Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WHEELS - CENTER SECTION | |||||
| 14804 | 04/01/2001 | 619292 | Information on front wheel hub assemblies. *tt | 05/23/2001 | |
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| WHEELS | |||
| 03/14/2012 | 98000 | 3 | |
| I was driving my 2002 ford explorer about 25mph when i felt the rear end drop down. pulled over to the side of the road and all 5 studs had sheared off. the second time it happened i was only backing out of my driveway when i put it into drive & started to accelerate the opposite side studs sheared off. this time only 4 studs broke so i limped the truck back onto my driveway. the third time this happened i was driving about 15mph going around a turn & 4 studs broke off again. if i was going any faster the truck could have flipped over. *tr | |||
| 03/14/2012 | 98000 | ||
| I was driving my 2002 ford explorer about 25mph when i felt the rear end drop down. pulled over to the side of the road and all 5 studds had sheared off. the second time it happened i was only backing out of my driveway when i put it into drive & started to excelerate the opposite side studds sheared off. this time only 4 studds broke so i limped the truck back onto my driveway. the third time this happened i was driving about 15mph going around a turn & 4 studds broke off again. if i was going any faster the truck could have flipped over. | |||
| 12/21/2012 | 133000 | 1 | |
| Failure of rear wheel bearings on both sides. time between onset of noise and near catastrophic failure was approximately 300 miles. fearing a high probability that the front wheel bearings might fail without warning and possibly cause a serious accident and injuries, the only option was to incur the high cost to replace all four wheel bearings and related parts. this is a common problem with ford explorers across a wide range of model years and is clearly a manufacturing design defect. nhtsa has been made aware of this issue via a sufficient number of complaints from owners and must compel ford motor company to issue a recall of all ford explorers beginning with model year 2002 or earlier. the recall rightfully must include full reimbursement for reasonable and customary repair costs incurred by owners after warranty expiration. *tr | |||
| 12/21/2012 | 133000 | ||
| Failure of rear wheel bearings on both sides. time between onset of noise and near catastrophic failure was approximately 300 miles. fearing a high probability that the front wheel bearings might fail without warning and possibly cause a serious accident and injuries, the only option was to incur the high cost to replace all four wheel bearings and related parts. this is a common problem with ford explorers across a wide range of model years and is clearly a manufacturing design defect. nhtsa has been made aware of this issue via a sufficient number of complaints from owners and must compel ford motor company to issue a recall of all ford explorers beginning with model year 2002 or earlier. the recall rightfully must include full reimbursement for reasonable and customary repair costs incurred by owners after warranty expiration. | |||
| 10/04/2010 | 73000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. the contact stated that while driving 68 mph, the vehicle exhibited a squealing noise and began pulling to the left. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis and was told that the wheel bearings were frozen and that he should continue to drive on them until they fractured, in which the vehicle would be fine to drive. the vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic who stated that the bearings were frozen to the axle, and that the rear driver's side axle would need to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 73,000 and the current mileage was 161,000. kmj | |||
| 10/04/2010 | 73000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. the contact stated while driving 68 mph the vehicle started making a squealing noise and pulling to the left. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis and was told that the wheel bearings had frozen and all explorers do that and to drive the vehicle until it breaks and the vehicle would be fine. the vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic and stated that that the bearings were frozen to the axle and the rear driver side axle would need to be replaced. the vehicle had not been repaired. the failure mileage was 73,000 and the current mileage was 161,000. dt | |||
| 11/07/2011 | 112000 | ||
| Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. the contact was driving 60 mph when the rear passenger side tire detached from the vehicle. the contact discovered that there were three lug nuts that had become loose and caused the failure. the contact took the vehicle to a local mechanic to have the wheel replaced. less than one month later, the contact noticed that the lug nuts had become loose again. the contact stated that the lug nuts were becoming loose from the vibration of the vehicle. the contact did not take the vehicle to the dealer for diagnostics or repairs. the failure mileage was 112,000. the vin was not available. | |||
| 11/07/2011 | 112000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. the contact was driving 60 mph when the rear passenger side tire detached from the vehicle. the contact discovered that there were three lug nuts that had become loose and caused the failure. the contact took the vehicle to a local mechanic to have the wheel replaced. less than one month later, the contact noticed that the lug nuts had become loose again. the contact stated that the lug nuts were becoming loose from the vibration of the vehicle. the contact did not take the vehicle to the dealer for diagnostics or repairs. the failure mileage was 112,000. the vin was not available. kmj | |||
