Total Complaints
56 filings
FORD FORD · model year
56 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2002FORDFORD carries 56 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 4 fires, 4 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 FORD is power train:automatic transmission with 6 filings, followed by equipment (3) and suspension:front:wheel bearing (3). 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 74 investigation files overlapping the 2002 FORD, 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.
Total Complaints
56 filings
Crashes Reported
2 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 6 |
| EQUIPMENT | 3 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING | 3 |
| SUSPENSION:REAR | 3 |
| POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 2 |
| VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR | 2 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS | 2 |
| AIR BAGS | 2 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE | 1 |
| SEATS | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING | 1 |
2002 FORD WINDSTAR REAR AXLE PROBLEM WE WERE DRIVING ON 78E AND WERE APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES BEFORE ALLENTOWN. ALL OF A SUDDEN WE HEARD A CRACK, SMELLED SMOKE, AND HEARD METAL SCRAPING. THE CAR STARTED FISHTAILING AND MY HUSBAND VIRTUALLY HAD NO CONTROL OF THE CAR AS THE WINDSTAR REPEATEDLY CROSSED 2 LANES AND ALMOST HIT THE MIDDLE BARRIER AND THEN FISHTAILED TOWARD THE OTHER SIDE. LUCKILY THERE WERE NO CARS OR TRUCKS IN FRONT OR IN BACK OF US AND WE WERE AT A SLIGHT UPHILL. FINALLY, MY HUSBAND WAS ABLE TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE VAN AND PULL OVER TO THE SMALL SHOULDER WHICH WAS BARELY BIG ENOUGH TO FIT THE VAN. WE CALLED 911 AND AAA. WHILE WE WAITED ON THE SIDE, WE FEARED THAT WE COULD GET HIT IN THE EVENT THAT A TRUCK OR CAR SWERVED TO THE SIDE. WE WERE SHOCKED TO FIND OUT THAT THE REAR AXLE WAS CRACKED AND THE REAR TIRES WERE CAVED IN. MY AUTO DEALER GILBOY IN WHITEHALL OFFERED TO TOW AND REPAIR THE PROBLEM, BUT ONLY AT MY EXPENSE. FORD EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THERE WAS NO COV
Mileage: 154,788
ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS HAS CONTINUED TO BE ON AND CRUISE CONTROL HAS STOPPED WORKING. *TR
Mileage: 92,300
ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS HAS CONTINUED TO BE ON AND CRUISE CONTROL HAS STOPPED WORKING. *TR
Mileage: 92,300
I HAVE SEVERAL ISSUES, BOTH BACK DOOR WINDOWS HAVE FALLEN OFF TRACK AND WON'T STAY UP. THIS HAPPENED IN SEPTEMBER OF 07 AND A FEW MONTHS LATER THE SECOND REAR WINDOW DID THE SAME. I HAVE TO USE CLEAR PACKAGING TAPE TO HOLD THEM UP. THE KEY TO THE IGNITION WILL NOT TURN UNLESS I USE SOMETHING WITH A HARD END AND TAP IT SEVERAL TIMES. WHEN THE IGNITION PROBLEM FIRST HAPPENED IN SEPTEMBER OF 2006 I CALLED FORD ROAD SIDE SERVICE AND THEY RECOMMENDED TAPPING THE KEY SEVERAL TIMES AND SAID THEY HAD A GROWING COMPLAINT OF THIS. MY TRUNK LOCK LATCH OFTEN GETS STUCK TOO. JAN OF 2003 THE RADIO SHORTS IN AND OUT, I NEVER KNOW IF IT'S GOING TO STAY ON. LASTLY THE PASSENGER REAR DOOR LOOK DOESN'T LATCH, I THINK THIS HAPPENED IN LATE 2003 OR EARLY 2004. *TR
I HAVE SEVERAL ISSUES, BOTH BACK DOOR WINDOWS HAVE FALLEN OFF TRACK AND WON'T STAY UP. THIS HAPPENED IN SEPTEMBER OF 07 AND A FEW MONTHS LATER THE SECOND REAR WINDOW DID THE SAME. I HAVE TO USE CLEAR PACKAGING TAPE TO HOLD THEM UP. THE KEY TO THE IGNITION WILL NOT TURN UNLESS I USE SOMETHING WITH A HARD END AND TAP IT SEVERAL TIMES. WHEN THE IGNITION PROBLEM FIRST HAPPENED IN SEPTEMBER OF 2006 I CALLED FORD ROAD SIDE SERVICE AND THEY RECOMMENDED TAPPING THE KEY SEVERAL TIMES AND SAID THEY HAD A GROWING COMPLAINT OF THIS. MY TRUNK LOCK LATCH OFTEN GETS STUCK TOO. JAN OF 2003 THE RADIO SHORTS IN AND OUT, I NEVER KNOW IF IT'S GOING TO STAY ON. LASTLY THE PASSENGER REAR DOOR LOOK DOESN'T LATCH, I THINK THIS HAPPENED IN LATE 2003 OR EARLY 2004. *TR
I HAVE SEVERAL ISSUES, BOTH BACK DOOR WINDOWS HAVE FALLEN OFF TRACK AND WON'T STAY UP. THIS HAPPENED IN SEPTEMBER OF 07 AND A FEW MONTHS LATER THE SECOND REAR WINDOW DID THE SAME. I HAVE TO USE CLEAR PACKAGING TAPE TO HOLD THEM UP. THE KEY TO THE IGNITION WILL NOT TURN UNLESS I USE SOMETHING WITH A HARD END AND TAP IT SEVERAL TIMES. WHEN THE IGNITION PROBLEM FIRST HAPPENED IN SEPTEMBER OF 2006 I CALLED FORD ROAD SIDE SERVICE AND THEY RECOMMENDED TAPPING THE KEY SEVERAL TIMES AND SAID THEY HAD A GROWING COMPLAINT OF THIS. MY TRUNK LOCK LATCH OFTEN GETS STUCK TOO. JAN OF 2003 THE RADIO SHORTS IN AND OUT, I NEVER KNOW IF IT'S GOING TO STAY ON. LASTLY THE PASSENGER REAR DOOR LOOK DOESN'T LATCH, I THINK THIS HAPPENED IN LATE 2003 OR EARLY 2004. *TR
I HAVE SEVERAL ISSUES, BOTH BACK DOOR WINDOWS HAVE FALLEN OFF TRACK AND WON'T STAY UP. THIS HAPPENED IN SEPTEMBER OF 07 AND A FEW MONTHS LATER THE SECOND REAR WINDOW DID THE SAME. I HAVE TO USE CLEAR PACKAGING TAPE TO HOLD THEM UP. THE KEY TO THE IGNITION WILL NOT TURN UNLESS I USE SOMETHING WITH A HARD END AND TAP IT SEVERAL TIMES. WHEN THE IGNITION PROBLEM FIRST HAPPENED IN SEPTEMBER OF 2006 I CALLED FORD ROAD SIDE SERVICE AND THEY RECOMMENDED TAPPING THE KEY SEVERAL TIMES AND SAID THEY HAD A GROWING COMPLAINT OF THIS. MY TRUNK LOCK LATCH OFTEN GETS STUCK TOO. JAN OF 2003 THE RADIO SHORTS IN AND OUT, I NEVER KNOW IF IT'S GOING TO STAY ON. LASTLY THE PASSENGER REAR DOOR LOOK DOESN'T LATCH, I THINK THIS HAPPENED IN LATE 2003 OR EARLY 2004. *TR
1) I NOTICED THAT MY RPMS WERE NOT RETURNING TO NORMAL AND MY VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO STOP COMPLETELY. 2) I OWN A 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLS 4X4 WITH THE SOHC 4.0 LITER ENGINE. THE THROTTLE CABLE STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SURGE UNCONTROLLABLY AT APPROXIMATELY 5000 RPMS. I HAD TO TURN OFF MY IGNITION TO AVOID CRASHING THE VEHICLE INTO NEARBY TRAFFIC. OTA HAS RECEIVED REPORTS OF THIS PROBLEM, NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE05037, BUT CLOSED THE CASE ON NOVEMBER 2, 2005. THIS IS A SERIOUS DEFECT THAT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A SERIOUS CRASH. I BELIEVE THAT OTA SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM AS IT DID FOR CAMPAIGN #03V280000. 3) I WILL BE CONTACTING FORD TOMORROW TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM. MY VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. *TR
Mileage: 45,000
