2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT Complaints

MY HUSBAND AND I OWN A 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. FRIDAY, OCT. 24TH, 2008 WE HAD TRAVELED OUT OF TOWN ABOUT 2 HOURS AWAY FROM OUR HOME. WE WERE ON OUR WAY HOME AND WE WERE COMPLETELY STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. ALL OF A SUDDEN WE HEARD A HUGE BOOM AND THE REAR LIFTGATE GLASS SHATTERED. WE DID HAVE THE POLICE COME OUT AND INSPECT THE VEHICLE FOR ANY INDICATIONS AS TO WHAT MAY HAVE CAUSED THE GLASS TO SHATTER. THEY DID NOT FIND ANYTHING THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED THE PROBLEM. WHEN MY HUSBAND AND I GOT HOME WE DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE TO FIND OUT IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM. WE DID FIND THAT IN 2001 FORD RECALLED THOUSANDS OF FORD EXPLORERS FOR A SIMILAR ISSUE. WE CONTACTED FORD AND WERE TOLD THAT OUR VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF THAT RECALL. THEY DIRECTED US TO NHTSA TO FILE A COMPLAINT DUE TO OUR ISSUE BEING ALMOST IDENTICAL TO THIS RECALL. WE FEEL THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND THAT OUR VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL. WE HAVE THE VEHICLE IN THE SHOP RIGHT NOW AND AT THIS TIME WE BELIEVE THAT THE GLASS, HINGES, REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER MECHANISM, STRUTS AND ANY OTHER PARTS AFFECTED ARE BEING REPLACED. WE HAVE A $500 DEDUCTIBLE AND OUR INSURANCE IS COVERING THE BALANCE OF THE COST AT THIS TIME, WHICH IS OVER $1000. WE WOULD LIKE TO FILE A COMPLAINT AT THIS TIME BECAUSE WE DO FEEL THAT OUR VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE SAME MALFUNCTIONS AS THE 2001 RECALL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE HINGES IN THE LIFTGATE WERE UNSCREWING. HE LOCKED THE WINDOW TO PREVENT IT FROM FALLING. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE WINDOW FELL DOWN AND SHATTERED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V442000 (STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS). HE ALSO EXPERIENCED ISSUES WITH THE ARMREST. IT WOULD NOT OPEN UNLESS HE FORCED IT, WHICH EVENTUALLY CAUSED IT TO FAIL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 79,015 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 74,000. UPDATED 11/17/08 *BF UPDATED 11/18/08. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SWITCHED TO A LOWER GEAR. IN ADDITION, THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE CONTROL SLIGHTLY WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE FAILURE OCCURS EVERYTIME THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 148,000.

MY 2002 FORD EXPLORERS TRANSMISSION JUST COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING AT 94,000 MILES. READING FORUMS ONLINE LED ME TO THIS SITE, AFTER READING MANY, MANY OTHERS' EXACT SAME EXPERIENCES WITH THIS CAR. FORD WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT IT AND MY FAMILY DOES NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO REPLACE A TRANSMISSION! FORD NEEDS A RECALL ON TRANSMISSIONS FOR THIS MAKE AND MODEL! *TR

DEFECTIVE BRAKE CALIPER 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC WITH LESS THAN 6000 MILES AT TIME OF INCIDENCE APPROXIMATELY NOVEMBER 2002. A BRAKE CALIPER WAS STUCK ON AFTER PUTTING ON THE BRAKES WHILE IN MOTION. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO A GARAGE. THE CALIPER WAS REPLACED AND THE ROTOR WAS DAMAGED BUT STILL USABLE. I ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE ABS MALFUNCTIONING WHERE THE BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE(SUMMER, DRY ROADS). THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION SLAVE AND MASTER CYLINDERS WERE REPLACED (DO HAVE THESE PARTS). THE ABS AND TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS OCCURRED BETWEEN AUG 2007 AND DECEMBER 2007. THE VEHICLE HAD 38000-40000 MILES AND LIGHTLY DRIVEN. CURRENTLY THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 470000 MILES AND HAS BEEN DRIVEN 6.5 YEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER USED FOR TOWING. IT WAS USED PRIMARILY FOR TAKING CHILDREN TO SCHOOL, ACTIVITIES, AND FAMILY VACATIONS. *TR

MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND PARKING BRAKE 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC 39800 SLAVE AND MASTER CYLINDERS REPLACED AT 700.00 IN JANUARY 2008. FIRST INCIDENCE OCCURRED DECEMBER 24, 2007. I WAS ACTUALLY PULLING INTO GRANDMA'S DRIVE ON CHRISTMAS EVE AND TRIED TO BACK UP INTO A SPACE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STUCK IN PLACE BLOCKING EVERYONE IN. IT DID FINALLY WORK. THEN AT A SHOPPING CENTER IT WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD WHEN STOPPING FOR PEDESTRIANS TO CROSS AND THEN GOING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION WHEN SHIFTING IT JUST STOPPED BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD WOULDN'T MOVE INTO ANY GEAR. IT WAS STUCK BETWEEN GEARS AND WOULD NOT MOVE. I WAS BLOCKING AN INTERSECTION WHEN I NOW HAD A RED LIGHT. EVENTUALLY, I DID GET IT MOVING TO MY HOME, BUT HAD IT TOWED TO THE MECHANIC SINCE IT JUST WOULD NOT MOVE AT ALL ONCE RESTARTED. I WONDER IF THE ABS FAILURE IN AUGUST 2007 CAUSED THIS PROBLEM. THE MALFUNCTION OF THE ABS WOULD CAUSE STRESS ON THE TRANSMISSION WITH THE ABS COMING ON RANDOMLY AT ANY SPEED. PLEASE SEE MY BRAKE FAILURE COMPLAINT AND ALSO DEFECTIVE CALIPER COMPLAINT(CALIPER OCCURRED AT ONLY A FEW THOUSAND MILES). THE PARKING BRAKE RELEASE IS STILL A PROBLEM. YOU MUST PUT YOUR FOOT UNDER THE FOOT PEDAL OF THE PARKING BRAKE TO GET IT TO RELEASE COMPLETELY. THE LIGHT MAY GO OFF BUT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IS STILL ENGAGED. *TR

BRAKE FAILURE 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC ONLY 38000 MI WHEN THIS OCCURRED IN AUG 07. I ALMOST HIT THE BACK OF A SCHOOL BUS WHEN DROPPING MY CHILDREN OFF AT SCHOOL. THE BRAKES WOULD GRIND AND NOT STOP THE VEHICLE AND SOMETIMES PULSATION WOULD OCCUR AT ANY SPEED. IT WAS LIKE THE ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM WAS COMING ON WHEN IT SHOULDN'T(SUMMER DRY ROADS) AND THEN GETTING STUCK IN THE BRAKE RELEASE STATE. SO WHEN TRYING TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITH THE FOOT PEDAL, THE ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM WAS WORKING AGAINST YOUR BRAKING ACTION. THIS CAUSES A VERY SCARY FEELING WHEN YOU HAVE YOUR FOOT TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE STILL REMAINS IN MOTION. THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED, BUT NOT THE PROBLEM. THE NEXT INCIDENCE OCCURRED IN A BUSY INTERSECTION WHEN WE WERE ALMOST HIT BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T STOP AT A RED LIGHT. WHEN TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC I ALMOST HIT 2 PEDESTRIANS IN A CROSSWALK AT A STOP SIGN. THE VEHICLE JUST KEPT ON GOING AND I QUICKLY BEEPED THE HORN FOR A NEAR MISS OF A MAN AND HIS LITTLE BOY. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM WHICH CAUSES THE BRAKES TO MALFUNCTION. HE SENT US TO ANOTHER MECHANIC AND HE SAID THIS IS A DEFECT IN CERTAIN FORD EXPLORER MODELS. THE ANTILOCK BRAKING SENSORS, ALONG WITH THE LOCATION OF THEM IS THE PROBLEM. HE SAID TO FIX THIS IT WOULD COST ANYWHERE BETWEEN 300-600 DEPENDING ON WHAT ELSE WAS DAMAGED, BUT HE STRESSED DRIVING THE VEHICLE LIKE THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD. I WAS UPSET BECAUSE OF THE LOW MILES ON THIS VEHICLE. IT WAS ONLY OVER WARRANTY MILES BY 2000 BUT 5 YRS OLD. I COULD NOT AFFORD TO FIX THIS SO I WAS INSTRUCTED TO PULL THE FUSE ON THE ABS BECAUSE IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE WITH THE ABS. I HAVE THREE CHILDREN AND THIS IS MY ONLY TRANSPORTATION. WITH THE ABS FUSE PULLED I DO NOT HAVE THE PROBLEM, BUT LACKING ABS. FORD NEEDS TO STAND BY THERE PRODUCT AND OFFER A RECALL ON THIS COMPLETELY UNSAFE MALFUNCTION OF THE ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM. *TR