| 11/07/2011 | 112000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. the contact stated while driving 60 mph the rear passenger side tire feel off. three lug nuts snapped causing the tire to come off. the contact took the vehicle to a mechanic to have the wheel replaced. a month after the repair the lug nuts started to snap off again. the contact notice the lug nuts snapping off due to the vehicle vibrating. the contact did not take the vehicle to a dealer. the failure mileage was 112,000. jo | |||
| 06/10/2010 | 85032 | ||
| I was driving in town at approximately 30 mph when i drove over a crack and it felt like a large pothole. i heard a grinding noise and pulled over. my rear springs were both broken. the driver side one at the top and the passenger side one at the top in 3 places. when i turn now it feels like my vehicle is going to roll over. this is a common problem as stated by many others on many internet sites. this is going to cause a serious if not deadly accident. ford needs to do a recall on this part and replace them for free, since they were the ones who used bad parts in their vehicles. this is a manufacturing defect and should be treated as such. | |||
| 10/10/2011 | 146000 | ||
| For the sixth time since 2009, i was driving and heard what sounded like a pop. my boyfriend noticed my right rear tire wobbling. i knew immediately a stud or studs had broken. when he popped off the cap, two studs were literally snapped at the bolt, clean break. this has happened six other times, one in which my tire was hanging on by one stud and nearly caused me to wreck into a telephone pole. i thought it was my mechanic making error after error but could never find an issue. now, after doing some extensive research, i see it is fords error. this is a life threatening issue. i have spent thousands of dollars getting new roaters, new tires, etc.. thinking this was it. clearly it's not. ford needs to either reimburse or recall the vehicles. i'm done. | |||
| 06/14/2011 | 159000 | ||
| You need to seriously look into recalling all 2002 ford explorers for potentially dangerous wheel and hub assemblies. this happened on multiple occasions. the first time it happened, it happened in august 2008. i just moved into my dorm, and i had to go home for a little while. i was on the pennsylvania turnpike, and my truck began swerving to the point that i had no control over it, and i had to pull over. when i got out, i pulled the lug cover off the rear passenger side wheel to find that four of the five lugs were snapped. i had to pay $400 to have it towed, and when it got to the garage, they found that the wheel bearings and hub were damaged. the next time it happened, it happened on the driver's side rear wheel, and, again, the lugs snapped and they found the hub and wheel bearings to be the cause of it. this was about a month after the first incident. the third incident involved both front wheels, but luckily only the wheel bearings and hubs were damaged and my wheels stayed in place. this happened about november of 2010. in january of 2011, the rear went again. this time it was in the middle of a snow storm, so i had to wait in the freezing cold for two hours until the tow truck could come. currently, my vehicle is sitting in a garage to have yet another wheel bearing replaced because it has failed. in total, in the last two years, the rear wheel bearings have been replaced three times each and the front wheels have now been replaced two times each. every time it happens, it feels as though you are driving on ice, and the vehicle eventually gets to the point where it cannot be controlled any longer. i've had numerous incidents where i've began to fishtail. every time it goes to the garage, they put it on the lift and the wheels just dangle there. the mechanic, one time, kicked it and it fell off. he did this to show how close i was to a major accident. these vehicles need to be recalled and equipped with superior parts. ford will eventually kill someone. | |||
| 12/15/2008 | 98000 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. while driving various speeds the contact heard a buzzing noise in the rear of the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where the technicians stated the rear passenger side wheel bearing needed to be replaced. after the repairs were performed, the contact was driving approximately 5 mph when the vehicle began to shake and wobble. the contact pulled over to the side of the road. the vehicle was towed to the dealer. the technicians stated the hub and the wheel bearing needed to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 98,000. | |||
| 12/15/2008 | 98000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. while driving at different speeds the contact would hear a buzzing noise coming from the rear of the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where the technicians stated the rear passenger side wheel bearing needed to be replaced. after the repairs were performed the contact was driving approximately 5 mph when the vehicle began to shake and wobble. the contact pulled over to the side of the road. the vehicle was towed to the dealer. the technicians stated the hub and the wheel bearing needed to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 98,000. ds | |||
| 01/26/2011 | 80000 | ||
| I have had to have the rear differential changed and both wheel bearings. the problem occurred at 80000 miles for me but is so wide spread in this make and model that it occurs over and over. | |||
| 09/09/2006 | 38000 | ||
| Chrome wheels disintegrating. was told by dealer that it was cosmetic at the time. now the aluminum has become porous and i believe it to be a safety issue. | |||
| 02/16/2009 | 68000 | ||
| Left rear wheel bearing failed doing 65mph, wheel lost stability, almost lost control of the car. right rear wheel bearing also failed 5/3/2010. | |||
