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
    - BLOOMFIELD , ID

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND IMMEDIATELY, THE 4WD HIGH AND 4WD LOW WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL AND SHIFT INTO THE NEUTRAL GEAR, AS SPECIFIED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL HOWEVER, THE WARNING INDICATORS FAILED TO DISENGAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS WAITING UPON A RESPONSE PERTAINING TO THE MALFUNCTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2002 FORD EXPLORER
    - FAIRFAX, VA

    COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. SLIPPING IN-AND-OUT OF GEAR, FAILURE TO SHIFT BETWEEN GEARS, UNABLE TO STAY AT IDLE WITHOUT SHIFTING TO PARK. ALMOST CAUSED A COLLISION WHEN GEAR SLIP OCCURRED IN THE MIDDLE OF A MAJOR INTERSECTION. *TT

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2002 FORD EXPLORER
    - MIDLAND, GA

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT TWO CRACKS DEVELOPED UNDER THE HATCH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY EXTREMELY COLD WEATHER. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY STATED TO THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THEY DID NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2002 FORD EXPLORER
    - GOODLETTSVILLE, TN

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SHIFTER HANDLE FRACTURED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO EXIT A PARKING LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 187,000. UPDATED 03/05/12*LJ UPDATED 03/06/12

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2002 FORD EXPLORER
    - MISSOURI CITY , TX

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE OVER-DRIVE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO UNEXPECTEDLY INCREASE ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN EVEN THOUGH THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED SEVERAL TIMES, AS A RESULT THE CONTACT LOSS CONTROL AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO A SAFE LOCATION. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TOWED OR REPAIRED FOR THE EXTENSIVE FRONT END DAMAGE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 157,000.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2002 FORD EXPLORER
    - BARDSTOWN, KY

    I AM A SINGLE MOTHER OF 4 DRIVING 55MPH IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ON A 4 LANE HIGHWAY, WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE WHEN THE O/D LIGHT FLASHED A FEW TIMES AND THEN THE TRANSMISSION JUST STOPPED WORKING, AS THOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS IN NEUTRAL I COASTED SAFELY TO A STOP THANK GOD. I TOOK IT TO A FORD SERVICE CENTER AND THEY SAID IT WAS CAUSED BY THE SERVO BOAR????? NEVER HERD OF THIS. IT USED TO BE A SEPERATE LINE THAT COULD BE REPLACED NOW IT IS BUILT INTO THE TRANSMISSION AND THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION HAS TO BE REPLACED. IS WHAT I WAS TOLD TO ME BY THE CERTIFIED FORD SERVICE MAN AND THAT THERE WAS NOT A PROBLEM WITH THE OLD STYLE LINES BUT HE HEARS OF THIS OFTEN WITH THE NEWER TRANSMISSIONS. WAS THIS CHANGED JUST FOR PROFIT BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY? BECAUSE WITH THIS HAPPENING WITHOUT WARNING SOMEONE COULD GET INTO AN ACCIDENT AND BE SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED DEPENDING ON THE SITUATION. I AM VERY UPSET THAT MY FAMILY WAS PUT IN THIS SITUATION BUT WE GOT LUCKY. IF WE WERE ONLY LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX IT NOW, IT IS $2,400 FOR THE NEW TRANSMISSION AND LABOR. *TT

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2002 FORD EXPLORER
    - PLAINFIELD , IL

    THE SEAT BELTS ON THE FRONT DRIVERS & PASSENGERS SIDES DO NOT RETRACT . THE SEAT BELTS CONSTANTLY GET CAUGHT IN THE DOOR LOCK ASSEMBLY . THIS ACTUALLY RUINED MY DOOR LOCKS ONCE ALREADY , WHICH I HAD TO REPLACE AT MY EXPENSE . I HAVE READ NUMEROUS ISSUES WITH THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. *TR

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

    2002 FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSION I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND I NOTICED THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLIP. I DROVE ABOUT 10 MILES MORE TO MAKE IT HOME AND IT COMPLETELY FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE TOWED. I TOOK IT TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP AND THEY SAID IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM IN 2002 EXPLORERS. OVER $2000 LATER I THOUGHT IT WAS FINALLY FIXED AND NOW NOT EVEN 2 YEARS LATER THE TRANSMISSION WENT AGAIN. THIS TIME IT WAS THE OVERDRIVE. AS A COLLEGE STUDENT I CAN'T AFFORD TO GET IT FIXED AGAIN. THERE DEFINITELY NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON FORD'S TRANSMISSIONS FOR THAT YEAR. I HAVE BEEN DOING RESEARCH AND THERE IS WAY TOO MANY COMPLAINTS FOR FORD NOT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD AGAIN. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2002 FORD EXPLORER
    - KANSAS CITY, MO

    AT A STOP, BEGAN ACCELERATING TO ENTER HIGHWAY, ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK AND CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE UP TO 90 MPH AT FULL THROTTLE BEFORE I SHUT VEHICLE OFF AND PUT IT IN NEUTRAL. HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, ALL EXACTLY THE SAME. VEHICLE ACCELERATES AT FULL THROTTLE AND HAS TO BE SHUT OFF BEFORE AN ACCIDENT OCCURS. ONLY WAY TO CORRECT PROBLEM IS TO EXIT VEHICLE AND PUSH GAS PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES; START VEHICLE AND SEE IF ENGINE IS STILL AT FULL THROTTLE.

    Source: PORTABLE SAFETY COMPLAINT FORM
  • 2002 FORD EXPLORER
    - LORAIN, OH

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE