Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | |||||
| 19091 | 10019800 | Low oil pressure indication/warning, a/c compressor inoperative and/or no crank condition on 4.6l equipped vehicles. *tt | 04/28/2006 | ||
| 18381 | 01/01/2005 | 10013319 | Open fuse f2.20 (5 amp) and/or f2.1 (30 amp) which may result in loss of function of several systems including power seats, adjustable pedals and power door locks. *tt | 04/14/2005 | |
| 04174 | 09/06/2004 | 10013116 | Malfunction indicator lamp (mil) illuminated - system lean diagnostic trouble codes (dtc's) - service tips. various models including 2004 f-series. *tt | 04/08/2005 | |
| 021710 | 09/02/2002 | 10008584 | Electrical-central security module (csm) service tips. *mj | 08/06/2004 | |
| 0471 | 12/31/2004 | 04262 | 10008201 | Warning indicators-parking aid-reverse sensing system (rss) and forward sensing system (fss)-false activation of warning tone-service tips. *mj update. *tt | 07/23/2004 |
| 04111 | 06/14/2004 | 0431 | 10008252 | Streamlined diagnostic procedure for vehicles with malfunction indicator lamp (mil) on and diagnostic trouble codes (dtcs) p0401, p0402, p1400 or p1401. additional symptoms may include runs rough, lacks power, surge, poor fuel economy. | 07/23/2004 |
| 17375 | 11/01/2003 | 10008188 | Malfunction indicator lamp (mil) on and hard start/long crank. *tt | 07/22/2004 | |
| 17558 | 02/01/2004 | 10008123 | Intermittent air bag warning lamp on, memory seat, and/or adjustable pedal concerns. *mj | 07/22/2004 | |
| 03223 | 01/26/2004 | 0431 | 10007360 | Streamlined diagnostic procedure for vehicles with malfunction indicator lamp on and diagnostic trouble codes (dtcs) p0401, p0402, p1400 or p1401. additional symptoms may include runs rough, lacks power, surge, poor fuel economy. *tt | 06/16/2004 |
| 17246 | 10/01/2003 | 10004900 | Instrument cluster locking up and accessories such as the radio, power windows, power locks and moonroof inoperative. *tt | 01/14/2004 | |
| 03181 | 09/15/2003 | 10004027 | Remote keyless entry (rke) - service tips. *tt | 11/14/2003 | |
| 17002 | 07/01/2003 | 10003858 | An intermittent or continuous open of fuse 1.15. *tt | 11/04/2003 | |
| 16967 | 07/01/2003 | 10003843 | Cluster locking up & various accessories such as the radio, power windows, power locks and moonroof being inoperative. *tt | 11/04/2003 | |
| 03136 | 07/07/2003 | 10003731 | No crank condition. service tips. *tt | 10/29/2003 | |
| 17011 | 08/01/2003 | 10003150 | Malfunction indicator lamp (mil) illuminated and diagnostic trouble codes (dtc's) p0171, p0172, p0174, or p0175. *tt | 10/09/2003 | |
| 16665 | 02/01/2003 | 10002514 | Blinking/half illuminated supplemental restraint system (srs) and/or anti-lock brake (abs) warning indicators after cold soak during ambient temperatures colder than 30 degrees fahrenheit. *tt | 09/04/2003 | |
| 16703 | 03/01/2003 | 10001946 | Battery light on or an alternator that is not charging. *tt *jb | 07/28/2003 | |
| 0365 | 03/31/2003 | 10001857 | Intermittent fuel gauge level dropping to empty when fuel level is not actually empty. diagnostic trouble codes b1201, b1202, b1204 may or may not be present. *tt *jb | 07/23/2003 | |
| 16029 | 07/01/2002 | 636221 | Some vehicles may exhibit unintended smart unlock activation without key in ignition. *tt | 11/06/2002 | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR | |||||
| 17280 | 10/01/2003 | 10004924 | Generator whistle/hoot noise in cold ambient temperatures. *tt | 01/20/2004 | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - BATTERY | |||||
| 0245 | 03/04/2002 | 636065 | Information regarding discharged battery charging service tips and guidelines. *tt | 11/05/2002 | |
| 15590 | 01/01/2002 | 630148 | Some vehicles may exhibit a battery draw and/or a dead battery condition. *tt | 04/15/2002 | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS | |||||
| 16617 | 02/01/2003 | 10002498 | Open f2.20 5 amp fuse which may result in loss of function of several systems including power seats, adjustable pedals and power door locks. *tt | 09/03/2003 | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION | |||||
| 15193 | 08/01/2001 | 624971 | Some vehicles may exhibit intermittent difficulty turning the ignition key upon starting. *jg | 11/16/2001 | |
| 15107 | 07/01/2001 | 621124 | Some vehicles may require excessive effort when trying to insert the key into the ignition lock cylinder. *tt | 09/07/2001 | |
| 14890 | 05/01/2001 | 620210 | Some vehicles may exhibit excessive efforts when trying to insert or remove the key from the ignition lock. *tt | 07/20/2001 | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION - ANTI-THEFT CONTROLLER | |||||
| 01245 | 12/10/2001 | 630513 | Some vehicles equipped with the 4.0l engine may exhibit a condition of unable to access with the securilock passive anti-theft system (pats). *tt | 04/18/2002 | |
| 14906 | 05/01/2001 | 620220 | Information on performing any passtive anti-theft (pats) system functions including key replacements with wds or ngs. *tt | 07/20/2001 | |
| 0162 | 04/02/2001 | 619266 | Vehicles equipped with passive anti-theft system (pats) may not start or crank. *tt | 05/22/2001 | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - STARTER ASSEMBLY | |||||
| 18171 | 09/01/2004 | 10011342 | No crank/no start condition when vehicle temperature is below freezing (32f/0c). *tt | 01/18/2005 | |
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | |||
| 01/15/2013 | 157000 | 1 | |
| My ford explorer has had so many ridiculous problems. this one is extremely inconvenient. the car has trouble shifting gears, it spins from 1st to 2nd gear and then i have to let go of the accelerator for it to shift again, it skips 3rd gear altogether and jerks into fourth after pressing and depressing the accelerator a series of times. once it's in 4th gear, it doesn't go past 50 mph. my mechanic says his monitor detected a faulty solender and the entire pack has to be replaced, but that may not be the only problem. if that doesn't do the trick (even though it needs to be replaced regardless) he will have to open the transmission and possibly rebuild or replace some of the parts. i have encountered hundreds of other 2002 ford explorer owners with the same problem. aside from this, i have a list of other dangerous issues that this car has had and that has endangered my family's and my life numerous times: - gear shift breaking off the steering column as i shifted from reverse to drive in the middle of a busy intersection. - ignition cylinder/switch breaking - possible spontaneous explosion recall related to the cruise control - rear latch breaking and inability to use the rear latch. - electrical system failure - doors not closing properly & draining the battery - faulty alarm system - faulty temperature gauge and radiator - ford not allowing customers to buy just the parts needed for replacement and repair and forcing their customers to purchase entire packages only in order to get the necessary parts at extremely high prices. ford should be incriminated for selling these vehicles knowing full well that they are flooded with life threatening issues to their customers. *tr | |||
| 01/15/2013 | 157000 | ||
| My ford explorer has had so many ridiculous problems. this one is extremely inconvenient. the car has trouble shifting gears, it spins from 1st to 2nd gear and then i have to let go of the accelerator for it to shift again, it skips 3rd gear altogether and jerks into fourth after pressing and depressing the accelerator a series of times. once it's in 4th gear, it doesn't go past 50 mph. my mechanic says his monitor detected a faulty solender and the entire pack has to be replaced, but that may not be the only problem. if that doesnt do the trick (even though it needs to be replaced regardless) he will have to open the transmission and possibly rebuild or replace some of the parts. i have encountered hundreds of other 2002 ford explorer owners with the same problem. aside from this, i have a list of other dangerous issues that this car has had and that has endagered my family's and my life numerous times: - gear shift breaking off the steering column as i shifted from reverse to drive in the middle of a busy intersection. - ignition cylinder/switch breaking - possible spontaneous explosion recall related to the cruise control - rear latch breaking and inability to use the rear latch. - electrical system failure - doors not closing properly & draining the battery - faulty alarm system - faulty temperature gauge and radiator - ford not allowing customers to buy just the parts needed for replacement and repair and forcing their customers to purchase entire packages only in order to get the necessary parts at extremely high prices. ford should be incriminated for selling these vehicles knowing full well that they are flooded with life threatening issues to their customers. | |||
| 03/01/2012 | 120000 | 1 | |
| Alarm goes off when set and no one is around, cruise control does not always work, light inside do not turn off and sometimes do not turn on, radio does not turn off when opening the front doors, but will turn off when back doors are opened. *tr | |||
| 03/01/2012 | 120000 | ||
| Alarm goes off when set and no one is around, cruise crontrol does not always work, light inside do not turn off and sometimes do not turn on, radio does not turn off when opening the front doors, but will turn off when back doors are opened. | |||
