Disclaimer: Not affiliated with or endorsed by Ford Motor Company. For informational purposes only. Full Disclaimer

Problems with 2002 Ford Explorer UNKNOWN OR OTHER

On average, the 2002 Ford Explorer starts to “feel” problems with the UNKNOWN OR OTHER and its various aspects after 105 041 miles.

Recently reported UNKNOWN OR OTHER problems on 2002 Ford Explorer

The radiator started going out on me. i had to fix it twice. the breakes i keep having the continued fixing them every 4 months. recently october 25, 2019 it started smelling like burnt rubber came thru the air vents. things with the electricity oe a shortage. with the tires they put wrong tire size. they told me to sign and go because they didn't have my actual tire size. its always on the smalls streets and on freeway or. highway it smells like burnt rubber. the owner didn't notify me or bother to tell me it was on recall already.

After jumping the vehicle due to dead battery gear shifter snapped when shifting car into drive. vehicle stuck in reverse also need a new transmission. form cars are worthless! don't buy a ford!!

Back glass shattered after closing the hatch

Lift gate window fell off the hinges as explained in recall #04v442000

I just bought my vehicle on 5/17/20 at a lot called grant motors 2744 fowler st fort myers fl, 33901 during the daytime, they keep pushing , and pushing me to buy it took my id to copy we left without my id, had another vehicle i wanted to buy but had to go back to grant to get id, when pete started at us again and keep coming down on price, till my brother told me it was worth it to buy it, so i did, well during the day in bright sunshine you couldn't see the taillights, nor the dashboard lights, and as driving it home turned on radio to listen to it , all's it would do is flicker, wouldn't change stations, wouldn't do nothing at all, and they put a carfax folder on my dash for me to read at home , that is when i seen the info about the recalls and figured it had something to do with my lights outside and in the dash and the stereo not working at all. them my brother said he wondered why they continued to drop the price to way more then they first asked for as if they new ahead of time the issues and didn't tell us about any of it. so could someone please let me know what is going on , i now have nothing to drive and no money to buy another i'm old raising two grandbabies one with autism , the other with bipolar please help me out. sitting in walmart parking lot, and in motion to go home family had to stay behind me to get home safely,

Rear panel cracked without collision or incident rear glass of lift gate exploded upon closing in my driveway, while parked, on saturday 4/9/201 i knew nothing of a pending class action lawsuit or the defect being complained about by so many explorer owns from the years of 2002-2005 ford changed the problem piece after 2005 however they never recalled the lift gate or rear panel insurance will not cover it ford will not recall or replace it there is glass everywhere and i do not have 500+ dollars to replace it. this was a defect that should be replaced by ford!

When i turn my windshield wipers on they stay on low and will not go off unless i turn the truck off with the wipers in off position. my o/d off light started blinking when i was driving down the road when i turn the truck off for a few minutes it goes off, but comes on a little bit later while driving.

Takata recall . my od light keeps blinking , takes forever to shift i have to take my feet of the gas until i hear it shift then i can press the gas again and the car jerks when the gears shift. the car will shut off if i put the car in reverse or if i change the gear to drive . there seems to be a lot of issues but the od light seems to be common. i took it to more than one dealership and they told me that its a transmission problem. why hasn't ford taken responsibility and recall this issue if its happened to so many of us . i am a mother of four that needs her car and this is unfair because its a very expensive fix i was quoted between $2,500-$3,000

I was pulling out of a parking space and i no more than pulled the gear shift lever back and it broke off. i could not shift at all. the keys got stuck in the ignition, too. i had to leave my car there over night until the following morning when the tow company came. i also could not lock my doors, and it was loaded with working equipment. ( i cannot even imagine if it broke after i had put it in reverse or drive, and been stuck in the middle of the road, or if this had happened in a remote place. ) as you can see by my picture it was actually the metal, possibly aluminum but not 100% sure .. metals should not just break.. this is definitely a defect . i also noted on just one website over 151 complaints for this exact same thing on the exact same year and model vehicle.

I was driving along and the over drive light off started flashing and i started experiencing the vehicle starting to shift harder in 1 & 2 gears!

Was driving on private parking lot at 10 mph when gas pedal slammed to the floor locked and accelerated vehicle to approx. 35 mph and careened through 6ft chain link fence onto rv dealership lot and crashed into a motorhome. entire wheel and housing ripped from the car, personal injuries sustained

Backing into parking space and gearshift handle on column fell off in my hand. i could not shift out of gear. had to shut off engine on a hill with car stuck in reverse. could not get key out and car started to roll downhill. i had to call a friend to block tires rather trust emergency brake on a hill.

