2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC Complaints

I AM EXPERIENCING A LOUD CLANKING AND CRASHING SOUND EMITTING FROM UNDER VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING ON PUBLIC HIGHWAYS WITH MINIMAL BUMPS AT VARIOUS SPEEDS WITH INCREASED ROLL MOVEMENT WHILE CORNERING. AFTER INVESTIGATION, I FOUND THE BODY MOUNTS TO BE CRUMBLING APART, BODY MOUNTS MISSING LARGE CHUNKS OF MATERIAL AND OTHER BODY MOUNTS ARE SOFT AND JELLY LIKE WHEN TOUCHED. THESE FORD BODY MOUNTS HAVE BEEN ENGINEERED IMPROPERLY AND HAVE REACHED A PREMATURE FAILED STATE. THIS AFFECTS THE ROLL OF THE VEHICLE AND MAY POSE GRAVE DANGER TO VEHICLE PASSENGERS WHEN PERFORMING A LANE CHANGE OR ANY VEHICLE ROLL MANEUVER AND AFFECTS VEHICLE CONTROL. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY. AFTER A INTERNET SEARCH, I HAVE DISCOVERED THIS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THOUSANDS OF FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC OWNERS AND OTHER FORD TRUCKS AS WELL. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN FLORIDA FROM 2002-2010, AND IN GEORGIA FROM 2011-PRESENT AND HAS NEVER BEEN EXPOSED TO SALT, SNOW OR ANY ABNORMAL ENVIRONMENT TO CAUSE THIS FAILURE. THIS VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN MODIFIED IN ANY WAY. *JS

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.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THERE SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND A JERKING MOVEMENT WHEN THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED. THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO MOVE ERRATICALLY FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE BEFORE CRASHING INTO A RETAINER WALL. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK AND BACK. THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER VEHICLE ALSO SUSTAINED HEAD AND NECK INJURIES. THE POLICE WERE CALLED AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

I BOUGHT A 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC NEW. SHORTLY AFTER HAVE ELECTRIC WINDOW PROBLEMS DRIVERS DOOR BACK PASSENGER WINDOW AND NOW THE PASSENGER DOOR WINDOW, BAD BODY MOUNTS,AND IDLES BAD WHEN IN PARK OR STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. RPM'S 500 TO 1000 BACK DOWN TO 500-400. 2002 HAD A BABY GIRL 1 1/2 YEARS AND ANOTHER ON THE WAY NEEDED A 4 DOOR AND ALSO FOR WORK. I KICK MY SELF EVERY DAY THAT I HAVE OWNED IT BUT HAD NO CHOICE MONEY WAS TIGHT AND STILL IS COULD NOT AFFORD EVERY TIME GETTING THINGS FIXED SO I LIVED WITH IT!!!! UNTIL I FOUND THIS WEB PAGE I AM FED UP I HAVE ALWAYS OWNED FORD BUT AFTER THIS IM NOT SO SURE ANYMORE! AND READING OTHER PEOPLES WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS THE SPORT TRAC IS ONE BIG LEMON!!!!!! *TR

THE BODY MOUNTS HAVE DETERIORATED TO A POINT THAT THEY ARE CRUMBLING AND ARE NOT SUPPORTING THE FRAME TO THE BODY AND NEED TO BE REPLACED FOR SAFETY REASONS. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT ANY WARNING AND HAD TO BE REBUILT. NEITHER OF THESE PROBLEMS SHOULD EXIST ON A VEHICLE THAT IS WELL MAINTAINED AND HAS ONLY 52,000 MILES. THESE PROBLEMS APPEAR TO BE COMMON WITH THIS VEHICLE AND NEED TO BE ADDRESSED BY FORD. *TR

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES AT APPROXIMATE SPEED OF 3 TO 5 MPH, ANTI LOCK BRAKES ACTIVATE. FORD DEALERSHIP HAD THE VEHICLE FOR 7 DAYS, REPLACED THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE SENSOR AND ADVISED ME THAT THE VEHICLE WAS FIXED. AS SOON AS I LEFT THE DEALERSHIP, I NOTICED THE SAME PROBLEM. TO DATE, FORD HAS NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM, OR REFUNDED MY MONEY FOR THE REPAIR THAT WAS NOT NECESSARY (ANTI LOCK BRAKE SENSOR.) *TR