| 11/24/2012 | 150169 | 1 | |
| While driving down the road my airbag light comes on. on occasion i am just thankful that my air bag has not gone off yet. also while driving my door ajar light & dome lights come on. *tr | |||
| 11/24/2012 | 150169 | ||
| While driving down the road my airbag light comes on. on occasion i am just thankfull that my air bag has not gone off yet. also while driving my door adjar light & dome lights come on. | |||
| 09/17/2012 | |||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. the contact stated that he attempted to engage the heater however, the vehicle exhibited an abnormal noise and the heater would not engage. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who advised the contact that the heater box needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was not notified. the failure mileage was unknown. kmj | |||
| 09/17/2012 | 0 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. the contact stated the heater box fail. when the heater was turned on the heater box just clicked and the heat will come on. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated the heater box needed to be replaced. there was no recall for this failure. the manufacturer was not notified. the failure mileage was unknown. mw | |||
| 06/09/2012 | 193261 | ||
| Fords taillight/stop switch illuminates the brake lights, is used to disengauge the cruise control and is used to enable the operator to be able to put the vehicle into gear once the brake pedal is depressed. roughly a year ago i had some intermitent issues with trying to disengauge the cruise when using the brakes plus i had trouble taking the vehicle out of park without having to step on the brake multiple times. lastly having a friend follow me home i was told my brakes lights did not always illuminate when i was slowing down or at a complete stop! going back to my local ford dealer i bought a replacement switch that had instuctions to cut the oe's plug off of thier harness and to hard wire the new switch in it's place as ford had experianced some issues with those original components. just 13 mo's later i had the same problem but this time it failed completely so the vehicle was locked in park in my driveway. having seen recalls on several other ford and mercury products for a similar probelm and expected ford to give me a free replacement. however, after entering my vin # they said there were no recalls but they would reduce their normal price from $93.44 to $76.00 as their compensation. contacting my local napa supplier i bought another switch from them for just $44.49 which resolved my problem for even less money. i returned to the dealer to report my finding and strongly suggested that they contact their ford rep. as i beleive this brake switch issue is a bigger problem then ford is aware of or has owner up to knowing about. i was actually lucky to have the switch fail at my home as had i been on the road i could very well have been rear-ended due to my brakes lights not coming on. i question if ford will ever take my warning seriously so i felt obligated to pass this insformation along to an independent source. | |||
| 02/01/2012 | 130000 | ||
| Door ajar light and beeping sensor is always going off, causing the doors to unlock while driving and also causing the inside dome light to turn on and off. must drive at night without instrument lights, indlucindg speedometer, as dome light stays on. | |||
| 03/20/2012 | 160000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owned a 2002 ford explorer. the contact stated that the vehicle was parked at an independent repair shop when it caught on fire. the vehicle was destroyed. the contact was informed that the fire originated due to a wire under the dashboard. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the failure and current mileages were 160,000. kmj | |||
| 03/20/2012 | 160000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owned a 2002 ford explorer. the contact stated that the vehicle was parked at an independent repair shop when it caught on fire. the vehicle was destroyed. the contact was informed that the fire originated due to a wire under the dashboard. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the failure and current mileages were 160,000. sm. | |||
| 03/12/2012 | |||
| Due to a defect, we had to have the transmission replaced (thank god it was still under warranty)...then had to have the door ajar sensor fixed because alarm kept going off for no reason. about two years ago we were abut to go out of town for thanksgiving. i stop at a red light, and then we try to pull off when the light changes and hear the loudest popping noises...we're wondering how in the world did the spark plug pop out with so much force that it also rips the ignition coil...(fast forward to 1yr later, same thing happens while leaving home to go to work). once again, on march 12, while on my way to work, sitting at a traffic light. light turns green...i start to pull off and begin hearing a popping noise...wth...not again!!! (this is the third time this has happened in 2 years). come on ford...fix the lemons!!!! | |||
| 01/21/2011 | 97000 | ||
| The factory alarm will go off randomly during the night. have not been able to get this issue worked out with ford. we have tried several times to get it resolved and each time it is fixed, the issue rerturns within a few weeks. | |||
| 10/10/2011 | 140000 | 1 | |
| At a stop, began accelerating to enter highway, accelerator pedal became stuck and car continued to accelerate up to 90 mph at full throttle before i shut vehicle off and put it in neutral. has happened on several occasions, all exactly the same. vehicle accelerates at full throttle and has to be shut off before an accident occurs. only way to correct problem is to exit vehicle and push gas pedal several times; start vehicle and see if engine is still at full throttle. | |||
| 11/21/2011 | 121304 | ||
| 4x4 module now the transmission is shifting into 2 gear hard | |||
| 01/02/2012 | 122000 | ||
| I have a 2002 ford explorer that is in the shop right now with a torn down engine. i went out to start it one morning and it had a hard start then it started ticking. come to find out it the timing chain. from what i have read online it is a very common complaint and i am really surprised that this truck has not been recalled again for this problem. i am having to pay for something that ford made a mistake on. the pulley on the truck is plastic, and it is failing. i also have problems with my electrical parts on it. the lights inside will stay on after i turn it off and get out and if i turn on my rear defrost my truck dings and says door adjar..... this truck is awful. | |||
| 10/01/2011 | 198000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2002 ford taurus. the contact stated the vehicle caught on fire while parked. the fire department advised that the fire initiated at the rear tail light assembly. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and the current mileage was 198,000. li | |||
| 12/02/2011 | 120000 | ||
| Rear spring cracked at 100000 mil transmission faild at 120000 mil body electrical not sealed well and keeps shorting in different places cruse gets stubbern and scared to use it , im afraid of it getting stuck in cruse | |||
| 10/10/2011 | 155970 | ||
| The transmission started to slip in may of 2011. i had the transmission serviced and it did not correct the problem. i am unable to check the transmission fluid as it is a sealed unit no dip stick. we drove the vehicle until it no longer moves. the cost to replace the transmission is 2800.00 plus... there was no reason why this should have happened. | |||
| 06/30/2011 | |||
| Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. while parked, the contact noticed flames around the radio console and the dashboard. the fire department reported to the scene and a report was filed. the cause of the fire was determined to be a failure within the radio console wires. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer for repairs. the approximate failure mileage was unknown. | |||
| 06/30/2011 | |||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. while parked, the contact noticed flames around the radio console and the dashboard. the fire department reported to the scene and a report was filed. the cause of the fire was determined to be a failure within the radio console wires. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer for repairs. the approximate failure mileage was unknown. kmj | |||
| 06/30/2011 | |||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. while parked the contact noticed flames around the radio console and the dash board. the fire department reported to the scene and a report was filed. the cause of the fire was determined to be a failure with the wires in the radio console. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was unknown. ds | |||
| 06/02/2011 | 105000 | ||
| Sparkplug was ejected from head while driving. the plug was manufacturer specification and properly installed to the correct torque. sparkplug hole was damaged and needed to be machined for a new plug. creates a safety hazard while driving as well as a fire hazard as the empty cylinder forces air/fuel mixture into the engine compartment where ejected spark plug could ignite it. | |||