| 01/03/2010 | 15500 | ||
| Discovered the rear hub bearings on my ford 2002 explorer were totally gone, in january 2010, started with a loud roar in the back of the vehicle. the auto mechanic stated that the wheel was very dangerous and was about to come off this car. i had the repair work done immediately, then today, may 3 2010 noticed the same roar, the auto shop deemed it the same issue, the rear hub bearings were replaced again on may 3. this has to be stopped, this problem could be very dangerous. fmc needs to own up to the problem. i was lucky today, the jan 2010 repair was under an extended warranty, but i might not be as lucky the next time. i just pray it's a safe vehicle to drive. | |||
| 04/21/2010 | 112000 | ||
| Ford 2002 explorer xlt limited. i have had a myriad of issues, which upon research appear common to the extreme. front & rear bearings have been replaced multiple times. springs had to be replaced. now the transmission is slipping -- o/d light blinks, ses light activates, and vehicles over-revs, slips, and will not operate in overdrive. the transmission design is completely sealed, so i cannot even check for fluid levels, nor do any preventive maintenance whatsoever. there is no warning, just failure. issues with this model year are so prevalent that local mechanics need only ask the model and year and can itemize the problems i have experienced, and public forums are full of similar complaints. ford needs to recall this model year. | |||
| 10/28/2009 | 140000 | 1 | |
| My first occurrence was approximately sept 2008 when i pulled into a driveway and felt an odd bump upon leaving the vehicle was wobbling when i stopped and took the cap off of the lug nuts i noticed the studs where broken on the drivers side rear. thought we had it fixed by having the studs replaced. wrong about 2 months later it happened again. was told the hub and bearing needed replaced so we replaced them. upon inspection the passenger side rear had started doing the same thing. so we replaced that side as well. that lasted about 4 months and we went to have new tires put on the vehicle the mechanic said that our bearings were bad again and needed replaced. so we did replace them. about 4 months later it started all over again with the studs breaking off. in one incident i lost all lug nuts but one on the drivers side at once with my kids in the vehicle. this is a serious problem for my family being that we depend on this vehicle and cant afford another but yet can't find why this problem isn't and apparently cant' be fixed. i've done everything the garage has told me to do. the local ford dealer says my problem is that i'm not putting good quality ford parts in there from them. can any one help. upon research i have found that there are others with the same type of vehicle having the same problem. i have never owned a vehicle that has done this. *tr | |||
| 01/28/2010 | 89000 | 1 | |
| Took the truck into have a vibration and noise checked out coming from the rear of the vehicle. turned out to be a failure of passenger rear knuckle assembly and wheel bearing. went on car complaints.com to see if a recall was issued for this. there were report of the same type of failure with the wheels actually coming off. *tr | |||
| 12/29/2009 | 103000 | 1 | |
| In 03/2008 i went in thinking i had brake problem and ended up with a right rear wheel bearing replaced. i was told this is a common problem on this year and model ford. now its 12/2009 and i have the same noise, i go to the dealer and tell him i think its the left front bearing and after further inspection they say the noise was coming from the left front but the left rear is about ready to fall off. i am glad i went to get the truck checked before it fell off at 65 mph on i80. i could have been killed. i have researched online and there have been many incidents with the wheel bearings/hubs on 2002 ford explorers they know there is a problem and ford is not fixing it. what does it take to get the problem recalled? accidents with deaths? *tr | |||
| 10/12/2009 | 135000 | 1 | |
| Wheel bearing failed, was left stranded in snow outside jackson, wy. no warning of failure. *tr | |||
| 12/04/2009 | 85000 | 1 | |
| 2002 ford explorer, replaced front left and left rear wheel bearings. now the right rear bearing is going out. mechanics at ford dealership said its a common problem. ford needs to recall these. *tr | |||
| 12/01/2009 | 90000 | 1 | |
| Faulty bearings and hub in 2002 ford explorer. apparently, a very common problem. *tr | |||
| 02/21/2007 | 64869 | 1 | |
| This complaint is concerning the wheel bearings on all 2002 ford explorers and the frequency in which they break or come lose causing lose of control of the vehicle. this has happened on my vehicle on 5 occasions, the last of which ford refuses to replace at their cost due to it being out of warranty. the first incident happened in february 2007 when my right front bearing broke while i was on an highway overpass driving at approximately 60 mph and almost lost control of my vehicle as the wheel nearly comes off when this happens and the vehicle jerks. the truck was towed into the dealership for repair. the second incident happened in january 2008 when my left front wheel bearing broke. this time i was thankfully not on the expressway but once again the vehicle was towed into the dealership for repair as it was not drivable. when the vehicle was in for repair this time i requested that the rear bearings be checked and replaced if necessary and it was found that those two bearings also needed replacement. now, in october 2009, once again my front left wheel bearing is lose and needs to be replaced. i called ford regarding the possibility that the bearings are faulty and that someone is going to be killed due to this issue but the customer service center just says to make a complaint. they also will not cover the cost of the repair as it is out of their 12 month or 12,000 mile warranty period. i have started researching this issue and have found 28 pages of complaints from people having the same issue and this is just one website. this seems to be a common occurrence with the bearings on 2002 explorers. this is supposed to be a sealed factory part that usually does not require repair and i am on my fifth repair. i am concerned for my own safety and the safety of others. *tr | |||
