2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT Complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE NOTICED THAT THE REAR LIFTGATE LATCH HINGES WERE FRACTURED AND CAUSING THE LIFTGATE TO IMPROPERLY SECURE THE GLASS. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT SHE WOULD NEED TO REPLACE BOTH HINGES ON THE REAR LIFTGATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 125,000. UPDATED 03/15/11*LJ UPDATED 11/28/11 *CN

NO LEFT TURN SINGLE OR BRAKE LIGHTS, WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TILITED DOWN WE FOUND THE TURN SINGLES DO NOT WORK OR BRAKE LIGHTS. *TR

BODY MOUNT BUSHINGS HAVE DETERIORATED. THE CAR IS ONLY 8 YRS OLD. I LOOKED TODAY AFTER HEARING A CRACKING/POPPING NOISE AND THE DRIVERS' SIDE FRONT BUSHING (THERE ARE TWO ON EACH SO, TECHNICALLY, BUSHINGS) ARE ALMOST COMPLETELY GONE. THE PASSENGER SIDE AND 2 MIDDLE MOUNT BUSHINGS ARE ALSO CRACKED AND DETERIORATING. I HAVE CONFIRMED THAT THIS IS EXCEEDINGLY PREMATURE AND ESSENTIALLY UNHEARD OF IN CARS THIS AGE. IN FACT, I'VE BEEN TOLD IN CARS 20 YRS OLD THAT OFTEN THE BUSHINGS ARE STILL FINE. EARLY DETERIORATION IS UNSAFE AND, APPARENTLY, NOT UNCOMMON IN THESE TRUCKS. THUS, I WANTED TO REPORT IT. *TR

BODY MOUNT CAB BUSHINGS ARE DETERIORATING SO BADLY THEY FLAKE OFF IN YOUR HAND IF YOU TOUCH THEM. *TR

2002 FORD SPORT TRAC 8 YEAR OLD CHILD BROKE DOOR HANDLE WHEN TRYING TO OPEN DOOR WITH CHILD LOCK ON. 5 YEAR OLD CHILD BROKE THE OTHER DOOR HANDLE THE SAME WAY. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS. THESE HANDLES ARE NOT HEAVY DTY ENOUGH FOR THE WEIGHT THAT IS FORCED ON THEM WHEN TRYING TO OPEN EVEN WITH THE CHILD LOCK OFF. THESE AUTOMAKERS SHOULD BE FORCED TO STOP USING THE PUBLIC AS GUINEA PIGS TO FIND OUT WHAT PROBLEMS THEY HAVE AND THEN NEVER ISSUE RECALLS. THEY JUST MODIFY IT ON THE NEXT MODEL AND BLOW OFF PRIOR OWNERS. THE HANDLES ACTUALLY CUT MY DAUGHTERS HAND WHEN IT BROKE. IT IS UTTERLY RIDICULOUS. ALSO THE BRAKES ON THE SAME VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE CALIPER ON THE PASS SIDE TWICE AND THEY EAT BRAKE PADS UP LIKE MAD. IT IS NOT DRIVING HABITS THAT CAUSED THIS IT IS A DESIGN FLAW. NO WONDER THEY WENT TO 4 WHEEL DISC BRAKES( ANOTHER WAIT AND MODIFY ROUTINE) I'M SURE THIS WAS THEIR FIX FOR THAT PROBLEM AND THEY AVOIDED ANOTHER RECALL. WE PAY THOUSAND OF DOLLARS FOR THESE VEHICLES THEY SHOULD PAY THE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO FIX THEIR ENGINEERING AND QC DEPARTMENTS LACK OF DETAIL WHEN TESTING THESE VEHICLES. THANK YOU FOR ANYONE CARING. *TR