| 10/15/2009 | 95000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. while driving approximately 50-60 mph the lights on the dashboard flickered on and off and beeped. the vehicle had not been taken to the dealer for the failure. the failure was intermittent and had been on going for more than a year. the contact stated the failure happens mostly on the freeway. the failure mileage was 95,000 and the current mileage was 114,376. | |||
| 06/09/2010 | 140000 | ||
| The side curtain airbag spontaneously deployed upon side door closure of a ford explorer. the vehicle was sitting after re-fueling. concurrent with and immediately prior to the deployment of the airbag, the door alarm system was chiming that a door was ajar, and after inspection by a mechanic it was determined that the security/door warning system module has failed. ford was sent the airbag module for inspection, and has yet to provide the results of the module inspection - after a period of more than 5 months. further problems persist with the electronic system. the door ajar alarm continues to sound at random intervals, the interior lights flicker on and off at random intervals, and the door locks repeatedly lock and unlock, all of which cause a distracting potential safety hazard while driving. | |||
| 10/10/2010 | 99350 | ||
| Heater failed causing windows to fog over and decreased ability to see out windshield. | |||
| 08/30/2010 | 64 | ||
| Even with a full tank of gas the gas gauge will go to 0 and the check gauge light comes on because the sender assembly unit of the gas gauge does not work. there had been another 2002 explorer brought in for the same problem that morning. the part is not available and is on back order. the part cost $76.79 but the labor will be $270! this is a lot of money for us to pay due to an fords egineering problem. are many other 2002 explorers experiencing the same problems? many times, because the fuel sending unit is corrupted, it will put too much fuel in injectors, which has caused my car to bog down especially dangerous at intersections and at hwy entrance ramps. | |||
| 12/13/2009 | 73000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. the contact stated that the alarm on the vehicle sounds intermittently. the alarm can be reset but when this is done the lights go on and off, and then the alarm will go off again. there seems to be an electrical issue with the vehicle. the dealer stated they could change all of the sensors but they could not guarantee that would resolve the issue. the vehicle has not been repaired. the current and failure mileages were approximately 73,000. | |||
| 08/01/2010 | 105000 | ||
| Door ajar light remains on although all doors are securely closed and locked. drivers side locks are inoperable. | |||
| 08/14/2002 | 100611 | ||
| My 2002 ford eplorer lxt, the door ajar light stays on and the dome light will stay on. every once and a while the alarm will sound for no reason. this is a safety concern cause while driving at night and having the dome light turn on hinders your vision and could cause a traffic crash. having the light stay on after you get out also drains the battery and causes problems when you go to start it up. | |||
| 08/01/2010 | 105000 | ||
| Door ajar light remains on although all doors are securely closed and locked. drivers side locks are inoperable. | |||
| 08/14/2002 | 100611 | ||
| My 2002 ford eplorer lxt, the door ajar light stays on and the dome light will stay on. every once and a while the alarm will sound for no reason. this is a safety concern cause while driving at night and having the dome light turn on hinders your vision and could cause a traffic crash. having the light stay on after you get out also drains the battery and causes problems when you go to start it up. | |||
| 06/29/2010 | 114023 | ||
| O/d light blinking and irregular shifting during accelleration. 2002 ford explorer does not shift properly. everytime i leave a stop sign or traffic light, the rpm's become very high (over 5,000) and will not shift. to keep the engine from racing, i have to lift my foot off the gas pedal to get it to shift. this causes the car to slow down quickly and with a line of cars behind me that do not anticipate me slowing down just as i am accelerating, this forces them to slow down quickly unexpectedly so they do not run into the back of the truck. this is dangerous. | |||
| 06/28/2010 | 90000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. the driver seat came a loose from the flooring and all the electrical gauges are not working and he cannot lock or unlock the vehicle. the vehicle has not been taken to the dealer for a diagnostic inspection. the manufacturer has not been called either. the vehicle has not been repaired. the failure and current mileage was 90,000...mw | |||
| 06/05/2010 | 134575 | ||
| After starting the ignition on my 2002 ford explorer, my husband and i noticed an obnoxious smell in the car. my husband pulled over and looked under the car and did not see anything. i looked at the driver's door and saw smoke coming from the power window buttons. my husband turned off the ignition. he felt the buttons and they were very hot. eventually the smoke subsided. he later on removed the fuse that correlated with the power windows. he drove the car home without incident. | |||
| 01/01/2008 | 75 | ||
| Door ajar light and beeping sensor is always going off. causing the doors to unlock while driving and also causing the inside dome light to turn on and off. i have done some reseach and alot of ford explorers are having this problem. | |||
| 02/12/2010 | 55000 | 1 | |
| 2002 ford explorer limited electrical issues: 1)when i push the rear defroster button the | |||
| 12/04/2009 | 119000 | 1 | |
| On dec 4th 2009, my 2002 ford explorer was driving fine one minute and the next the o/d light started flashing. i turned off the ignition and restarted the vehicle. the o/d light blinking went away. the very next day again, with the light once again flashing, the vehicle refused to move forward when gas pedal was engaged; however the rpm revved up between 3 and 4. throughout that same day, i attempted to get vehicle into drive mode...eventually the vehicle just inched forward and finally stopped moving altogether. after a consultation with my local transmission repair shop.. i was dishearten to learn that in order to repair, what he described as a bad transmission, which is very common with the 2002 ford explorers..i'd have to pay $2868....since this incredible revelation, i'm discovering ford knows all about but refuses to do the conscionable thing and recall these defective, dangerous but costly vehicles. i regrettable paid the $2868 repair charge for a rebuilt tranny with absolutely no assistance from ford. my vehicle is paid off and i really cant afford to just invest close to 3k in a vehicle that should've been recalled and fixed especially since the ford corporation is fully aware but doesn't care about the people who still buy american and want to continue supporting american made products. but since ford refuses to stand behind their product, it may force a loyal customer to go elsewhere in the future when purchasing a new vehicle. my vehicle was recently repaired on 2/8/10.. so far i've driven it once... so far so good...i received a better warranty from my tranny shop than the ford company was willing to stand behind. the drivers side door ajar alarm chimes while door is securely closed. the locking mechanism opens and closes. this issue is also known and a problem for the 2002 ford explorer and yet still no recall... thank you for listening to my complaint. *tr | |||
| 05/07/2007 | 95000 | 1 | |
| Since may 2007 vehicle has electrical problems reported to armstrong ford in homestead fl. they are never able to ascertain problem with simple diagnostic. however constant diagnostic and fix this and that and do or don't do this have cost me hundreds of dollars. in the meantime i continue to have problems. *tr | |||
| 11/16/2009 | 90000 | 1 | |
| 2002 ford explorer xlt: rec'd recall notice about cruise control switch with fire hazard and brake fluid leakage driving or in park. called dealer 'armstrong ford in homestead ford twice. once sent to voice mail of service manager with no return call. following day 11/17 spoke with service advisor who stated to call back on fri or mon 11/20 or 11/23 as part was unavailable. i find this unacceptable. in addition i have electrical problems that consistently create shorts with parts or displays in console which this dealer has been unable to resolve thus costing me hundreds of dollars each time. thank you. *tr | |||
| 01/16/2009 | 94000 | 1 | |