I COME TO REALIZE IN THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY VEHICLES DO NOT A TRANSMISSION GAUGE. TRANSMISSION SENSORY LIGHT TO LET YOU KNOW WHEN YOUR TRANSMISSION FLUID IS GETTING LOW. THIS IS A PROBLEM FOR ME AND MANY MORE AMERICANS. MY FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC DO NOT HAVE A TRANSMISSION SENSORY LIGHT OR A GAUGE. THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING AND NOT SHIPPING OUT GEARS RIGHT. SOMEONE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS PROBLEM. WE HAVE ALL OTHER FLUID GAUGES EXCEPT A TRANSMISSION GAUGE. *TR

I NEVER HAVE ANY WARNING BEFORE MY TRANSMISSION SLIPS WHILE DRIVING MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. MY TRANSMISSION SLIPS WHEN IT SHIFTS FROM 2ND GEAR INTO 3RD GEAR, AFTER THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS MY OD DASH LIGHT BEGINS FLASHING; THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE THE FIRST MONTH I THAT I HAVE OWNED (APRIL 2007, WITH 77,000 MILES). I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO GET THE DEALERSHIP TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM, BUT THEY WILL NOT TOUCH IT UNLESS I PAID $195. I CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE THAT DONE UNLESS THE COST GOES TOWARDS A REPAIR. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND I FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS TRANSMISSION ISSUE HAPPENING. *TR

FORD EXPLORER SPORT-TRAC 2001-2005 THE BODY MOUNTS ARE CRUMBLING, KNOWN DEFECT ON ALL THESE VEHICLES, INFERIOR RUBBER - CAUSING EXPOSURE OF BODY TO FRAME. POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE - COULD VERY LIKELY CAN CAUSE ROLL-OVERS AS THE RUBBER DISINTEGRATES THERE IS NO SUPPORT BETWEEN THE BODY AND THE FRAME. FORD IS AWARE OF THIS DEFECT BUT HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM.

MY LEFT TURN SIGNAL WENT OUT. REPLACED BULB...NO CHANGE. WENT TO DEALERSHIP. THEY REPAIRED STEERING WHEEL HARNESS ISSUE. WORKED UNTIL I DROVE MY AUNT TO DET. METRO FOR A FLIGHT TO DALLAS. SPENT THE WHOLE DRIVE TRYING TO MAKE OTHER DRIVERS REMEMBER HAND SIGNALS FROM THERE TO CENTER LINE, MI ON FREEWAYS. THIS TIME THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMED THE WIRES NEEDED TO BE COVERED WITH A MELT-WRAP TO STOP THE TILT WHEEL FROM PINCHING THE WIRES. I THINK IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RIGHT FROM DAY 1 AND FORD'S SHOULD PAY US BACK FOR BOTH THE BRAKES AND THE LIGHTS. RECALL AND FIX THIS! I HAVE NEVER HAD TO PUT THIS MUCH INTO BRAKES/LIGHTS BEFORE. I'VE BEEN DRIVING FOR 44 YEARS. ALL FORD PRODUCTS. WHAT'S THE PROBLEM WITH THIS ONE????? I NEGLECTED TO SAY THAT MY ROTORS WENT AT 12000 MILES. CAR TURNED INTO A DEATH TRAP SHORTLY AFTER. KEPT TAKING IT TO DEALERSHIP COMPLAINING THAT IT TOOK OFF AND PULLED RIGHT WHEN I BRAKED. THEY REPLACED EVERYTHING THEY COULD TALK ME INTO PAYING FOR TO THE TUNE OF $1100 AND WHEN IT DIDN'T FIX IT THEY STILL CLAIMED THAT THEIR CHARGE WAS TAKING CARE OF "OTHER" PROBLEMS. I MADE THE TECH. DRIVE WITH ME AND REPEAT WHAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM (SLOW BRAKING AS IF AT A STOP SIGN/TRAFFIC LIGHT) AND HE ACTUALLY YELPED WHEN THE TRUCK TOOK OFF AGAIN AND TURNED RIGHT ON HIM. TURNS OUT IT WAS A BAD RIGHT FRONT ANTI-LOCK SENSOR THAT COST ME A FORTUNE. TOO BAD FORD DOESN'T HAVE MORE CAPABLE TECH'S TO FIND THE PROBLEM. ALSO TOO BAD THAT THE SENSOR WASN'T WORKING WELL IN THE FIRST PLACE. BRAKE MODULE REPLACEMENT, ROTORS, PADS...STILL UNDER 30000 AND HAVE NO CONFIDENCE. ALL MY OTHER CARS/TRUCKS WENT WAY BEYOND 70000 MILES WITHOUT ROTOR PROBLEMS. I'M A "LIGHT" BRAKER. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I EVER HAD TO DO THE BRAKES LIKE THIS. I'M BEGINNING TO THINK IT'S A CHEAP-DOWN, MORE WORK FOR THE DEALERS ISSUE. SHAME ON SOMEBODY! *TR