| 10/20/2009 | 59000 | ||
| Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. while driving 15 mph the wheels locked; which caused the vehicle to stop without prior warnings. the vehicle was taken to the dealership, but the technician could not duplicate the failure. the current and failure mileages were 59000. | |||
| 03/10/2009 | 1 | ||
| 2002 ford explorer(xls)one by one each wheel(bearing) hub had to be replaced!the wheels on my truck were actually about to fall off it was scary and very dangerous! it starts out with a squeaking sound like the brakes need to be replaced but no it wasn't the brakes which repairs and parts together range from $60 to $90 it was the wheel bearing which repairs and parts together range from $300 to $400!i had to get every wheel repaired one by one within 6 months so you do the math.also my (od)light flickers and my transmission slips and jumps in to gear!!! *tr | |||
| 10/13/2009 | 92000 | 1 | |
| We have owned a 2002 ford explorer xlt for about two years now. on october 13, 2009 my husband was driving on a side street, thankfully at a slow speed, he turned a corner and realized that something was seriously wrong with the car, thought it was a flat tire. so he slowed down and started to pull over, he then looked out the window to see the tire rolling off the car and down the street. the rear driver-side tire fell off the car. it had sheared all the lug nuts off. if the tire were to fall off at high speeds this type of incident could cause serious injuries or death to the people in the vehicle and pose a threat to other drivers as well. this is not the first time it has happened either. about a year ago the lug nuts sheared off of the same wheel, we thought the first time was a freak accident but it was under similar conditions - slow speed, turned at a stoplight, thought something was seriously wrong, then pulled over to discover the rear driver-side tire falling off of the vehicle, all lug nuts were sheared off. we had no recent work on the tires or the vehicle that could have possibly loosen the lug nuts for either occurrence. to fix this failure we are having the car towed and the lug nuts replaced, again, along with a panel that was damaged by the tire coming off. i do not feel safe driving this car especially with our children as the tire can just come off without warning. also, as i searched the nhtsa website there are eight other complaints filed for the same problem for 2002 model explorers and seven similar complaints for the 2003 explorer year and two for the 2004 year as well. this needs to be investigated! i also found on the www.carcomplaints.com website other peoples experiences with the same problem in ford explorers for the years 2002, 2003, and 2004. please look into this, it is a serious defect! - *tr | |||
| 07/27/2009 | 116000 | 1 | |
| I have had troubles with the wheel ends on my ford since i bought it in 2005. i didn't realize the problems that i am having are common in this vehicle. i started noticing more brake dust on some of the wheels than others. then on my rear/passengers tire i hear a squeaking, grinding noise with a little wabble in the wheel. take it back to the dealer -said they grinded something down. didn't hear the noise anymore. my abs light kicks on won't go off has something to do with defect in wheel end assembly apparently. paid $150 to get it off comes right back on weeks later!! my entire wheel end almost falls off while on the hwy. pull over all 4 studs had come completely off of the wheel except 1, the wheel was literally hangin. had to have all studs replaced. have had to have wheel studs replaced frequently at some point on all four tires. paid to have rear passenger wheel bearings replaced finally $300+. front, drivers wheel bearings went out while driving 70-80 mph on hwy, loss control, barely made it off hwy in the middle of nowhere! 1-2months later front passengers wheel bearings go bad have to be replaced-$300+ each time. had front brakes & rotors replaced march '07, rear brakes & rotors jan '08. this month sept '09 had to have rear brakes & rotors replaced. could only afford to have brake pads replaced. only put 30,000miles on it since had b/r changed in '08. why am i having to have them both changed a year later. something in the wheel end assembly is causing increased wear & tear on rear brakes, rotors and everything else! now my brake pads are burning insanely crazy, alot of smoke comes from the wheel. new brake pads shouldn't burn that fast even with somewhat bad rotors. (that shoudn't be bad), have to go back to the shop this week. all are common issues apparently. please review link w/complaints on this | |||
| 05/01/2008 | 26000 | 1 | |
| I heard a humming sound coming from the front tires about a year ago. i thought it was the tires humming because i had a brake job and tires rotated and i noticed the humming some time after that. now i find out it wasn't tires but the wheel hub bearings went bad in the front. it is at the dealer now being repaired. *tr | |||
| 06/27/2009 | 84100 | 1 | |