| My wife and i owned a 2002 ford explorer xlt with 4wd. and a 4.0l engine. on the night of 1-15-2009 ,i picked my wife up from work at 11:35pm we went to the grocery store and afterwards proceeded to our home , this whole trip took a total of twenty to twenty five minutes and a distance of about one mile of driving round trip to my wife's work the grocery store and then to our house.we arrived home ,parked the vehicle behind our residence and prepared to go to bed . around 2:00am i got up from my sleep to get a glass of water in our kitchen, which faces the area that we park in , as i was filling my glass i noticed an orangish red glow in the back yard , upon looking out the window , i saw that the front end of our vehicle was on fire . my wife came down from our bedroom crying as i called the fire department . i went out with a fire extinguisher to see if i could put the fire out myself but the front end of the vehicle was burning too much for me to be able to do anything .the fire department put the fire out and my vehicle was towed . there was hardly anything left of the front end, just the frame,motor,rims and some other parts . the insurance company had a fire investigator of theirs do an inspection of my vehicle and they determined that the fire had started on the drivers side of the vehicle around the master cylinder , probably as a result of the cruise control switch located on it . do to the extent of the damage from the fire and the fact that they were unable to locate the switch because the master cylinder had melted , they were unable to proceed any further in contacting ford . the vehicle was a total loss , unrepairable ! about 1 - 2 months before the fire, i had checked with dealers and online myself and was told there was no recall on my vehicle for this type of problem ,the sad part about this whole mess is we only had about six more months and the vehicle was paid for , now we have to start all over again . *tr | |||
| 10/22/2008 | 120000 | 1 | |
| Door agar light. all the doors will be shut and while driving the door ajar light and beeping noise will come one. which results also in the interior lights to flicker on and off. it does it everyday and keeps going till the veh is in part. also when the car is parked the lights will come on and off, i cant even lock my doors anymore. *tr | |||
| 03/15/2008 | 40000 | 1 | |
| When i tried to remove my key from the ignition, the entire ignition cylinder came out!! my car had to be towed and have a new cylinder installed! a year later, it happened again!!! so i have had to replace my ford ignition cylinder twice and my car only has 60,000 miles on it now---so probably had only about 40,000 miles the first time it happened and 50,000 the second time. also-- now my fuel gauge says empty all the time, even after i just filled it with gas! and it's too expensive to fix! i did get the driver seatbelt fixed, because it didn't tighten, but now it's too hard to pull out and use! lastly, both inside mirror covers have just cracked off when lifting open, and i can't afford to replace both of the entire visors! we have 3 fords and this is the only one that's ever had problems. dates are spread out so it's too hard to complete that part of the form below. *tr | |||
| 03/12/2009 | 76345 | 1 | |
| 2002 explorer started out with alot of electrical problems and now depending on how much you push in the gas pedal the transmission starts slipping. just like alot of other complaints. had some similar trouble with it about 2 years ago dealer said had to wait till it got worse to find exact problem. *tr | |||
| 03/29/2009 | 134833 | 1 | |
| Approached stop sign at a slow rate of speed - basically coasting 30 - 40 feet from a driveway, as the brakes were applied, the engine started to rev up, liken to the cruise control engaging, and brakes could not restrain vehicle and it was basically pushed through the stop sign and collided with an oncoming vehicle, there was insufficient time to put the vehicle in neutral or turn off the engine, this was the first time this ever happened, vehicle was in good condition and mechanically well maintained, the weather was clear and the roads were dry, the vehicle was taken to a dealership to have on-board computer read - no error codes were noted, as a result of the accident - the vehicle was totaled. *tr | |||
| 01/03/2009 | 101589 | 1 | |
| Severe cracks in back window housing. crack is so severe, consideration of window falling out is possible. information panel registers door ajar which consequently flashes internal lights, re-locks doors, sets warning bells to go off. often, door ajar does not register, but electric locks lock re-lock and lock many times with warning bells going off, interior lights flickering,many times in one instance. all activities happen intermittently, without cause or reason causing severe distraction to driver. theft alarm goes off after vehicle has been locked several hours; for no apparent reason. when unlocked and re-locked, continues to go off intermittently. i believe the rear window housing break is the root of all this activity. *tr | |||
| 11/20/2008 | 52000 | 1 | |
| Have engine problem warranty will not cover because dealer put back odometer. *tr | |||
| 12/11/2008 | 950000 | 1 | |
| Ford explorer o/d flashing and check transmission coming on it was at the ford dealer for 3 weeks they said it was my pcm and now they are saying it a wiring problem but my car is doing the same thing it was before i took it to them. *tr | |||
| 01/02/2005 | 68000 | 1 | |
| It started very early after buying the 2002 ford explorer...electrical prob..couldn't get veh started...100 miles away from home dealership....towed to closest ford dealership...fixed; or so we thought. same thing happened a week later. home dealership advised us that the other dealership installed the wrong part and it could have caused life-threatening problems....we contacted the other dealership and advised them what our home dealership said...of course the dealership denied this...anyway...home dealership installed new part...veh ok....then wheel bearings had to be replaced in front 1st left side-then right. (this was after the rear end was replaced) boy, was that a major fight with the home dealership! now! the transmission is gone!!!!! isn't there something we can do? ford has been using defective parts!!!!and now asking for government money???!!!!ford should be paying for this! *tr | |||
| 10/16/2008 | 150000 | 1 | |
| Battery died on 2002 ford explorer. installed new battery and 4 wheel drive module quit working. bought new part for $202.00. fixed problem with new part. obviously the realized the defect and refuse to do recall. *tr | |||
| 08/09/2008 | 110000 | 1 | |
| Reading the forums and many people have been having problems with their explorers 4x4. i have the same problem. seems like if you disconnect the battery or your battery dies so does your control module for the 4x4. mine stopped working when that happened. that is when my 4x4 selector switch lights stopped working and my 4x4 was not engaging. seems like ford needs to recall this part. i got a new control module and it started working again. could be dangerous in winter time for this type of vehicle to have no 4x4. *tr | |||
| 05/12/2007 | 955000 | 1 | |
| Door ajar constantly on. interior dome light front and cargo come on and off for minutes at a time. beeps and chimes sporadically for no given time or reason while driving, stopping, turning or any other action. a distraction to driving; especially dome lights at night and beeps/chimes which can also interfere with radio sound output and attention. has been in and out of dealer with no result. have provided other online complaints to service manager regarding same issue with no result. *tr | |||
| 06/30/2008 | 35000 | 1 | |
| Purchased a 2002 ford exp eddie bauer ed used with 35,000 miles. transmission had to be repaired within 3 weeks due to 4wd malfunction covered by warranty. passenger side window motor assembly has been replaced once, and window regulator has been replaced once, and is in need of a second replacement. took to local dealership and was told window was not meant to be lowered halfway. the rear hatch has also cracked completely down from window to lower panel. dealership will not acknowledge issues with this occurring, but upon further research have found this to be a common problem with this vehicle make and model. overdrive light blinks continuously and dealership reports it to be a malfunctioning electrical switch repair cost at around $400. have continued to drive vehicle, but will no longer drive vehicle after discovering that this is a precursor to transmission failure. may possibly trade-in this vehicle and lose monetary value for private sale. will not be responsible for selling this vehicle to a private party and risk injury to next owner. shame on ford for not taking care of their customers. *tr | |||
| 01/03/2007 | 0 | 1 | |
| My dashboard has digital mileage/ temp and trip....however, since i got the suv in december of 2007, the cluster that shows that information has not been up. the dealership i bought the suv from refused to have it fixed and i need to know what i can do without spending alot of money. *tr | |||
| 07/07/2008 | 1 | ||
| Parked my suv in the driveway after a short trip and the horn began to blow. as i investigated the noise i opened my door to find smoke rolling out uncontrollably. i ran inside to call 911, by the time i hung up the phone my entire truck was engulfed with flames. this just happened today, so i do not know what will be done about it. but this was caused by some defect in the vehicle. *tr | |||
| 06/07/2008 | 129000 | 1 | |
| Progressively worse, starting in june 08. door ajar light comes on randomly when driving, plus the interior lights come on and off (flicker, dangerous if driving at night), bells go on/off, and the doors lock and unlock (never sure which they are). if not driving, the alarm goes off randomly. *tr | |||
| 03/26/2008 | 70000 | 1 | |