1) I NOTICED THAT MY RPMS WERE NOT RETURNING TO NORMAL AND MY VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO STOP COMPLETELY. 2) I OWN A 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLS 4X4 WITH THE SOHC 4.0 LITER ENGINE. THE THROTTLE CABLE STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SURGE UNCONTROLLABLY AT APPROXIMATELY 5000 RPMS. I HAD TO TURN OFF MY IGNITION TO AVOID CRASHING THE VEHICLE INTO NEARBY TRAFFIC. OTA HAS RECEIVED REPORTS OF THIS PROBLEM, NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE05037, BUT CLOSED THE CASE ON NOVEMBER 2, 2005. THIS IS A SERIOUS DEFECT THAT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A SERIOUS CRASH. I BELIEVE THAT OTA SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM AS IT DID FOR CAMPAIGN #03V280000. 3) I WILL BE CONTACTING FORD TOMORROW TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM. MY VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. *TR
Mileage: 45,000
1) I NOTICED THAT MY RPMS WERE NOT RETURNING TO NORMAL AND MY VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO STOP COMPLETELY. 2) I OWN A 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLS 4X4 WITH THE SOHC 4.0 LITER ENGINE. THE THROTTLE CABLE STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SURGE UNCONTROLLABLY AT APPROXIMATELY 5000 RPMS. I HAD TO TURN OFF MY IGNITION TO AVOID CRASHING THE VEHICLE INTO NEARBY TRAFFIC. OTA HAS RECEIVED REPORTS OF THIS PROBLEM, NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE05037, BUT CLOSED THE CASE ON NOVEMBER 2, 2005. THIS IS A SERIOUS DEFECT THAT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A SERIOUS CRASH. I BELIEVE THAT OTA SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM AS IT DID FOR CAMPAIGN #03V280000. 3) I WILL BE CONTACTING FORD TOMORROW TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM. MY VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. *TR
Mileage: 45,000
1) I NOTICED THAT MY RPMS WERE NOT RETURNING TO NORMAL AND MY VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO STOP COMPLETELY. 2) I OWN A 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLS 4X4 WITH THE SOHC 4.0 LITER ENGINE. THE THROTTLE CABLE STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SURGE UNCONTROLLABLY AT APPROXIMATELY 5000 RPMS. I HAD TO TURN OFF MY IGNITION TO AVOID CRASHING THE VEHICLE INTO NEARBY TRAFFIC. OTA HAS RECEIVED REPORTS OF THIS PROBLEM, NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE05037, BUT CLOSED THE CASE ON NOVEMBER 2, 2005. THIS IS A SERIOUS DEFECT THAT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A SERIOUS CRASH. I BELIEVE THAT OTA SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM AS IT DID FOR CAMPAIGN #03V280000. 3) I WILL BE CONTACTING FORD TOMORROW TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM. MY VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. *TR
Mileage: 45,000
I PUT MY KEY IN, TURNED IT ON AND WENT TO SHIFT IN TO DRIVE AND THE SHIFTER CAME RIGHT OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS IN BETWEEN GEARS.*CN
Mileage: 69,000
WHILE DRIVING MY 2002 FORD TAURUS I EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE OF BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS WHICH CUT OPEN LIKE A CAN OPENER ONE FRONT TIRES AND DAMAGED THE OTHER. I HAD TO HAVE BOTH TIRES AND SPRINGS REPLACED. IF I WAS TRAVELING MORE THAN 15 MPH I FEAR I WOULD NOT BE HERE TODAY.*CN
Mileage: 64,070