Car reck

I just had my car serviced for a recall at cherokee ford in woodstock ga. just 3 days later, my vehicle stopped working in the middle of a very busy street and i was unable to restart it. i was very lucky not to be hit. it would have been tragic. *js

The transmission has a 5 second delay when going into reverse or drive. the car transmission jerks forward suddenly and randomly shifts into a higher or lower gear while driving. there is a loud grinding noise while the car is running and while the gears are shifting. *tt

I was riding along the highway in my 2002 ford explorer with my two kids on vacation. we had been driving for about 4 hours . i was using the cruise control. i came to a red light then continued on for about 2 miles than all of a sudden the check temp gauge came on and the gauge was all the way hot. i waited for a safe place on the side of the rode to pull over. as soon as the truck was put in park smoke started coming in through the glove box and the hood. my son who was sitting in the passenger seat said his legs felt hot. a passerby pulled over and yelled get your stuff and get out of the truck. we had enough time to get what we could and run. the truck started to burn and all we could do was watch. we were stranded 4 hours from home. luckily for us the good samaritans probably saved our lives. the truck went from hot to fully involved in a matter of a few minutes. by the time the fire dept. came the truck was a total loss. *tr

My vehicle surges forward when the brakes are applied. this has happened several times this month. *tt

Over the years we have had repeated problems with the transmission. it jerks and struggles to change gears. when you travel at freeway speeds it whines and jerks when it changes gears and when you're stopped at a light it makes weird noises and hesitates when you put your foot on the gas. we have repeatedly had the transmission repaired over the years.

While inspecting the left, rear wheel bearing a broken spring was found. it was determined that the wheel bearing was also in a stage of failure. a load noise like the vehicle had "truck tires" was coming from the rear. the spring was fractured at the top in multiple places and partially collapsed

I have a 2002 ford explorer and the transmission just went out on it. i will tell the story from the beginning. ok so i was about 30 mins away from my home and driving on the freeway back home when the od light started blinking very fast. then i get off the freeway and stop and the red light then when i started to go the transmission started doing all sorts of crazy [xxx] it was changing gears like crazy and finally settle out. then right before i turn in my drive the transmission just quits! it just stopped! i put it in park then drive and nothing...no sound.. no movement it would just roll backwards. so now it sitting on the side of the road where i pushed it to. all of this happened in 30 mins! nothing was wrong before this happened.!!!! please someone help and lets get this to be recalled! information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr

My 2002 ford explorer back rear window exploded the glass hit the top of my head and cut my face and a piece got in my eye, glass went every where, it was like a bomb went off. i am not the only one this has happen too. i feel this really needs to be address asp, and a recall on it. what has to happen some one lose a eye for anything to be done. just check the report on this, its not a one time thing.. it has happen to lost of them why isn't any thing being done about it ? is ford paying someone off. *ln

I bought a ford explorer, v-6 4x4 and the transmission light started flickering and the transmission started shifting hard when i tried to drive it home. *tr

Back glass breaking upon shutting door , drviers door

2002 ford explorer with broken coil spring, crack under rear window, and transmission slip, broken parking brake shoes in assembly. same complaints that seem to be common. and same with everyone else, no help from ford. *tr

Ford explorer rear differential - replaced 3 x's over 6 years. *tr

Noticed a grinding and whining noise coming from right side of my 2002 ford xlt explorer. also thought that i needed a new exhaust the car was making such loud noise. went to 2 different garages for pricing, i needed both front and rear bearings replaced actually the front bearing was about to fall off both garages stated. also the loud noise from my exhaust it was missing one bolt to the cover, covering the exhaust and or catalytic converter. also 8months prior the cars transmission was replaced. all of this expensive and costly repairs happened at 79,000 miles. this is a very dangerous vehicle and reading all of the other complaints this problem needs to be considered for recalls from ford. my family is very important to me and i use this car to travel and transport my family. i am very concerned and fords needs to investigate the problems arising with the 2002 ford xlt explorer problems and fix them. so far i have invested $5500 into this car i would not even get this for a trade in value. please consider my complaint and the many others very important. thank you *tr

Pulling out of a neighbor's driveway, my shift rod cracked off and dangled, leaving the truck immobile. nothing had preceded this. due to towing fees, i contacted a local mechanic who was able to bring it to his shop, a mile away, vs. to ford, which would have required a $200 flatbed tow. this provider tried for 3 weeks to get a part, # 5l2c36529a, told that ford had 1300 vehicles with this issue. if this had happened on the street, there would have been an accident. several calls to ford and local dealerships have been not only unproductive but fruitless and demeaning. we are concerned for others that have this same issue, which ford (which i have always been loyal to prior to now) has gone out of its way to deny, are going to be endangered and would like a recall investigation, please! *tr

Rear mix canister causes a knocking noise in the rear driver side. this equipment was replaced last year at the beginning of summer. found a crack in the container along the seam was the cause. cost $800 to replace. now my complaint is the problem has recurred this year indicating a defect in manufacturing. *jb

Cracked on the back panel, between the window glass and ford logo. *jb

1) check engine light came on. 2) dpfe sensor was found to be defective 3) dpfe sensor was replaced at my cost even though there is a recall for vehicles with same year, make and model