| I have a 2002 ford explorer xlt, a couple weeks ago i went to open the back lift glass, and the window fell, and combustion in thousands of little pieces, right in my face! i have pictures, anyway i proceeded to take my vehicle to ford motor company in horseheads, ny, they replaced the window due to the explosion, and i have had my truck back there 4 times because they wired it wrong, and they refuse to fix this problem, if my wiring from the back windshield to the dash of my truck does not get fixed i am sorry to say that i will be forced to obtain an attorney for ford! please help!!!!!! *tr | |||
| 10/13/2007 | 1 | ||
| Bought the car used in sept. 2007. a month and a half later, had to replace rear passenger wheel bearing. a month after that, we had to replace the driver side rear wheel bearing. driver door window motor went a week after the wheel bearings. abs light is on. also had to replace two coils in the electrical unit. put approximately 3,000.00 into car since purchase in less than eight months. *tr | |||
| 03/15/2008 | 75000 | 1 | |
| Door ajar light stays on and causes dome lights to flash on and off and chime while driving. car alarm goes off randomly for no apparent reason. have talk to ford they tell me i need to bring it in while this is all happening so they can figure out what's going on. car never seems to do it at a time i can take it in. *tr | |||
| 09/01/2007 | 110000 | 2 | 06/10/2003 |
| At 110,000 miles both rear passenger windows stopped working. a trip to the dealer said both windows needed new cables and it would cost $1,000. windows won't go up or down. *tr | |||
| 04/22/2007 | 50503 | 1 | |
| 2002 ford explorer caught fire. consumer stated that the vehicle caught fire while his mother was visiting his sister in a different state. no attempt was made to repair her vehicle and rental cost them $600.00 out of pocket. *kb prior to the fire, the consumer asked the mechanic to inspect the vehicle, because warning lights were coming on and going off intermittently. the consumer had a list of documentation relating to electrical issues. the vehicle had to get a jump several times, the vehicle would hesitate when first starting up. the brake lights were stuck, the dealer replaced the brake pedal switch. the cruise control was inoperable so the dealer replaced the brake light switch. the alternator and wheel bearings were replaced. *jb | |||
| 06/28/2007 | 95200 | 5 | 10/25/2004 |
| This 2002 ford explorer eddie bauer abruptly stops while driving at any speed without any notice or indication that the ignition will fail to keep the car running. this car has been to two ford dealerships and one reputable and established independent automotive repair shop. this car was at a toyota dealership for almost 30 days and this car was returned to me with this potentially fatal defect still undiagnosed. none of the aforementioned dealerships could determine the true underlying problem. at the toyota dealership a brand new starter was installed because of a no start condition showing no power to the starter and blown fuses for the injectors, fuel pump, and the computer. the same defect showed itself one day later after traveling over 70 miles with no sign of failure. *tr | |||
| 11/22/2007 | 93000 | 1 | 08/01/2001 |
| On 11/22/2007 my 2002 ford explorer burned, it is a total loss. the fire originated inside the center console. vehicle was running when smoke first appeared, engine was immediately shut off. flames erupted within 3-5 minutes from the time smoke first appeared. *tr | |||
| 10/17/2007 | 147000 | 600 | 12/05/2002 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. the contact stated that the vehicle alarm sounds throughout the night while the vehicle is parked and shut off. while driving, the doors lock and unlock, the ceiling lights flicker on and off, and the door ajar buzzer chimes intermittently. the dealer has not been notified. the current mileage was approximately 150,000 and failure mileage was approximately 147,0000. | |||
| 05/01/2006 | 37000 | 7 | 04/20/2006 |
| After owning for a week and a half, had to have the g ears in the rear end replaced. later informed that the tires were not evenly worn which was causing the rear end to pop. after replacing the tires, the four wheel drive would not work. the 4 x 4 module and the wiring need to be replaced, costing $1000.00. that is not including the driver window switch needing to be replaced as well as the window regulator. now there is an electrical problem coming from the dash. unable to figure out what it is yet. *jb | |||
| 12/23/2004 | 85000 | 6 | 07/28/2004 |
| At 74000 miles our transmission went out completely while we were on vacation! the dealership where we bought the vehicle, said that we were the only one's who have had this problem (yeah right!) it cost us $6000 out of our pocket to fix. at 86000 miles the rear window cracked right below the window. ford and the dealership refuses to fix it. again, stayton ford told us that,we were the only people who have had this particular issue. at around 85000, 95000 and 105000 miles, the rear seals leaked. we were promised each time that they would last for at least 50000 miles. we were always a few miles away from getting them replaced for free since they're limited warranty is only good for 10000 miles. at 111000 miles the electrical system went haywire. even when all of the door and hatch are closed, the dome light continues to go on and off (making it hard to drive at night) because it senses that a door is a jar. sometimes, the key pad that's located on the drivers side window sets off the alarm when we push the first number on the key. totally unreliable vehicle that i'm afraid to drive! *nm | |||
| 11/05/2006 | 4 | 09/19/2002 | |
| Ongoing shifting and slipping within the transmission. also a loud shrill at the end of the acceleration. the transmission converter has been replaced multiple times and the transmission leaked out fluid at highway speed. after the repair of a stripped transmission line connector and a pile of glue to fix a broken electrical connector the vehicle was returned to service by the dealership and the warranty company. the converters are remanufactured which have been known to fail. the glob of glue on the electrical connector will be reviewed by the state as to the proper repair procedure. a law suit may follow due to separate repairs including a tire with a nail, where a new tire was purchased and a used on was installed (bf goodrich). the tire was also not balanced and was off by 1.5 oz. there was also a gasket removed from the cooling system that caused antifreeze to spill out onto the engine. the cooling system had been serviced two months prior and was never leaking until the day the vehicle was returned. there was also the discovery of the positive electrical harness to the starter having exposed wires due to the oil filter drain housing made of plastic rubbing against the wires. there are three wires exposed and there may be the potential for fire. *nm | |||
| 04/25/2005 | 49000 | 1 | 01/01/2002 |
| Experts determined that the right side of the left front drivers seat suffered an electrical fault, resulting in a fire which totaled the vehicle. however, the interior cabin fire was extinguished, preserving the remainder of the seat and adjacent center console burn area. occupants were able to escape the vehicle and avoid personal injury. a year and a half later, ford still refuses to accept responsibility for the malfunction, and the case is in litigation. *nm | |||
| 08/08/2006 | 90000 | 1 | 07/28/2001 |
| Bought my 2002 ford explorer new. at 90000 miles, the mileage gauge went out and ford dealership told me it would cost $600 to repair. my local repair shop told me that this problem is common with ford explorers and expeditions of the same year. *nm | |||
| 07/18/2006 | 75000 | 1 | 03/31/2006 |
| Dt*: the contact stated while attempting to roll down the driver's side front window, the window would not go down and the smell of smoke appeared. the smoke was coming from the console area on the driver's side door. the vehicle was pulled off of the road until the smoke subsided. the dealership has not been notified. | |||
| 06/05/2005 | 1 | 04/06/2004 | |
| Automatic door lock system. *jb | |||
| 06/09/2006 | 1 | 11/03/2005 | |
| On or about november 3, 2005, i purchased a break model used ford explorer xlt 2002 from norm reeves honda car dealer in cerritos, ca. the car had 78,000 miles on it at the time of purchase. i signed the papers and took the possession of the car. it has not been more than 2 months that the car started giving me trouble on the pick up of the speed, transmission, gear adjustment, over use of the gas, difficult high altitude driving even after change of gears, air suction into the engine and transmission, accelerator and signs like service engine soon on the front panel, although i have been getting regular lube and tune on the car after every 3000 miles. while driving the, occasionally, the car gives a thundering noise on the tires as if it is dragging itself and running on the road. this makes me fear that my car is not safe for me to drive! the norm reeves honda super store car dealer knew that the car is defective and they simply wanted to get rid of a used 2002 ford explorer xlt vehicle from the fleet as they primarily sell honda cars and similar vehicles. despite repeated requests, the norm reeves honda super store and their sister company ford of cerritos refused to provide service on the car since i stopped payments on the car loan. other ford car dealers have test driven this car and observed the same defects as i have mentioned. my purpose of writing this complaint with the nhtsa is to request the intervention of nhtsa immediately as the questioned vehicle is likely to endanger my life on the local roads and/or on highway/freeways. due to major defects in the car, i can meet with a serious accident and can be crippled or suffer such pecuniary losses that are irreplaceable and/or i can die also with out any fault of mine. please recall firestone tires v. ford motor company case law. criminal charges against norm reeves honda, ford of cerritos and their ceos to follow. please contact me and the dealers asap. respectfully submitted, amardeep singh gill. *nm | |||
