SUDDEN CRACKING OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CAUSING SLOW COOLANT LOSS. WHEN THE INTAKE FAILS THE ENGINE COOLANT POURS OUT AND THE ENGINE QUICKLY OVERHEATS. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE