2002 FORD EXPLORER Complaints

I JUST PURCHASED A USED 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT ON 08/06/2011 SO THAT I HAD A VEHICLE THAT I COULD TAKE THE KIDS ON CAMPING TRIPS. ON 09/04/2011 ON OUR WAY TO DAYTONA BEACH I NOTICED THE CAR WAS PUSHING AND SWERVING IN BOTH DIRECTIONS, I HAD JUST PUT BRAND NEW TIRES ON IT AND REPLACED BOTH THE UPPER CONTROL ARMS AND ALL 4 BALL JOINTS AND HAD AN ALIGNMENT DONE, I THOUGHT THAT IT'S A BIGGER VEHICLE THAN WHAT I'M USED TO AND HAD BEEN A SLIGHTLY WINDY. ON THE WAY HOME ON MONDAY 09/05/2011 IT WAS EVEN WORSE, I COULD FEEL THE BODY ROLLING THE CAR PUSHING ECT.. I PULLED OVER AND CHECKED THE FRONT SUSPENSION. THERE APPEARED TO BE NOTHING WRONG. I CRAWLED HOME A NERVOUS WRECK. WHEN WE UNLOAD THE CAR AT HOME I NOTICED THE CAR WAS SAGGING IN THE LEFT REAR.I CRAWLED UNDER THE VEHICLE. I NOTICED 2 BIG ISSUES, 1ST THE COIL SPRING IS BROKEN WERE LUCKY IT DIDN'T POP OUT AND SHRED A TIRE, AND 2ND ALL OF THE BODY MOUNT BUSHINGS ARE COMPLETELY CRUMBLING OR JUST PLAIN GONE. TALK ABOUT DANGEROUS. I WENT ONLINE AND THERE SEEMS TO BE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS FOR THE 2002 EXPLORERS ON BLOGS AND FORD FORUMS AND TONS OF SITES FOR COMPLAINTS FOR AUTOMOBILES FOR ALL MODELS OF THIS VEHICLE FOR THE EXACT SAME THINGS. I HAVE ALSO SEEN NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS VEHICLE FOR OTHER EQUIPMENT FAILURES ONE OF THEM BEING A WHINING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAREND OF THE CAR WHICH I THOUGHT WAS THE TIRES, BUT APPARENTLY IT IS AN IMPROPERLY ENGINEERED DIFFERENTIAL THAT FORD WILL NOT FIX OR ADMIT THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH ALTHOUGH THERE ARE A COUPLE OF TECHNICAL BULLETINS OUT ON IT. THEY ARE JUST LUCKY THAT MY CHILDREN WERE NOT INJURED. HOW DARE THEY NOT ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY TO TAKE CARE OF THESE VEHICLES THAT THEY ENGINEERED AND SOLD, USED OR NOT. IF YOU MANUFACTURE AN UNSAFE VEHICLE AND A DEFECTIVE VEHICLE YOU SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE. IS IT GONNA TAKE A FATHER AND HIS CHILDREN BEING KILLED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED HE NOTICED THAT THE FRONT TIRES WERE WEARING EXCESSIVELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER COIL SPRING WAS FRACTURED, CAUSING THE EXCESSIVE TREAD WEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS ALSO FRACTURED SINCE THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

I BOUGHT MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER IN 2005. AT ABOUT 85000 MILES I NOTICED THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLIP AND OFTEN JERKS REAL HARD WHEN SHIFTING INTO 3RD. I HAD THE TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGED BY AN AUTHORIZED FORD DEALER IN MY AREA AND THEY TOLD ME THERE ARE NO METAL SHAVINGS IN THE FLUID, HOWEVER, THEY DID TELL ME THAT THE 2002 FORDS ARE WELL KNOWS FOR HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND THEY SEE IT ALL THE TIME IN THIS MAKE MODEL AND YEAR. I CALLED FORD AND THEY TOLD ME THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON THE TRANSMISSION, HOWEVER, READING ALL THE PROBLEMS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT OWNERS WHO HAVE COMPLAINED, I FEEL THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS BECAUSE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE! *TR