| I had been told that my drivers side bearing was going bad and had it fixed and my car was still making a funny noise but was told by the mechanic that it was my brakes going bad and that they would need replaced, so we went and bought brakes and rotors to put on ourselves. as we were putting them on we noticed that my wheel was close to falling off!!! now we have to replace the bearing in the passenger side rear and also the axel shaft. what if my wheel had came off and killed my 3 small children and my husband and i? *tr | |||
| 05/20/2009 | 91000 | 1 | |
| Flat tire; after taking tire off i noticed that the coil spring was broken in half and the wheel bearing was bad, causing the wheel to wobble. there was no apparent reason for the part failures. after consulting others with the same vehicle type this is a very common problem for 2002 ford explorers - wheel bearings and coil spring failure. ford may want to recall these before it causes accidents. *tr | |||
| 03/13/2009 | 50000 | 1 | |
| Wheel hubs especially the rear - constantly going bad usually 12 months or less- rear differential vented with hose over rear tire. causes water to get into gears - major problem. i keep catching the problem but only because i now look for them but it has been close - recently i had to have it taken to the repair site as it was too dangerous to drive. *tr | |||
| 09/29/2008 | 68000 | 1 | |
| Purchased a 2002 ford explorer for my 17 yr old daughter. a few weeks later she drove home from college and said she thought it needed an alignment because car vibrating. she had scheduled an appointment to have this done. a couple days later she was driving at 70 mph on the interstate when her and the passenger heard a loud noise in the back passenger side of the car. the car than began to shake very hard and loose control. she could not keep on the road and rolled across the interstate and into the median. the rear passenger side tire had broken off the car. thankfully there was no traffic and the two survived the crash with non life threatening injuries. i can only hope the next person this happens to is as lucky. upon researching this problem on the internet i realized this seems to be a common cause of accidents with this type of vehicle. what is it going to take to make ford recall and fix this issue. how many people have to be hurt or killed? i hope this is addressed before someone else is injured.*tr | |||
| 03/20/2009 | 102000 | 1 | |
| I recently had to have the bearings replaced due to problems that many have experienced with the same make, model, and respective years. once the bearings were replaced i noticed more issues with the slipping transmission that many many many more have already lodged complaints against. what is being done? when can we expect answers? *tr | |||
| 03/05/2008 | 122250 | 1 | |
| Felt a wobble while driving, found out that the right front wheel bearing is out. had to order a front wheel bearing and hub assembly. if bearing went out while driving, the wheel will come off. this could result in an accident and possible death. ford is aware of the issue but declines to take action.114 other complaints listed at carcamplaints.com/ford/explorer/2002/wheels_hubs/wheel_bearing_failure.shtml. *tr | |||
| 02/13/2009 | 84000 | 1 | |
| Rear bearings go out on vehicle while driving on the interstate - no crash occurred, but it very well could have in heavier traffic. *tr | |||
| 02/07/2009 | 112000 | 1 | |
| I purchased a 2002 explorer new late in 2001. every wheel bearing has failed and now my passenger front has failed a second time so i am on my 3rd set of wheel bearings if you include the factory bearings and i only have 112k on the car. the bearings are clearly defective on these cars and if left alone are also a safety hazard. *tr | |||
| 01/01/2009 | 90000 | 1 | |
| Had to have both front wheel bearings replaced. *tr | |||
| 01/23/2009 | 62000 | 1 | |
| This 2002 ford explorer has only 62,153 miles and the wheel assembly hubs have failed. the problem is in the design of this part because it has no axle and is assemble to the frame by three bolts. if this part goes bad on the interstate and the wheel will come off , god help the driver and the people on the same path. this suv needs to be recall! *tr | |||
| 07/17/2008 | 60000 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. while driving 75 mph, the contact heard a grinding sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. the mechanic stated that the noise was due to the routers from the brakes, and advised the contact not to worry. as the contact left the mechanic, the sound from the rear of the vehicle continued. the contact took the vehicle to another mechanic and was informed that the wheels were being held on by the brakes and the bearings were destroyed. after having the wheel bearings replaced one year later, the contact noticed that the tires had poor tread marks. the contact took the vehicle in for a wheel alignment and the mechanic informed the contact that two of the wheel bearings were destroyed. the current mileage was 75,000 and failure mileage was 60,000. | |||
| 06/01/2008 | 85000 | 1 | |
| Transmission in 2002 ford explorer failed w/o warning. directly (3 days) after getting it back from transmission shop, both rear hub assemblies went. again, seemingly overnight. my wife said, it feels like the wheels are going to fall off. service shop said, it's a wonder the wheels didn't fall off. did this thing just self-destruct or what? ford needs to be held accountable for these untimely failures. i have three small children. updated 06/25/08 | |||
| 06/01/2002 | 20000 | ||
| I have had 4 wheel bearing/hub assembly units fail on my 2002 ford exployer. the first to go was after only 20k miles. the car now has ~70k miles and in the shop now for the same repair. a very costly repair and very dangerous situition. ford will not even acknowledge it is a probelm but understand is has been an on-going problem with many customers. | |||
| 08/01/2006 | 250000 | 1 | |