2002 EXPLORER XLT PURCHASED 1/03 WITH 37,995 MILES. NOW ONLY 39,996 I AM DISABLED AND DON'T DRIVE MUCH. HAD VEHICLE IN DUE TO WARRANTY OVER 11/26/07 TO CHECK THINGS OVER. WHEN I PICKED UP CAR AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT FLASHING. THOUGH IT WAS DUE TO THEIR WORK BECAUSE IT STOPPED. NEXT TIME USED VEHICLE LIGHT FLASHING THEN STAYED ON PERMANENTLY. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY CLAIM IT THROWS A CODE #B2292, THEY ALSO SAID A BULLETIN OUT FROM FORD ON THIS #TSB03-11-03 ISSUED TO ALL MECHANICS - THAT THE PRETENSIONER SAFETY HARNESS BOTH NEED TO BE REPLACED (DEFECT). I ADVISED THEM I WILL DISPUTE THIS DUE TO THE FACT THEY ALSO STATED FORD MAY BE DOING A RECALL. I CLAIM VEHICLE FINE TILL THEY WORKED ON IT. PART COMES IN TOMORROW, THEY SAY IT SHOULD BE READY IN A FEW HOURS, AND COST IS AROUND $295.. PLUS TAXES. ALSO HAD TO HAVE A REBUILT TRANY DONE LAST YR. ON THE AIR BAG LIGHT - I READ ALL THESE COMPLAINTS AND I AM SHOCKED THAT FORD HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL. THIS IS NUTS. WHAT IS SCARY IS
Mileage: 39,994
ALL FOUR WHEELS BEARINGS ON A 2002 FORD EXPLORER WITH ONLY 70,000 MILES HAD TO BE REPLACED. ONE INCIDENT INCLUDED A WHEEL FALLING OFF DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THESE BEARINGS. *TR
ALL FOUR WHEELS BEARINGS ON A 2002 FORD EXPLORER WITH ONLY 70,000 MILES HAD TO BE REPLACED. ONE INCIDENT INCLUDED A WHEEL FALLING OFF DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THESE BEARINGS. *TR
VEHICLE PARKED IN PARKING LOT AT 9:30P.M. SHERIFF WOKE US UP 2:00 A.M. BANGING ON WINDOWS STATING SUV WAS ON FIRE. 3 OTHER VEHICLES WERE DAMAGED BECAUSE OF FIRE. I AM BLESSED MYSELF AND MY CHILDREN WERE NOT IN SUV AT THAT TIME. ALSO DAMAGED PARKING AREA. *TR
VEHICLE TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 75,000- WE HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP CONCERNING THE TRANSMISSION BUT WAS ADVISED NOTHING WRONG. *TR
Mileage: 75,000
THE FIBERGLASS PIECE ON THE HATCHBACK OF THE VEHICLE IS CONSTANTLY CRACKING AND FALLING OFF WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING. THIS IS A ROAD AND SAFETY HAZARD, AS MY PIECE CAME OFF WHILE DRIVING 55MPH. I AM CONTINUOUSLY SEEING OTHER EXPLORERS OF THE SAME MODEL AND YEAR THAT HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. FORD NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR DEFECTIVE PRODUCT AND CONDUCT A RECALL. FURTHERMORE, THIS FAULTY PIECE IS OFFERED AT A FORD DEALERSHIP FOR REPLACEMENT AT OVER $300! *TR
Mileage: 85,600
BEGINNING OF 2006, I PURCHASED MY USED 2002 FORD EXPLORER. AROUND 70,000 MILES, ABOUT 9 MONTHS LATER, THE ROARING NOISE IN THE REAR WAS UNBEARABLE. I PUT ALL NEW TIRES,I PUT ALL NEW BRAKES THINKING THIS WAS CAUSING THE NOISE. FINALLY I WENT ONLINE TO FIND THE MANY, MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE REAR END NOISE. I CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NO RECALLS, EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE, BECAUSE IT IS NOT CONSIDERED A SAFETY ISSUE. THEY SUGGESTED I HAVE IT DIAGNOSED AT A FORD DEALERSHIP. ON 10/20/07, I HAD THIS DIAGNOSIS DONE, AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE REAR AXLE DIFFERENTIAL AND WAS ADVISED NOT TO DRIVE, OR DRIVE AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE IT COULD CEASE UP WHILE DRIVING, AND CAN BE A SAFTEY ISSUE IF UNIT FAILS. THE COST OF THIS REPAIR, PARTS AND LABOR IS ABOUT $1200. IS FORD WAITING FOR THIS TO CEASE UP, CAUSING INJURIES OR DEATHS BEFORE THEY DEEM IT A SAFTEY ISSUE, AND RECALL THESE VEHICLES FOR REPAIR. I CANNOT AFFORD TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE AT THIS
Mileage: 77,000
B-Pillar Trim Detachment
Rear-view Camera Failure
Loss of braking caused by rear brake hose failure
Healey Brothers Ford / Open Recall Sale
Power Tailgate Release Systems
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.