| 04/24/2006 | 1 | 02/20/2002 | |
| 2002 ford explorer. failed transmission, starter, rear wheel bearings, airbag, pinion, electric window. now loud sounds from rear of car. *jb | |||
| 01/26/2006 | 85000 | 2 | 07/01/2001 |
| Dt*: the contact stated the air bag light intermittently illuminates. the vehicle was seen by a dealer. the service department determined both front seat belts needed to be replaced due to the integrated air bag/seat belt system. the entire front seat belts were replaced accordingly but the air bag light later illuminated. the vehicle was taken back to the dealer. the service department suggested replacing the seat belts again. updated 3/3/2006 - the consumer has also had to replace the rear washer motor, odometer and has had problems with the automatic door locks. *nm | |||
| 02/13/2003 | 24000 | 2 | 02/04/2003 |
| 2002 ford explorer xls. at 24,000 miles, transmission would not shift into gear:transmission needed to be rebuilt. at 26,000 miles, load whining heard from rear of vehicle. brought to dealership on three occasions to complain and was told they could not duplicate the noise and it is how it is supposed to sound. on the third return , i produced seven pages of documented complaints from other owners found on this web site and others. they decided that now they might know what the problem is and replaced the rear differential and drive shaft. problem was fixed for the next 30,000 miles but is now displaying the same noise and is clunking in to drive and reverse. separate problem with the daylight running lights, they flash like an emergency vehicle till i turn the head lights on. i did not notice till i was pulled over by a sheriff and questioned as to why i had emergency lights installed on my vehicle. on a positive note, i do get through traffic jams a lot faster now. *nm | |||
| 07/02/2005 | 7000 | 2 | 03/14/2002 |
| Dt: the consumer states 2002 ford explorer quit while going 60 mph. starteds back up. vehicle was towed to the dealership. this occurred on july 2, 2005. the vehicle had been running fine although consumer took it back after he purchased it to have the idle looked at. he never thought it ran quite right. dealership stated the pmc, main computer, was the problem. this was replaced but, the manufacturer had to be called to get it programmed correctly. consumer stated that it looked like they had to try two different computers in the vehicle, and ford had to be called 3 times.*ak | |||
| 06/27/2005 | 36700 | 20 | 12/21/2002 |
| Electrical system near left rear wheelwell began clicking for no apparent reason after 42 months and about 37,000 miles of ownership. constant loud click makes it impractical to drive vehicle or ride in vehicle. vehicle taken to mechanic who determined it is an electrical failure in the air conditioning system. mechanic has been unable to fix the problem. | |||
| 07/02/2005 | 37000 | 1 | 12/21/2002 |
| Right, rear electric window failed for no apparent reason after owning vehicle for 42 months and 37,000 miles. window will not rise. vehicle taken to mechanic for repair. | |||
| 06/12/2004 | 62364 | 1 | 03/09/2004 |
| Vehicle caught on fire because of ford speed control deactivation switch also called brake pressure switch.i know that they do have a recall on 97-02 ford expedition navigator and f-150,same switch on 97-02 ford explorer. | |||
| 02/01/2005 | 1 | 03/31/2004 | |
| While driving the automatic door locks would unlock by themselves. *nm *jb | |||
| 02/04/2005 | 55000 | 1 | 09/04/2004 |
| Door ajar light remains on despite all doors being secured. when you engage the door locks from inside the vehicle, the drivers side lock will disengage after a few seconds. when you lock doors from outside the vehicle (with the remote), the chime will beep two times as if there is a door open. now the interior overhead light remains on. after much investigation the gem module is defective. *jb | |||
| 07/07/2004 | 1 | ||
| On 9/27/03 it was necessary to replace a faulty sensor on my 2002 ford explorer that caused the abs warning light to activate. the mileage on the vehicle at this time was 15.851. on 02/14/04 at 22966 miles this same sensor had to replaced for the second time. on 07/07/04 at 30479 miles this same sensor was replaced a third time. having the same item replaced three times in 10 months seems to be more a pattern of faulty design as opposed to coincidence.*ak | |||
| 07/10/2004 | 40000 | 10 | 03/09/2003 |
| When pulling light or heavy load, vehicle jerks and then stalls out when vehicle apparently tries to shift down or is at speed where vehicle may be near shifting down. vehicle actually dies and must be restarted by turning off key and then it quickly starts. *ak | |||
| 05/04/2004 | 24300 | 7 | |
| The vehicle would not shift from park to drive. it turns out that there was an electrical short causing fuses to blow while driving. the fuse that had blown most was the fuse for my brake lights. i was driving without brake lights several times, unknowingly. the first dealership that i took the vehicle had the truck for 3 days and said that the alarm system was causing the short. the alarm system was installed by the selling dealership. i was sent away from the dealership with bigger (higher amp) fuses in my fuse box, a few extra fuses, and the knowledge of how to over-ride the shifter lock if the fuse was blown. after driving the vehicle for approximately two and a half weeks, most of the time without brake lights, i was able to take the it to the dealership that i purchased the vehicle from. this dealership happens to be about 90 miles from my current residence. the other dealership found the real problem. the wiring harness had to be replaced because apparently, some of the wires got too hot, melted the insulation, and fused themselves together. the vehicle was in the shop for 9 days. ford also claims that i shouldn't worry about any damage that may have been done to the electrical components in my vehicle due to the short and one of the dealerships putting bigger fuses in the fuse box. *jb | |||
| 02/17/2004 | 17 | ||
| When using the turn signals the consumer noticed that, the turn signals would work intermittently, also the hazards would do the same. the consumer had made contact with the dealer about this issue. please provide any further details. *jb | |||
| 04/12/2004 | 36000 | 3 | |
| The automatic gear shift broke. could not change gears. electric windows stopped working both driver and passenger. air conditioner broke - air conditioner clutch make rubbing noise when engaged. | |||
| 12/13/2002 | 98 | 8 | 09/30/2002 |
| I've owned the vehicle for approx. 10 months. the vehicle hasn't started 7 different times. i've had minor hesitations when accelerating from an idle. the vehicle has felt like it was going to stall several times when coming to a stop or accelerating from a stop. the horn, on occasion, has not made the proper sound. the door locks do not always lock or unlock with the remote. i've had a burning smell eminating from vents with heat on. i've been to the dealership, jim keim ford, 3+ times, had a diagnostic exam done, had the ford flight recorder installed to attempt to register problems. nothing ever found. i've documented everything from the time of the initial problem, just went through the dispute settlement board and have been awarded a refund of money or replacement of vehicle. document everything and don't give up!!*ak | |||
| 01/20/2003 | 0 | 05/23/2002 | |
| I bought a 2002 explorer on may 23,2002. in the past 8 months, the vehicle has been towed in because it woudn't start--acomputer chip was replaced. my a/c made a high pitch squeal and after at least five times of trying to repair the existing a/c clutch, a new one was finally put on. my front end suspension has been fixed. my midlift gate cracked in november and a new one was put on. i have had daily problems with the driver's side seat not fully going into position when i start my truck and this problem has not been fixed as the service dept. that i deal with nevers seems to be able to see the problem. funny how it does it every day for me, though. my blinkers will sometimes stick and stay on without blinking--this also has not been fixed. at the beginning of january,2003, on the way home from a trip, my husband and i noticed that every time we slowed the truck down, there was a blast of air from the upper vents in the vehicle. this happened no matter what setting we had it in (ie. defrost or floor vents). this past thursday, jan.16, the suspension was repaired and supposedly the heating system was as well. now the air doesn't seem to leak out the top vents, but continuosly comes out of the floor vent, no matter what setting the heat is on. i have a rental vehicle once again, while they keep the vehicle overnight tonight to see if they can hopefully fix this problem. needless to say, we are currently checking into the lemon law for our state!!! | |||
