2002FORDEXPLORER

4096 complaints filed with NHTSA.

4096
Complaints
178
Crashes
71
Fires
211
Injuries
6
Deaths

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION887
POWER TRAIN286
SUSPENSION:REAR192
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS166
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT160
SUSPENSION115
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM115
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE112
STEERING110
STRUCTURE:BODY110
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL103
AIR BAGS96
WHEELS58
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING56
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING56

Recent Complaints

20250709STRUCTURE:BODY

September 2, 2023 at about 6 pm I pulled over to grab a couple water bottles from the rear of my 2002 Ford Explorer Sport cause my engine was overheating. I got out walked to the rear of my vehicle pushed my unlatch button on the tailgate and I lifted the glass part of the rear hatch. Both air hinges were not working correctly to keep it up so I gently rested the glass on my hair that was put up in a bun and just a little bit of the glass was resting on the very top of my head where my hair was

20250709UNKNOWN OR OTHER

September 2, 2023 at about 6 pm I pulled over to grab a couple water bottles from the rear of my 2002 Ford Explorer Sport cause my engine was overheating. I got out walked to the rear of my vehicle pushed my unlatch button on the tailgate and I lifted the glass part of the rear hatch. Both air hinges were not working correctly to keep it up so I gently rested the glass on my hair that was put up in a bun and just a little bit of the glass was resting on the very top of my head where my hair was

20200908STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPENING THE REAL LIFT GATE, THE REAR LIFT GATE GLASS WINDOW SUDDENLY SHATTERED. DURING THE INCIDENT, THE PERSON SUSTAINED A FACIAL LACERATION WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL TREATMENT. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER (FUTURE FORD LOCATED AT 650 AUTOMALL DR, ROSEVILLE, CA 95661) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 184,000.

Mileage: 184,000

20190904FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE CONSUMER STATED THE HOME FIRE HAZARD CREATED BY FAULTY DESIGN OF NON UL APPROVED PERSONAL SNOW PLOW USE FOR SUV MANUFACTURED BY WESTERN PRODUCTS. SNOW PLOW ELECTRIC MOTOR WAS UNFUSED AND OVERHEATED NOT RESPONDING TO THE COMMAN CONTROLLER SHORTING OUT AND CAUSING A SERIOUS EXPENSIVE FIRE. *JS

20190904FireEQUIPMENT

THE CONSUMER STATED THE HOME FIRE HAZARD CREATED BY FAULTY DESIGN OF NON UL APPROVED PERSONAL SNOW PLOW USE FOR SUV MANUFACTURED BY WESTERN PRODUCTS. SNOW PLOW ELECTRIC MOTOR WAS UNFUSED AND OVERHEATED NOT RESPONDING TO THE COMMAN CONTROLLER SHORTING OUT AND CAUSING A SERIOUS EXPENSIVE FIRE. *JS

20190825CrashAIR BAGS

I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET AND GOT INTO A ACCIDENT. TOTALED MY VEHICLE AND MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY

Mileage: 294,000

20190618CrashFatalAIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT COMPLAINED ABOUT A FATAL CRASH WHICH INVOLVED A 2002 FORD EXPLORER AND STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VICTIM'S VEHICLE WAS FOUND THREE HOURS AFTER THE CRASH AND THE VEHICLE HAD FLIPPED UPSIDE DOWN. THE VICTIM WAS FOUND, WEARING THE SEATBELT BUT NO AIR BAGS HAD DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED (CASE NUMBER: 19-11405). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CITY OBSERVED A CURFEW WHEREBY THE CORONER'S REPORT STATED THAT 'DEATH WAS CAUSED BY A MULTIPL

20190409CrashAIR BAGS

ON JANUARY 21, 2019 I WAS HIT HEAD-ON BY A DRIVER WHO FELL ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL. TOTALLED MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER! MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING THE ACCIDENT! I WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND THE OTHER DRIVER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH ON A CITY STREET.

Mileage: 280,000

20190114CrashAIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 24 MPH, A VEHICLE ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE ROAD CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER'S DOOR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED LOWER AND UPPER BACK INJURIES, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND HAD TO PRY THE DRIVER'S DOOR OFF THE VEHICLE AFTER THE CRASH. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED, BUT IT WAS NOT DETERMINED WHETHER THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE DEALER AN

Mileage: 176,000

20180806STRUCTURE:BODY

THE REAR WINDOW EXPLODED. IT WAS UNOCCUPIED PARKED IN THE CARPORT.

Mileage: 150,150

20180427CrashSERVICE BRAKES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOORBOARD. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN UNKNOWN COLLISION FACILITY AND DEEMED DESTROYED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.