| A couple of years ago, my 2002 ford explorer 4.0 xls started to make a roaring sound from the rear wheels and the gas mileage seemed to be a couple mpg less. i think i had about 25k miles at the time. i took it to the dealer and asked them to check it out, i thought it could be the bearings, they found nothing. i was very concerned since i was going to take my family on vacation... now, still concern i did an internet search seeing if anyone else was having the same problem. i found http://www.carcomplaints.com/ford/explorer/2002/wheels_hubs/wheel_bearing_failure.shtml and now i am even more concerned. i think i am sitting on a time bomb. there were so many complaints, that i believe that there is truly a design flaw that needs to be corrected. i have had identical issues and i don't abuse the car. could you please investigate before i end up in an accident? thank you. *tr | |||
| 02/16/2008 | 180000 | 1 | |
| Transmission shifted hard into 2nd gear from day one, took it to dealer and they said it was normal, whining in rear end also said normal. had to replace 2 wheel bearings, 2 more bad now, replaced wheel hub, now transmission will not shift. *tr | |||
| 11/01/2006 | 80000 | 2 | 04/22/2002 |
| Rear wheel bearing failure at 80,000 miles, both rear bearings. *jb | |||
| 10/08/2006 | 71300 | 1 | 09/30/2002 |
| Dt*: the contact stated while driving 30 mph, a noise was heard and the rear driver wheel fell off. the vehicle was maneuvered off the road and towed to the dealer who could not determine the cause of the failure. | |||
| 03/15/2006 | 4 | 09/05/2004 | |
| I own a 2002 ford explorer, with 69.000 miles on it. in the last few months i have had to replace ever wheel bearing on my car, the wheel have come loose, and the bearing were scraping. the cost for the bearing and the labor was over $1,400 , i am also have to replace my tires because of this, when i contacted ford on this matter, there commit was that is your problem it is out of warranty, there is no reason all 4 wheel bearing would have gone bad with no more miles than there is on the car. my concern is that the next person may not know in time that there is flaw in the bearings and may have a wheel come off. this should be a very big safety concern. this could cause someone there life. i hope i can get someone to listen before it is to late and causes a child's life. thank you. *jb | |||
| 11/23/2005 | 45000 | 1 | 08/16/2002 |
| We own a 2002 ford explorer. it was recently in the shop at 45k miles for a whining noise from the rear differential. the service guy said that they have had quite a few vehicles with this problem. the service manager said he was surprised it didn't start at 12k. we were told we needed to repair the rear differential ring and pinion in order to fix a leak and whining noise from the area. he said we would not necessarily see leaking fluid because it would leak while driving at higher speeds it is out of warranty and cost of 1300. we were also told that the rear wheel bearing is going out. 250.00 to repair this. the service guy also told me that until ford came out with a different repair part he had needed to replace it several times on at least one explorer. they had one in that day to repair other than mine if i am not mistaken. *jb | |||
| 11/19/2004 | 78980 | 2 | 08/30/2002 |
| We have had the wheel bearings replaced twice, beginning in 11/04 @ 61,528miles, than it needed it again on 8/05 at 79,000 miles. we also had to overhaul the transmission at 79000 miles! | |||
| 05/16/2003 | 54000 | 1 | 01/22/2002 |
| I noticed that the car was pulling to the side while driving and was making a strange noise coming from the right rear. when i took the vehicle in to have the brakes checked they informed me that the right rear wheel bearing was going bad and had almost a.5 inch of play. he was concerned that it was unsafe to drive on. we called our ford dealer to arrange to have it fixed and they informed us that the tire could come off and and that they keep three of the replacement part in stock because it's a common problem with this vehicle. my husband called around to other dealers to get more information and every dealer knew exactly which wheel was having the problem before my husband even told them. they said it could definitely come off and that i shouldn't drive over 20 -25 mph on it. we are having the vehicle towed to the dealer to have it fixed today. | |||
| 11/04/2003 | 50000 | 3 | |
| When stopping or slowing down, intermittently the vehicle stalled when turning left, there was a knocking sound coming from the front left wheel. the heat vents that blew directly on the consumer did not work. these problems have occurred at least three times in one month. the manufacturer and the dealer were not aware of the problem. *jb | |||
| WHEELS - CAP/COVER/HUB | |||
| 03/25/2002 | 78000 | 3 | 01/15/2000 |
| I heard like a airplane right over the head of my truck and it ended up being my hub bearings, the ford dealer said we have alot of these problems with the 2002 ford xlt explorer. he told me as many as these that he gets in it should be a recall. he proceeds to tell me your tire can fall off and there can be serious accident someone can get killed or hurt really bad. now i had to shell out 1,0000. at a local dealer to get this problem fix. i finally got done paying for the damn car and now i have to throw money in constantly first it was my rear end 10 days after warranty expired now its hub bearing what's next maybe ford would be # 1 if they made a better truck. that is why the american consumer are buying foreign cars and trucks because at least they do recalls and the cars and trucks last. maybe our economy would be better if people bought american stuff but as you see why when you have to shell out money all the time to fix it! plus warranty's on foreign cars are better too 10 yrs or 100,000miles .see american companies like ford don't have a warranty like that because they know there crap will break before 10 yrs. i feel bad to complain but i supported ford for along time and anything i buy usually has some kind of problem and the sad thing i always buy new. this is my 3rd new ford i bought just to keep the money in united states. there should not have to be a death or crash for a recall! *tr | |||
| 02/06/2008 | 1 | 08/14/2007 | |
| Recently purchased a 2002 ford explorer for my 17 year old daughter, it has 79,000 miles on it. within the first three months of owning the vehicle i have had to replace 3 of the 4 wheel bearings. the tire was practically falling off the vehicle by the time it made enough noise for anyone to notice. *tr | |||
| 10/09/2007 | 49327 | 2 | 04/19/2007 |
| I heard a whining sound coming from the front of my suv. took it to a friend who works on fords and he said it was the left front wheel bearing. he fixed that and the sound continued, so he replaced the right front. the sound went away. two days later same sound coming from the rear. my suv only has 51,000 miles on it. this is a major safety issue especially since i am driving with 3 children. i see that this is way too common. i am lucky that i was not driving my kids when the bearings totally failed and a tire fell off. i still have to old parts, i am considering sending them to ford. they told me in order for them to acknowledge there is a problem i must put the bad parts back on my car and take it to a dealership. risk my life and the lives of my children so i can take it to a dealership? no thanks. i will send them the parts so they can see how bad they are. *jb | |||
| 01/01/2007 | 60000 | 1 | |
| I have a 2002 ford explorer xlt with 96,000 miles on it and around 60,000 the noise started. first the front right wheel started to vibrate and then the hub went. while driving my front tire just collapsed. 2nd issue the rear end started to make noise is more like vibraing. and after searching on google, i find that im not the only one with this issue. this is a very expensive issue $1200. just to start the ford company is aware of this issue and nothing is being done about it. this is not a joke, this is serious, someone can get hurt. maybe that's what it will take for the ford company to resolve the issue, the issue that ford is aware of. please help! *tr | |||
| 03/16/2007 | 118000 | 3 | 10/14/2002 |
| 2002 ford explorer xlt 4x4, i have been getting a humming sound. i have replaced one front wheel hub bearing and both rear will bearing hub. one at a time, couldn't afford to do all. humming still being heard. i have 125,000 miles and its in good shape. i bought it in 2002 a certified vehicle. ford needs to recall rear of 2002 explorer. *jb | |||
| 07/03/2004 | 36000 | 1 | 07/25/2002 |
| 1. i noticed a humming type sound that would increase as i sped up. i thought i had a wheel out of alignment, or tire off balance. i was due for my 36,000 mile maintenance check, so i took it to the dealership to have everything checked out. they performed a $400.00 maintenance package to my vehicle on may 4, 2004, of which i thought included inspecting tires, wheels, etc. they returned my vehicle to me and as i drove home, noticed the humming sound was still occurring, but i just had everything checked, and thought it was just a noise that was normal. 2. the noise continued on, getting worse (louder) and was bothersome, so i took it to a local mechanic for a second opinion. upon review of my vehicle, he suggested replacing the right rear wheel hub assembly and bearings. 3. on july 3, 2004 the rr hub assembly and bearings were replaced at a cost of $360.52. the problem was solved. i don't believe the old part is still available. but, after speaking with other mechanics, i have heard this has been a problem with several vehicles of this type and wanted to let someone know i had a problem with this too. | |||
| WHEELS - CENTER SECTION | |||
| 02/17/2006 | 65000 | 2 | 02/18/2002 |
| In feb of 2006 with 65,995 miles on my car i heard a whirring/grinding noise from the passenger side while driving. i made an appointment with my mechanic for later in the week (~4 days) to have the noise looked into. 1 day prior to taking my car to the mechanic the noise got much worse and i took it in immediately. i was told that the right rear wheel bearing exploded and damaged the brake and emergency braking system. i had this repaired and chalked it up to bad michigan roads. in may of 2006 the left rear wheel bearing also eroded/wore out and needed to be replaced (only 68,368 miles at the time). the warehouse/retail outlet where my mechanics purchased the replacement wheel bearings told me the person working the counter commented on how many requests ford has had for wheel bearings as of recent. my mechanics (as well as friends and family) told me i should contact ford as well as nhtsa with this information since the component failure effected the emergency braking system. i am following through on that request and have placed a letter in the mail to ford motor company and am awaiting their reply. i would appreciate an independent 3rd party's evaluation of this situation since i have been told by my mechanic as well as others the auto repair and industry that wheel bearings should last throughout the life of the automobile (or at least to 100,000 miles. *jb | |||
| WHEELS - LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS | |||
| 01/01/2010 | 2 | ||
| 2002 ford explorer. consumer states problem with tires *tgw the consumer experienced a tire blow on the right rear tire. when triple aaa arrived, the consumer was informed the rear coil spring along with 3 lug nuts had failed. in july 2010, three more lug nuts broke again. *jb | |||
| 02/04/2007 | 71000 | 2 | 01/13/2006 |