I was driving,when i heard a loud noise comming from underneath my ford explorer.i thought for a second or two,that i had ran over something in the street.the vehicle,slowed.when i stopped for the traffic light,it would not move.the od off light was flashing.the only way i could move the truck was in neutral.i had the truck towed to joe rizza ford in n.riverside,il.they told me that the transmission had to be replaced.i purchased this truck from rizza new on 09/11/01.59,000 miles was on the spedometer.i believe the transmission was defective.i was told it would cost me $3,400.00 to get it replaced.i had no choice but to go further in debt and buy another vehicle.*ak

Front passenger window (automatic windows) stopped working. my explorer was just a little over the mileage limit on the warranty. i took it to the local ford dealer and was told that it would cost over $300 to repair. the modulator in the window had failed. i called ford and they agreed to the repair for $100. that satisfied me. now, the same thing has happened with the rear passenger window. if i used these two windows excessively, i could see something possibly happening. but, i don't - i'm the only occupant of this vehicle 98% of the time. is there anything that i can do to get ford to repair this obviously defective part?

I bought a used 2002 ford explorer (used) on 2/8/03, with @43,000 miles, and at times, i experienced a lurching in my car, with banging between shifts most often when switching from drive to reverse, but sometimes when strictly in drive, even at complete stops, such as red lights. as it was becoming repetitive, i brought the car in for service with the dealer i purchased it from - larson ford in lakewood, nj. the first service was on 5/24/04, in which they said it was a transmission problem, and replaced the driveshaft and yolk, with a cost of $879.75 to me. as the problem was not corrected, i brought my car back on 8/2/04, at which time they told me that the solenoid was not responding, they replaced it, and tried to charge me another $900.00, which i refuted, because i had already paid for this to be "fixed". unfortunately, the lurching when switching from drive to reverse (with brake on)still occurs, although not as violently; however, i have experienced sudden rises in rpm for no apparent reason, even at complete stops with my foot on the brake. this happened as recently as last week, but since it does not happen every time i am stopped, i am hesitant to bring it for service, because it will probably not be apparent during a test drive since it is a sporadic occurrence. the car is a 2002 ford exlporer, 4.0 liter, v6 engine, automatic with o/d.

My ford explorer transmission it was at 36000 miles, my car was tuned and serviced as shudule, and it cost a total of $1700.00 to fix. which the car is only 2 year old. the air condition stop working in december of 2003 and at the time my car was barely 1 year old thier has been many other concern with my explorer that i am making $500.00 payment on. i belived i have purchase a defected car. *ak

Paint on hood and roof of suv bubbling and cracking. purchased suv only two years ago on 4/11/01. it is a 2002 and is only one year old and the paint is cracking and bubbling terribly on the hood and starting to crack and bubble on the roof as well. took to dealer, crouse ford, hampstead, md and they told me it was probably birds! please tell me that's a joke! (: if birds are going to scratch the paint that badly then that still indicates that it is a faulty paint job. i also had the truck in for body (fender) work . the body shop (showcase) also brought to my attention the cracking and bubbling of the paint. they also contacted crouse, and again crouse never responded. showcase (the body shop) had to call a few times before they received a response, and nothing was resolved. i think that crouse should cover this expense being that the truck is only a 2002. i also have given crouse, hampstead much business getting my vehicle serviced at least 6-8 times. the paint on my one year old suv should not be cracking or bubbling! *jb

Rear window/hatch, including hydraulics and steel frame exploded while i was driving my 2002 ford explorer. glass and debris flew about 15' behind my car and was all the way up to the front seats. thankfully i was alone in the vehicle. someone sitting in the middle or back seats would have been hurt. a baby in a rear-facing car seat might have been blinded, or worse.

Paint on hood and roof bubbling and cracking. *jb

In the unlikely event there is a problem that is totally "unfixable" then ford has sold me a product that is faulty, and the product should be replaced. however, i would like for the car to be fixed and i am willing to leave it in the shop as long as it takes to correct the problem so that the car will be safe to drive again. *la

Last summer (july 2002) during a military move from ga to az i noticed that my windshield had a large piece of glass missing on the outter right edge that you could not see until you actually got right up on the windshield. part of it was visible to and part of it was hidden behind the rubber seal that is around the windshield. this windshield was actually installed with this piece missing from it when the vehicle was built and sent to the dealership. also, the rear glass hatch, gas shock twisted from its original position and caused the window to be off center by about an inch or more. after fixing it three times it had to be replaced. both of these problems (the windshield and the gas shock) have been fixed by my local dealership and thus far have held up. there are numerous other complaints that i have on my vehicle that include the elecrical system not functioning properly. when you turn the truck on sometimes all the dashboard lights stay on as well as the interior lights and you have to shut the truck down and back on several times in order for them to go out. the truck will sometimes stall at take off or will lurch while shifiting into a higher gear and has totally shut down while driving down the road on a few occasions. the trim paint on the doors, both front and passenger has faded there are rusted spots in the paint on the top of the vehicle, and the hood has a very bad orange peel effect on it with grit in the paint. the left rear speaker has busted and the panel on the rear hatch below has broken loose as well as one of the plastic bracket covers on the back of the passenger seats. pe04045.pco

Other 2002 Ford Explorer Problem Categories