RoadVitals

2002 Ford Explorer Sport Suspension Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the suspension system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Suspension reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
8
Latest Jul 24, 2025
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
6%
of 133 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2002 Ford Explorer Sport submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming suspension

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

ElectricalSuspension
Filed Jul 24, 2025

Suspenion and or traction was and the electrical system didnt work good

NHTSA ID
11675907
Incident
Jul 17, 2021
Suspension
Filed Aug 22, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BODY MOUNT BUSHINGS WERE CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BODY MOUNT BUSHINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,000.

NHTSA ID
10471853
Incident
Aug 4, 2010
Mileage
70,000 mi
Body & structurePowertrain (other)Suspension
Filed Sep 7, 2011

I JUST PURCHASED A USED 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT ON 08/06/2011 SO THAT I HAD A VEHICLE THAT I COULD TAKE THE KIDS ON CAMPING TRIPS. ON 09/04/2011 ON OUR WAY TO DAYTONA BEACH I NOTICED THE CAR WAS PUSHING AND SWERVING IN BOTH DIRECTIONS, I HAD JUST PUT BRAND NEW TIRES ON IT AND REPLACED BOTH THE UPPER CONTROL ARMS AND ALL 4 BALL JOINTS AND HAD AN ALIGNMENT DONE, I THOUGHT THAT IT'S A BIGGER VEHICLE THAN WHAT I'M USED TO AND HAD BEEN A SLIGHTLY WINDY. ON THE WAY HOME ON MONDAY 09/05/2011 IT WAS EVEN WORSE, I COULD FEEL THE BODY ROLLING THE CAR PUSHING ECT.. I PULLED OVER AND CHECKED THE FRONT SUSPENSION. THERE APPEARED TO BE NOTHING WRONG. I CRAWLED HOME A NERVOUS WRECK. WHEN WE UNLOAD THE CAR AT HOME I NOTICED THE CAR WAS SAGGING IN THE LEFT REAR.I CRAWLED UNDER THE VEHICLE. I NOTICED 2 BIG ISSUES, 1ST THE COIL SPRING IS BROKEN WERE LUCKY IT DIDN'T POP OUT AND SHRED A TIRE, AND 2ND ALL OF THE BODY MOUNT BUSHINGS ARE COMPLETELY CRUMBLING OR JUST PLAIN GONE. TALK ABOUT DANGEROUS. I WENT ONLINE AND THERE SEEMS TO BE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS FOR THE 2002 EXPLORERS ON BLOGS AND FORD FORUMS AND TONS OF SITES FOR COMPLAINTS FOR AUTOMOBILES FOR ALL MODELS OF THIS VEHICLE FOR THE EXACT SAME THINGS. I HAVE ALSO SEEN NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS VEHICLE FOR OTHER EQUIPMENT FAILURES ONE OF THEM BEING A WHINING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAREND OF THE CAR WHICH I THOUGHT WAS THE TIRES, BUT APPARENTLY IT IS AN IMPROPERLY ENGINEERED DIFFERENTIAL THAT FORD WILL NOT FIX OR ADMIT THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH ALTHOUGH THERE ARE A COUPLE OF TECHNICAL BULLETINS OUT ON IT. THEY ARE JUST LUCKY THAT MY CHILDREN WERE NOT INJURED. HOW DARE THEY NOT ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY TO TAKE CARE OF THESE VEHICLES THAT THEY ENGINEERED AND SOLD, USED OR NOT. IF YOU MANUFACTURE AN UNSAFE VEHICLE AND A DEFECTIVE VEHICLE YOU SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE. IS IT GONNA TAKE A FATHER AND HIS CHILDREN BEING KILLED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10424133
Incident
Sep 4, 2011
Mileage
90,500 mi
Suspension
Filed May 11, 2007

DEFECTIVE FRONT HUB ASSEMBLY BEARING SEALS. *AK

NHTSA ID
10190497
Incident
Mar 10, 2007
Mileage
75,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Aug 2, 2005

WHILE TURNING VEHICLE, HEARD A POPPING NOISE & FRONT LEFT TIRE SUDDENLY COLLAPSED INWARD. LEFT FRONT UPPER CONTROL ARM, LOWER BALL JOINT, SHOCK & CAM BOLTS & WASHERS WERE REPLACED. VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY, HOWEVER FORD DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO COVER STATING THIS WAS THE RESULT OF VANDALISM. NO PROOF OF THIS WAS EVER SUBMITTED TO ME DESPITE CERTIFIED LETTER SENT TO THEM REQUESTING. VEHICLE WAS KEPT IN LOCKED GARAGE AT NIGHT & PARKED IN SECURE, GATED LOT AT WORK DURING THE DAY. THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE ON 5/21/04, BUT WAS BEING DRIVEN STRAIGHT. INS REFUSED TO COVER AS NO PROOF OF VANDALISM. *NM

NHTSA ID
10131083
Incident
Apr 7, 2004
Mileage
18,266 mi
Suspension
Filed Jun 8, 2005

DT: VEHICLE HAD TO HAVE THE REAR END BREPLACED 3 TIMES , VEHCILE HAD TO BE TAKEN BACK AGAIN A 4TH TIME, DEALERSHIP WILL NOT HELP WITH PAYMENT, CONSUMER HAD TO PAY TWICE FOR REPAIRS. *AK

NHTSA ID
10124617
Incident
Jul 1, 2003
Mileage
25,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Sep 2, 2003

THE VEHICLE WAS HARD TO STEER AND CONTROL WHEN IT WAS DRIVEN AT SPEEDS AT AR OVER 70 MPH. THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT THE REAR SWAY BAR LINKS WERE WORN. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE REAR SWAY BARS, REAR SPRINGS AND REAR SHOCKS. *AK *NLM

NHTSA ID
10032151
Incident
Aug 4, 2003
Mileage
16,625 mi
Suspension
Filed Mar 4, 2002

WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE WOULD SWAY LEFT TO RIGHT. TOOK TO DEALER AND DEALER INDICATED REAR AXLE TUBE WAS CROOKED.*AK CONSUMER TEST DROVE VEHICLE PRIOR TO PURCHASE AND HAD MENTIONED TO DEALER THAT THE VEHICLE SWAYED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *TT

NHTSA ID
8004867
Incident
Feb 25, 2002

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .