Total Complaints
7 filings
CHEVROLET EXPLORER · model year
2002 CHEVROLET EXPLORER
7 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2002CHEVROLETEXPLORER carries 7 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2002 EXPLORER is air bags with 2 filings, followed by tires:tread/belt (1) and structure:body:door (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 57 investigation files overlapping the 2002 EXPLORER, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
7
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
1 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| AIR BAGS | 2 |
| TIRES:TREAD/BELT | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR | 1 |
| STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20040126POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE VEHICLES AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION STICKS IN THE GEAR IT'S CURRENTLY IN OR HESITATES WHEN CHANGING GEAR. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED PARTS IN ATTEMPT TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM
Mileage: 30,000
20030814SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING ABS BRAKING LIGHT APPEARS ON THE DASHBOARD. *AK
20030409STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM
THE VEHICLE PULLED VIOLENTLY TO THE RIGHT AND THE RIGHT WHEEL SPINDLE DROPPED OFF WHICH CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT. *NLM
20030221STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
THE INSIDE DOOR PAD HAD FALLEN OUT THE PLASTIC MATERIAL. *JB
20030108TIRES:TREAD/BELT
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING 55MPH RIGHT REAR TIRE HAD TREAD SEPARATION. TS
20021017CrashAIR BAGS
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN HIT IN THE FRONT CENTER OF THE VEHICLE THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY CAUSING MINOR INJURIES TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS
20020722AIR BAGS
WHILE DRIVING AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON , AND CAN BE USELESS IN EVENT OF A CRASH. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
Compare 2002CHEVROLETEXPLORER to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 2 Open
EA25007Engineering AnalysisOpen
Loss of motive power due to engine failure
PE23022Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Loss of Motive Power due to the Battery Energy Control Module
PE20016Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Electric Vehicle Battery Fires
EA20002Engineering AnalysisClosed
Outboard Front Seat Belt Anchor Cable Failure
PE20011Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Fuel Line Leak
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2002 CHEVROLET EXPLORER have?▼
The 2002 CHEVROLET EXPLORER has 7 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 CHEVROLET EXPLORER?▼
The most-complained component for the 2002 CHEVROLET EXPLORER is AIR BAGS with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include TIRES:TREAD/BELT and STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR.
Is the 2002 CHEVROLET EXPLORER safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.