| 12/11/2001 | 9 | 10/26/2001 | |
| Truck stalled after puting it in drive, at red light, after starting, at low speed on several occasions. regaped the spark plugs and reprogrammed the computer. | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR | |||
| 03/04/2004 | 79685 | 1 | 09/04/2001 |
| Alternator caught on fire without warning. | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - BATTERY | |||
| 09/28/2007 | 103000 | 2 | 03/01/2005 |
| In two different occasions i had to jump start the 2002 for explorer, i did a battery load test and it was fine also check it while the vehicle was running and all the readings appeared correct and was charging ok. *tr | |||
| 04/12/2004 | 36000 | 3 | |
| The automatic gear shift broke. could not change gears. electric windows stopped working both driver and passenger. air conditioner broke - air conditioner clutch make rubbing noise when engaged. | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS | |||
| 09/29/2004 | 73000 | 5 | 08/10/2003 |
| Vehicle stalled at low speed of 5 mph or less while driving. vehicle was towed to the dealer, who replaced # 41 fuse under the hood. within a few days the problem recurred on 4 separate occasions. dealer was unable to duplicate the problem.*ak | |||
| 07/20/2004 | 5131 | 8 | 08/02/2002 |
| 13jan03-rear windshield washer inoperative reinstall rear washer hoses. 5nov03-clicking noise from rear a/c; replace motor assembly temperature blend. 5nov03&13nov03-l/r power mirrors inop; fuse blows; replaced mirror rear view outside sail mount 13nov03-fuel guage inop read 1/2 tank but tank was full; 20nov03-instrument cluster fuel gauge inop; 24nov03-removed and replaced instrument cluster; 18mar04-fuel guage inop & l/r power mirrors inop, fuse blows; could not duplicate problem at this time about fuel guage; tested bce for short, traced to mirror switch, replaced switch and blown fuse; 20 july 04-l/r power mirrors inop; replaced fuse; 20 july 04 - rear winshield washer inop; access washer hose and reconnect; 20 july 04- air conditioner not cooling properly; replaced blower motor for poor operation; motor assembly-heater-a/c blower replaced. 20 july 04 - mechanics broke the drivers door switch cover- 23 july 04 -reordered door panel and replaced drivers door switch cover.*ak | |||
| 09/28/2003 | 17500 | 1 | 05/10/2003 |
| Trailer towing wiring is fused at 40 amps to the trailer plug. a short in the signal wiring caused the trailer wiring insulation to melt off before the fuse blew. i was fortunate to have it happen with my boat trailer where the wiring is enclosed in the iron channel of the trailer. had this been a camper, it could have caused a fire. the wires going to the trailer plug should be fused at 7.5 amps as in previous model explorers. see the email i recently copied your department for full explanation of this incident. this problem exists in the 2002 and 2003 explorers and possible other ford products. *la | |||
| 01/20/2003 | 0 | 05/23/2002 | |
| I bought a 2002 explorer on may 23,2002. in the past 8 months, the vehicle has been towed in because it woudn't start--acomputer chip was replaced. my a/c made a high pitch squeal and after at least five times of trying to repair the existing a/c clutch, a new one was finally put on. my front end suspension has been fixed. my midlift gate cracked in november and a new one was put on. i have had daily problems with the driver's side seat not fully going into position when i start my truck and this problem has not been fixed as the service dept. that i deal with nevers seems to be able to see the problem. funny how it does it every day for me, though. my blinkers will sometimes stick and stay on without blinking--this also has not been fixed. at the beginning of january,2003, on the way home from a trip, my husband and i noticed that every time we slowed the truck down, there was a blast of air from the upper vents in the vehicle. this happened no matter what setting we had it in (ie. defrost or floor vents). this past thursday, jan.16, the suspension was repaired and supposedly the heating system was as well. now the air doesn't seem to leak out the top vents, but continuosly comes out of the floor vent, no matter what setting the heat is on. i have a rental vehicle once again, while they keep the vehicle overnight tonight to see if they can hopefully fix this problem. needless to say, we are currently checking into the lemon law for our state!!! | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION | |||
| 06/11/2005 | 41187 | 1 | 05/18/2001 |
| Dt*: the contact stated the gear shift detached from the column while trying to put the vehicle in drive. there were no warning indicators prior to the problem. the vehicle was towed to the dealer who replaced the entire steering column. the manufacturer was also alerted of the problem. after the steering column was replaced the key would not fit in the ignition properly and the vehicle has been returned to the dealer for inspection today. | |||
| 04/11/2005 | 18000 | 5 | 09/11/2003 |
| Dt: consumer complained about transmission problems. while driving 65 mph the transmission locked. the vehicle slowed down, operating at a reduced speed, and then the engine suddenly shut off. the car coasted to the side of the road. consumer inspected vehicle and found nothing. got back into vehicle about 10 minutes after the occurrence, restarted the vehicle, and drove to a dealership about 5 miles down the road and the car was making funny noises. dealership said the transmission had a solenoid problem that caused it to lock. dealer kept car about week and a half. the solenoid valve shift was replaced along with the transmission pan and gasket. this lasted about 2 weeks and again this problem recurred . the transmission did not lock at this time but the transmission slipped. vehicle is currently at dealer for an ignition problem. the dealer could duplicate the problem, but they do not know what was causing this. *ak | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION - ANTI-THEFT CONTROLLER | |||
| 03/17/2008 | 128000 | 1 | 12/23/2004 |
| Door ajar light and alarm are coming on intermittently . also the anti-theft alarm will go off for no reason. *tr | |||
| 06/30/2002 | 3 | 04/01/2002 | |
| Faulty anti-theft module(shorting) making vehicle unable to operate. at this time ford is unable to repair or replace module leaving owner stranded. ford has told us that they are working on a solution but at this time there is not one. how many others are driving witht his unsafe module? | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION - MODULE | |||
| 06/21/2001 | |||
| Main computer module malfunctions, causing other major components, such as transmission/ power window, and doors not to work. *ak | |||
| 01/03/2002 | 1 | 06/01/2001 | |
| Dealership lost keys. on board computer/security system would not allow remake of key. ford issues a tsb (ignoring issue hoping warranty would expire before a new key was requested.) 4-wd inoperable. no 4-wd related indicator lamps on dashboard at engine start. vehicle has been at dealership for over a week waiting for a back ordered solenoid. 93 other 2002 owners are waiting for parts to fix same problem. | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION - SWITCH | |||
| 05/14/2007 | 3 | 10/19/2005 | |
| The key ignition switch keeps on getting ground and had to disconnect the battery to pull the key out of the ignition switch. this will be the third time i have to replace the switch. *ak | |||
| 03/21/2003 | 02/09/2002 | ||
| I have had my vehicle into the ford dealer for the same problem at least 4 times with no success it is still under manufacturer warranty and is a 2002 ford explorer. *nlm | |||
| 04/05/2003 | 29000 | 1 | 05/24/2002 |
| The vehicle's tailgate glass exploded while the consumer attempted to close it. the dealer was notified. *nlm broken liftgate glass and wiper motor and arm were replaced. there were squeaks when going over bumps. sway bar bushings replaced. ignition switch hard to insert key at times. cylinder and tumbler rekeyed. bottom door molding (passenger side) peeling off. rubber grommet on antenna base off. resecured rubber grommet for antenna base. *tt pe04045_pco | |||
| 07/10/2002 | 03/18/2002 | ||
| 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 | |||
| 07/04/2002 | 25 | 06/01/2002 | |
| Mounting bracket on glass liftgate became detached from strut-lift mechanism joint upon reaching maximum extension causing glass to fall onto my head. reported to dealer but not repaired/replaced due to parts n/a. often have difficulty turning ignition switch after inserting either of the factory keys. it requires a jiggling motion to engage and turn ignition. pe04045.pco | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - STARTER ASSEMBLY - SOLENOID | |||
| 05/20/2005 | 14 | ||