Mileage: 117,000

20180305FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WELL I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT. IT HAS THE TRAILER BRAKE WHICH I NEVER HAVE USED YET. I HAVE A COUPLE ISSUES WITH IT. THE THEFT LIGHT BLINKS AS LONG AS THE VEHICLE AIN'T RUNNING. SOME TIMES IT DOESN'T LIKE TO START AND HAS A BRAND NEW BATTERY. SOMETIMES WHEN PUT IN GEAR WHILE RUNNING IT WILL SHUT IT'S SELF OFF. I ALSO NOTICED WHEN I BOUGHT IT FROM ANOTHER PRIVATE SELL THAT WHEN I WAS DRIVING THE EXPLORER THAT I KEPT SMELLING A BURNING SMELL LIKE PLASTIC AND WIRES AS WELL AS SMOKE AND HEAT

Mileage: 175,098

20170717CrashAIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A MEDIAN, SPUN AROUND, AND LANDED IN A RAVINE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO GARNERS TOWING IN MIAMI, OK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 215,000.

Mileage: 215,000

20161201CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE'S SPEED INCREASED UP TO 90 MPH AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD AND NECK, WHICH DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 139,514.

Mileage: 139,514

20161018AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE DRIVER WAS DRIVING AT 40 MPH, BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT IMPACT. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED LEFT ARM INJURIES AND THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED NECK INJURIES BUT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE TO THE CONTACTS RESIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT

20160725CrashAIR BAGS

ON MAY 31ST 2016,I WAS INVOLVE IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT AND AT WHICH TIME MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY..AFTER FURTHER EVALUATION IT WAS DETERMINE THAT MY CLOCK SPRING WAS BAD..MY INSURANCE ESTIMATOR/OR ADJUSTER STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE MALFUNCTION WAS NOT A RESULT FROM THE ACCIDENT..THEN I WAS TOLD TO CONTACT THE NHTSA TO SEE IF MY VEHICLE WAS UNDER A RECALL FOR THIS INCIDENT ....MY VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY.

Mileage: 175,173

20160716CrashSERVICE BRAKES

I OWN A 2002 FORD EXPLORER, IT'S OUR DAILY DRIVER EVERYTHING WORKS EXCEPT THE HUBS, THIS TRUCK HAS NEVER BEEN WRECKED, AND WE FIND OURSELVES@ ABOUT EVERY 15,000 TO 20,000 MILES HAVING TO REPLACE THE WHEEL BEARINGS AND HUB ASSEMBLY'S , LAST NIGHT ON THE WAY HOME THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT HUB STARTED SQUEALING AND CAME APART AND WE HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED AGAIN, I HAVE OWNED THIS TRUCK FOR 3 YEARS, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BEARINGS AND HUBS BRAKES 11 TIMES AND NOW I'M GOING TO HAVE TO DO IT AGAIN, WOW,

20160716CrashSTEERING

I OWN A 2002 FORD EXPLORER, IT'S OUR DAILY DRIVER EVERYTHING WORKS EXCEPT THE HUBS, THIS TRUCK HAS NEVER BEEN WRECKED, AND WE FIND OURSELVES@ ABOUT EVERY 15,000 TO 20,000 MILES HAVING TO REPLACE THE WHEEL BEARINGS AND HUB ASSEMBLY'S , LAST NIGHT ON THE WAY HOME THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT HUB STARTED SQUEALING AND CAME APART AND WE HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED AGAIN, I HAVE OWNED THIS TRUCK FOR 3 YEARS, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BEARINGS AND HUBS BRAKES 11 TIMES AND NOW I'M GOING TO HAVE TO DO IT AGAIN, WOW,

20160716CrashSUSPENSION

I OWN A 2002 FORD EXPLORER, IT'S OUR DAILY DRIVER EVERYTHING WORKS EXCEPT THE HUBS, THIS TRUCK HAS NEVER BEEN WRECKED, AND WE FIND OURSELVES@ ABOUT EVERY 15,000 TO 20,000 MILES HAVING TO REPLACE THE WHEEL BEARINGS AND HUB ASSEMBLY'S , LAST NIGHT ON THE WAY HOME THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT HUB STARTED SQUEALING AND CAME APART AND WE HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED AGAIN, I HAVE OWNED THIS TRUCK FOR 3 YEARS, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BEARINGS AND HUBS BRAKES 11 TIMES AND NOW I'M GOING TO HAVE TO DO IT AGAIN, WOW,

20160516CrashELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

MY POWER STEERING STUCK CAUSED A WRECK!!

Mileage: 30