IN THE EVENING, I WAS ABOUT HALF AN HOUR FROM HOME WHEN I PULLED UP TO A GAS PUMP AT A STATION AND ATTEMPTED TO PUT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK. I DID NOT DO ANYTHING DIFFERENT THAN NORMAL. THE STEERING GEAR SHIFT BROKE OFF INTO MY HAND. IT WAS ATTACHED BY A WIRE. I COULD NOT TELL WHAT HAPPENED EXCEPT THAT IT WAS BROKEN OFF THE STEERING COLUMN. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF THE DEALERSHIP WAS CLOSED BUT THE RECEPTIONIST SAID THAT THE VEHICLE COULD BE LEFT AT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT LOT OVERNIGHT AND THEY WOULD TAKE A LOOK AT IT THE NEXT DAY. I DROVE TO THE DEALERSHIP HOLDING THE PIECE IN MY RIGHT HAND AS I DID NOT KNOW WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF IT BECAME UNATTACHED FROM THAT WIRE. I FELT SCARED THAT SOMETHING WAS GOING TO HAPPEN SUCH AS A FIRE, TURN COMPLETELY OFF IN TRAFFIC, ETC. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT. I GOT TO THE DEALERSHIP, SET THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. I COULDN'T GET THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO LEAVE MY VEHICLE THERE WITH KEY IN THE IGNITION. I EMPTIED AS MUCH OF MY STUFF FROM THE CAR AS I COULD AS I WAS WORRIED THAT THERE COULD BE SOME TYPE OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY OVERNIGHT. THANKFULLY, IT WAS THERE THE NEXT MORNING BUT UNFORTUNATELY THE COST OF REPAIR IS OVER $1,500. THE SERVICE ADVISOR SAID THE ONLY WAY TO FIX THIS IS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN. THIS IS ALL OUT OF POCKET COSTS. I AM THANKFUL THAT THE DEALERSHIP DOES PROVIDE FREE LOANERS AND THAT THIS HAPPENED IN A PLACE WHERE I COULD EXIT THE LOCATION AND MAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE COST TO REPAIR, THE STRESS THAT THIS CAUSED, THE FACT THAT THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECTIVE PART, AND THE POSSIBILITY OF THIS HAPPENING AGAIN ARE ALL NOT GOOD. *TR

2002 FORD EXPLORER AT 15000 MILES; BOUGHT TRUCK USED FROM MY BROTHER. HE NEVER DROVE IT BECAUSE HE HAD A COMPANY CAR. FUEL PUMP WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING IT HOME, DOOR AJAR LIGHT NEVER WENT OUT, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON(SHOULD HAVE TAKEN IT RIGHT BACK TO MY BROTHER).$650.00 TO REPLACE FUEL PUMP, $100.00 TO FIX DOOR AJAR LIGHT(FIXED MYSELF), $600.00 TO FIX CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THAT PROBLEM WAS DIFFERENT DEPENDING ON WHICH PLACE CHECKED THE ERROR CODES. NOW THE FUEL GAGE IS GOING ALL OVER THE PLACE AND VERY POOR MPG. WAS TOLD THE SENDING UNIT IS PROBABLE CAUSE. NOW THIS 2002 EXPLORER STILL UNDER 20,000 MILES. WHAT NEXT!! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE FRONT AND REAR END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS SEVERE VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHICH CAUSED DIFFICULTY IN STEERING THE VEHICLE NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 148,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THE ENTIRE GLASS ON ALL FOUR DOORS EXHIBITED PERMANENT STREAKS WHICH DISTORTED HIS VISIBILITY. IN ADDITION, THERE WERE SIMILAR STREAKS ON THE FRONT AND REAR WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO SPECIALIZED IN AUTO GLASS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO ACID. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3. ALL GLASS HAS A FOG TYPE FILM AND STREAKS WHICH OBSCURES VISION DURING NIGHT TIME AND INCLEMENT WEATHER DRIVING. UPDATED 09/29/2011 *LN *TR