| 2002 ford explorer experiencing problems with the 4wd, the over drive light illuminates on the dashboard and the vehicle is giving off a rotten egg smell. *mr there were front end problems. the 4wd module wasn't working. the driveshaft and both front wheel bearings were replaced. the rotors were out of round. the service engine light illuminated along with the over drive light. the transmission experienced the same problem on two occasions and possibly a third time. a large puddle of transmission was found under the vehicle. the torque converter was noisy. the acceleration pedal would pull back. when the vehicle was accelerated, it would whine. the left rear wheel bearing was gone and caused damage to the axle, brakes and the tire was barely holding on. the error code for the service engine soon light was due to the solenoid which had been changed before. the a/c was inoperative. *sc *jb | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING | |||
| 06/28/2007 | 95200 | 5 | 10/25/2004 |
| This 2002 ford explorer eddie bauer abruptly stops while driving at any speed without any notice or indication that the ignition will fail to keep the car running. this car has been to two ford dealerships and one reputable and established independent automotive repair shop. this car was at a toyota dealership for almost 30 days and this car was returned to me with this potentially fatal defect still undiagnosed. none of the aforementioned dealerships could determine the true underlying problem. at the toyota dealership a brand new starter was installed because of a no start condition showing no power to the starter and blown fuses for the injectors, fuel pump, and the computer. the same defect showed itself one day later after traveling over 70 miles with no sign of failure. *tr | |||
| 11/05/2006 | 54050 | 1 | 09/19/2002 |
| Upon inspection of the wiring just above the oil filter drain shroud during routine maintenance there was a wire harness found with exposed wires. the three wires were encased in one bundle but are supposed to be isolated. it appears that the harness has been rubbing against the upper edge of the oil drain shroud since the vehicle was built. this bundle of wires should be checked and repaired on all 2002 ford explorers. there is the possibility of a fire. *nm | |||
| 11/06/2006 | 54050 | 1 | 09/19/2002 |
| Dt*: the contact stated while accelerating, the vehicle vibrated and a noise was heard. the vehicle was taken to the dealer four times where the transmission converter was replaced twice, however the problem recurred. also, while the contact was changing the oil it was noticed a wire from the battery was bare. the consumer stated the transmission is still not shifting properly and during acceleration, the vehicle still vibrates. upon inspection the 02 sensor was found damaged. the sensor was covered in glue and wrapped around to the transmission mount. updated 12/01/06. *jb | |||
| 03/10/2006 | 2 | ||
| No start no spark ford could not figure it out, 1200.00 it was a faulty main wiring harness also loud noise in rear end no help from ford, broken wheel bearing. should not have been. *nm | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING - FRONT UNDERHOOD | |||
| 06/03/2002 | 1 | 01/01/2002 | |
| Minor traffic accident, damage to left front bumper and fender, near battery. result was instant flame under hood and vehicle destroyed.*ak | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING - INTERIOR/UNDER DASH | |||
| 04/02/2007 | 83500 | 1 | 06/12/2004 |
| 2002 explorer has 83,500 miles. discovered that the 4x4 system would not engage. ganley ford replaced the control module that communicates with the 4x4 system at a total cost of $577.00. the part alone was $293.00. explanation as to why the balance of the labor was so high was the control module is difficult to reach up under the dash. why is that my problem? i had also purchased the gold plan warranty and this part was not covered. ford's gold plan in my opinion is useless. i will never purchase another ford product again! *ak | |||
| 02/06/2007 | 81258 | 1 | 12/12/2006 |
| I have a 2002 ford explorer. when it started to get very cold, my explorer, that i just bought, started to not want to go into gear. it would grind and slip. there was a clicking sound coming from under the dash. it was from the computer that runs the 4 wheel drive. the 4 low button would just kick in by its self. then it would not go into gear. after a while of trying to get it into gear it would go. it would only act up when it was very cold out (10 to -5 degrees) it did this to me for about a week and then it just stuck into 4 low and now won't come out. there was a smell this last time of burning electrical wire and smoke. now my explorer won't drive and has a electrical smoke smell stuck in it. i now have to have it towed to a ford dealer to get it fixed. it also makes a really loud popping sound when i go to turn or hit a bump. sound comes from the front of the explorer drivers side. *jb | |||
| 07/01/2005 | 49000 | 1 | 08/16/2004 |
| Dt: the contact stated the instrument panel cluster was no longer working. the service dealer did not state why the panel was no longer working. the electrical components failed, such as the radio, blowers, windows, airbags, and all of the safety equipment. the dealer stated it was a common problem within this type of vehicle. the part to repair was no longer available. the consumer contacted the manufacturer; they referred him to the dealer to find an aftermarket product to repair the problem.*ak | |||
| 04/12/2002 | 6800 | 1 | |
| The vehicle unexpectedly caught fire while it was parked. results showed that there was a shortage with the cruise control switch. *jb two independant cause & origin reports found the fire to have started under the dash board on the drivers side. bruce york has the c&o reports. | |||
| 06/08/2004 | 55000 | 1 | 10/15/2003 |
| Vehicle was parked in public lot while visiting local store. original driver attempted to start vehicle but was unsuccessful due to apparent loss of all electrical. original driver noticed some smoke and/or smell of smoke from behind console. driver immediately turned key to off position and called spouse to report failure. spouse inspected battery cables and battery viewing eye with no findings of failure or loose cables. spouse entered vehicle inspecting position of gear shift lever and transmission indicator for proper park position with no unusual findings. spouse turned key to start position which produced what appeared was an electrical short under center console directly under beverage and misc holder. spouse turned key back to off position immediately then smoke started coming from under that area of center console. spouse removed rubber liner with screwdriver which exposed pin hole with sparks shooting outward which in turn produced a fire in the center console. spouse attempted to stop fire with no success then exited vehicle to break off red cable at battery termination in attempt to stop fire. original driver called on help at ups store directly in front of vehicle parked location. employee from ups reached vehicle with fire extingiusher and stopped fire from spreading to other areas of vehicle. vehicle was towed to champion ford dealership within 1 1/2 hours after incident. dealer reported findings on june 10th to vehicle owners. dealer investigation claims unsuccessful in identifing cause of fire. estimated cost is 1,500 $. vehicle owners are attempting to contact ford management to cover full cost of damged due to defective vehicle electrical system. *ak | |||
| 02/06/2004 | 41000 | 1 | 07/21/2002 |
| I had my explorer parked in my driveway, i was walking past it and heard a buzzing/humming sound from the front end. the car was not started though it was making this noise. i called the dealer and asked for service and asked them to hear the noise over the phone. the call was passed around the department and no one could figure it out. i was told to turn the car off and to their surprise i said i had not turned it on. the said bring it in immediately but before we hung up they wanted to see it if would start. it did, we hung up & i was on my way. on the drive there, the buzzing would stop when i would step on the brake, turn on the turn indicator or hit the hazards (didn't need them, just figured i would try them). at the dealership, everyone came out to experience this noise. i have been their customer who brings problems to them before the masses. the technician tried to stop the noise by changing out the fuses, which wasn't the problem. i ended up waiting about an hour while they unassembled the dash to find a short in the steering column. an electronic sensor was having a meltdown. i ended up leaving the explorer with them while they ordered the new peice. the service rep also didn't want me with the vehicle since it was a fire hazard as well. they took care of it and i have not heard of any other owners who have experinced this. *ak | |||
| 10/01/2002 | 01/01/2002 | ||
| Vehicle brought to dealer after craking noises behind dash and driver pillar. found 15 plus bolts loose, hoses installed incorrectly, all panels/door/grills assembly on vehicle front and rear are dropped or racked out of alignment. dealer unable to conclude why so many defects exist. dt | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING - REAR COMPARTMENT/TRUNK | |||
| 04/27/2001 | 1 | 03/26/2001 | |
| The drivers side tail light wiring malfunctioned causing a fire after on 28 days of owmnership, the vehicle was declared totaled by the insurance company, the vehicle was not in motion at the time the fire occurred. nlm | |||