WHEN I WOULD MAKE A SHARP LEFT HAND TURN AND USE THE BRAKES THE BRAKES WOULD PULSATE AND WOULD NOT STOP THE TRUCK RIGHT AWAY. IT WOULD ACT LIKE IT HAD HIT ICE AND ITS WAS THE MIDDLE OF SUMMER. IT WOULD STILL MOVE ABOUT A FOOT. I TOOK IT TO A SHOP TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT AND WAS TOLD HE GETS ALOT OF FORD'S THAT DO THIS AND THEY DON'T HAVE A RECALL ON THIS. THE SHOP REPLACED THE PART IN THE HUB OR WHEEL NOT SURE AND NOW ITS FINE BUT IT COST ME OVER 500.00 AND I ONLY HAVE 50,000 MILES ON IT. I KNOW THAT PARTS WEAR BOUT BUT THIS WAS A FAILURE OF A PART THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE GONE BAD. ALSO THE ELECTRIC DOOR LOCK BUTTON IN THE TRUCK STOPS WORKING, THE OPEN SECTION WORKS BUT NOT THE LOCK BUTTON. *TR

O/D OFF LIGHT STARTED BLINKING. DEALER STATED THAT THIS IS AN INDICATION OF TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. CHECKED ON LINE FOR WARRANTY INFORMATION, AND FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORD'S 2002 TRANSMISSIONS. FORD WILL NOT ASSIST IN THE COST OF REPAIRS BECAUSE THE PROBLEM OCCURS AFTER THE 36,000 MILES OR 3 YEAR WARRANTY PERIOD. EVERY THING POINTS TO A $ 2,000 / 3,000 REPAIR JOB. I PURCHASED THIS TRUCK IN 10/08 AND NOW I HAVE TO LOOK FORWARD TO A MAJOR REPAIR BEFORE OWNING IT FOR A YEAR. I REALLY THINK THAT FORD SHOULD IN SOME WAY COMPENSATE ITS VEHICLE OWNERS FOR A DEFECT THAT THEY ARE APPARENTLY WELL AWARE OF. *TR

BOUGHT MY 02 SPORT TRAC IN 04. IT HAD TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK REPAIRED BY ORIGINAL OWNER AT (20,000 MILES) IN 03. IN 05, AT 55,000 MILES, TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKING IN ORIGINAL LOCATION PLUS ANOTHER. REPAIRED BY FORD AND I WAS ALLOWED A PO5 PAYMENT PROGRAM. AFTER 15,000 MILES FROM THIS REPAIR, TRANSMISSION FLUID AGAIN LEAKING. TORQUE CONVERTER REPLACED, ALONG WITH REPAIR TO SEALS. FORD DISTRICT MANAGER REFUSED TELEPHONE CONTACT TO DISCUSS. FORD REFUSED ACCEPTING RESPONSIBILITY, INCLUDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. TRANSMISSION ON THIS TRAC NOW HAS BEEN PULLED THREE TIMES AFTER FOUR FLUID LEAKS. I AM STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON LAST REPAIR. LOCAL FORD DEALER, UPSET WITH MY AGITATION, INFORMED ME THAT AT NOW 70,000 MILES, I SHOULD EXPECT THE NEED FOR REPAIRS! HA! *TR