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER THAT HAS 120,000 MILES ON IT. I WAS RECENTLY DRIVING BACK HOME FROM A TRIP IN SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA TO SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA. TWO DAYS AFTER HAVING MY CAR FULLY SERVICED AND MY OVER DRIVE LIGHT CAME ON AND AS SOON AS THAT HAPPENED MY CAR STARTED TELLING ME I NEED TO GET MY TRANSMISSION CHECKED. I SAT THERE THINKING TO MYSELF HOW CAN THIS BE HAPPENING I JUST SPENT 800 DOLLARS TO HAVE ALL OF MY FLUIDS FLUSHED, BRAKES CHECKED, EVERYTHING. I TOOK MY CAR BACK TO THE AUTO REPAIR STORE AND THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION AND AFTER LABOR IT WOULD BE AROUND 5000 (I THINK I WAS QUOTED THAT PRICE BECAUSE I'M A YOUNG FEMALE, I WAS LOOKING ONLINE AND MOST PEOPLE WERE QUOTED AROUND 3000). I'M A FULL TIME COLLEGE STUDENT PAYING FOR MY CLASSES WITH STUDENT LOANS AND GRANTS. I DON'T HAVE A FEW THOUSAND DOLLARS SITTING AROUND AT MY DISPOSAL TO FIX MY CAR. I ALSO CAN'T HAVE MY CAR IN THE SHOP FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME DUE TO THE FACT IF I MISS MORE THAN 3 CLASSES MOST OF MY PROFESSORS WILL DROP ME. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE AND MANY OTHER CONSUMERS NOT JUST MYSELF HAVE HAD THIS INCIDENT HAPPEN TO THEM, I BELIEVE FORD IS IN THE WRONG FOR HAVING FAULTY MANUFACTURING, THEY HAVE MADE IT SO ANY TRANSMISSION WORK HAS TO BE DONE BY THE DEALER, YOU CAN'T EVEN CHECK YOUR OWN TRANSMISSION FLUID. I FEEL AS IF FORD NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THEIR TRANSMISSIONS OR OFFER SOME KIND OF HELP TO PAY FOR THESE UNACCEPTABLE INCIDENTS. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORE WITH 47,000 MILES. WAS TOLD BOTH REAR SPRINGS WERE BROKE DURING VEHICLE INSPECTION. DON'T KNOW WHEN THEY BROKE. DAILY DRIVER ONLY, NO TOWING. SHOULD NOT HAPPEN AT 47,000 MILES SHOULD HAVE A RECALL WITH ALL THE COMPLAINTS WITH SPRINGS. *TR

TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN 2010, ALMOST CAUSED VEHICLE ACCIDENT ON THE HIGHWAY; WAS REBUILT IN MARCH 2011, BUT TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING AGAIN AND IT IS NOW AUGUST 2011. I HAVE BEEN CHECKING SEVERAL DIFFERENT WEBSITES AND I RECEIVED 1 RECALL LETTER IN THE MAIL BUT HAPPENED TO NOTICE THERE IS ANOTHER RECALL. IF ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS ARE CONTINUING TO HAPPEN, WHY IS A RECALL ON THE ENTIRE TRUCK NOT DONE? IT IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECTIVE VEHICLE. I HAVE 2 SMALL CHILDREN, ONE WITH A MEDICAL ISSUE THAT HAS TO TRAVEL FOR HER DOCTOR VISITS. THESE PROBLEMS ARE GETTING OUT OF HAND. I CAN NOT BELIEVE IT HAS GONE THIS LONG AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT IT. THERE IS ALSO THE ISSUE WITH THE NON WORKING AIR COMPRESSOR AND THE BAD ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AS WELL AS THE ROARING IN THE BACK TIRES. AS MUCH AS I TRAVEL WITH MY CHILDREN AND GET FROM POINT A TO B, IM SURPRISED THIS THING HAS NOT FALLEN APART. I WAS A SUCKER FOR A PRETTY TRUCK!! *TR