| Tl*- the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. while driving 65 mph, the vehicle started vibrating and pulling to the right. a lug nut hit the windshield and the vehicle came to a sudden stop because the front passenger side tire was lodged underneath the vehicle. the vehicle was towed to the dealer to replace the new lug nut and stems and repair the damage to the vehicle. the failure mileage was 71,000. the current mileage was 81,000. this failure has occurred on tow occasions.*ak | |||
| 03/07/2006 | 89260 | 1 | 05/18/2001 |
| Dt*: the contact stated while driving 15mph the right rear wheel wobbled. the vehicle was taken to an independent repair shop for inspection. the mechanic determined that the lug nuts were broken which resulted in the loose rear wheel. the mechanic replaced the broken lug nuts. | |||
| 09/30/2004 | 3 | ||
| I had 1 wheel stud break and ordered a replacement from dealer. wheel studs only come in packs of 5. wheel stud replaced and about 4 months later 2 more broke simultaneously. | |||
| 10/11/2004 | 78342 | 1 | 04/09/2004 |
| I was driving down county road branch, it felt like i was driving on a bumpy road (what it feels like when your tire goes flat) i turned on lateral b south, then it got worse, so i stopped and checked all tires, they were all okay, then i start driving 20 feet further then i stopped again, my oldest son took of the hub and discovered 3 out of 5 bolts with lug nuts were broke off in the right rear passenger hub. *nm | |||
| 05/01/2003 | 1 | ||
| Driver rear tire separated from vehicle.*mr the failure was the result of the lug nut breaking. the vehicle sustained a dent hub cap, and light damage to the left rear bumper and panel. *ph *jb | |||
| 04/30/2003 | 22000 | 1 | 04/08/2001 |
| Noted clicking noise when wheel turned at slow speed, assumed cv joints were going bad. however, dealer said that lug nuts were loose, and when tightened the noise stopped. what is notable is that the wheels have never been off, so this condition originated at the factory. dealer says owner at fault and charged for the repairs. owner says this a factory defect and a significant safety item and insist it be covered under warranty. at impass.*ak | |||
| 08/10/2001 | |||
| On 8-10-01 i was driving a hertz car rental 2001 0r 2002 ford explorer on i-75 to the atlanta airport. i began noticing shimming in the steering wheel. soon after the shimmying became worse and i experienced excessive play in the steering wheel. i pulled onto the shoulder without incident. later, a tow truck driver discovered that 3 out of 5 lug nuts had been sheared off completely - - causing the right front wheel to wobble significantly when rotating. if the wheel had come off the vehicle, it could have resulted in very serious injury/dealth - - especially on busy truck lader i-75 just north of atlanta. just want you to be aware of this serious matter. *ak | |||
| 08/10/2001 | |||
| On 8-10-01 i was driving a hertz car rental 2001 0r 2002 ford explorer on i-75 to the atlanta airport. i began noticing shimming in the steering wheel. soon after the shimmying became worse and i experienced excessive play in the steering wheel. i pulled onto the shoulder without incident. later, a tow truck driver discovered that 3 out of 5 lug nuts had been sheared off completely - - causing the right front wheel to wobble significantly when rotating. if the wheel had come off the vehicle, it could have resulted in very serious injury/dealth - - especially on busy truck lader i-75 just north of atlanta. just want you to be aware of this serious matter.*ak | |||
| WHEELS - MULTI PIECE | |||
| 06/09/2007 | 61250 | 1 | 05/06/2005 |
| Loud vibrating noise from tire...right rear wheel bearing failed in june of 2007, replaced. front left wheel bearing is failing now, january 2008. | |||
| 02/17/2006 | 65000 | 2 | 02/18/2002 |
| In feb of 2006 with 65,995 miles on my car i heard a whirring/grinding noise from the passenger side while driving. i made an appointment with my mechanic for later in the week (~4 days) to have the noise looked into. 1 day prior to taking my car to the mechanic the noise got much worse and i took it in immediately. i was told that the right rear wheel bearing exploded and damaged the brake and emergency braking system. i had this repaired and chalked it up to bad michigan roads. in may of 2006 the left rear wheel bearing also eroded/wore out and needed to be replaced (only 68,368 miles at the time). the warehouse/retail outlet where my mechanics purchased the replacement wheel bearings told me the person working the counter commented on how many requests ford has had for wheel bearings as of recent. my mechanics (as well as friends and family) told me i should contact ford as well as nhtsa with this information since the component failure effected the emergency braking system. i am following through on that request and have placed a letter in the mail to ford motor company and am awaiting their reply. i would appreciate an independent 3rd party's evaluation of this situation since i have been told by my mechanic as well as others the auto repair and industry that wheel bearings should last throughout the life of the automobile (or at least to 100,000 miles. *jb | |||
| WHEELS - RIM | |||
| 02/01/2007 | 67000 | 1 | 01/15/2005 |
| Tl*- the contact took the 2002 ford explorer to get new tires where she observed that two of the rims were cracked, the passenger side front and the rear driver's side. the crack almost dissected the rim. kmc the specific wheel she had was the king pin 20 inch chrome wheel. she called the distributors for kmc wheels and they stated if she didn't have the original receipt there was nothing they could do. they faxed her the warranty. structural damage would only be covered if she had a receipt. the name of the distributors waswheel pros 562-921-1237. *ak | |||