LEADING UP TO THE EVENT OF THE FIRE, OCCASIONALLY THE "DOOR AJAR" BUTTON WOULD FLASH DURING DRIVING, THE ALARM WOULD RANDOMLY GO OFF, AND THE LIGHTS INSIDE THE VEHICLE WOULD FLASH AT RANDOM TIMES. THIS WAS NEVER A PATTERN, AND THE CAR WENT PERIODS OF TIME WITH NOTHING HAPPENING TO IT. ONE MORNING, I OPENED THE CAR DOOR AND FOUND THE ENTIRE INSIDE TO BE BURNED OUT. THE FIRST STARTED IN THE MIDDLE CONSOLE. *TR

2002 FORD EXPLORER. O/D LIGHT BLINKING. SLOW GEAR SHIFTING. RANDOM JERKING OF CAR. HAVE READ THIS ON MANY WEBSITES AND EVEN PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD A REBUILD OR SOLENOID REPLACED, JUST HAPPENS AGAIN. IS ALSO DANGEROUS, BECAUSE ONCE CHANGES GEARS, MPH JUMPS VERY HIGH, VERY QUICKLY WITH NO CONTROL OVER IT. *TR

TOOK VEHICLE IN TO HAVE NHTSA ACTION NUMBER PE03020 - BOLT REPLACE DUE TO BACK OF SEAT FALLING BACKWARDS DURING DRIVING. BOLT BROKE ALLOWING THE SEAT BACK TO FALL BACKWARDS. WAS INFORMED BY AIRPORT FORD (DEALERSHIP) THAT DUE TO THE BROKEN BOLT THAT THE SEAT FRAME WAS DAMAGED AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY $350 TO GET THE FRAME FIXED. FORD DEALER INDICATED THAT THEY COULD NOT REPLACE BOLT DUE TO DAMAGE TO SEAT FRAME - WHICH WAS CAUSED BY THE BOLT BREAKING. CALLED FORD MOTOR CO AND THEY SAID THAT AS FAR AS THEY KNEW THE DAMAGED SEAT FRAME CAUSED THE BOLT (WHICH WAS ON THE RECALL) TO BREAK. SO THE DEALER RETURNED THE VEHICLE WITHOUT REPLACING THE BOLT WITH THE SEAT IS STILL BROKEN. WORDING FROM DEALERSHIP "INSPECT- FOUND UNABLE TO REPLACE BOLT-SHEERED OFF INSPEC CONDITION OF MOUNTING AREA INTO SEAT BOTTOM FRAME SEAT BACK ARE BOTH DAMAGED. - FORD DECLINE REPLACED BOTH FRAME SECTIONS DUE TO TIME LENGTH OF OPEN RECALL OPEN SINCE 2003. CUST DECLINE REPAIRS - NO ACTION TAKEN - RETURN VEH TO CUSTOMER IN CONDITION VEHICLE CAME HERE WITH. FORD IS WANTING ME TO PAY $350.00 TO FIX SOMETHING THAT THEIR $2.00. DEFECTIVE BOLT DAMAGED. *TR

PART # E6DB-14489-DA. THIS IS A WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR LOCATED IN THE STEERING COLUMN THAT BECOMES UNPLUGGED WHEN YOU TILT STEERING DOWNWARD. RESULT IS BRAKES LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS NO LONGER FUNCTION. ** MY SISTER-IN-LAW WAS NEARLY REAR-ENDED WHILE WAITING TO MAKE A TURN. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. MANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH SAME ISSUE. ALSO, HAVE SEEN SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FOR OTHER FORD VEHICLES (TAURUS). SERIOUS ACCIDENTS WILL HAPPEN IF PUBLIC IS NOT NOTIFIED. DEALERS CHARGING $200+ TO FIX. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR LIFT GATE HINGES FAILED AND CAUSED THE WINDOW TO FALL. THE DEALER MADE REPAIRS AT THE CONTACTS EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL AND WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,800. UPDATED 11/16/10*BF THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE TAILGATE WINDOW WAS OPENED, THE HINGES FAILED AND THE WINDOWS CAME OUT OF THE TAILGATE THE WINDOW THEN FAILED WHEN ONE OF THE CYLINDERS CAME OFF THE TAILGATE. THE WINDOW DID NOT BREAK. UPDATED 11/23/10. *JB